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House & Land at 380 Essex Street,
Salem, Mass.
This house was built~in 1007 for ~oseph Sprague Jr (1771-1833),
a Sal em merchant. Sarnuel Hcintire MflL( h.M'e Carved !Ct»t/L. eP ff~ frlrn
o. a~Vt{ /o FtsIce. /6nd;a/I~ surm t~e in Mr.~ !Vt> (ayver,
'
The lot was purch~sed 2 Har 1791 by Joseph Sprague Sr {died
13 Feb 1808), a Salem distiller, from the executors of the will of'
Francis Cabot {Southern Essex County Deeds, 154:301 ); at that time
there was a wooden house (formerly the residence of James & Mary
Grant) standing where this house now stands--right next to Mr Sprague 1 s
mansion house, 384 Essex Street, still standing on the northern
corner of Essex & Flint Streets (jn those days Flint Street, from
Essex St to the North River (now the canal), was called Dea.~ Street
or Dean's Lane). About 1806, according to Oliver Thayer, who was
born in it, the wooden house was demolished, clearing the way for
construction of' the present house in the next year, 1807.
That the house wasbbuilt for Joseph Sprague Jr, on land
ovmed by his father, is established by the inventory (taken 7 June
1,8oe5) of' the elder Sprague 1 s estate (Essex County probate case
#26033 , wherein Joseph Sprague Sr's "mansion house & appurtenances,
including the land under & adjoining Joseph Sprague Jr 1 s new brick
house," was valued at $15,ooo.
·
It is worth mentioning that the Salem Historic District Study
Oon~tlttee Report (vol. III, prepared by Elizabeth K Reardon, pp 57-8)
is incorrect in stating that Joseph Sprague Sr lived in a Hcintiredesigned house at 376 Essex St, next east of 380 Essex St: as a
matter of fact, the Wait family owned that lot from Revolutionary
times right up to 1830, when the premises at 376 were sold to
Nathaniel L Rogers, who had married into the family. So if there
was a Ifointire house there, it was built for Aaron We.it, and not
for Joseph Sprague Sr, who was well content to live & die a~
384 Essex Street!
Major Joseph Sprague Sr died 13 Feb 1808; on 28 Mar 1808 his
heirs (son Joseph Sprague Jr, and daughter Sarah V1hite (Sprague),
wife of Dr 'dilliam Stearns) divided the estate between themselves:
Sarah White (Sprague) Stearns acquired all of her father's house &
lot at 384 Essex St; Joseph Sprague Jr took full possession of the
land & house (his own) at 380 Essex Street (see Deeds, 182:233).
On 8 Nov 1822 Joseph Sprague, Danvers merchant, by deed
230:151, sold the estate to Joseph Peabody Esq of Sa~em, whose son
Francis Peabody (born 1801) was living there by 1832, even though
his father (who lived, according to the Salem Directory for 1837,
at 134 Essex Street) had. never formally deeded it to him. Francis
Peabody decided to build an addition to the house; to do so, he
purchased of his neighbor Rogers a narrow strip of land to the
northeast of the house, on 16 June 1832 (Deeds, 264:208). By the
first of July, 1834, the new brick addition was finished--and
causing problems--for on that day Peabody agreed with Rogers to
maintain 11 a copper· gutter along the eaves of the eastern end" of
the addition, to keep water from pouring off its roof onto Rogers'
fence & land below {Deeds, 311 :287).
�Finally, by deed 311 : 288, 13 Hay 1839, Joseph Peabody, still
the legal oimer, conveyed the premises to their occupant, Francis
Peabody, who a day latei> sold the estate to Samuel Williams (Deeds,
311 :289). On 12 Sept 1840, by deed 320:202, Samuel 'dilliams sold
his estate to John H Silsbee for $8500.
.
Mr Silsbee lived here for the next 51 ye~0. He died
19 Sept 1891, willing the property in equal halves to his son
William H Silsbee· and his daug..Yiter Alice D (Silsbee), wife of
Dr. Hall Curtis (see John H Silsbee probate case #71323).
l·lilliarn H Silsbee <lied 18 Har 1900, u.runarried, willing all his
estate to his sister Alice D (Silsbee) Curtis, who now came into
full possession of the house & land at 380 Essex Street (see
William H Silsbee probate case #85951). Shortly afterward, on
5 Jan 1901, Dr & Nrs Curtis, by deed 1631 :472, granted the premises
to Mary L d 1 Este of Salem.
Fifteen years later Julian & Nary L d'Este sold house & land
by deed 2321 :122 to Arthur L Lougee, whose widow, Annah C Lougee,
on 30 Dec 1953, sold the 380 Essex Street estate to its present
owners, the Sweckers (see Deeds, 4037:271).
* Since writing this, I have found that Col. Fran0is Peabody
was living at 380 Essex St as early as 1830; indeed, Joseph Peabody
may have purchased it for his son Francis to live in from 1822 on.
On 4 Jan 1830, twenty of Salem's leading citizens gathered at the
380 Essex St home of Francis Peabody to found the Salem Lyceum;
this according to the Salem~' p. 6, 1 Aug 1896, a copy of
which may be seen hanging in the entry of Salem's 'Lyceum Restaurant.
Robert Booth
26 June 1976
�Deed Conveyances Relating to 380 Essex Street, Salem ?1A.ss,
2 Mar 1791: Whereas James & Mary Grant on 25 Aug 1770,
deed 122:194, mortgaged to Francis Cabot, Salem, their house &
homestead in Salem, bounded
s. on the main street;
e. on Aaron Wait;
n. on land called Burns', then occupied by Joseph Dowse Esq;
w. on Dean's Lane;
s. & w. on John Dean back to the main street;
and whereas said mortgage was assigned to Sarnuel Orne, who foreclosed
it; now the executors of the will of Francis Cabot, Salem deceased,
as a favor to the administrator of the estate of Samuel Orne, Salem
deceased, for 20 shillings convey the above real estate to Joseph
Sprague, Salem, who bought it at public auction for 180 li.
(So. Essex County Deeds, 154:301)
28 Mar 1808: An indenture between Joseph Sprague, Salem
merchant, & his wife Margaret, as one party, and William Stearns,
Salem apothecary, and his wife Sarah White (Stearns), as the other
party:
That for $1,000, and for the Stearnses' grant & release
below, and also for $1,500 paid by said William for equality of
partition; said Joseph releases to sd Sarah ~vb.ite (Sprague) Stearns
one undivided moiety of a piece of Salem real estate, bounded
starting at the corner of Dean & Essex Streets, and
runs 261 1 4" on sd Dean Street to a post;
runs n. 700 e. 64 1 to a post;
runs 223 1 9 11 straight to a post on Main Street, 73 1 9 11 west
of Aaron Wait, and 91 1 9" east of the corner of
Dean & Essex Streets;
runs 91 1 9 11 on Essex St to the corner of Dean & Essex Sts;
containing about 66 poles,with the dwelling house, barn, & other
buildings thereon (along with several provisos);
And that, for $1,000 sd William & Sarah W Stearns release
to sd Joseph Sprague one undivided moiety of the Salem real estate .
bounded starting at the s.w. corner of: Aaron Wait 1 s land on Essex St, &
runs 73 1 9" to a post 91 1 9 11 from the corner or Essex & Dean Sts;
runs 223 1 9 11 to a post 64 1 east of Dean Street;
runs n. 700 e. 71 ' 6. 3 11 on undivided land of sd Joseph & Sarah;
& on Aaron Wait for 37' 3.3 11 of: that
distance;
runs 196 1 4.2 11 by sd Wait back to Essex Street;
containing about 52.5 poles (along with several provisos).
(Deeds, 182:233)
�8 Nov 1822: Joseph Sprague, Danvers merchant, for $7500
grants to Joseph Peabody Esa, Salem, the brick dwelling house &
its land, in Salem, bounded -starting at the s.w. corner of the land
of Aaron Waite on Essex Street, and
runs ?3' 9 11 by Essex Street to a post 91 1 9 11 from the corner
of Dean & Essex Sts;
runs 223' 9 11 to a post 64 1 east of Dean St;
runs n. 700 e. 71 1 6.3 11 (34' 3 11 by Joseph Sprague, deceased,
& 37' 3.3 11 by sd Aaron Waite);
11
by sd Waite back to Essex St;
runs 1 96' 4. 2
containing about 52.5 poles; being the sane premises conveyed by
deed 182:233.
(Deeds, 230:151)
16 June 1832: Nathaniel L Rogers, Salem me~chant, for $50
grants to Francis Peabody, Salem gentleman, a certain Salem parcel
bounded starting at the s.e. corner of the land on which sd Peabody's
house in Essex Street now stands, and
runs east 11 1 9~ on sd Essex St;
runs nw 97 1 4" on sd Rogers till it intersects the eastern
division line between sd Rogers & Peabody;
runs from thence back to the point of beginning.
.
(Deeds, 264:208)
11
1 July 1834: Nathaniel L Rogers and Francis ?eabody, both of
Salem, agree that sd Peabody, his heirs & assigns, shall always
keep up & maintain a copper gutter along the eaves of the eastern
end of the new brick addition lately built by Peabody to his dwelling
house on Essex St, which gutter shall prevent water from falling
from sd house & addition onto land or fence of sd Rogers; and
this is not to be interpreted as an easement_ to Rogers' land under
Peabody's projecting eaves, but Peabody will remove the eaves when
thereto requast~d by sd Rogers, his heirs or· assigns. (This conveyance recorded 14 Hay 1 839 ) •
(Deeds, 311 : 28 7)
13 May 1839: Joseph Peabody, Salem merchant, for $7500, sells
to Francis Peabody, Salem, all that messuage consisting of the brick
dwelling· house & lar..d in Salem, bounded & described exactly as in
deed ~]0:151 above; being the whole of thE? estate sd Joseph Peabody
bought of Joseph Sprague 8 Nov 1822, 230:151. ('.rhis convE?yimce recorded 14 May 1 8J<f. )
(Deeds, 311 : 288)
�14 May 1839: Francis Peabody Esq, Salem, for $8500 grants to
Sarr.ucl ·~·/illiarr..s Ssq, Hartford Conn., the bi-•ick d•~clline; house &
outbuildings in Salem with the land under & adjoining, bounded
s. 85 1 4" on Essex Street;
e. 194' on 2 courses as fence now stands on Nathl L Rogers;
n. 71 1 10 11 on sd Rogers & on Stearns;
w. 224' 4" on Stearns;
said premises being subject to the indenture of 1 July 1834 between
Peabody & Rogers re maintaining a copper gutter. (This conveyance
recorded 14 Nay 1839.)
(Deeds, 311 :289}
12 0ept 1840: Samuel Williams, Salem, for $8500 grants to
John H Silsbee, Salem, the brick dwelling house & outbuildings
with land in Salem (bounded & described exactly as above, subject
to the same indenture); being the same premises that Peabody
granted to Williams on 14 i•J.ay 1839~
(Deeds, 320:202)
5 jan 1901 : Hall & Alice D Curtis, in her o-vm right, Boston,
for $1 & other valuable consideriitions grant to Hary L d 1 Este,
Salem, a certain lot of land with the brick dwelling house &
outbuildings thereon in Salem, bounded
s. 85 1 4" on Essex Street;
e. 194 1 on now or formerly {n/f) Nathl L Rogers by 2 couses
as the fence now stands;
n. 71 1 10 11 on n/f Rogers & on n/f Stearns;
w. 224 1 4" on sd Stearns;
subject to the same indenture as above re maintaining a copper
gutter; being the same premises as described in deed 320:202.
(Deeds, 1631 :472)
28 Jan 1916:
Julian & Mary L d 1 :a;ste, in her own right, of
Milo Maine, grant to Arthur L Lougee, Salem, a parcel of land with
buildings thereon in Salem, bounded
s. 85 1 411 on Essex Street;
e. 1941 on no1:1 or late (n/l) Shepard (formerly Rogers} in
2 courses;
n. 71 t 10 11 on n/l Shepard (formerly Rogers) & on n/l Dole
(formerly Stearns);
w. 224 1 4" on n/l Stearns;
subject to the same indenture as above; being the same premises
conveyed by deed 1631 :472,
(Deeds, 2321:122)
�30 Dec 1953: Annah C Lougee, widow, grants to O. Palmer &
Elma B Swecker, H~rrisburg Penna., the land in Salem with the buildings
thereon, bounded
s. 8.5 1 411 on Essex St;
e. 194' on n/l Shepard in 2 courses;
n. 71' 10 11 on n/l Shepard & on n/l Dole;
w. 224 1 4 11 on n/l Stearns;
meaning to convey the same premises as in deed 2321 :122, d 1 Este to
Lougee, 26 Jan 1916. For her title, see Probate of estate of
Arthur L Lougee, probate# 236496.
(Deeds, 4037:271)
�/N
Aaron Wait
wm +Sarai, While
(Sprag~ Steams
/9{,,''/"
Joseffi Sprague , Aaron Wali.
Jr.
1
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Affer Ifie Sp?jlltl-Jfeams
exchange of 2g 121-ar /¥0?
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hcu.se
91' 9"
-:43z:4
hcuse
l
Essex StreeL
(~ /62.'233)
?3 1 <j"
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31&
I cm =20'
· - · - · : This represents -the stnp
NL. Rogers gfdrded R'<l, ··1s fkahc!dt
k.o JunR.
1832 I
deed
~~--.; 2az
�Works in Architecture
he r:ounty tax book of I 807 assesses him for$ r r .36, that of I 8 ro for$ IO. I 4, the decrease
being due doubtless to his sale of a lot from the easterly side to his neighbor Gideon Tucke:in 1808 (185:57). It will have been the new brick house which first attracted to him the attention of the assessors, and we may thus suppose it to have been built or building in I 807.
The house was sold to Simon Forrester by Timothy Vlilliams and Samuel Putnam, trustees, under .Littie's will, April 3, I 8 I 5 ( 20 S; 248), and occupied by Forrester's &rnghter
Nancy and her husband Gideon Barstow, being sold to Thomas Trask by the trustees under
Forrester's will April I 8, I 844 ( 343: 108). It was later occupied by Robert Brookhouse. At
wme time before r 9 IO a wider addition was made in front, bringing the property out to the
street line for commercial occupC\ncy; and destroying the old porch. We have, unfortunately,
no record of the interior.
·
;j
.,
"
Joseph Sprague, Jr., Hoqse
380 Essex Street
· Built about I 807, much remodelled
Principal owners: Sprague, Peabody, Silsbee
(Figures 283-286)
The house was not included in the list of brick buildings in Salem published in the Salem
Gazette February 4, 1 806. Oliver Thayer who was born in a wooden house on the site, speaks
of it as "torn down, I think, about 1806.'' 50 The construction of the brick house must soon
.we followed, for the inventory of the estate of Major Joseph Sprague, who died at 384
Essex Street February 13, I 808, lists his mansion house "adjoining Joseph Sprague Jr's new
brick house," 61
The house has been much remodelled. The mantels of the first floor have been replaced
with m~rble, but those of the second floor which survive are of the type characteristic of McIntire, the mantel in the southwest room having one of his carved baskets, placed, like the
one in the Thomas Butman house (I 806- I 807), in a beaded oval. The cornice has the split
dentils which first appear in Mcintire work about I 808.
The hall was drastically remodelled during the Greek revival. \Ve may assume that the
hall was originally shallower, leaving room for the circular stairs which, in the remodelling,
were pushed into a wooden addition behind, in the angle of the ell.
Both the main cornice of the house and that of the portico have forms derived from the
American Ettilder's Companion by Benjamin and Raynerd, published late in I 806. While McIntire's interior detail elsewhere, from about I 808, was ipfluenced by this publication, there
is none of his later hous~s where such forms were adopted on the exterior. We must assume
that Mclntire's participation in the work was limited to interior embellishments, of which the
mantel illustrated is the only survival.
.
TI1e stable, much changed, suggests by its central arch the type introduced in Salem by
Mcintire. The house was later owned by Colonel Francis Peabody, by Samuel Williams, by
John H. Silsbee, by Julian d'Este, and by Arthur Lougee.
50
51
Essex lnuitute Historical Collections, XX:l ( 1884), 214.-215.
Essex Probate Records, 376:395.
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Essex Street
Historic Salem, Inc. House History
A resource made available by Historic Salem, Inc. detailing the history of Salem's houses.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
380 Essex Street, Salem, Massachusetts 01970
Subject
The topic of the resource
House history
Description
An account of the resource
Built in 1807 for Joseph Sprague, Jr., merchant.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Historic Salem, Inc.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Historic Salem, Inc. house histories
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Historic Salem, Inc.; Salem Historical Society
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
Built 1807; researched 1976
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Researched by Robert Booth
Language
A language of the resource
English
1807
380 Essex Street
Joseph Sprague Jr.
Salem MA