Colonel David Deshler, was beyond doubt the most substantial resident of Northampton Town, in his time, and his influence helped very materially in the successful culmination of the War for Independence. In 1787, he purchased from John Benezet, a merchant of Philadelphia, for 1,800 pounds sterling, the fine home and tract of 331 acres of land along the Lehigh (then in Aflen, now Hanover township) which had been previously owned by George Taylor, who had built the house, still standing on the tract in 1768, and which Mr. Taylor had sold to Mr. Benezet, in 1776. Here he spent the latter part of his life, and died there on Dec. 24, 1796, aged 62 years.