Anthony Needham, jr., House. This lot belonged to Anthony Needham, sr., of Salem, yeoman, as early as 1674, being the westerly portion of his homestead. He conveyed this lot to his son Anthony Needham, jr., Dec. 30, 1685.* The son built the house now standing upon the lot immediately. It is a fine specimen of the architecture of that period. Mr. Needham lived here and was a yeoman. He died in the winter of 1757-8, having, in his will, devised the estate to his son Jasper Needham. Jasper Needham died April 3, 1794, having, in his will, devised his "homestead farm" to his son Stephen Needham. Stephen Needham died Dec. 28, 1801, having, in his will, devised to his son Jasper Needham all his land and buildings in Danvers, subject to the improvement of one-half of it by his widow during her life. Jasper Needham died June 26, 1807, intestate. The homestead land and buildings were then appraised at twenty-three hundred and sixty dollars. The estate came into the ownership of his son Elias Needham, who died, possessed of it, Feb. 27, 1885. In his will he devised it to his son Joseph Shed Needham. Joseph S. Needham died May 29, 1900, having, in his will, devised the ancient house and the corner of his homestead where the house stands to his daughter Sarah Jane Clarkson Needham. Miss Needham was a renowned school teacher, and died, unmarried, Aug. 30, 1914, possessed of the estate. In her will, she devised the use of it to her sisters, Mrs. Augusta L. Arvedson of Peabody and Mrs. Minna P. Brooks of Haverhill, for their lives, and at the death of the survivor of them it is to go to her three nieces, Mary Alice Taylor, Mattie Brooks and Julia Brooks in fee simple. Isaac Needham House. This lot belonged to Anthony Needham of Salem, yeoman, as early as 1674. He conveyed it to his son Isaac Needham about 1690,† though the existence of the deed has not been discovered. Isaac built a house upon the lot immediately, and lived here, being a husbandman. He conveyed the estate to his son John Needham of Salem, husbandman, April 1, 1740.+ The father continued to live there until his decease in *Essex Registry of Deeds, book 7, leaf 61. +Essex Registry of Deeds, book 79, leaf 1. 1742.* For four hundred and twenty pounds, John Needham conveyed the lot and buildings to Ebenezer Goodell of Salem, innholder, May 26, 1746.† Mr. Goodale became a farmer, and owned the house and land around it in 1750. How long the house stood after that date is unknown to the writer. Anthony Needham, sr., House. This lot was a part of the homestead of Anthony Needham, sr., as early as 1674. He lived in the house which stood upon this lot. The southern corner of the lot, on the road, within the dashes, was early the property of John Herod. It belonged to Joseph Procter of Ipswich Nov. 5, 1681, when he conveyed it to Anthony Needham ; and from that time it was a part of the homestead of Mr. Needham. Mr. Needham died in 17—, and how much longer the house stood is unknown to the writer. John Proctor House. This was two-thirds of a lot of twenty-three acres of land which was early the property of John Herod. It belonged to Joseph Proctor of Ipswich in 1681; and to John Proctor of Salem, yeoman, Jan. 10, 1688-9, when the latter gave a deed of it, with his house thereon, to his wife and children. Soon after the execution of Mr. Proctor, for alleged witchcraft, Aug. 19, 1692, his body was brought home and buried on the northeast corner of this lot. The house and lot were subsequently owned by Mr. Proctor's son John. The house was probably gone soon after 1700. John Felton and James Houlton Lot. This lot was a part of the homestead of Anthony Needham, sr., as early as 1674. He conveyed it to John Felton and James Houlton, both of Salem, Jan. 20, 1692-3.¶ John Felton, John Houlton, Nathaniel Felton, jr., and Nathaniel Felton, sr., Lot. This lot was granted by the town of Salem to William Giggles before Jan. 24, 1677-8, when it was possessed by Nathaniel Putnam of Salem, *Essex Registry of Deeds, book 84, leaf 71. †Essex Registry of Deeds, book 88, leaf 113. Essex Registry of Deeds, book 6, leaf 48. §Essex Registry of Deeds, book 8, leaf 123. See pamphlet relative to the burial place of John Proctor, by William P. Upham. ¶Essex Registry of Deeds, book 26, leaf 231. yeoman.* Mr. Putnam conveyed it to John Felton, James Houlton, Nathaniel Felton, jr., and Nathaniel Felton, 3d, May 12, 1696 ;† and they apparently owned it in 1700. Henry Houlton House. The northwestern two-fifths of this lot was conveyed by Joseph Houlton, sr., yeoman, to his son Henry Houlton Sept. 22, 1694. Henry Houlton had built a house upon the lot. The remainder of the lot was conveyed to Henry Houlton of Salem, yeoman, by Thomas Haines of Salem, maltster, and wife Sarah, Oct. 29, 1697.§ Henry Houlton owned the estate in 1700. How long the house stood is unknown. Nathaniel Felton Houses. This lot was originally granted to John Thorndike, and returned to the town by him. It was then granted in parts at several times, from 1637 to 1640, to the widow Felton and her son Nathaniel Felton. A house was built upon the lot, probably about 1644, and it stood some seventy years, but its location is unknown, perhaps being near the southeastern corner of the lot. Nathaniel Felton died July 30, 1705, at the age of ninety, having in his will devised to his eldest daughter, Elizabeth Watkins, "a desolate & solitary widow, & under great bodily weakness & never gave her any land," his dwelling house and land thereto belonging for her life and then to his two sons John and Nathaniel. The dwelling house, barn and ten acres of land adjoining were then appraised at seventy pounds. Mrs. Watkins did not live in this house, however. The second house to be built upon the premises was probably the house where James E. Reynolds now lives. The house faces due south; and was originally about one-half the size it is now. The eastern portion, including the front door and hall, constitutes the original house. It always had a leanto, which apparently projected as an ell at the western end. The house is said to have been erect *Salem Town Records, volume II, page 268. |