The current location of 28 East Main Street is 108 ft along the road. In the early 1700s, it was owned by John Swett as most of the land on the north side of East Main Street was. Although we do not have the deeds to substantiate the transfer, we do have a deed from James Carr to Francis Carr in 1774 listing this land as Ephraim Elliott’s.
“Thomas, eldest son of Ephraim Elliott, married, January 14, 1778, Sarah Swett, and kept tavern in Rocks Village, where now is the house of Mr. Stephen Noyes, in a building which was removed from its original site, and divided in two parts ; one, taken up the hill to the corner of the Peaslee estate, is now the home of Mr. R. A. Chase ; the other part was removed down the hill and is now in possession of the heirs of the late Capt. John Osgood.” (26, pg 60)
According to Old Houses of Rocks Village and Vicinity by R. A. Noyes, the tavern was across the street from where the countess lived. And according to the map included in Noyes’ publication, it would be 28 River Road.
We do know that John Swett kept one of two taverns in Rocks village in 1728 which we think was built in 1700. [38, pg 153 and Chase 283].
1742 – J Swett sells his 19A north of E Main St. to Simeon Brown. Still owns
south side land (35 acres). 87/139
1772: Frances Carr marries Mary Elliot (d. of Ephraim)
1773, July 3: Henry Young Brown (Brownfield Maine), Simeon Brown (Haverhill Blacksmith), and Ruth Brown (Kingston, NH, Mantle maker) to James Carr (Innholder) (134/22) 19 acres bounded northerly by the highway that leads from the bound rock to Jamaco path and westerly on Jamaco path, southerly on the highway that leads from Kingston to Swett’s ferry in part and in part on the landing easterly on a two rod way that leads from the landing to the road from the bound rock which two rod road was allowed by John Swett. The whole north side of East Main. (146 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence)
1774, Sept 7: James Carr innholder To Francis Carr of Almsbury, cooper, 19A dwelling house all other buildings bounded by highway west(?) from bound rock to Jamaica path then s on Jam path to road from Kingston to Swetts ferry then on said road e to Ephraim Elliots upon said road then on Elliots n to s&s then Elliots s to the road or landing then on landing e to a 2-rod way Swett allowed then on said way n to the way from bound rock to Jam path (start). 134/ 23
Potentially, Thomas Elliot gets the 1/2 acre stated in his father’s will or when he marries Sarah Swett (d. of Thomas Swett) they get tavern.
1778, January 14: Thomas (1752 – 1818), eldest son of Ephraim Elliott, married Sarah Swett (1756 – 1833) (Timothy (1729-1759)/Anne Merrill, John III (1699-1778)/Sarah Saunders, John II (1676-1725)/Susannah Page, Stephen/)
At John Swett III’s death (1778) the tavern was kept by Thomas Elliott and his wife Sarah.
1796: “Keeping a tavern with its old swinging sign” this is from Whittier’s poem The Countess
1800 – Built by Thomas Elliott (21 John Ingersoll Diary)???
1809: In Elliot’s will, there is a 1/2 acre that is listed as having been bought from Brown. House and Barn. Doesn’t say who gets it, but Thomas gets the house where he now lives and 30 acres.
1818: Thomas Elliott dies February 6th and bequeaths the house to his daughter Sally de Poyen. Sally had married Joseph de Poyen in Mar. 5, 1805. They did not use it as a tavern [54].
c 1840: Sally and Joseph de Poyen moved to West Amesbury (now Merrimac) [54].
According to the first deed we have found, where Joseph de Poyen sells this land to Samuel Elliot, it is 8R or approximately 132′ along East Main Street. 28′ comes from Enoch Foot to Samuel Elliott in deed 487/71 dated 1844. This piece is bounded by Samuel Elliot 6R on east, John Johnson north, Abigail Elliot 6R on west and road on south.
Several sources state that the original house was split in half at this point. Chase’s half of the tavern was moved to a corner of the Garrison house which had been bought from Amos Peaslee of Dover NH. The other half went to the heirs of Capt John Osgood and was removed to the foot of the hill. [Peaslee]. The Chase half moved to what is now 99 Old Amesbury Line Road and then owned by Rufus K. Chase.
In 1854, the current house was built by Samuel Elliott in same spot where John Swett Tavern used to be after it was split apart.
The land was split apart; 56′ with a building was sold to Stephen Noyes in 1868 and 50′ also with buildings, sold to Gustaves Davis, Jackson B. Swett, and Phillip Currier Swett.
See deeds below: 28 East Main Street is split up into 28A and 28B.
Ellen P. Germain owns both the 50′ and 56′ which make up current lot where the house stands.
Deeds/Census
1843, Jul 24: Poyen to Samuel Elliott (340/260) Land and buildings bounded on east by Thomas S. Chase (34 East Main) 8R, North by John Johnson 8R, west by Enoch Foot, 6R and south by road 8R. 132′ along road
1855 Census:
Samuel Elliott (57) Shoe Manufacturer
Sophia E. Elliot (36)
George H. Elliott (11)
Emma L. Elliott (3)
Catherine Fitzgerald (18) Ireland
Henry E. Palmer (17) Shoe Cutter
Samuel is the son of David and Abilgail (Estabrook) Elliott. Sophia is the daughter of John Ayer.
1865 Census:
George E. Elliott (36) shoe business
Mary Elliott (34) housewife
28 East Main Street is split up into 28A and 28B.
28A (where house stands now)
1868, Oct 1: Samuel Elliott and Sophia Elliott sells to Stephen Noyes of West Newbury (889/234). bounded easterly by land of widow L. Colby (1/2 of Moses George House), northerly by John Johnson (56′ – about 4R), westerly by Samuel Elliott (8R). 56′ along road.
Stephen Noyes dies in 1907.
1908: Sarah Noyes to Roswell Wood (1914/322) 30 rods. Starting at road and running 8R along Andrew Young to Johnson then 56′ along Johnson then southerly by Andrew J. Young to street then easterly to point begun.
1917: (2360/205) Roswell L. Wood to Bessie M. Peabody land with building starting at land of MSB and Bragdon running 8R back to Thompson then southerly by Thompson and other land by grantor (Wood) to road (lot9, block 3, map 430)
1921, 7 Nov: (2503/22) Bessie M. Peabody to Ellen P. Germain 56′ lot (Lot 9 Block 3, Map 430)
28B (garage and driveway)
1872, Feb 1: Samuel (son of Daniel Elliott) and Sophia (Elliott Ayer) Elliott one half to Gustaves L. Davis , one quarter to Jackson B. Swett, and one quarter to Phillip Currier Swett (847/211) $1000.00. A certain lot of land with buildings bounded by Noyes on East 6R, John Johnson on North (50′), West by Samuel Elliot 6R, and along road 50′. This is where we think the shoe factory was.
1876: (971/193) Jackson B. and Phillip C. Swett to Samuel C. Foot Noyes along road to other land of grantor.
1877 Samuel C. Foote (no wife) to Austin G Sprague (971/194) starting at Noyes and running 50′ to Swett. Mortgage same discharge: (1013/196)
1880 (1034/68) Austin C. and Harriet A. Sprague to William Smiley starting at Noyes and running westerly to Swett (Jackson and Phillip) 50′ along road
1882 W. H. Smiley and Sultana M. Smiley (1084/45) to Andrew J. Young. Land and Building 50′ on road 6R deep.
1888: (1240/237) Andrew J. Young to Ernest V. Young
1905 Sept 25th: Ernest V. Young (1793/553) and mortgage with Merrimack Savings Bank dated 1890 (1296/585) Land with building 50′ along road to Swett land (6R) then 50′ along John Johnson to Noyes land (6R) to street.
1908 (2106/403) from Merrimack Savings Bank to Roswell L. Wood.
Roswell L. Wood dies in 1920.
1921, Nov 29: (2503/22) Jennie L Wood, Thomas L. Wood, Harold M. Wood, Laura Mae Wood Ellis, Helen K. McSpadden, Katherine S. Wood, Arthur A. Ellis, John S. McSpadden to Ellen P. Germain Beginning at a point on Main Street at the southwesterly corner of the intersection of land of Bessie Peabody and heirs of Rowell L. Wood thence running northerly by Bessie Peabody’s land 100ft then westerly 50ft, then southwesterly 100′ to said main street then easterly by main street 50′. Lot#10,block 3, map 430 Note: Jennie L. (Maddack) Wood was married to Roswell L. Wood. Harold Maddock (w. Katherine Spurlin Aldrich), Laura May (h. Arthur Albert Ellis), Ellis Arthur, Helen Catherine (h. John Samuel McSpadden), and Thomas Leighton Wood (w. Margarite Wilder Junkins) were their children.
Sept 11, 1937: Ellen P. Germain (husband Howard A. Germain) to Stella M. Germain (3123/59). Bounded by 108 ft along Main street from land on George Jaques to land of Augustus J. Bragdon. Then running northerly 8 R to land of Annie V. Thompson.
1940 Census: Edward B. Germain – 46, draw tender for bridge
Stella M. – 52
John O. – 15 (son)
June 2, 1965: Stella M. Germain to Cordes (5278/757) )106′ along rod
May 26, 1966: Dorothy C. Cordes to Faxon (5364/382)
Oct 9, 1967: Norman P. Faxon and Marilyn A. to Bruce M. Winthrop (5482/476)
March 20, 1970: Bruce M. Winthrop to Vuurman(5673/228)
Nov 21, 1970: David W. Vuurman and Mary Lou Vuurman to Aradas (5729/416)
July 2, 1977: Stephen E. Aradas and and Barbara J. Aradas to David V. King and Mary Jane Morris (6370/572)
Sept 6, 1980: David V. King and Mary Jane Morris to Palladino (6734/627) 106 ft along main road.
Sept 5, 1986: John R. Palladino and Cynthia J. Palladino (11445/532)
Aug 18, 1992: East Boston Savings Bank to Charles W. Johnson (11446/532)
Dec 10, 1992: Charles W. Johnson to Comeau (11647/184)
Jan 21, 1997: Michael R. Comeau and Leslie R. Comeau (13950/252) 106 feet along road
2000: Glenn Moran Leslie Comeau owners
We think this is the Elliot House on Elliott Street near NECC.
Built by Robert Hastings, a mason who came from England and he worked at building the Garrison House. He married a daughter of Deacon Jim Davis who lived in RV. This might be the Elliott mansion on Elliott Street near NECC.
From Notes from the Chase Chronicles -October 1918
: (33)
Mr. Samuel Elliott built a modern house, that gave quite a distinction to the street. In front of the house was a very handsome iron fence that was a novelty at the time; the exterior of the house was attractive, painted white, with green blinds; the front door was a feature also, one long panel, with a pointed gothic top, and iron ornamental work inserted.
Perhaps the home of Samuel Elliott now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Emma Elliott Cote, and Miss Mary Elliott, is one of the best groomed homes if the word can be applied to farms as well as people. Mrs. Samuel Elliott was an Ayer great grand daughter of Anthony before her marriage and four generations of the Ayer family have lived on the estate, and the daughters have given it the name of Maternal Acres. This old homestead is not only beautiful to look at, but far more beautiful, when one considers the immense amount of good these ladies are doing in the world, the liberal way they are using their money for the good of mankind. (33) Was this on Elliott Street??