Horatio Gates, a native of England, served in the British Army during the French and Indian War, but was prevented from advancement after the war by a lack of money or political connection.
 Gates and his family sailed from England to Virginia in 1772 and bought 659 acres (267 ha) on the Potomac River near Shepherdstown in what is now West Virginia.
He built this limestone house and became a slave owner, a local justice, and a lieutenant colonel in the militia.
 When the American Revolutionary War broke out, Gates helped organized the Continental Army, and went on to become of its more controversial generals, gaining the important victory at Saratoga in 1777 and a humiliating loss at Camden in 1780.
 After the war, Gates returned to Traveller's Rest.
 In 1790, he sold the home, freed his slaves and moved to New York City.

Gates employed John Ariss for interior woodwork, at a time when Ariss was working on nearby projects for the Washington family.
Gates added to the original four-bay structure ashlar masonry, appending a three-bay random rubble stone extension.
The dormers were added after Gates' tenure.


The only major documented alteration to the house after the period of Gates ownership is the addition of dormers to the gabled roof.
Horatio Gates, a native of England, served in the British Army during the French and Indian War, but was prevented from advancement after the war by a lack of money or political connection.  Gates and his family sailed from England to Virginia in 1772 and bought 659 acres (267 ha) on the Potomac River near Shepherdstown in what is now West Virginia. He built this limestone house and became a slave owner, a local justice, and a lieutenant colonel in the militia.  When the American Revolutionary War broke out, Gates helped organized the Continental Army, and went on to become of its more controversial generals, gaining the important victory at Saratoga in 1777 and a humiliating loss at Camden in 1780.  After the war, Gates returned to Traveller's Rest.  In 1790, he sold the home, freed his slaves and moved to New York City.
Gates employed John Ariss for interior woodwork, at a time when Ariss was working on nearby projects for the Washington family. Gates added to the original four-bay structure ashlar masonry, appending a three-bay random rubble stone extension. The dormers were added after Gates' tenure.

The only major documented alteration to the house after the period of Gates ownership is the addition of dormers to the gabled roof.
Traveller's Rest (Kearneysville, West Virginia)