History

Because of the use of the Todd house as a military headquarters and monitoring station during the Battles of North Point and Baltimore, British troops burned the Todd House and other farm outbuildings in retaliation for these activities. In 1853, the Congress authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to pay Bernard Todd’s heirs $4,315, the appraised value of the burned property, in compensation for the loss.

Following the War of 1812, the Todd family rebuilt their farm house on Patapsco Neck. The new house appears to have been constructed on or close to the site of the earlier Todd House burned by the British in 1814. Over time, the family made additions and alterations to the house, including cross gables, bracketed porches and arched windows. The dining room addition was probably added in the early 20th century.