In 1716, a tract of land which was a little more than in size was granted to John Read. He named it "The Manour of Peace" and had it in mind to develop in the style of an English manor, anticipating that it would later become a very valuable country estate. He leased out the land and did not sell until after his death, when he gave a gift of to serve as a ministry lot. As time passed, the town of Ware grew up around the old Congregational meeting house and later became a small center of local manufacturing and commerce.