The Governors and the Legislature meet at 30 The Strand

Perhaps the most unusual story I learned about 30 The Strand is that when the the "Assembly of the Lower Counties on Delaware" would gather in the courthouse, the colonial governors used to stay at Mrs. Clay's for a few weeks. This occurred each spring and fall from 1771 to 1775. The governors were Richard Penn (from 1771-1773) and John Penn (1763-1771, 1773-1776).

When the governor wished to speak with the assembly, the 18 members (and perhaps staff) would "wait on his honour the Governor at Mrs. Clays." When the Assembly wished to present bills to the governor, delegation, or apparently the entire 18 members of the assembly would go to Mrs. Clay's !

There are many mentions of Mrs. Clay in the "Proceedings of the Assembly of the Lower Counties on Delaware 1770-1776, of the Constitutional Convention of 1776 and of the House of Assembly of the State 1776-1781" Ed. by Bushman, C.L. Hancock, H. B., Homsey, E. M. 1986



It is not at all clear to me how this would work out. The house then was less than a third the length of the current house, though the same width -- about the same size as the current front two rooms.