The Harriton Association was incorporated in 1963 to preserve and promote the 1704 Harriton House, an early colonial estate in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. The Association offers tours and public programs centering around the life, philosophy and ideals of Charles Thomson who lived here between 1789 and 1824. Thomson was Secretary to the Continental and Confederation congresses. In this role he designed the great seal of the United States and guided the process of the 13 Colonies becoming the United States of America. An abolitionist, activist, and great friend to Native Americans, he was known as “Weg-woo-law-mo-end (phonetic spelling)” or “The man who stands and tells the truth.” At Harriton, Thomson pursued beekeeping, farming, animal husbandry, and scholarship. Prior to Charles Thomson, the house and property were owned by Rowland Ellis (1683-1719) followed by Richard Harrison (1720-1756). It was through Harrison’s daughter Hannah that Thomson came to live at Harriton.