THE GOVERNOR DUMMER MANSION
Richard Dummer, emigrant ancestor of the family of that name, came to
America in 1632, joining the little company who were banded together at
Massachusetts Bay in 1632. His first residence was in Roxbury, but he
removed afterwards to Boston. While here, he became interested in
starting a stock farm, in which venture he was joined by two other
prominent citizens named Richard Saltonstall and Henry Sewall, the
ancestor of the chief justice who bore that name. When looking about for
a suitable place to start their enterprise, they came to Newbury,
Massachusetts. This was in 1634. Here they selected the territory
bordering on the river Parker, or Great River as it was called at that
time.
It was a most suitable place to carry on this enterprise, both on
account of the fertility of the upland and because of the large quantity
of salt marsh grass which was considered of special value for forage,
so they immediately contracted for the importation of a large number of
cattle. In May, 1635, the same day that this territory, known as
Wessacumcon, was by the General Court of the colony allowed to be a
plantation under the name of Newbury, a committee was appointed to set
out a farm for Richard Dummer about the falls of Newbury, not to exceed
five hundred acres, that is, provided it be not prejudicial to Newbury.
On the eighth day of July it was further ordered by the General Court
that a convenient quantity of land be set out within the bounds of
Newbury for the keeping of the cattle that came over in the Dutch ship
that year and to belong to the owners of said cattle.
Richard Dummer removed to Newbury in the spring or summer of 1635, and
other grants of land were subsequently made to him. It is a little
difficult to determine the precise boundaries, on account of the scanty
records. A short time before his death he executed deeds for his sons
that showed him to be the owner of most of the uplands and marshes
bordering on the south side of the river Parker, a tract more than three
miles in length and including most of the extensive marshes,
assembling a farm of three hundred and thirty acres. Whether he had more
land or not is uncertain, but it is known that it never exceeded five
hundred acres.
Since the early grant this farm has been in the family, Richard Dummer
making his first home on Newbury Neck on the place that was known as Mr.
Dummer's farm. A very rich and benevolent man, he contributed much
toward the growth of Newbury, being elected one of the assistants of the
colony in 1635 and re-elected in 1636, taking the highest office with
the exception of governor and deputy-governor. He was an ardent
supporter of Governor Sir Harry Vane, taking active part in the election
of 1637 which resulted in Vane's defeat. Although he was disarmed, with
seventy-two others, he was not removed from the colony.
Richard Dummer was an unusual man. Manifesting no resentment at his
treatment, two years afterwards, when Winthrop, owing to his
impoverishment, called for contributions, Dummer gave one hundred
pounds,--more than one-fifth of that contributed in the colony. Two of
his sons, Richard and Jeremiah, became very prominent, the former living
on the farm by the falls and the latter becoming a judge. It was this
Jeremiah who was the father of the governor, William Dummer, and also
of Jeremiah, Jr., who was graduated from Harvard in 1699.
At this period the names of the students were arranged in the catalogue
in rank of family, and Jeremiah's headed the list. He was also the first
scholar in his class and was spoken of by President Mather as the best
scholar ever at the college. He was very prominent all his life.
Bancroft, speaking of him, said: "His writings were the fruit of loyal
colonial liberties and contained the seed of American independence."
In 1687 his brother William was born in Boston. William was not a
student, being educated simply at the Boston Grammar School. Enlisting
in the Artillery Company in 1702, he rose to its captaincy. England was
his residence for several years prior to his marriage in 1714 to
Katherine, daughter of Joseph Dudley, then governor of the province and
son of Thomas Dudley, one of the early governors of the colony. In 1716
Governor Dudley refused re-appointment, and Colonel Samuel Shute was
appointed in his place by the Crown, who under the Province Charter
reserved the right to appoint governor, lieutenant-governor, and
secretary. This was a time of continual conflicts in the colony through
disagreements in appointments, so that the province governors enjoyed
little ease.
After an uneasy administration of six years, Governor Shute left in 1723
in disgust, remaining in England until the arrival of his successor,
William Burnett, in 1728. This left Dummer in the gubernatorial chair
for nearly six years.
Governor Dummer was placed in a very trying position. The Administration
made it practically impossible for him to render strict and impartial
judgment and give satisfaction to the people. His alliance with Dudley
and Shute, however, proved no obstacle to his influence with them, for
Governor Dummer was born in the province, and his education, his
experience, and his family traditions were with the people. It is said
of him, too, that during the critical period of his administration, his
wisdom and impartiality, as well as his kind, conciliatory spirit
brought about the confidence and respect of all who were thrown in
contact with him.
The office of lieutenant-governor was his until 1730, when he was
succeeded by Lieutenant-governor Tailer. The house in Newbury was only a
summer estate, for he occupied in winter a brick house on School Street
in Boston, bounded northerly on Province Street, and being separated
from the Province House estate by a six-foot passageway.
Governor Dummer was a very religious man, attending the Hollis Street
Church and presenting it with an imperial folio Bible in two volumes,
richly bound in rich crimson Levant morocco, splendidly gilt on the
edges and elaborately tooled by the bookbinders. It was presented on
condition that it should be read as a part of the Divine service, and at
the present day retains its former richness of color and gilding. The
paper is rich and smooth and creamy as though just made, while the size
and clearness of type are a comfort to any minister's eyes. After
Dummer's death he was buried in the Granary Burying Ground on Tremont
Street, Boston.
Governor Dummer was a man of great firmness, strict integrity, and warm
benevolence. In civil and administrative affairs he showed a rare
combination of qualities, leading his administration to be spoken of by
Dudley as the "wise administration of Dummer."
[Illustration: PLATE XLII.--Dummer Mansion, Byfield, Mass.]
The Dummer Mansion, which is situated in Byfield, then Newbury,
Massachusetts is prominently connected with the town's history, being
one of the most notable colonial homes in New England. It was built by
Governor Dummer about 1715 on a farm which was given him by his father
on October 15, 1713, a few months before his marriage. It is a fine
specimen of the houses of that day, showing brick sides and resembling
in architecture the Royall House at Medford, Massachusetts.
Just after he and his bride took up their abode in the newly completed
mansion, a housewarming was held. Governor Dummer, so the legend runs,
was a famous horseman, and on this occasion he is said to have dashed up
the broad front staircase to the second floor, mounted on a magnificent
white charger, much to the consternation of the guests. This event took
place in the month of August in the time of the full moon, and tradition
relates that he repeats this performance even unto the present day
whenever in August there are two full moons, riding forth on the
occasion of the first full moon and charging up the stairs and down
again.
In the kitchen of the mansion house on several occasions a little child
appeared. Whenever the apartment was left vacant, the next person to
come in would find a little golden-haired, blue-eyed girl about five
years of age, balancing herself upon the door-sill and peeping in and
out just as a real child naturally would do at play. She was never seen
in any other part of the house. Where she came from no one ever knew.
She always appeared in the same doorway and after standing awhile would
vanish. She became so familiar to the people of the house that they
called her Elizabeth. She had such a pleasant, smiling face that even
the most timid person felt no fear of her.
During the oiling of the kitchen floor a child's ring was discovered in
a crack where it had lain for years. In trying to get it out, a secret
spring was seen and a trap-door was disclosed. On opening it, an old
ladder was revealed, leading to the space below, but it fell to
fragments at a touch. The cellar underneath was explored. In a secret
recess was a small chamber not larger than a grave. Inside was a large,
round, cheese box, which contained the bones of a child. These were
properly buried, and the apparition ceased to appear.
In the slave quarters, which were in the ell of the mansion house, the
slaves were chained each night to prevent their escaping. The rings to
which the chains were attached were to be seen until quite recently, and
when the wind was right, the clanking of the chains could plainly be
heard.
Outside the house on the green, so the story runs, a duel was fought
by an English officer and a gentleman over an affront concerning Madam
Dummer. The English officer was killed, and tradition relates that he
appeared subsequently. He was clad in epaulets and gold lace, wandering
about as if in search of his adversary. He always wore an amazingly
large, powdered white wig and carried a dress sword in its sheath, as on
the occasion of the fateful encounter.
[Illustration: PLATE XLIII.--Doorway, Dummer Mansion; Hallway, Dummer
Mansion.]
The present mansion, remodelled, is to-day a famous landmark. It is
considered an excellent example of a colonial home, with its pitched
roof, its huge stone chimneys covered with mortar, its dormer windows,
and its Georgian porch. One enters through the wide doors into a noble
hallway extending entirely through the house, the woodwork showing fine
panelling of white pine. The box stairs rise by easy treads to the wide
landing, where a colonial window gives light to the apartment. At the
foot of the staircase is an arch, a great ornament to the hallway. The
balusters are hand-carved, the newel post being plain. The balusters and
stairs are of mahogany and the furniture is Windsor.
Opening from the hall at the right are double parlors. On the wall hangs
a fine portrait of Governor Dummer and his wife, Katherine Dudley. The
portrait of the governor is in oil by Smibert, while a copy of it by the
late Frederick Vinton is in the Senate Chamber of the State House in
Boston. The parlor shows woodwork in place of plastering or paper. The
old shutters have been carefully preserved as have the window-seats. The
furniture is of the colonial type, including Chippendale and Windsor
pieces.
[Illustration: PLATE XLIV.--Dining Room, Dummer Mansion; Den, Dummer
Mansion.]
[Illustration: PLATE XLV.--Two Views of the Living Room, Dummer
Mansion.]
Opposite the parlor is the living-room, with its fine carvings shown in
the mantel. This carving is done in wood and not in French putty glued
on, as is the case with many ornamentations. Although there is fine
panelling and woodwork in this room, it shows plaster and paper as well.
Double doors open into the rear parlor, now used as a dining-room. These
doors show strap hinges and are considered fine specimens of the
colonial period. Wonderful woodwork is seen in this room, as in other
rooms in the house.
When the parish was renamed, the name of Dummer was proposed. Finally,
however, it was called after Judge Byfield on account of a handsome gift
proposed by him. In acknowledgment of this compliment a bell was
presented to the church by Judge Byfield.