Written by Eileen Barnacoat

Have you ever wondered about the history of the Reed House and the family who lived there? I hope in this article to provide a look back at the 5 generations of the Reed family who resided in the house at 72 Main Street, Townsend, MA, that we now call the Reed House. Members of this family occupied the house from 1809 to 1973, when the Townsend Historical Society purchased the house with part of its contents intact. That’s 164 years of ownership by one family and their descendants. Imagine the stories the walls would tell.

And so the story begins ….

The present house we see today was probably constructed prior to the 1st generation of Reeds to live in the house. The land had been owned by Captain Timothy Fessenden who had a tanning business there in 1780. He sold his business to John Jewett (1769-1844), a tanner from Hollis, NH and Jewett purchased the 1 1/2 acre property with the buildings upon it. Jewett had become prosperous from his tanning business and also from the success of his brother, Ralph Winslow Jewett (1779-1842) and he more than likely wanted a new house to represent his increased standing in the community. The current Federal style house was constructed c.1790s and John and his wife and three children took up residence. The Structures Report notes that “the deeds are unclear as to whether Jewett or Reed actually built the homestead, but stylistic and physical evidence point to c.1801.”

It is believed that Oliver Reed worked as an apprentice for John Jewett and eventually acquired the home from Jewett around 1809. Oliver paid 900 dollars to John Jewett and his brother, Ralph Winslow Jewett (1779-1842) to purchase 1 1/2 acres of land, the residence, and buildings. This residence is what we now fondly call the Reed House, or the Reed Homestead.

The Reed Family Homestead 1809 

1st generation

Oliver Reed Jr. (1779-1839) was born in Westford, MA. His father, Oliver Reed Sr. (1756-1791) was a farmer from Westford who unfortunately died when Oliver was only 12 years old. Oliver’s mother, Abigail, struggled to keep her family of 5 children together. Oliver, the first born, and his siblings, were often raised under the care of others. Oliver had received some education through the school houses in Westford and somewhere along the way he was introduced to the trade of Tanning. Around 1800, when he became of age, he moved to Townsend and began his career as a Tanner. He was more than likely drawn to Townsend because of Townsend’s up and coming industrial area in the Harbor and the opportunity to find employment, which he did, on the banks of Harbor Pond. Oliver worked hard to establish himself and he was ready to begin his life with the local girl he had met, Letty Wilson, who lived just across the Harbor Pond.

Oliver and Letty ❤ 1809

Oliver Reed (1779-1839) and Letty Wilson (1788-1864) married on the 21 Dec 1809 in Townsend. Oliver was 30 years of age and Letty was about 20. Letty was born in Stoddard, NH in 1788, the daughter of Lieut. James Wilson (1741-1808) and Hannah (Parker) Wilson (1754-1844). The family moved to Townsend when Letty was two years old, and her father, Lieut. Wilson purchased a home on the south side of Harbor Pond. She moved just across the pond when she married Oliver in 1809. Although not born in Townsend she was a ‘Townsend girl’ and lived the rest of her life in the Reed House beside the Harbor Pond she knew so well. Letty’s parents remained in Townsend and enjoyed long lives so I’m sure they were able to see their grandchildren grow and prosper and they saw the growth of Townsend Harbor and the industries that were now lining the banks of the nearby pond. Letty’s father, Lieut. James Wilson died at age 66 and Letty’s mother Hannah, died at the age of 89 years, 10 months and 10 days! They are buried together in Townsend’s Old Burying Ground Cemetery, Row 2, Right, Headstone 6.

Oliver and Letty were ready to grow their family and make their own way in life. Letty was indeed fortunate to be moving into a home that in 1809 was considered “modern” with many convenient features. Five fireplaces throughout the house, each accompanied with a warming cabinet, helped to keep the house comfortable during the winter months. The small warming cabinet kept cloths warm or kept items from freezing and the little cupboard acted as a place to protect special or delicate items. 

Letty had the use of the great central hearth in the Keeping Room with its grates and hooks from which her cast iron pots would hang. The central cooking hearth also provided a main source of heat and light, and beside the hearth was a Beehive oven. This “oven” enabled Letty to bake her breads, pies, cakes and meats. Today’s cook might use this oven as a pizza oven! Adjacent to the Keeping Room was the room we now call the “Summer Kitchen.” There was a well under the floor which would certainly have been very convenient for the Reed family.

Oliver and Letty went on to have five children and Letty surely made use of the Borning Room when birthing her five children. The room, just off the Keeping Room, provided warmth from the hearth, and was used for the comfort and care of mother and newborn child. Letty would also use the room for the care of the sick or elderly who could be cared for near the warmth of the hearth. There would be no need to climb the steep stairs to the upstairs bedrooms and Letty could keep a watchful eye on her youngest children or those who were unwell.

One can only imagine the excitement Oliver and Letty felt when after five years of marriage Letty delivered their first child, a son. They named the boy James Wilson Reed, honoring Letty’s father, Lt. James Wilson. Their joy unfortunately didn’t last long, and the Reed House fell into sorrow when their firstborn died at only 10 months of age. Baby James Read (note the spelling “Read” as it appears on his headstone) is buried in Hillside Cemetery, section 3. 

In these early years the Reed House was bustling. The older children would be heading off to the local school house, probably the school just up the road we now call Spaulding Street. The day would start early and the children had their chores to complete before they left for school. The kitchen ‘Keeping Room’ was the center of family life. Letty would be up early each morning to “keep” the fire in the large hearth going. There was water that needed heating for bathing, and water might be needed for the morning pottage or later for the preparation of the main meal. The nanny bench rocker was nearby to keep the youngest warm but safe. It provided a seat for an older sibling to rock the young one should they fuss. The older children would bring in the wood from the nearby shed. It would then be stacked into the wood box until it was needed. Water would be carried from the well, animals would need to be looked after and the barn cleaned. Before nightfall the candles were made ready. It must have been a relief when oil lamps were introduced. 

The Reed House Parlor and Dining Room, off the main front entrance to the house, were used for formal entertainment as well as for “practical purposes”. During these early years of the first generation the dining room was more than likely used as a multi-purpose room, not only for dining but for family activities such as sewing, weaving, and home projects and for the children’s school work. 

The upstairs bedrooms had their own fireplace, wash basin and chamber pot. Quilts would help to keep one warm. On the coldest of days everyone gathered around the central hearth in the Keeping Room. Sewing might take place there throughout the day, as needed. Stories would be told, books would be read, and school work completed. There was no time for idleness in the Reed House. Oliver would be up and out early to tend to his tannery business. There were bills to be paid and orders to fill. In the better weather there was a garden to tend to and vegetables to put into the cold cellar. Vegetables would be prepared to help the family get through the long winter. Animals needed hay and food scraps. Nothing was ever wasted or tossed away. The Reed Homestead, like most New England homes, had necessary outbuildings. Attached to the house there were barns and outbuildings for the animals, hay storage, wood shed, wagons, and a privy. Some of the outbuildings were connected to the house making a very nice feature during a snowy winter. Note: Unfortunately today nothing remains of these original outbuildings as they were destroyed by fire. A singed door still exists showing that the fire reached right up to the Reed House summer kitchen itself.

The Reed children all attended the local one room school house where children of various ages gathered in the class. In the Vault we have a writing exercise that James must have been required to complete, writing “lines” perhaps because he wasn’t paying attention in class? The lines read “ Have your attention always directed toward something useful, James O. Reed”. The lines are neatly written in ink 14 times on the page. Let’s hope James learned his lesson!

Letty taught her young daughters how to sew and make and repair garments and how to cook. They learned the art of what we now call ‘fireplace cooking’. Children learned to respect the fire. It was a constant worry that a careless move could have the hem of a young girls dress catch on fire. ‘Be careful of the fire’ Momma would warn. ‘Be careful of the pond’ Momma would warn. The older children looked after their younger siblings and the neighbor’s children too. ‘Be careful of the Ice” Momma would warn, as there were always stories of those who didn’t heed their Momma’s warnings.

Oliver was hard working. He ran his successful tanning business for 35 years and he was able to make improvements to the Reed House. Wallpaper would later be installed by the next generation of Reeds but due to its cost, the painting of murals was more the practice.

Rufus Porter was an itinerant painter who travelled around New England from town to town. He charged a fee for his work, along with room and board. Rufus Porter was hired by Oliver Reed to paint the murals in the upstairs parlor that we now call “the Rufus Porter Room.” The Reed House is indeed fortunate to have these well preserved original Rufus Porter murals. The room was closed after Oliver’s death and the Structure Report believe this has protected the murals, keeping them “vibrant and fresh as if they had been finished yesterday.” There are additional murals in the downstairs Parlor but they have been muted and damaged over time as the room was wallpapered and redecorated. It is thought that Porter worked on the Reed House from 1830-1835 and his work was completed about 5 years before Oliver’s death in 1839.

The Structure Report notes that in 1952, Nina Fletcher Little, author of ‘American Decorative Wall Paintings’ had visited the Reed House and wrote: “On the Main Street of Townsend Harbor, the old Reed House, built soon after 1800, contained two rooms by Porter. The lower northeast room was papered over many years ago, the the upper northwest chamber glows with the original fresco colors which are in an exceptionally fine state of preservation.” “Also in this house, many of the door panels are finely grained in crotch and swirl patterns, and the mantel in the landscape room (Porter Room) is stippled or sponged in dark green.”
The life of Rufus Porter (1792-1884) a muralist, itinerant painter, and scientist, deserves its own article as he truly was a Renaissance man.

Oliver Reed died in 1839 after running his successful tanning business for 35 years. He had provided a good life for his family. Upon his death at the age of 59, his widow and children shared in ownership of the Reed House. Letty acquired 1/3 of the Reed House estate with each of the children receiving 1/4 shares. At this time the children were aged 23 to 14. Catherine was 23, James Oliver was 20, Harriet 18, and little Hannah was 14. Letty, like her mother, was now a widow. She was 51 years old and her own mother, Hannah, was 85. Hannah Wilson Reed would die in 1844 and she was buried alongside her husband Lieut James Wilson, in the Old Burying Ground Cemetery. Note: the “1/3 to the widow” in1839 referred to historical common law and state statutes (dower and inheritance) regarding real and personal property.

Letty Reed would live for another 25 years after the death of Oliver. Her daughter Harriet never married and would remain with her at the Reed House, caring for her aging mother and overseeing the care of the Reed House. Letty had seen great changes over her long life, and in the house she entered upon in marriage. She died on the 25th of September 1864 at the age of 75. She is buried alongside Oliver in Hillside Cemetery, Section 3.

Harriet Reed would now inherit the Reed House from her mother. The Reed House was witness to many joys and sorrows, and more were to come.

Keep following this post to learn about the next generation!