Themes: Architectural and community development

Jeremiah Goldsmith b. 1762 in Andover, MA, son of William & Hannah (Burnham) Goldsmith. His father William was a large land holder in Andover, said to have held 1000 acres prior to moving here from Wenham, MA.

Jeremiah married Dec. 30, 1788 in Bedford, MA to Sarah Convers b. 1767. Jeremiah purchased the farm of Jacob Holt on South Main St. #395 (Essex Turnpike in 1806) for 300 pounds. It contained 60 acres on the west side of the road, a dwelling house and barn and a two acre lot across the street. The farm extended down to Rattlesnake Rd. to the south and the Cogswell farm to the north.

Jerimiah and Sarah joined the South Church on June 24, 1798. They had eleven children: Sarah b. Nov. 1, 1789, Elizabeth b. Aug. 29, 1791, William b. Mar. 19, 1793, Mary Convers b. Feb. 17, 1795, Clarissa b. Apr. 11, 1797, Jeremiah b. Oct. 24, 1799, Aphia b. Feb. 24, 1801, Joseph Convers b. Apr. 1, 1803, Hannah Burnham b. May 17, 1805, Joshua b. Mar. 27, 1807 and Lozina b. Jan. 27, 1813. By 1819 Jeremiah was “non-compos mentis”, not of sound mind, and David Gray and Steven Abbott were appointed Guardians of his estate in June 1819. Portions of the farm were sold off. Son Jeremiah Jr. would acquire the homestead farm at 395 South Main St. in 1831. Jeremiah Sr. died on July 15, 1842.

Sons; Jeremiah Goldsmith Jr. married to Elizabeth Gleason and Joseph Convers Goldsmith married to Phebe Russell. Via some land transfers Joseph C. & Phebe purchase the property on Sept. 28, 1848. The 1850 Valuation has Joseph C. Dwelling house $350, 3 acres $60 = $410. Cow $20. The 1860 Valuation list Joseph C . Dwelling house and 3 acres of land $564. In 1870 the house $400, barn and shop $300 on 3 1/4 acres = $800.

Joseph C. borrowed $311.37 from his brother Jeremiah Goldsmith on Sept. 28, 1848 to buy the property and Jeremiah held the mortgage deed. Joseph C. and Phebe had three children; Joseph C. Jr. b. April 26, 1831, James H. b. 1833 and daughter Caroline A. b. Jan.13, 1847. who married a Shattuck. Joseph C. Sr. died on Oct. 3, 1854 and his heirs were his widow Phebe R., and sons Joseph C. Jr. and James H. Goldsmith. Joseph C. Jr. & James H. purchased the mortgage on Apr. 6, 1861 as Uncle Jeremiah had died on Jan. 28, 1861.

Joseph C. Goldsmith and James H. Goldsmith then took possession of the property on April 11, 1861. They sold the property to William H. Green for $600. on Feb. 14, 1868 James H. Goldsmith later purchased the property back from Wm. Green. on Aug. 17, 1889. James H. Goldsmith was a shoe maker and lived in the home. He reserved for himself the use of his shoe shop in the first parcel, rent free, as long as he desired when he sold to Mary E. Dodge of Ipswich, MA on June 15, 1897.
Mary E. Dodge - June 15, 1897 - b. 156 p. 37