USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > History of the town of Hanover, Massachusetts, with family genealogies > Part 22
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Parkman, the historian, refers to a prophetic sermon preached by Mr. Mellen, in 1760, on the Conquest of Canada, in which he said-"This event, the capture of Quebec, will quicken life on this continent and, within a century, sixty million people will inhabit this country."
Rev. Mr. Chapin for quite a long time kept a private school for young ladies in this house. The mother of the writer relates the following incident :- Mr. Chapin, who was a very neat man, pre- pared some paths to the house. The young ladies were careless and romped over the lawn. Mr. Chapin then posted the notice: "Ladies will please keep the path." The night of the posting, there was a heavy rain and in the morning the paths were filled with water. The young ladies obeyed instructions and all marched into the school room with very wet feet, greatly to the annoyance of Mr. Chapin.
The large elm is as old as the house by which it stands.
The dwelling house of Henry E. Chamberlin was probably con- structed about 1727 by David Torrey. Doubtless it has been en- larged. Mr. Torrey lived here for several years, when he sold it to Thomas Rose, and it continued in the ownership and occupancy of the Rose family, until the death of Charles Rose in 1884, when it was devised to Mr. Chamberlin, the present owner. Thomas Rose was for a long time Selectman and his son Timothy was an officer in the Revolution. Seth, Charles, Lucy, and Eliza Rose all lived here for many years and all died unmarried. Seth Rose's tannery, which was a short distance from this house, closed with his death and was probably the largest in "output" of any ever in the town.
The house of Bernard Damon, on Hanover street, where his fa- ther Thomas Damon lived and died, was probably constructed by Edward Briscoe about 1727. The land on which the house stands was early known as Briscoe's Plain. Rebecca Briscoe, a daughter
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of Edward, married Nathaniel Stetson in 1737 and the house was for a long time owned by the Stetson family, Mr. Thomas Damon, the father of the present owner purchasing it in his young man- hood. Edward Brisco moved to North Carolina.
The fulling mill, which stood in Pembroke near the Curtis Forge, was moved here and constitutes the ell of the house.
The Baldwin house, on Hanover street, though in a battered condition deserves mention. It was constructed in 1759 by the First Parish and presented to Rev. Samuel Baldwin in accordance with the terms of the agreement he made with the parish, before he would accept their call to become the pastor. Mr. Baldwin lived his life in this house. He was greatly beloved and, on his death, the town voted to erect monuments to mark the graves of himself and wife. After his death, the house was occupied by different per- sons. Mr. Seth Stetson lived here while he was postmaster and to this house the people in the north part of the town went weekly for their mail.
It is now occupied by several families and is known as the "Bee Hive". A house so well built, so historic, and occupying such an excellent position, should be preserved. After Mr. Baldwin's death this house was owned and occupied for a time by Robert Salmond. He sold the same to Caleb Marsh, the physician, in 1794.
NOTE: Since writing the above, the house has been burned. Mr. Charles L. Gleason photographed it while burning and, with his permission, copies are given.
"The Lone House in Cricket Hole" (one story with large chim- ney) is one of the oldest houses in the town. It was for a long time owned by Robert Sylvester and now by his son, the present. Robert. By virtue of their care, it still stands as a memorial. Probably no way was ever laid out to this house but for more than one hundred and twenty-five years the "cart path" as it is called, leading from Washington street near the house of the late Martin Church to the tack factory of Samuel Salmond & Son, was used as a public way.
This house for a long time was known as the Palmer place and was for many years in its earlier history owned and occupied by the Donnells. It was for several years occupied by the French Neutrals who were assigned to Hanover, when the English Govern- ment scattered this unfortunate people. Peter Trahan, one of the Neutrals, in passing through Hanover, found a silver watch near
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this house and, as "under the law of his country he was required to do," he left it with his country-men living here. There seems to have been no attempt to conceal and when the rightful owner was ascertained, he was notified by Peters' brother where he would find the watch. The owner, however, had Peter arrested and he was thrown into prison and, after four days, was released on his giving the owner of the watch his note for fifty pounds. He finally appealed to the council, however, and was cleared of the charge of theft and released from the payment of the note.
The house on Washington street owned and occupied by Mr. Frederick W. Hall must have been built as early as 1748 by Hench- man Sylvester, who died in 1758 without children. After the death of Henchman, his brother Edmund, who married a daughter of Rev. Benjamin Bass, resided here. He died in 1783 and the property came into the possession and occupancy of his son Belcher Sylvester, a cabinet maker, who lived unmarried and died in this house in 1849, aged eighty-six years. Mr. Hall, who has for many years been a successful teacher in Boston, purchased the house quite recently and occupies the same as a summer residence.
This house was constructed in part from the materials of a larger house which stood near the present site and was owned by the William Barstows, father and son. This original house was owned at his death in 1719 by William Barstow, the son of the first William, who devised it to his son William. The old house was standing in 1738, when it was sold to Amos Sylvester, the father of Henchman. The old barn that stood on this place was destroyed by fire.
The long house at Hanover Four Corners, corner of Washington and Church streets, was probably built in 1810 as, on that date, Joseph Eells sold to Jotham Cushman of Halifax the lot of land on which the house stands; there being a reservation in the deed that no meeting house should be constructed on the lot. Mr. Cushman was a lawyer and evidently became embarrassed before the house was completed and it passed into the hands of Sylvanus Lazell. Presumably Mr. Cushman had an interest in the house and probably occupied it, as in 1818, after his death, his widow was allowed her third. It is doubtful if Mr. Cushman practised law after his removal to Hanover.
Soon after the death of Mr. Cushman, the house came into pos- session of the Turner family.
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Mrs. Warren, the widow of Dr. Ira Warren, lived here for many years, as did her mother Deborah Stockbridge, both living to be more than ninety years old.
The Stetson house, on Broadway, near the end of Barden street, was built by Capt. Joseph Josselyn, probably about 1726. There is conclusive proof that Capt. Josselyn lived here in 1758. He was part owner of the Anchor Forge on Elm street and died leaving no children. After his death, in 1788 or 1789, the house passed into the ownership of Albert Smith, who made it his home. Three of his children were Rear Admiral Joseph Smith; Hon. Albert Smith, M. C., and Mrs. Samuel Salmond, the wife of Sam- uel Salmond. In 1814, Joseph Smith conveyed the property to a relative, Edward Stetson, and he in 1882 conveyed it to his son Martin W. Stetson, an ingenious mechanic and an honest man. It is now owned by Mrs. Ruth W. Damon, a daughter of Martin W. aforesaid and the wife of Daniel E. Damon, for a long time Regis- ter of Probate.
The house on Elm street, near Broadway, now owned by L. Vernon Briggs, M. D., was probably built by Abner Dwelley, about 1724, as on that date his father-in-law, William Witherell, conveyed the land to him. Abner Dwelley died in 1732 by falling from a load of hay, his wife having predeceased him. He left one son, William. In his will, which was a verbal one, he left "to the widow Barstow enough to purchase a mourning gown."
For a long time, this property was owned and occupied by the Eells family, Hannah Eells being a daughter of William Witherell.
Alexander Wood, the lawyer, lived here for a while and quaint Joshua Stetson resided here for many years preceding his death.
The last owner and occupant, previous to its purchase by Doctor Briggs, was George W. Griffin.
The cottage house on Broadway near the Corners, owned by J. Williams Beal, the architect, is perhaps the oldest in the town. In January 1693-4 it was owned by Daniel Turner, a ship builder, and, on that date, he sold the same to his son Eliab Turner and, in 1717, Lazarus Turner conveyed the same to William Witherell, our first town clerk. In 1719, Sarah Turner, a sister of Lazarus, conveyed to William Witherell all her share in the above-named property and in said deed she speaks of the same as having be- longed to her father Eliab.
William Witherell lived in this house during his long term as
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town clerk and afterwards it was occupied by members of the Eells family, by Doctor Pratt, by John Young, and others. Joseph C. Stockbridge owned and lived in the house for a long time previous to his death which occurred in 1860.
When this house was erected, the highway was on the south side thereof. This highway was laid out in 1703.
Abner Turner, who owned the house which stood near the round house of the railroad, was probably a son of the Daniel above named. The well which belonged with this latter house is still plainly marked.
The house now owned and occupied by Ruth J. Stetson and others, on Washington street, just east of the Four Corners, was constructed by Benjamin Stockbridge. The building was at first occupied in part as a store and, later, as a wheelwright shop and saddle-trees were made here.
There was at one time a public hall in this building and old persons well remember the dances here and describe where the musicians sat, near the chimney, in a place prepared for them.
The children of Benjamin Stockbridge were born in this house and the family of his brother David at one time resided here.
The large two-story house known as the Broad Oak Farm, on the corner of Elm street and Broadway, now owned by L. Vernon Briggs, M. D., was constructed in 1799 by Col. John B. Barstow. Mr. Barstow was a man of distinction,-was engaged in farming and shipbuilding,-held many offices both civil and military and died at the advanced age of 90. He had nine children, the first seven of whom were born in a house which stood farther south on Elm street, being the house in which his uncle George at one time resided.
Broad Oak Farm was owned at the time of his death, by Benjamin B. Torrey, a grandson of Colonel Barstow. Mr. Torrey was for many years treasurer of the Boston and Providence R. R. and later of the Old Colony Railroad. He was at the time of his death, and for many years previous thereto had been, treas- urer of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Dr. Briggs, who has distinguished himself along many lines, now oc- cupies it as a summer residence.
The two-story house on the corner of Oakland avenue and Broad- way was erected by Rev. J. Cooper, the materials from the Epis- copal church at Church Hill being used in its construction. This
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house took the place of an earlier house on the same site. Mr. Cooper first resided here,-then Rev. Calvin Wolcott, and then Dr. Jacob Richards, who married Mr. Wolcott's daughter. Capt. Will- iam Barstow owned and occupied the premises for a time.
The later owners and occupants have been Hon. Aaron Hobart, Member of Congress and Judge of Probate, and the following physicians : Jacob Richards, J. B. Forbes, Benjamin Whitwell, Alfred C. Garratt, John O. French, and Nathaniel L. Downs.
The family of James Tolman has occupied it for twenty years or more. Few houses of its age have sheltered permanently so many professional men.
The two-story house on Washington street near the end of Oak- land avenue was probably built, about 1773, by Robert Sylvester. There is little doubt that this supplanted a much older house, probably built very early by the first William Barstow or one of his sons. After Robert Sylvester's death, about 1798, the house was owned and occupied by John Bailey, the quaker preacher and clock-maker. After his death, it was occupied by his son John, a quaker and a watch and clock-maker. This John removed to New Bedford.
Captain Edward Barstow married Amy, the quaker preacher's daughter and lived here and after his death she married Captain William Dawes, the son of Rev. Ebenezer Dawes, who lived here many years previous to his death.
Capt. Edward Barstow, a son of the Capt. Edward above named, lived here for many years and the house is still owned and occu- pied by his family.
The large two-story house on the east side of Washington street near North river was constructed by E. Q. Sylvester in 1850 and it is now occupied by Mrs. Sylvester and her son Edmund Q., the architect of the John Curtis Free Library building.
This house occupies the site of the one in which Joseph Stock- bridge, his son David Stockbridge, and his grandson David, resided for nearly one hundred years. The original house was two-stories high and very similar to the "Broad Oak Farm" house of Dr. Briggs', and was probably constructed in whole or in part by Moses Simmons, who died in the Expedition to Canada, about 1690. The land on which the house stands was owned by the first William Barstow and was by him conveyed to Mr. Simmons, who married Mr. Barstow's daughter Patience. Deacon Joseph Stockbridge, who
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BROAD OAK FARM. L. VERNON BRIGGS
RESIDENCE OF EDWARD M. SWEENY, ELM STREET
RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL H. CHURCH, MILL STREET
E.
HOUSE OF PRISCILLA CELLS, WASHINGTON STREET
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was then of Duxbury, purchased this property in 1702 and resided here until 1748, during a part of which time he served as Selectman of Hanover. In 1748 he sold the property to his son David and removed to Pembroke, in which town he died at the age of one hundred years.
David Stockbridge was prominent in public affairs, a Justice of the Peace under King George, Town Clerk of Hanover for thirty years and Representative for many years. The son David was also Town Clerk and Representative, as well as Selectman and State Senator.
For a while after the death of the second David, the house was rented, among the tenants being the Rev. Cyrus Holmes who was for many years principal of Hanover Academy.
The house occupies a commanding position near the border of the North river and the view therefrom is delightful.
The dwelling house on Water street now owned by Rodolphus C. Waterman, was owned by Nathaniel Josselyn, before the town was incorporated.
Nathaniel married in 1711, had four children, and died before 1728, as during that year his widow Frances, as administratrix, sold the house to Joseph Smith and James Torrey. In 1730 Joseph Smith conveyed his interest to James Torrey.
Nathaniel Josselyn probably settled here on account of the water privilege, his connection with this privilege being stated in the proper place. This house was owned by different persons who were connected with the mills. Mr. Charles Dyer, for many years Selectman, owned and occupied the house during his life-time and here his children were born.
The house for the first one hundred and fifty years of its exist- ence, occupied a sequestered, picturesque spot, with no other dwel- lings within a half mile thereof. The two companion houses of William R. Waterman and Henry C. Waterman now overlook it.
The house now owned by the Lot Phillips and Company Corpo- ration, situated a little back from Plain street, was constructed by Zaccheus Estes about 1808. A smaller house, which had, for three generations of Estes, been a home, was then abandoned for the more pretentious house, though this old house did duty as a storehouse and workshop until within a few years, when it was removed.
Zaccheus died in 1882, the oldest person in the town, and his widow died in 1883, she then being the oldest person in the town.
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So that both were crowned with a distinction that comes to few and is of short duration. Mrs. Estes was the last of the quakers in the town to use "thee," "thou" and "thine" in her common speech. She was a saintly woman.
Matthew Estes, the ancestor of Zaccheus, settled on this spot in 1720 and for more than a century and a half it was the home of honest, industrious, ingenious quakers. Two generations were saddle-tree makers. Sarah, the daughter of Matthew was born here. She liberated her slave and a copy of the freedom papers is given under the family record of said Matthew.
The house on King street now owned and occupied by Mrs. Saba D. Church was constructed in 1792, by Capt. Daniel Barstow, who died here in 1842, aged ninety-eight years. He was a son of Dea- con Samuel Barstow, who during the last of his life resided with Daniel, dying in 1801, aged ninety-three years. Daniels' son Dan- iel lived in this house and died in 1861, aged 86 years. Samuel, the son of this last-named Daniel, spent his life here and, after the death of his wife, the property came into the possession and occupancy of Mrs. Church. Like most of the old houses in the town, of that time, the fire place was wide enough to take a four foot log and gave ample space for the children in the chimney corner.
The first Samuel named above lived in a house which stood a few hundred feet west of the one described. This house was built before 1731, probably by Deacon Joseph Stockbridge, the father- in-law of Samuel aforesaid and was taken down when the present house was constructed. Samuel Barstow's wife was a niece of Benjamin Stockbridge, the eminent physician, and he, at his death, owned three hundred and twenty-five acres of land in one lot, which embraced the present farm of Mrs. Church. Dr. Stock- bridge had two daughters, one the wife of Dr. Otis Winslow, the other the wife of Joseph Cushing, who afterward became Judge of Probate. Mr. and Mrs. Cushing sold to Daniel Barstow their one .. half of this property.
A clock made by Calvin Bailey and purchased in 1792 still stands where it was placed when this house was constructed and is still an excellent time-keeper.
The house on Circuit street now owned and occupied by Judson Studley and wife was, in 1761, owned and occupied by Jeremiah Hatch and was probably constructed a long time before this by James
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Hatch, a son of the first Selectman, James Hatch. In 1761, Jere- miah sold the property to Joseph House, Jr., a shipwright, and, in 1769, Joseph conveyed it to Jacob Bailey, the latter conveying the same to his daughter Ruth Bailey in 1770. This Ruth Bailey married George Sterling of England in 1788 and he died in 1791. The house for a long time was known as the "Sterling House", The stone on the grave of Mr. Sterling in the cemetery at the Center has this sad and curious inscription : "I have strayed from my native friends and from my interests two,-To lay my body in this distance land, all contrary to my mind."
After the Sterlings, the property was owned by Ezekiel Bailey, Isaiah Wing, Jr., and Reuben Estes, the latter in 1826 conveying it to Charles Winslow, who lived his life here, his wife dying in 1905, the oldest person in town, aged 96. Mrs. Judson Studley is a daughter of Charles Winslow, so that for more than eighty years this place has been a family homestead.
The house on Whiting street now owned by Walter Whiting was constructed by his father about 1840. This house took the place of one which was built about 1748 by Walters' great grandfather, William Whiting, who was one of the first settlers on Whiting street. This property descended from the first William to his son William and on the decease of the latter to his son William, both of these last two named persons serving the town as Selectmen. So that for more than one hundred and fifty years this property was owned and occupied by the Whiting family.
The last occupant by the name of Whiting was Miss Tryphena, who spent a long and useful life as school teacher in Missouri and in her native town. She was also for many years a member of the School Committee of Hanover.
The original house was of one story, faced the south and stood just back of the present house. The great grandmother of Miss Tryphena said she had stood in her door yard and watched the wolves in the field near by.
The long house on Pleasant street, near Cedar street, was prob- ably constructed by Joseph Curtis, about 1740. He purchased the land on which it stands of Thomas Wilkes, about 1738. Timothy Bailey must have had a house near this spot previous to 1730, possibly this one. Mention is made of Joseph Curtis in the de- scription of the house on Union street. He died in 1753. In 1757, Joseph, the son of the above Joseph, sold the house to Marlbry
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"Turner, who married his sister and, in 1794, Marlbry Turner sold it to John Bailey. This John Bailey had a wide reputation as a mechanic. He was a maker of compasses and constructed the large eight-day clock which now, after the lapse of more than one hun- dred years, commands such a high price. He also invented a steam-jack for turning meat, roasting before the open fire, on which he obtained a patent. This is said to be the first patent issued in America for a machine to go by steam. The patent, which was dated February 23, 1792, is signed "George Washington, President, By Thomas Jefferson".
Mr. Bailey also invented machinery for revolving lights for light houses ; also the first spinning-jenney made in Rhode Island. In addition to his ability as a mechanic, he became quite noted as a quaker preacher and his daughter Mary Newall was still more distin- guished as a preacher. Channing said of her that he never knew a mind so gifted that owed so little to other minds. She lived her girlhood life in this house.
In 1802 John Bailey sold this house to Zaccheus Estes, a Qua- ker and a natural mechanic. The house was occupied for more than 75 years by the Estes family and is now owned and occupied by Ada A. Campbell.
The house on Pleasant street now owned by Ezekiel R. Studley was constructed in 1805 and stands on the same spot as a large two-story house which was burned June 17th of the same year. This fire followed the October gale of 1804 and the fallen trees were gathered and hewn and the frame work of the new house raised in one week after the fire. This work was done by the neigh- bors, who gave united effort and, in the absence of insurance, helped to bear the burden. The old house was probably constructed about 1740, by Joseph Curtis, who was known as Governor Curtis, and was first occupied by the Studleys in 1769 when Eliab took possession of it. Eliab and his son Japhet both lived here and both had large families. Mr. David Studley was born in the old house but lived in the present one from the time of its construction until the date of his death, in 1873, at the age of ninety years. He was an intelligent, unassuming man of natural mechanical ability. He was a clock-maker, having learned his trade of John Bailey the quaker preacher. Five of his eight sons were watch- makers or jewellers, and all had a good reputation for skill in their profession. Three of the eight sons were Representatives to the General Court. Ezekiel R. the youngest of the sons has served
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the town of Rockland as its efficient Town Clerk since the incor- poration of the same.
The large two-story house on Main street until recently occupied by Miss Lydia Vining, was constructed, before 1735, by Jesse Cur- tis (or possibly by his unmarried brother Richard) and Jesse lived. here until his death, in 1759. The house was occupied by members. of the family until 1800 or later. This house was occupied for- many years by Rev. John Butler of the Baptist Church, during his. pastorate from 1810 to 1824; and, of his fourteen children, nine were born in Hanover. Judson Vining, the father of Lydia, occu- pied the house for many years, until his death. Miss Lydia Vining is now rounding out a sympathetic, useful life.
The house now occupied by Nathan G. Whiting was constructed. probably about the same date as the above, by a member of the Curtis family ; the land on which the house stands having been as- signed to the widow of Jesse in the division of his estate.
The house on Main street now occupied by Horace S. Crane has: been owned and occupied by Curtis Brooks and his descendants for- nearly one hundred and twenty years, and is one of the few houses. with such a long, continuous family occupancy.
Barry says that this house was built by Curtis Brooks, about: 1790. He may be correct; but the probabilities are that it was: constructed by Samuel Curtis at a much earlier date, as he was owner of the land on which it stands in 1725, when he with others constructed the mill just west thereof. This house is a good model of the earlier houses with the large chimney plastered on the out- side. The first two children of Curtis Brooks (born here) were twins, and the third and fourth were also twins. Three of the sons of Curtis Brooks were deacons of Baptist churches,-Thomas, of the one at Tremont, Illinois; Ara, of one in Richmond, Maine ; and John, for a long time of the one in Hanover.
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