A Rhode Island mansion that predates the Declaration of Independence by 53 years is on the market for $3 million. See inside.

Originally home to the Narragansett people, the area was settled by the Greene family, who in 1684 constructed a home that today sits across from The Grange, according to the property's website.

Now known as The Forge, that home got its name from the forge the family operated on the property, which produced ship anchors and other parts used in the Revolutionary War, Meersman said.

The Greene family's lineage would continue at the location for hundreds of years. Nathanael Greene, one of Washington's second-in-command generals in the war, was born on the Greene property.

Jabez Greene first constructed The Grange in 1723, according to the property's owners, citing city records.

But just eight years later, it burned down on New Year's Eve, and with the help of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the home was rebuilt in 1732, the East Greenwich News reported.

The Grange is about 20 miles from both Providence and Newport.

In the surrounding wooded area and along the river, blue herons, ospreys, bald eagles, deer, and turkeys can be found.

The property is also notable for its greenery. The Rhode Island Tree Council has certified six trees on the property as the largest of their species in the state, per the home's website. Many trees on the property are over 200 years old.

Passages where Nathanael Greene walked are also visible on the property's edge.

It has six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and an unfinished attic and basement.

A detached garage measures about 3,500 square feet and fits 10 cars.

The two-bed, two-bath cottage, which is included in the listing, was built in 1825 and lies a few hundred feet from the main home.

The cottage is an active property on Airbnb, and deTonnancourt said it offers a quaint retreat for visitors, while its proximity to Rhode Island's cities lets guests "get into the chaos when you want to, and get out of the chaos when you need."

Kent County, where the property is located, saw a 3.7% increase in average home value over the past year, per Zillow.

The Grange stayed in the Greene family for 150 years and even served as a private schoolhouse before its next owner, Rufus Waterman, took ownership in the mid-19th century, according to the home's website.

Waterman renovated the roughly 130-year-old home, most notably by changing the driveway and grounds surrounding it. He planted trees that still stand today and signed his name on one of the home's walls, which is also still visible. Waterman also authored a detailed history of this property.

The home stayed in the Waterman family for about 100 years, and was occupied by the previous owners for 42 years before Meersman and deTonnancourt took ownership.

"It's really been a legacy sort of house for different families," Meersman said.

In 1772, the Greene family had a view from The Grange's attic of the Gaspee affair, in which a British revenue vessel in the nearby Narragansett Bay was burned by a group of Rhode Islanders, according to History.com. The event was a significant act of rebellion by patriots leading up to the American Revolution.

Once the war broke out three years later, Benjamin Franklin's sister, Jane Franklin Mecom, stayed in the home for months. According to the home's website, Franklin himself may have stayed in the house, but no documentation exists to substantiate the rumor.

The Marquis de Lafayette is also believed to have visited the home circa 1780, giving it the name that has stuck to this day.

Ambrose Burnside, a Union Civil War general who would serve as the governor of Rhode Island and later a US senator, was at The Grange when he was informed that General Sherman had taken control of Atlanta.

In 1867, the home hosted a dinner party for 103 guests, including generals, governors, and other important people, according to the home's website.

Its current owners said the home has maintained its entertainment value, with a wraparound porch and patio providing ample outdoor space, with a total area of nearly 1,400 square feet.

Besides the home's seven original fireplaces, 18th-century millwork can be found inside, and the home's stone foundation is original.

Even after purchasing the home, Meersman and deTonnancourt continued to learn the stories behind some of its features. Decorative tiles surrounding the fireplace that were installed by Waterman turned out to be made by the notable Scottish artist and architect John Moyr Smith.

Meersman and deTonnancourt have made further renovations to the property since taking ownership in 2020, but they said their appreciation for its history has always been a factor in their decision-making.

"Everything we've chosen, from wallpaper to paint colors, has been done to keep the historic feel but with modern features," Meersman said.

He cited the amenities and river access, as well as the property's central location in Rhode Island, as factors that make The Grange an "excellent family home." For these reasons, deTonnancourt said The Grange could serve as a legacy home that can be passed down through generations.

For those looking to renovate, he noted that the National Register of Historic Places designation doesn't put restrictions on improvements to the property, meaning buyers can make changes as they wish.

The property could also suit hobbyists such as auto enthusiasts. George Waterman, a descendant of Rufus Waterman, began his car collection on the property, per The Grange's website.

Meersman and deTonnancourt said the ideal buyer would have an appreciation for history. They've maintained a close relationship with the owners of The Forge across the street, which they hope would continue under the future owners.