Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm painting project includes tenant house

: Painting the carriage barn at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm.

Historic New England has begun painting the exteriors of all buildings at the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury, Massachusetts, following the completion of the barn preservation project at the site. After the visitor center has been painted, we move on to the tenant house, otherwise known as Stekionis, and then the museum itself. The Stekionis House opens to the public for the first time in 2012.

To learn more about our approach to painting historic properties, please refer to our painting white papers. To support ongoing preservation and conservation work at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm and our thirty-five other historic properties, please consider making a contribution to the Preservation Maintenance Fund.

Spencer P-L-Farm

Posted by Helen Spencer Strobach on October 20, 2011

Just curious where the Spencer's fit into
the farm. I have family in No.Scituate, R.I. and would like to direct them to the Farm. I didn't see any information about them in your description. Thanks.

Spencer family at SPL Farm

Posted by Bethany Groff, North Shore Regional Site Manager on October 26, 2011

Hello Helen,
John Spencer was the recipient of the 400-acre land grant that makes up the 230-acre Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm today. He was one of the most prominent early settlers in this town (appointed head of the militia, magistrate and representative of the town) and was therefore given one of the best grants. A follower of Ann Hutchinson, he, along with several others, was disarmed in 1637. He elected to return to England. Before he departed he wrote his will, and arranged to have his farm worked by John Godfrey. John Spencer's nephew, also named John Spencer, inherited the farm upon his uncle's death in 1648, and transferred the farm to Daniel Peirce in 1651. That was the end of the Spencer family's involvement in the site.
I hope that helps - we'd love to see your family here next season.
Best,
Bethany

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