THE ADAMS HOUSE
One of the first settlers at Newbury, Massachusetts, was one Henry
Sewall, who came over from England in 1634, bringing with him cattle,
servants, and provisions. He was allotted six hundred acres of upland
and marsh land at Newbury, according to agreement made before he left
his native country. This land bordered the river Parker, near what is
now known as Byfield proper, a fertile, woodland country with rolling
hills and rich land. He married Jane Dummer, settling later on the grant
of land that had been apportioned to him for the first stock farm in
America.
Near the foot of the hill, at the parting of four roads, was a lot of
land that he bequeathed to his wife, with ten pounds yearly. The grant
of land later on was divided into several house lots, one of which was
the home of William Longfellow, the emigrant ancestor of the Longfellow
family in America, who married Anne Sewall. This shows the connection
through marriage of the prominent families who settled in this region.
Captain Abraham Adams was born in Newbury, May 2, 1676. He followed the
sea in early life, sailing first to the West Indies, and soon rose to
the command of a vessel, making fourteen trips to England, besides many
coastwise trading voyages. In 1703 he married Anne Longfellow. She was a
niece of Judge Samuel Sewall, and lived on the part of the old Sewall
grant then known as "Highfield," which name was given to the estate that
Abraham Adams' father gave to him at the time of his marriage, although
the deed was not passed until two years afterwards. Upon this land
Captain Adams built his mansion, an unpretentious house following the
lines of that period. It stood in the midst of the tract which at that
time was much larger than it is to-day, although even now it is still
possible to walk a mile in a straight line from the homestead on
ancestral ground covered with heavy timber and showing broad meadows.
Stone walls were not then built to define boundaries, and the highway
was a mere bridle-path running by the door and on between the houses of
Henry Sewall and William Longfellow to the ford over the brook, at that
time a considerable stream. The captain, who took kindly to farming,
greatly improved the land, and on the grant are still found small
apple-trees that grew from those set out by him in 1706. The seeds for
these trees were brought by Captain Adams when he returned from one of
his voyages. Tradition relates that while bringing them from the ship
his oxen stopped in the ford at Cart Creek, and the captain, in a
discouraged mood said: "I would rather dump the seeds in this cart into
the creek than to put them in the ground." He changed his mind, however,
and became a very successful farmer.
After Captain Adams' marriage to Anne Longfellow, he promised to give up
his life on the sea and devote his time to farming. Whether with this he
made a mental reservation is not known, but in his shipyard half a mile
away he afterwards built several vessels and engaged in a
coasting-trade. Unlike the other farmers of the day, the products of his
farm were carried to New Orleans and other ports and bartered for rice
and molasses. The old shipyard can still be seen, but the vessels have
long ago disappeared. The narrow river winding to the sea shows little
space for shipping, and even in its most prosperous days it was
necessary to launch the rudely built ships sidewise.
[Illustration: PLATE XXXV.--The Adams House, Newbury,
Massachusetts.]
The old house is still standing. Some of the original shingles and
clapboards, covering a solid wall of home-made bricks, are still in a
good state of preservation, especially on the west end. The innovation
of a modern porch has added to rather than detracted from the pleasing
appearance of the house. The diamond paned windows that were imported
from England have been removed. Inside, the smoothly finished beams, the
great fireplaces with panelled sides, the heavy doors, the broad, low
steps, the fine woodwork in staircase and mantel, all speak of former
pride and prosperity.
Many an ancient legend is related concerning this old dwelling. Under
the attic eaves is still shown a bunk known as Booth's bin, on account
of an Indian slave by that name who for many years slept in it. Many
years ago David Adams, while on a visit to Deny, New Hampshire, took
with him a slave who became suddenly ill. No regular physician could be
secured who was willing to attend him, so a cow doctor was called. He
advised a hot bath. As nothing could be found large enough for the bath,
an old dug-out was dragged up from the river, pitched, and filled with
boiling water, into which the negro was unceremoniously thrust but
escaped with his life.
During a fire that occurred in this house sometime during the residence
of Abraham Adams, this slave wished to aid in putting it out, he rushed
up over the stairs to cut a hole in the roof with a hatchet. The hatchet
was dull and the roof was high, so he battered it with his head until a
hole was made.
Somewhere on the bridle-path that led to the house in the early days of
its occupancy there lived for a time a little band of twenty-five
Indians, many of whom died there. One beautiful day in the early spring
Mother Anne sauntered down the lane and strolled across the fields, as
was her custom, to sit down outside the wigwam and chat with the old
squaw. She was all alone, as Quanto, the brave, was absent attending to
work around the place. Soon the old squaw stirred up the blaze of the
camp-fire and set the kettle on to boil, making ready for the return of
her husband for the midday meal. She put in beef and turnips, for it was
before the days of potatoes. The smell of the savory stew was most
appetizing, and Mother Anne, who had been often urged to partake of the
Indian hospitality, decided this time to accept. Suddenly a slight
rustle in the branches caused her to turn her head, and there by her
side stood the brave, Quanto, who had come out silently from the
shadows. His blankets were cast aside, and twined around his arm and
shoulder was a big black snake which he held by its head. With the
characteristic grunt of the Indian he saluted his guest, then stepping
quickly forward, he removed the cover of the kettle with his left hand
and with his right threw the writhing snake into the stew. Needless to
say, Mother Anne's important household duties called her home before the
meal was ready.
When the house was first built, the land was covered with forests which
were afterwards felled. Since then many generations have ploughed and
sowed the fields which, with incredible toil, were wrested from the
wilderness. Six ponderous oxen and a pair of steers were attached to a
massive wooden plough, on which rode a man and boy; the stronger of the
two held the plough upright. Thus were the sods turned and the fields
prepared.
The labor of Mother Anne in those days was as arduous as was that of
Captain Abraham. At the east side of the house, close by the old well,
stood the leach-tub holding one hundred gallons. Here lye was made to
be used in working the flax. Soap-making followed the cattle-killing in
the early spring, for butcher and baker did not come near the house at
that period.
From the apple trees cider was made, forty barrels being put in for a
yearly allowance, for it was drunk much as tea and coffee are to-day.
The Indians naturally craved some of this drink. One of them, after
being repeatedly refused, came with a basket filled with gifts from the
woods and asked slyly if "Him Captain" would fill it with cider in
return. So persistent was he that the captain told him yes. The Indian
answered: "Him, Captain, wait a little!"
Quick as a flash, attaching the basket to the rope, he swung it down the
well. After several dippings it froze, making an excellent receptacle in
which to carry the cider home.
Captain Adams was a very prominent man. He had two sons, twins, who both
were sent through Harvard. There was a daughter, Anne. All three of
these were very religious, for we read that the twins established the
Lynnfield church and also the Old South in Newburyport, while the
daughter Anne, with her husband, established the First Baptist Church in
New Hampshire. Jacob, another son, started the first seminary for girls
in America, called the Adams Female Seminary, one of its teachers being
Mary Lyon, the founder of Mount Holyoke College.
Samuel Adams was the same type of man as his father and succeeded to the
homestead. He had five sons, the eldest of whom was blind, and with four
of these sons he fought through the long war of the Revolution. From
this old doorway loving wives looked anxiously for the return of their
husbands and sons from the wars.
Singularly enough, although five generations of Adams' went to war, and
the heads of the families wore side-arms, no trace of them is found in
the household, with the exception of one sword that did duty at Bunker
Hill. What they did with their arms was never known, but if they were
melted into ploughshares, the work must have been done quickly.
After the death of Abraham, the house was left to Samuel, his son, in
consideration of one pound and the love and affection borne him; after
his death it went to Samuel's son, Captain Stevens, born in 1760.
Captain Stevens, so the legend runs, was a very tall man, standing six
feet four inches in his stockings at the time of his enlistment in the
Continental army when sixteen years of age. Still kept in the house are
his spectacles which were made to order from silver dollars which he had
saved. His desk still stands in the living-room and was bought with
money paid him as a soldier. It cost forty dollars even at that period.
[Illustration: PLATE XXXVI.--Parlor, Adams House; Living Room, Adams
House.]
Entrance to the house is through a colonial porch that gives into a
small hallway. At the left is a large, square room that is used as a
living room. In one corner is the old desk in which is the original deed
of the house, signed by Samuel Sewall and Hannah Sewall. The dwelling is
a treasure-house of old colonial furniture, many of the pieces having
been originally in the old Longfellow house. One of the most interesting
of these is a fine example of banister chair, the one that was brought
by Anne Longfellow across the fields to the Adams house when she came
there a bride.
On the opposite side of the house is a second large, square room, also
filled with heirlooms, among which is a fine example of an 1800 mirror
of the picturesque type showing "Dawn." This was also brought by the
Longfellow bride. The fireplace in this house is the original one around
which the Adams father and son gathered the night before the battle of
Bunker Hill, to mold bullets that would be used on that occasion.
[Illustration: PLATE XXXVII.--Dining Room, Adams House.]
Back of this room, which is used for a parlor, is a dining-room with an
old desk secretary, of 1800, showing the ball and eagle ornamentation.
Here also is another large old fireplace, for the interior of the house
has been unchanged since it was built by Abraham Adams, in 1676.
The house has descended in a direct, unbroken line, and has been handed
down from sire to son for the consideration of one dollar. It is one of
the most charming of country-seats, enriched by history, and retaining
still all the atmosphere of the old colonial homestead.