Francis Macy House, 77 Main Street, Nantucket

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,10-NANT,50-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

One of about a dozen mansions built at the height of whaling prosperity? late eighteenth century house in rear. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1, Original and subsequent owners: Land and homestead of Francis Macy. He died in leaving property to his widow and five children. John B. Macy. A Deed of Division of property of Francis Macy gave the fifth parcel, "house and land on Main Street corner of a Lane" to his son John B. Macy. Property was attached and taken by Nantucket Pacific Bank. Robert Coggeshall bought from Bank. Charles Mitchell purchased property, it having been again taken by the Bank and deeded to James N. Bassett in the meantime. George Myrick bought from the Estate of Charles Mitchell. John H. Shaw bought for Eliza Ann Shaw, wife of John H. Shaw. John H.

Shaw had conveyed the property to Sarah H. Swain who in turn conveyed it to his wife. # George H. Sargent purchased property from Eliza Ann Shaw. FRANCIS MACY HOUSE HABS No. MASS-931 (Page 2) Sarah B. Chadwick, wife of William H. Chadwick, ~ Elizabeth W. Webb. She died in leaving property by will to Charles Webb and Elizabeth H. Webb. J. Sidney Mitchell purchased. Helen Mitchell Todd inherited from her brother. Leeds Mitchell and Christel T. Mitchell. Property was deeded to them by Leeds Mitchell's sister, Helen Mitchell Todd. to date Christel T. Mitchell, widow of Leeds Mitchell. {Abstract, Records in Registry of Deeds, Nantucket) 2.

Date of erection: House is of two ages: and (Abstract, Records in Registry of Deeds, Nantucket, Mass., and "Main Street", a publication of the Nantucket Historical Association). 3. Architect: Unknown 4. Original plans, construction, etc.: Little is known of this house except for the fact that the ell was the original house built on Main Street prior to When purchased by Charles Mitchell, who was in a man of considerable means, the old house was moved to the rear of the lot where a candle house had formerly stood, and was used as the ell to the large mansion, the present hoHse, that he erected on the site. 5. Notes on alterations and additions: Around John H.

Shaw, who had been a leading merchant in the whaling business, added a very lovely Ionic portico to the front stoop and gave the house a great deal of elegance. Due to unfortunate circumstances the house fell into disrepair for several years until around when it was put back into good condition, as it has continued to be to date. B. Historical Events Connected with the Structure: The vicissitudes of the whaling industry are evidenced by four leading merchants and candle-makers who owned this house only to lose it through insolvency. The ill-fated ownership was broken by Charles H. Webb, a writer whose pen name was John Paul, and who was an associate of Bret Harte and Mark Twain, both of whom stayed in this house when they visited Nantucket, Mr. Webb wrote for the New York Tribune.

He shared many experiences with Harte and Twain in California, which are FRANCIS MACY HOUSE HABS No. MASS-931 (Page 3) related in Roughing It, Charles Mitchell was a prosperous whaling merchant when he first owned the property and Nantucket was at the height of its prosperity, being at that time superior to New Bedford in population and amount of business. The house was then one of the largest on the Island. From the walk on the roof one could see Cape Cod. During the ownership of the Shaw family, the house was visited by President James A. Garfield. In the property was purchased by Dr. J. Sidney Mitchell, who was born in Nantucket and had lived for many years in Chicago.

He was known by the medical profession throughout the country, particularly for his articles in magazines and scien- tific journals. He became in the first President of the Nantucket Historical Association. His widow was very generous with the lovely home, opening it for many charitable and social gatherings. This custom has been continued by the present owner and musical and theatrical groups still enjoy the hospitality of the gracious house. C. Sources of Information: Old Views: Photograph in Ninety-Five Percent Perfect by Everett U, Crosby, Tetaukimmo Press, Nantucket, (Note: No old photographs have been found.) Prepared by Marie M. Coffin Nantucket, Massachusetts June, PART II.

PROJECT INFORMATION These records were prepared for the Historic American Buildings Survey project on Nantucket, Massachusetts. They are part 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. Historical information was provided by Marie M. Coffin of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Photographs are by Cortlandt V. D. Hubbard of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The material was edited for deposit in the Library of Congree by Constance Werner Ramirez, August