George Lawrence House, 35 India Street, Nantucket

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,10-NANT,75F-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

A typical Nantucket house of the late eighteenth century; part of the India Street Neighborhood Study (MASS-1013). PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Original and subsequent owners: Joseph Harris bought from George Lawrence, retired mariner, "house which I built in Egypt", paying three hundred pounds. Seth Bunker bought from Joseph Harris for three hundred and thirty pounds. Martha Swain, "widow of David", bought 'land and dwelling house which George Lawrence built in the 3rd Squadron of the Wesco Acre Lots" from Seth Bunker for Gilbert Swain, mariner, from the heirs of Martha Swain. George H. Cary from the Estate of Gilbert Swain. Andrew G. Hussey from George H. Cary "the home- stead of the late Gilbert Swain". Moses S. Beach from Andrew G. Hussey.

Dominicus and Martha J. Koppman from heirs of Moses S. Beach. Jennie Pinley from Martha J. Koppman. Fannie D. Snow from Jennie Finley. Frances Devens Parrish inherited from her mother, Fannie D. Snow, and Land Courted the property July 10, INDIA STREET NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY GEORGE LAWRENCE HOUSE also known as the Snow House HABS No. MASS-1045 (Page 2) to date David B. Miller from Estate of Frances Devins Parrish. (Abstract: Records at Registry of Deeds, Nantucket, Massachusetts.) 2. Date of erection: About (Abstract: Book II, Page Registry Deeds, Nantucket, Mass.) 3. Architect: Probably built by housewright George Lawrence, who was building houses for immediate sale in the area. 4.

Original plans, construction, etc.: This was built as a simple, four bay,central chimney house, reflecting the Quaker influence. 5. Notes on alterations and additions: Many changes have been made. Two dormers have been added to the south roof and an ell put on the east side, as well as an ex- tension at the rear of the house. B. Historical Events Connected with the Structure: This house is located in that area originally described as the Third Squadron of Wesco Acre Lots, at a place commonly known by the name of Micah's Pond. India Street in the early was largely occupied by the wealthier families, many of whom derived large profit from the East India trade as well as from whaling.

According to the Portfolio, written in it was first called India Row; later it became Pearl Street and still later the name was changed back to India Street. When this house was built, the street was known as Pearl Street. Westminster Street to the north was formerly called Clay Lane, and Micah's Pond extended from that area to the central part of India Street. The deed of described the house as being in "Egypt", which apparently was only a nickname for the section which at that time was "as dark as Egypt". George Lawrence was a mariner who on retirement became a house- wright. He owned a large section of the middle section of India Street and sold house lots with or without houses he had built.

He later removed to New York where he soon died of yellow fever in Gilbert Swain was a mariner, the son of Captain David Swain who was master on whaling voyages out of Nantucket in and INDIA STREET NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY GEORGE LAWRENCE HOUSE also known as the Snow House HABS No. MASS-1045 (Page 3) The property remained in the Swain family from until C. Sources of Information: 1. Old Views: Old photograph of "Pearl Street" in Nantucket Illustrated by A. Wittemann, Land Court Document Certificate 2.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,10-NANT,75F-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Wittemann, A. Nantucket Illustrated. New York: Albertype Co., Prepared by Marie M. Coffin Nantucket, Massachusetts January, PART II. PROJECT INFORMATION These records were prepared as part of the India Street Neighborhood Study (MASS-1013) made in the summer of by the Historic American Buildings Survey on Nantucket, Massachusetts. This is the fifth summer project of a continuing HABS comprehensive survey of the early architecture and urban design of Nantucket financed by a grant from the Nantucket Historical Trust. The project was under the general supervision of James C. Massey, Chief of the Historic American Buildings Survey. Project Director was Professor F. Blair Reeves, A.I.A., of the University of Florida. His- torical information was provided by Marie M.

Coffin of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Photographs are by Jack E. Boucher of Linwood, New Jersey. The material was edited for deposit in the Library of Congress by Constance Werner Ramirez, August