Balch House - Beverly, MA - Massachusetts Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

John Balch first gained title to the land through a grant - the so-called "Thousand Acre Grant" - on November 11th, 1635 and apparently was living on this property by 1636. His house was small - built a story and a half high - one large hall on the main floor plus a loft upstairs. He chose a site on a hillock that looked down on the nearby Bass River, where he had easy access to salt marsh, to the water, and to his pasture land and orchards.

The ancestral home remained in the family until 1916, although Benjamin Balch the third, great-grandson of the original settler, was the last of that actual name to live there. "Deacon" Balch, as he was known. At Deacon Balch's death, the homestead went to daughter Debra Balch Dodge, whose family lived and worked along Cabot Street through the 19th century.



Long touted as the oldest frame house in the United States, it was granted a historical marker by the Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission in 1930, the text of which reads, "Built in 1636 by John Balch, who came over in 1623 with Captain Robert Gorges. The "Old Planters" received this land in exchange for their settlement at Salem."

This claim has just been called into serious question, however, by recent research.

Published April 24, 2007 11:17 pm
By Paul Leighton
THE SALEM NEWS (SALEM, Mass.)


BEVERLY, Mass.
In a report long awaited by local historians, two scientists from England have concluded that the Balch House is Beverly was built around 1679, not 1636 as the Beverly Historical Society had claimed.

Here is a link to the full text of the article: Tests cast doubt on house's 'oldest' claim

The house is now maintained as a museum by the Beverly Historical Society.

Agency Responsible for Placement: Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission County: Essex City/Town Name: Beverly Relevant Web Site: [Web Link] Agency Responsible for Placement (if not in list above): Not listed Year Placed: Not listed

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