Essex County, Massachusetts Biographies Isaac Hart and the HART HOUSE in Lynnfield, Massachusetts contributed to Genealogy Trails by Carole Dick Isaac Hart was born Abt. 1614 and was from Scratby, County, Norfolk, England, and died February 10, 1698/99 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Hutchinson Abt. 1650 in Reading Massachusetts, daughter of Annie Browne and Thomas Hutchinson. Elizabeth was born in 1622 in Oulton, Suffolk, England Elizabeth died November 28, 1700. Isaac originally built this colonal house in 1676 as far as we know. The House in 1925 Parlor in Hart House in Lynnfield, Massachusetts The House "Today" Hall-Dining Room Fireplace Bedroom Parlor Fireplace Keeping Room Taken from the Boston Traveler, Saturday, June 20, 1920: Strangers for the First time in 292 years May Occupy the Famous Hart House in Lynnfield, MA Colonial Mansion, Souvenir of Early Days Bears ''To Let'' sign... Raftered Rooms with their broad panels and spacious hearths-rooms replete with a thousand memorials of Colonial Days- an ensemble to boast of here in New England, now goes a-begging. Strangers to get it- At Least the ''To Let'' sign has been swung above this dwelling, the property of George Albert Hart of Lynnfield, and this summer for the first time in 292 years will witness the tenancy of the structure by strangers. Reluctance to maintain the upkeep of the old mansion, together with that of his other home in Essex, without some return has led Mr. Hart to offer the ancient house for summer rental. If leased or let, it will be the first time anyone outside the Hart family has dwelt in the building since the Pioneer of the family Isaac Hart, crossed the swamps and forests from Salem and with ox sled, broad axe and pioneer spirit erected the ancestral home of the family. Few Can Rival It Few New England ancestral homes can rival the Hart Mansion in antiquity and Colonial Beauty. The exterior has been remodeled with a portion of the low rear roof pitch remaining the balance of the rear having been converted by means of double dormer peaks, but within the dwelling bears the atmosphere, which instantly brings back earliest days. Not only is the interior structurally an epic example of ancient era, but little cupboards and closets teem with the blue-white colonial porcelain and China. Here are five-foot square fireplace neatly sealed but easy to unseal again if desired. There are smaller fireplaces with ancient andirons, and the char of centuries ready for immediate use: and an attic where wooden pins still hold in place tough oaken rafters. And to pry beneath the modern clapboards one would discover here and there on the upper floor the ancient loopholes which Isaac, his son, Samuel and next in line, John, thrust their flintlocks in defense against ravaging redskin bands. Treasures The Iron latch, beaten out on the home forge or by the village smith, adorns each handsomely paneled door: a states gilded frame mirror is swung beside a fireplace and bears the 13 golden balls symbolic of the 13 original states. The house sheltered John Hart Jr. fourth in decent, born in 1733: a niece and a great granddaughter of Gov. Endicott were at different times mistresses here. Among the treasures are relics gathered in different parts of the world by those Hart ancestors who sailed the seas. Samuel, the second owned, was Captain of a ship out of Salem, beginning as a cabin boy at 16. Family lore subscribed in the history of Lynnfield recites that Capt. Samuel Hart, while asleep one night in the cabin of his vessel beheld a mysterious woman in flowing robes standing before him with a candle in one hand and in the other an hourglass in which the sand had partly run down. Dead Next Morning In his dream the Captain ''waited breathlessly'' so he related later, believing all the time that when the last grain should have fallen, he would pass on to another world. Much to his relief, however the mystery lady flipped up the glass just as the top section was about to be emptied. The captain awakened but the interpretation in mind that the fateful night spelled the middle day of his existence. Strangely enough, so the tale runs, that was what is was to be. At 60 he retired form the sea and took up his permanent abode at the ancestral home. On the night, which would terminate the second half of his existence, with out referring to the thought he spent a longer time than was his custom at his devotions before retiring. He was dead the next morning. Four Rooms The dwelling originally consisted of four rooms, two down, and two upstairs. One of these was used in connection with the cultivation of the silkworm and the making of silk. Many notable private gatherings have taken place beneath the roof of the building, between 1808 and 1888 the dwelling was known as the Upton House since one of the daughters was the mistress there. Immediately thereafter it became the possession of Joseph Hart, Jr. Born in 1799, succeeded by Henry Jackson Hart, Joseph Jr.'s son and the father of the present owner. 70 Acres Former Mayor Hart's father and the present house owner's great grandfather were brothers, and married two sisters. George Albert Hart, now 60 years old, and Mrs. Hart have no intention of selling the ancestral dwelling but it is more than probable that the next descent to hold title will not bear the name Hart, since there are three daughters in the family, the only son having died. Away from the lawn of the dwelling and just across the wide thoroughfare in front are gently sloping fields that farther on terminate in clustering woods, extending almost as far as the eye reaches, a part of the estate of approximately 70 acres which Isaac and his descendants cleared from their primeval possessions which came to Isaac by grant from the King. More History about the Hart House A letter written to Carolyn Wood by Edie Richard ...what has been written in our Book of Lynnfield, written by Thomas Wellman in 1895, states re: The Hart house is said to be the second house built in town. It has a peaked roof and one room in it used to be devoted to the culture of silkworms. Its massive oaken frame is still likely to stand, while others shall blow down. Not until 1976, was another book of Lynnfield attempted, and it is called "A Heritage Preserved" Lynnfield 1895-1976 and there's a picture of the house in it and an article. It states: Hart House -Circe 1670..172 Chestnut Street, Owners: Dr. and Mrs. Edward Jackson. "One of the oldest houses in Lynnfield, this center chimney saltbox now being painstakingly restored by the Jackson's is a good example of seventeenth century construction. The original house consisted of four rooms, a first floor parlor and hall, plus two second-floor chambers. A lean-to was added during the eighteenth century, thus creating the saltbox shape. A large dormer and porch around the front of the house were added in the twentieth century but have since been removed. Although the exact date of construction has not been documented, its features verify its seventeenth century construction. This consists of exposed sills in the first floor rooms. a massive oak frame to which are nailed one and one half inch vertical planks, exposed beams with gunstock vertical posts, large walk in fireplaces with lug poles and a brick oven, casement windows and a partial cellar. The foundation consists of various sizes of fieldstones rolled in place by hand. Among the unique features of the house is the symbol of a heart embedded in a large pine beam in the eighteenth century addition. Undoubtedly some member of the Hart family placed it as proof that the family lived there. The land on which the house stands is probably part of the five hundred acres granted to Edward Holyoke of Lynn in 1638 and later sold to James Russell of Charlestown. It is not clear just when the Hart family acquired the land, but according to Sanderson's "Lynn in the Revolution" written in 1909. Zerrubel Hartt, a Revolution War Soldier lived in the house. Despite the lack of clear-cut documentary proof prior to 1841, genealogical records and family legends would seem to indicate that the Hart family owned the house for most of the time until 1945 when it was purchased by Richard Booth. He in turn sold it to the Alexander Simpson's, from whom the Jackson's purchased the house. The Jackson's have invested seven years work in the authentic restoration of this historic home. [excerpt from total listing of THE ROSE of 1637] (Ship).... The Rose of Yarmouth, 1637A small parchment volume, labeled on the cover"T G 27.299 A. D, 1637---13 Car. I", is occupied with a record of persons"desirous to pass beyond seas." Its upper right hand corner has been destroyed, by which much of the record is gone. What is not destroyed of the title of the volume is "A Register of the ... of such persons a . and upwards and have ... to passe into foreign partes ... March 1637 to the 29th day of Septe... by verts of a commission granted to Mr Thomas Mayhew gentleman." " These people went to New England with William Andrewes his Sons Mr* of the Rose of Yarmouth. Date; Surname; First Name; Residence; Occupation; Age; Destination Aprill 11th 1637 Caruear Richard Skratby of Norff. (prt of Ormsby) husbandman 60 New England to Inhabitt. Aprill 11th 1637 Caruear Grace wife 40 New England to Inhabitt. Aprill 11th 1637 Caruear Elizabeth child (twin) 18 New England to Inhabitt. Aprill 11th 1637 Caruear Susanna child (twin) 18 New England to Inhabitt. Aprill 11th 1637 Hartt Isache servant 22 New England to Inhabitt. Aprill 11th 1637 Elsge Thomas servant 21 New England to Inhabitt. Aprill 11th 1637 Vnderwood marable mayd servant 20 New England to Inhabitt. Aprill 11th 1637 Moulton Ruth Ormsby of Norff. sngle woman 20 New England to Inhabitt. *"Mr" stands for Master of the Ship November 10, 1661-Thomas Hartshorne of Redding tendered as security, instead of the land at Ipswich, his house in which he dwells, and fifteen acres of land in Redding, bounded on the north by land of James Pike, on the south by land of Walter Fairefield, on the east and west by the common; also three acres of meadow at Reeva in the same town, bounded on the north by the meadow of Henry Felch and by the commons on the other three sides; also four acres of meadow in the great meadow in the bounds of Lynn, bounded on the north by the meadow of Edward Hutcheson, on the south by the meadow of Isaack Harte, on the west by the common, and on the east by Isaack Hart's farm. [Researched and contributed by Betty Patterson of California, USA] Aug. 21, 1656, Isaac purchased from Thomas Hutchinson of Lynn, Thomas' now dwelling house in Lynn with all appurtenances...barns, cow house etc., with 270 acres of upland and 19 acres of meadow .....bounded by Edward Hutchinson on the east, ISAAC HART on the north and Willis meadow on the south....... This deed was not recorded until May 30, 1702 (Essex Deeds) This land which was on the Saugus, Reading and Lynnfield lines was later deeded to Isaac’s son, Samuel. 1656 Isaac Hart was convicted of stealing hay. Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts Mar. 20, 1658, Thomas Hutchinson deposed that "his father-in-law Adam Hawkes gave his son, John Hawkes, a colt and he put it to ISAAC HART to keep." Depositions were recorded by Adam Hawkes, age about 50, Elizabeth Hart, age about 35 (who deposed she had known the colt since it was a fortnight old), Names of the inhabitants of Redding, with the several plots of Upland that were given to every man, as it fell to them by lott, on the north side of Ipswich river, with the number of akers, viz. (Feb. 14, 1658 or 9). Isaac Hart, 91 1658/9 Isaac Hart admonished by the Court "for divers evil and naughty speeches against the Court." In 1668, ISAAC HART was assessed 3 shillings, 2 pence to pay the Indians for the purchase of Reading Land. In 1692 ISAAC HART drew 10 acres of land on the plains and 91 acres north of the Ipswich River [Orig. Source: "Genealogical History of the Town of Reading" by Lilly Eaton] As a resident of "Lynn End" ISAAC HART paid 10 pounds, one shilling toward the building of a new meetinghouse at Reading. That was the largest amount of the 26 persons named. [Orig. Source: "History of Lynnfield", by Thomas Wellman, 1895] WHY did ISAAC HART remove from Watertown and settle in Reading and Lynnfield? The answer may be two fold; First Richard Carver, Isaac's "sponsor" died early at Watertown. His will of Sept. 9, 1641, being proved Oct. 1643 (NEHGS Register) The second clue is derived from the fact that the Rev. John Brock became a minister at Reading. Rev. Brock and his in-laws and another family that Isaac would have known all moved there from Watertown. The second question is: HOW was ISAAC HART able to make two large purchase of land, when he was a husbandman with no apparent income, and was never given an honorary title of gentleman or esquire. The answer probably lies with his wife Elizabeth. Little is known about her other than what is given in her notes, but her brothers were all large landholders. Also, when ISAAC HART acquired Tomlin's 200 acres, the price was only 13 pounds. plus "other good causes", suggesting that Isaac's wife belonged to the Tomlin family. Deeds of gift from ISAAC HART to his children: Jan. 17 1674, ISAAC HART made a deed of gift to his son-in-law, Benjamin Proctor, of 200 acres of upland and 20 acres of meadow. Two years later on Apr. 10, 1676, Benjamin Proctor (and Deborah(Hart), his wife), of Ipswich, yeoman, for 110 pounds, sold this land" given to him formerly by his father-in-law ISAAC HART, to his brother-in-law, Samuel. This is the land that Isaac had purchased from Captain Edward Tomlin for 13 pounds. Orig. source; Essex Deeds; On May 14, 1696, ISAAC HART deeded to "my son Thomas Hart, all my farm which I bought of Edward Rawson situated in Lynn, being 500 acres of upland and meadow, .Witnesses; Samuel Hart and John Hart Feb. 19, 1699 this deed was acknowledged by John Hart and Adam Hart and recorded. On the same date, ISAAC HART deeded by gift to Samuel Hart" as my son and also for the encouragement said Samuel has given me, " 220 acres of upland and 20 acres of meadow, all in Lynn................ISAAC HART appeared and acknowledged the deed July 17, 1696. The deed was not recorded until Feb. 19, 1699/1700 (Essex Deeds) This land is described in " The History of Lynnfield" by Thomas B. Wellman, 1895, "where Lowell Street crosses Main Street is known as HART'S CORNER." Here Capt. Ebenezer Hart spent his last days. The land around here for acres and acres was the Hart grant.......An old house known as the Hart house stood at the left of the "Four Corners" in the midst of an enormous farm and the apple orchard was near a half mile from the house, which had immense rooms [contributed to Genealogy Trails by Carole Dick] ©2006 K. Torp Genealogy Trails