School/Youth Field Trips
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The educational objective of the Trent House School/Youth Tour Program is to provide students with a basic understanding of the everyday life of the household of a wealthy colonial family and the enslaved individuals in their household in the early 18th century and to compare the customs and practices of the time with lifestyles children are familiar with in their own world.
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Reservations are required and can be made by calling 609-989-3027 or by sending in the reservation form found here.
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William Trent came to Philadelphia as a young man in the late 1600s and established a successful shipping business. His ships traded with the other American colonies, the West Indies, and England. Based on his trade ledgers from 1703 to 1708, we know that he bought goods such as rum, molasses, and sugar from the West Indies and lumber and other raw materials from the American colonies to England. While we do not know whether his ships brought captured Africans to the Americas, the ledgers do record the sale and purchase by Trent of enslaved people in transactions with other wealthy elite men of Philadelphia.
Mary Coddington Trent, who Trent married after the death of his first wife, was an orphaned young woman of means under the care of Anthony Morris, a wealthy business associate of Trent. While their dates of birth are not known with certainty, it is likely that Trent was in his mid-40s and Mary was in her late teens. When Trent died suddenly on Christmas Day 1724 and left no will, Mary brought a lawsuit against the eldest son from Trent’s first marriage to secure her dower rights to one-third of the estate.
The inventory of Trent’s property at the time of his death lists eleven enslaved people of African descent – six adult men (Yaff, Harry, Bossin, Julius, Pedro and Cupid), an adult woman Joan, two boys Bob and Dick and a girl Nanny (all probably between 9-10 and 14-15 years old), and a male child Tom. Some of these enslaved people are represented by mannequins in the house and the life of enslaved people is discussed during tours.
During tour of the house and depending on the time available for the tour, students will be guided through the parlors on the first floor, bedrooms on the second floor, and the open-hearth kitchen and storeroom in the basement. The house is furnished with reproduction and antique furniture of the period and items of daily use that illustrate how the rooms were used. Mannequins in the house are dressed appropriate to their age, gender, and status. Each room has some items that students can touch.
Throughout the tour, students are encouraged to answer questions specific to each room, based on what they observe, see on a poster, or hear from the tour guide. Students will be provided with clipboards, pencils, and questions organized by room.
The William Trent House educational experience is designed for groups studying local and state history in grades 3 through 8, and is particularly appropriate as part of the social studies curriculum. Home school groups, camp programs and public, private and charter schools are most welcome.
Weather permitting, students may eat their lunch on the grounds of the Trent House. Benches and tables are available on the grounds.
Mary Coddington Trent, who Trent married after the death of his first wife, was an orphaned young woman of means under the care of Anthony Morris, a wealthy business associate of Trent. While their dates of birth are not known with certainty, it is likely that Trent was in his mid-40s and Mary was in her late teens. When Trent died suddenly on Christmas Day 1724 and left no will, Mary brought a lawsuit against the eldest son from Trent’s first marriage to secure her dower rights to one-third of the estate.
The inventory of Trent’s property at the time of his death lists eleven enslaved people of African descent – six adult men (Yaff, Harry, Bossin, Julius, Pedro and Cupid), an adult woman Joan, two boys Bob and Dick and a girl Nanny (all probably between 9-10 and 14-15 years old), and a male child Tom. Some of these enslaved people are represented by mannequins in the house and the life of enslaved people is discussed during tours.
During tour of the house and depending on the time available for the tour, students will be guided through the parlors on the first floor, bedrooms on the second floor, and the open-hearth kitchen and storeroom in the basement. The house is furnished with reproduction and antique furniture of the period and items of daily use that illustrate how the rooms were used. Mannequins in the house are dressed appropriate to their age, gender, and status. Each room has some items that students can touch.
Throughout the tour, students are encouraged to answer questions specific to each room, based on what they observe, see on a poster, or hear from the tour guide. Students will be provided with clipboards, pencils, and questions organized by room.
The William Trent House educational experience is designed for groups studying local and state history in grades 3 through 8, and is particularly appropriate as part of the social studies curriculum. Home school groups, camp programs and public, private and charter schools are most welcome.
Weather permitting, students may eat their lunch on the grounds of the Trent House. Benches and tables are available on the grounds.
Additional Information
TOUR INFORMATION
How long will the tour take? The tour is approximately 45 minutes in length. Groups should plan on 1 hour to allow time for bathroom breaks, questions etc.
What happens during a tour? The tour begins with a brief orientation talk. The group is then led on a guided tour through the historic house. Depending on group size, your group may be divided up into smaller groups.
Is the Trent House handicapped accessible? The Trent House is an historic building. Its original construction did not allow for handicapped accessibility. A tour of the house involves climbing several flights of stairs. The first floor of the house is accessible.
Is there a gift shop? There is a small gift shop in the Visitor Center.
Are there picnic facilities? The Trent House is situated on a 2 acre landscaped park. There are picnic areas with tables and benches located on the grounds, as well as lawns suitable for games and activities. Also of interest are the well, ice house, and the Trent-era kitchen garden. Please let the staff know if you plan to eat lunch on the property at the time you make your reservation.
Are there bathroom facilities? Bathrooms are located in the Visitor Center. There are no bathrooms in the historic house.
Is there parking? Buses may drop students/groups off along William Trent Place. Buses may stay here as long as someone stays with the bus. Car and bus parking is also available at the rear of the property where the entrance gate is located.
Is there food or drink allowed in the house? Absolutely no food or drink can be brought into the museum. This includes water and chewing gum. There are picnic tables and benches on the grounds for the use of schools/groups. In the case of inclement weather, lunch may be eaten in the Visitor Center. During the tour lunches and snacks may be stored in the Visitor Center.
FOR TEACHERS/ADULT GROUP LEADERS
The educational objective of the Trent House School Tour Program is to provide students with a basic understanding of the differences between everyday life in the early 18th century and the lifestyles children are familiar with in their own world. During their visit, students will be lead on a tour through the 1719 home of William Trent, the founder of the city of Trenton, his wife, their young child, and six of the people enslaved by Trent (Yaff, Joan, Bob, Dick, Nanny, and Tom). Each room in the house contains reproductions and antiques/artifacts that are appropriate to the original use of the room. Additionally, groups have the opportunity to attend special programming offered by the Trent House. Programs will be offered at the time of reservation.
House rules The Trent House is an important historical resource and requires special care. Student conduct during the tour is of the utmost importance to the preservation of our historic house. Teachers/chaperones are responsible for management of students’ behavior. The Trent House staff and volunteers are not trained as disciplinarians. We reserve the right to expel from the building any student or group whose conduct endangers the building or collections. Additionally, the Trent House staff is not trained to deal with medical emergencies. Based on the needs of students in the group, please have a nurse or someone trained in first aid accompany your group.
To enable students to gain the most benefit from our tour, we suggest that you prepare your class by introducing them to the following terms and concepts prior to your arrival at the Trent House.
Native or Indigenous People Colonization
Merchant Trade (import/export) Inventory
African Slavery Enslavement
Negro (as a term formerly used to refer to people of African descent)
How long will the tour take? The tour is approximately 45 minutes in length. Groups should plan on 1 hour to allow time for bathroom breaks, questions etc.
What happens during a tour? The tour begins with a brief orientation talk. The group is then led on a guided tour through the historic house. Depending on group size, your group may be divided up into smaller groups.
Is the Trent House handicapped accessible? The Trent House is an historic building. Its original construction did not allow for handicapped accessibility. A tour of the house involves climbing several flights of stairs. The first floor of the house is accessible.
Is there a gift shop? There is a small gift shop in the Visitor Center.
Are there picnic facilities? The Trent House is situated on a 2 acre landscaped park. There are picnic areas with tables and benches located on the grounds, as well as lawns suitable for games and activities. Also of interest are the well, ice house, and the Trent-era kitchen garden. Please let the staff know if you plan to eat lunch on the property at the time you make your reservation.
Are there bathroom facilities? Bathrooms are located in the Visitor Center. There are no bathrooms in the historic house.
Is there parking? Buses may drop students/groups off along William Trent Place. Buses may stay here as long as someone stays with the bus. Car and bus parking is also available at the rear of the property where the entrance gate is located.
Is there food or drink allowed in the house? Absolutely no food or drink can be brought into the museum. This includes water and chewing gum. There are picnic tables and benches on the grounds for the use of schools/groups. In the case of inclement weather, lunch may be eaten in the Visitor Center. During the tour lunches and snacks may be stored in the Visitor Center.
FOR TEACHERS/ADULT GROUP LEADERS
The educational objective of the Trent House School Tour Program is to provide students with a basic understanding of the differences between everyday life in the early 18th century and the lifestyles children are familiar with in their own world. During their visit, students will be lead on a tour through the 1719 home of William Trent, the founder of the city of Trenton, his wife, their young child, and six of the people enslaved by Trent (Yaff, Joan, Bob, Dick, Nanny, and Tom). Each room in the house contains reproductions and antiques/artifacts that are appropriate to the original use of the room. Additionally, groups have the opportunity to attend special programming offered by the Trent House. Programs will be offered at the time of reservation.
House rules The Trent House is an important historical resource and requires special care. Student conduct during the tour is of the utmost importance to the preservation of our historic house. Teachers/chaperones are responsible for management of students’ behavior. The Trent House staff and volunteers are not trained as disciplinarians. We reserve the right to expel from the building any student or group whose conduct endangers the building or collections. Additionally, the Trent House staff is not trained to deal with medical emergencies. Based on the needs of students in the group, please have a nurse or someone trained in first aid accompany your group.
To enable students to gain the most benefit from our tour, we suggest that you prepare your class by introducing them to the following terms and concepts prior to your arrival at the Trent House.
Native or Indigenous People Colonization
Merchant Trade (import/export) Inventory
African Slavery Enslavement
Negro (as a term formerly used to refer to people of African descent)
