According to Alan Gowan, "the boarding of the Ford Mansion was laid evenly painted and scored to look like a fine masonry with quoins at the corners".

[7] The Ford family had businesses in iron mines and forges, a gristmill, a hemp-mill, and a gunpowder mill that were all stationed near the house.

Unfortunately, an epidemic of smallpox spread through the town from the soldiers, making the townspeople somewhat bitter to Washington's troops when they arrived in 1779.

[13] Ford and his soldiers captured a bronze six-pounder field cannon from the British Army on January 3, 1777 at the victory in Princeton, New Jersey.

According to Morristown National Historical Park, "with artillery and arms in short supply, the victory at Princeton not only boosted the morale of the Continental Army, but it bolstered their scant arsenal of weapons.".

[14] Prior to Washington's arrival, the house was considered a "great human tragedy for the Ford family" because it was rented in 1777 to Continental Army troops that developed smallpox.

It allowed Washington to keep a close eye on the British and enabled him to send letters successfully to the Continental Congress.

[16] Washington wrote many letters to Congress explaining the poor predicament that his troops were in during his stay at the Ford Mansion.

[18] The only record of Washington's stay at the mansion was a letter from Richard Meade to Mrs. Ford, dated July 26, 1780: Madam: I have received your favour by Captain Tomas Pry.

I have the honour and I certify that the commander in Chief took up his quarters at Mrs. Fords at Morris Town the first day of December 1779, that he left them the 23d of June 1780, and that he occupied two rooms below; all the upper floor, Kitchen, Cellar and Stable.

The Stable was built and the two Rooms above Stairs finished at the public expence, and a well, which was intirely useless and filled up before, put in thorough repair by walling & c. Head Quarters near Passaick July 26th.