Gill House is a two-storey stone structure built in 1788 by Thomas Gill, a Maryland Loyalist. This stone dwelling, occupied for more than a century by the Gill family, is located on Riverside Drive on the north side of Fredericton in Lower St. Mary’s.

The original stone house, situated on a large, open lot, is an example of early Georgian Tradition architecture.

The Gill House, a two-story structure, exemplifies early Georgian architecture in its unique stone construction. It was built by Thomas Gill, originally from Delaware, who used field stone as the principal building material. Gill, a former member of the Maryland Loyalists Corps, settled in New Brunswick after the American Revolution. As Ensign Gill, he was allotted 550 acres of land on the Saint John River’s eastern bank. In 1788, Gill constructed the stone house on his Lower St. Mary’s property, following a design pattern commonly found in Delaware. The house’s river-facing facade, initially intended as the main entrance, perfectly embodies the symmetry typical of Georgian architecture. The interior design of the house revolves around a central hallway, bordered by a solitary room on each side.

Local lore posits that the Gill House was erected on the remnants of a powder magazine that dates back to the 1690s. The discovery of deeply buried cannonballs suggests the land was once a battlefield. This potential historical significance of the site as an early combat zone adds to the value of the Gill House.

The Gill family owned this house until 1922 when it was sold to the Soldier’s Settlement Board. Subsequent owners altered this house with additions an renovations, but restoration efforts in the 1970’s resulted in a contemporary version of the original 1788 house. 

 

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