First period houses in Massachusetts (1620–1659)

This article attempts to list the oldest houses built in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States from settlement to 1659. The first immigrant houses built in the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colony are known as first generation structures. These were built upon settlement (1620) until about 1660 "when the first immigrant generation of preponderantly younger settlers had come to full maturity".[1] While dozens of existing homes are thought to have been built before 1660, proving their age scientifically is another matter. Just one example built during this time period known as the Fairbanks House has been proven through dendrochronology.[1][2] The rest of the examples are approximate (indicated with a "circa" or "c.") and based on architectural studies and historical records. Its estimated that only five houses in total have been documented enough to firmly establish they were built during this time period.[3] Only First Period houses built prior to 1660 are suitable for inclusion on this list as construction methods changed circa 1660.[1][3] All entries should include citation with reference to: 17th century architectural features; a report by an architectural historian; or dendrochronology whenever possible.

For later houses of the second generation, see First period houses in Massachusetts (1660–1679).

Legend
  Verified date using dendrochronology or some other type of architectural survey.
  Estimated date.
  House has been heavily modified per references used.

List of houses
Building Image Location First built Short summary
Williams–Barker House Scituate c.1634 The core of the Williams–Barker House is believed to date from as early 1634.[4] There is no way to tell for sure as no dendrochronology survey has been conducted on the house. The residence is now extensively renovated, and now operates as a tavern.[4][5][6]
Austin Crombie House Manchester c.1635 It is claimed in the book Manchester by the Sea (1945) that this home was moved from a nearby spot to its current location.[7] Although the Austin Crombie House is believed to date to around 1635, no dendrochronology survey has been conducted.[8] Logs were allegedly clapboarded over when the house was moved, a front room was added, and the roof has since been altered.[7]
Thomas Bourne House — Marshfield c.1637 Thomas Bourne is thought to have been built a house sometime in 1637 for his wife Elizabeth. Several rear ells were added during the 19th century, while an exteror chimney added to the side of the house is from around 1970 c.[9] The exact build date for this house can not be confirmed as no dendrochronology survey has been conducted on the structure.
Col. John Barstow House Hanover c.1640 Parts of the John Barstow House are believed to date from 1640.[10] An addition along with renovations were later added by the original family in the 1790s to accommodate their growth.[10] The John Barstow House is now a private residence.
Joseph Andrews–Perez Lincoln House Chatham c.1640 The Joseph Andrews–Perez Lincoln House is believed to have been built around 1640 as a garrison.[11][12] It was originally owned by Joseph Andrews, who passed the house on to his son Thomas in 1665.[11] These dates are approximate as no dendrochronology survey has been conducted on the home.
Richard Sparrow House Richard Sparrow House Plymouth c.1640 The Richard Sparrow House is allegedly[lower-alpha 1] the oldest surviving house in Plymouth having been built around 1640.[13][14] Renovations were last done on the house in 1934 and the Richard Sparrow House now operates as a museum.[15] No dendrochronology survey has been conducted on the house, leaving the original build date as an estimate.
Samuel Lucius–Thomas Howland House Plymouth c.1640 Thomas Howland is believed to have completed this house sometime in 1640.[16][17] He eventually transferred his property to Samuel Lucas in 1697, who sold it to the Jackson and Russell families. the latter of these owned the property throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries until 1939.[16][17] No dendrochronology survey has been conducted on the home which is now a private residence.
Capt. Thomas Willett House Kingston c.1640 The current back ell of the Thomas Willett house is estimated to date from 1640. An attachment to the original structure in the form of a saltbox was later added around 1700.[18] The hose passed through several owners over the years and last received a restoration in 1946.[18] No dendrochronology survey has been conducted on the home.
Fairbanks House Dedham 1641 The Fairbanks House is the oldest verified wood-frame house in North America after timbers were dated from 1637 to 1641 using dendrochronology. This home is largely preserved in its original state with the central complex being the oldest. Later additions (including wings, and lean-tos on the original structure) were added after 1800 as the family's descendants grew in numbers.[19][2]
Edmond Hunt House Duxbury c.1641 This residence is also known as the Edwin Hunt House, the Edmond Hawes-Barker Hunt House, and the Barker Hunt House. It is believed to date to around 1641 which would make it one of the oldest houses in Duxbury.[20] The interiors of the house were eventually stripped bare sometime around 1906 when it used for storage space.[20] Restorations were undertaken in 1962 to make the structure appear as it had been when first constructed.[20] It now serves as a private residence summer home.[21]
Wing Fort House East Sandwich c.1641 The Wing Fort House is the oldest home in New England continuously owned and occupied continuously by the same family.[22][23] Descendants of the original owner Stephen Wing continued to live in the home until 1942, when the last resident sold it to the Wing Family of America, Inc.[24] Dendrochronological dating was attempted in 2007, but was unsuccessful due to "many of the samples having too many narrow rings, some having too few rings, and to the lack of reference chronologies from the south-eastern part of Massachusetts."[25]
John Doane House Kingston c.1644 Deacon John Doane allegedly built this house sometime in 1644.[26][27] Not much is known about the residence other than the builder, and the lack of a dendrochronology survey to confirm the build date.
Sturgis Library Barnstable c.1644 The oldest portion of Sturgis Library was built c.1644 as a house for Reverend John Lothropp, who was the founder of Barnstable.[28] Later alterations include: a west room addition, work on lengthening the front posts, making the building two full stories on the front, and finally raising the rear up to two stories. The original portion was converted when the Library first opened in 1867.[29]
James Noyes House Newbury c.1646 Reverend James Noyes was one of the founders of Newbury, and built his house there sometime in 1646.[30] His descendants continued to occupy the home until January 26, 1895, when the last original family owner died.[31] The home was given an update sometime in 1729, 1800, and in 1880 when the size of the chimney was reduced.[31][32] Its most recent renovations occurred in 2020, and the house was sold the following year as a private residence.
Shatswell Planters Cottage — Ipswich c.1646 The Shatswell Planters Cottage is believed to date to around 1646 based on John Satchwell's will. It was later moved to Strawberry Hill on Jeffreys Neck Road sometime in the 1940s. Daniel Wendel acquired the home in 1956 after he saw that it was being used as a garage and workshop that was to be demolished. Over time the varied uses of the cottage destroyed some of the original framing used to determine its initial size and form. The house was restored by Wendel and now is owned by The Trust for Public Land.[33]
John Ellis House Sandwich c.1647 Its estimated that the John Ellis House was built sometime around 1647. Not much is known about the residence other than the dimensions of the it, the builder, and the lack of a dendrochronology survey to confirm a build date.[34]
General Israel Putnam House Danvers c.1648 This house was originally built by Thomas Putnam around 1648, and is named after his grandson Israel Putnam.[35] In its later history the residence was operated a shoe-making shop by Daniel Putnam in the 1850s.[36] The Putnam family transferred ownership of the residence to the Danvers Historical Society in 1991, but as of 2020 the family once again owns the property.[37]
Bicknell House Weymouth c.1650 John Bicknell is believed to have built this house sometime around 1650.[38] The house then passed in ownership to John's son who is believed to have added the eastern portion of the house in 1730.[39] At some point in the late 1890s the house was moved to a new stone foundation, and was modernized/remodeled with an ell added to the rear. The Bicknell family ceased ownership of the house in 1937, and it was converted into a duplex. During this time heaters replaced the fireplaces along with the installation of modern conveniences.[39]
Edward Brown House Ipswich c.1650 The Edward Brown House was originally built sometime around 1650, and now contains both 17th and 18th century elements.[40] Originally the structure was a one-room-over-one-room floor plan on the current eastern portion of the house. The western portion of the house was built on sometime in the mid-18th century based on its architectural elements.[40] This addition gave the home its central chimney and a lean-to was added later on.[41] The Edward Brown House is currently a historically protected private residence.[41]
Edward Wilder House Hingham c.1650 Originally, the Edward Wilder House had a saltbox structure when it was built sometime around 1650.[42] The house has since been enlarged several times due to the original owner's growing family.[43] This house later had its roof raised in 1904, which gave the chimney an unusual position as it was not moved.[42]
Elisha Leavitt House — Hingham c.1650 The original Eastern core portion of this house was built sometime in the mid-seventeenth century by persons unknown. It has since been greatly altered as the now hidden original features has an "envelope" of another century. The second section was built in the mid-eighteenth century which probably absorbed two properties into one. During this time the house was owned by Elisha Leavitt (his second home) until his death in 1790. The house has passed through several owners since then and remains a private residence.[44]
Ford House Marshfield c.1650 Its estimated that the Ford House was built sometime around 1650. Several rear addition ells were added to the original structure sometime in the 19th century. More recent additions include a modern main entry enclosure, which was added sometime in the mid-20th century. There is no dendrochronology survey to scientifically confirm a build date to the 17th century for the Ford House.[45][46]
Samuel Robinson-Michael Chapleman House Salem c.1650 This house was built by Samuel Robinson sometime in 1650, he later sold it to seaman Michael Chapleman in 1669 giving the house its namesake.[47] While the southern end of the house is believed to be original this structure has been rendered indistinguishable due to modern additions.[47][48]
John Chenery House Belmont c.1654 The John Chenery House is estimated to have been built around 1654 and has since been remodeled.[49] Architecture on the exteriors of the house now date to the 1850s to 1870's as the home was lived in and updated. Two gabled dormers were added, and the house received a simple Italianate manner.[50] The John Chenery House remained in the family until 1971.[50]
Thomas Scruggs House[lower-alpha 2] — Beverly c.1654 This house was built by Thomas Scruggs sometime in the mid-seventeenth century. The year c.1654 is given for when the house passed down to his son-in-law, John Rayment. Either Scruggs or Rayment built the oldest portion which now makes up the eastern end of the house.[52] The original western end was used as a kitchen and was later removed to become a carriage house. This was eventually replaced by the current western end at an unknown date.[51]
Retire Beckett House Salem c.1655 The Retire Beckett House was completed by shipbuilder John Beckett sometime around 1655.[7] Its namesake though comes from one of John's descendants; Retire Becket (c. 1754 – May 29, 1831) who is more well known.[7] Over time the house is reputed to have been doubled in width, a central chimney was eventually added, and the rear lean-to was attached in 1682.[7] The residence was moved to its present location at the House of Seven Gables in 1924 to save it from demolition. It now serves as the museum's gift shop with remnants of 18th century paneling inside.[53]
Thomas Dane House Concord c.1657 The first known deed for the Thomas Dane House is from 1657 for "the house barn and land" that the previous owner had bought in 1653.[54] If this is accurate then it would mean that the house was built sometime before 1657.[55][56] The house was allegedly expanded to the east in 1810 which lengthened it to the present six bays.[54][56] Windows present on the east side of the house have architectural features which date them between 1740 and 1820.[54] The home is now still a private residence with repairs last being done in the 1990s.[55]
James Moulton House Wenham c.1658 This house was built sometime around 1658 by James Moulton at the base of a hill.[57] Alterations to the home appear to have been made between 1750 and 1760 as the present chimney base is constructed of brick in the form of an arch.[58] The rooms on the south side of the chimney have also been remodeled on the first and second floors. Later alterations include a kitchen ell which was added about 1860–1870, and a side porch in the twentieth century.[58]
Newman–Fiske–Dodge House Wenham c.1658 The Newman–Fiske–Dodge House is named after Antipas Newman, who is believed to have built the residence sometime around 1858. Later on the house passed to William Fiske, Jr., who was a jury member in the Salem witch trials.[59] The right exterior portion of the house is the original single cell structure. On the left side is a more modern cell which was sometime in 1695 or 1696 to form the saltbox structure. A lean-to and additional wings were added to the house during and after the 18th century. The home's interior still contains some first period elements from large original beams, to the front staircase trim.[60]
Caleb Moody House West Newbury c.1658 Caleb Moody I (1637–1698) built this house sometime around 1659.[61] Original portions of the structure are found at the south end of the house, bracketed by the chimneys. Eight additional rooms were added to the house in 1773 that extend eastward from the north end of the original block.[61] The house remained in the Moody family until the early 20th century when it was occupied by tenants.[61] Single families were once again occupying the house by 1937, and today the residence is privately owned.[61]
Dillingham House Sandwich c.1659 This house was built by Simeon Dillingham (son of Edward Dillingham) sometime around 1659.[62][63] As a caveat, an earlier date of 1650 which was previously cited by the S.H.C. is also still mentioned among sources.[64] Eventually, the house passed down to a descendant named "Branch" in the early 19th century. The town's archive states that Branch later took his own life in 1813.[63] Allegedly, his wife died within three weeks due to mysterious causes which left their 9 children orphaned.[63] At some point in time in the late 19th century, the house was moved from Tupper Road to Main Street and was raised to its present two-story size.[62] The house remained in the Dillingham family until 1926 and has had multiple owners since.[62]
Parkman Tavern Concord c.1659 The Parkman Tavern was built by George Wheeler sometime around 1659. This residence gets its namesake from William Parkman, great-uncle to historian Francis Parkman, who operated a tavern on the premises in the late 18th century.[65] The Parkman Tavern is originally thought to have been a one room deep house that was enlarged in the late 18th century to its present form. At some point the roof and windows were altered, and the rear wing of the house was added c. 1900.[65] This house still contains a lot of wood from the original structure along with pieces up to 1820.[65]
Philip Call House Ipswich c.1659 The Philip Call House was built by cordwainer Philip Call around 1659, and was later enlarged around 1725. Various architectural periods can be found in this house that span over four generations. The original 2 and a half story house dating to the 17th century is found left of the front door which spans three windows on each floor. As a whole the house has elements that date from as built to the Victorian era.[66]
White Horse Inn Ipswich c.1659 Innkeeper John Andrews sold this house to Richard Dummer in 1659, which later gave it the historical name Cpl. John Andrews-Richard Dummer House. The house as it stands today is altered beyond recognition under its original tavern name "White Horse Inn". These alterations may have been done as early as 1763 when the house was enlarged to its Georgian form. Around 1800 the early central chimney was also removed and replaced by two side chimneys. While little is visible of the original house, the dimensions of the rooms and cased framing indicate that much of it may survive hidden behind later elements.[67]

See also

Notes
  1. The title of "Oldest surviving house in Plymouth Massachusetts" could also be given to the Samuel Lucius-Thomas Howland House (also c 1640). Its impossible to know for sure as no dendrochronology surveys have been conducted for these two structures.
  2. This is also referred to as the "Thomas Scruggs-John Raymond House".[51]

References
  1. Harris, Gordon. "First Period construction". historicipswich.org. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  2. Miles, D H; Worthington, M J; Grady, A A. "Massachusetts: Fairbanks House". Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  3. "Massachusetts and Its First Period Houses: A Statistical Survey". Colonial Society of Massachusetts. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  4. "Williams-Barker House" (PDF). Scituate Historical Commission. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  5. Seventeenth Century Houses. 1921. p. 84. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. "The Barker Tavern". Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  7. "17th & 18th Century domestic architecture of the Massachusetts North Shore: First Period". Historic Massachusetts Organization. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  8. "MACRIS Search Results". Appendix III: Historic Properties Eligibility Criteria Documentation. Bobrek Engineering & Construction. May 25, 2019. p. 6. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  9. "Thomas Bourne House". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF). Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  10. Zap, Claudine (March 26, 2020). "380-year-old Massachusetts house is oldest for sale in America". Realtor.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020 – via the New York Post.
  11. History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts. Vol. 1. Town of Hingham. 1893. p. 215.
  12. Orin Fowler (1862). Colonial Houses. p. 84. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  13. "Plymouth's Oldest House". www.sparrowhouse.com. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  14. Plymouth, Massachusetts. 1966. p. 36. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  15. James W. Baker (2002). Plymouth's Earliest Scenes and Historic Houses. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-7385-0997-6. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  16. William Thomas Davis, Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth: Part I. Historical Sketch and Titles of Estates. Part II. Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families, Volumes 1–2 (A. Williams, 1887), 177–178
  17. Donna DeFabio Curtin, Plymouth (2011), p. 46
  18. "Capt. Thomas Willett House" (PDF). Massachusetts Historical Commission. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  19. Elsie Lathrop (2006). "Historic Houses of Early America". Kessinger. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-4286-5501-0.
  20. ""The Hount House 1641"" (PDF). Duxbury Clipper. August 29, 1968. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  21. "Descendants of Edmund Hunt (542)". sites.rootsweb.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  22. "Wing Fort House". Wing Family of America. Wing Family of America, Inc. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  23. Robert Foulke, Patricia Foulke (2012). Sandwich. p. 46. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  24. Wing Family Annals, 1942, pp. 1–4
  25. "SANDWICH, Barnstable Co; The Wing House, 69 Spring Hill Road". Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  26. United States Congress (1960). "Prepared Statement of Miriam Dewitt". Hearings. p. 361.
  27. "John Doane House, 34 Wapping Road". Kingston Public Library. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  28. "History of the Libruary". Sturgies Library Organization. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  29. "Sturgis Library - Lothrop, Rev. John House". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF). Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  30. PJ Macias (October 19, 2021). "Estate built in 1646 hits the market in Massachusetts for $1.6 million". Miami Herald.
  31. John James Currier (1896). The Noyes House. p. 167. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  32. "Property Details". www.realtor.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  33. "52 Jeffreys Neck Road, Shatswell Planters Cottage (c 1646)". Historic Ipswich. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  34. "John Ellis House" (PDF). Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  35. Hubbard, Robert Ernest. Major General Israel Putnam: Hero of the American Revolution, p. 11, McFarland & Company, Inc., Jefferson, North Carolina, 2017. ISBN 978-1-4766-6453-8.
  36. "The Putnam House". Danvers Historic Society. Archived from the original on 2014-01-14. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  37. "Joseph Putnam House / General Israel Putnam House". Salem Witch Museum. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  38. "17th Century Homes" (PDF). www.weymouth.ma.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 22, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  39. "Bicknell Homestead – Weymouth Massachusetts". www.bicknell.net. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  40. Gordon Harris (December 5, 2020). "Edward Browne House, 27 High St., Ipswich". Historicmassachusetts.org. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  41. "27 High Street, the Edward Brown House (1650)". Historic Ipswich. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  42. "7". The 17th Century. p. 8. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  43. The Edward Wilder House (PDF). Hingham Institution for Savings. 1989. p. 2.
  44. "Elisha Leavitt House". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF). Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  45. "Ford House" (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. p. 5. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  46. "Ford House". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF). Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  47. Gordon Harris. "First Period houses of Salem, Massachusetts". Historic Ipswich. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  48. "Samuel Robinson-Michael Chapleman House". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF). Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  49. From Pequossette Plantation to the Town of Belmont Massachusetts, 1630–1953. Belmont Citizen. 1953. p. 10.
  50. "John Chenery House" (PDF). Massachusetts Historical Commission. 1982.
  51. "Scruggs, Thomas - Raymond, John House". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF). Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  52. "Beverly historic houses". Historic Massachusetts Organization. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  53. "The Retire Beckett House". House of the Seven Gables. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  54. "Thomas Dane House". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF). Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  55. "Thomas Dane House (47, Formerly 17, Lexington Road, Concord, MASS.) Collection, 1867–1998". Concord Free Library. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  56. Sarah Chapin. "Three Centuries of the John Ball House" (PDF). Concord Dart. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  57. Gordon Harris. "Antique houses of Wenham, Massachusetts". Historic Ipswich. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  58. "James Moulton House". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF). Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  59. "17th & 18th Century domestic architecture of the Massachusetts North Shore: Wenham". Historic Massachusetts Organization. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  60. "Newman-Fiske-Dodge House". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF). Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  61. "Caleb Moody House" (PDF). Massachusetts Historical Commission. pp. 9–11.
  62. "Dillingham House". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF under "Areas"). Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  63. Wendy Manning (October 28, 2001). "TV peeks at 6 haunted homes". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  64. Robin Smith-Johnson (2016). Haunted Places. ISBN 9781625856753. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  65. "Parkman Tavern". Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (downloadable PDF). Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  66. "26 High Street, the Philip Call house (1659, with additions)". Historic Ipswich. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  67. "34 High Street, the White Horse Inn (1659 / 1763)". 5 September 2012.

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