| The Re-Discovery of the James House
In 1931, after two hundred twenty-six years
and seven generations, the James family sold the property. The new
owners farmed on a smaller scale for a few years, and finally not
at all. By 1972 the house was vacant, as it has remained ever since.
Known to local historians as "probably a
very old house", there was little evidence available to support
claims that it is a truly First Period structure. Nevertheless,
realizing the historic value of the property, and the pressing need
to stop further deterioration, concerned citizens formed the James
House Association in 1994 for the purpose of acquiring and saving
the structure. With generous donations from area citizens and businesses,
sufficient funds were raised to acquire the house and one acre of
land in 1995. Additional adjacent land has been acquired in 2001,
gifted by the Town of Hampton.
As soon as the property was acquired, preservation
work began. Our master craftsmen and preservation consultants uncovered
many features which provide evidence of original construction during
the First Period. Click on the numbered points below to see
up close examples of significant First Period features.
1. Fully braced frame with three bay façade
on the second floor and five bays on the first floor
2. One room deep frame backed by a second frame gives the appearance
of two room deep structure.
3. Longitudinal chestnut summer beams with chamfered edges
and lambs tongue stops.
4. Dry-laid stone foundation, stone chimney base and puncheon
stairs to cellar under ½ of house.
5. Vertical feather edge sheathing on interior walls with planed
pine ceiling and beaded battens.
6. Hewn frame of white oak and chestnut with exposed chamfered
posts, girts and plates.
7. Roofing members consisting of principal rafters and common
purlins.
Our historians and genealogists have accumulated
a vast amount of information about the James family, their house
and farm, and the use of the adjoining farmland and marshland over
the past 300 years. The results of our research, as well as the
house itself, is shared with the schools in our education programs.
Professional archaeologists from Strawbery Banke
and the Sargent Museum, and "junior" archaeologists from
local schools, have uncovered many 18th and 19th century artifacts.
These will contribute to our knowledge of the James family and early
New England farm life. Archaeologists are consulted before the grounds
are disturbed by any exterior construction or preservation work.
The early deeds, tax records, and construction
techniques all seemed to support the claim that the James house
was constructed during the First Period. None was conclusive by
itself. The science of dendrochronology has provided our assurance.
Using growth ring data from the Boston Regional Master Dating Chronology,
which extends from 1513 to 1997, as applied to borings from oak
beams and timbers in the James House, a professional dendrochronologist
has confirmed the James House construction date to be 1723.
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