Thomas Massey House
Encyclopedia
The Thomas Massey House is a brick and stone colonial house, located on Lawrence Road near West Chester Pike in Broomall, Pennsylvania
. The brick section was created by Thomas Massey, a Quaker, in 1696 as an addition to an earlier wooden house. Thomas's son Mordecai Massey likely tore down the wooden house and built the first stone addition during the 1730s. A stone walled kitchen was added in the early nineteenth century with a second story added about 1860. The house was donated to Marple Township
in 1964 to avoid destruction. The Thomas Massey House is one of the oldest English Quaker homes in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
. It is on the National Register of Historical Places, and the Historical American Building Survey.
Thomas Massey was born in the village of Marpoole (Marple) in Cheshire
, England. He landed in America on September 29, 1683 at the age of twenty, disembarking from the ketch "Endeavor" at Chester
as an indentured servant
to Francis Stanfield. His master similarly provided transportation to America for seven other indentured servants. When Thomas worked off his indenture, he received 50 acres (20.2 ha) of land from his master and another 50 acres from William Penn
. In 1692, at age 29, he married 22 year old Phebe Taylor, who had arrived in America at age 13 with her family on the same ship as Massey. Together they had seven children. Thomas died in 1707 or 1708 and Phebe remarried two years later.
The house remained in the Massey family until 1925, and was used as a farmhouse into the 1930s when a furnace and electrical wiring were added. When the land around the house was developed into suburban housing, the Massey House was used for storage and painting.
In 1964 the Massey House was on the verge of demolition when a descendant, Lawrence M.C. Smith bought the house and 1 acre (0.404686 ha) of ground, and gave it to the Township of Marple for restoration. Restoration was completed in ten years. During the restoration, evidence of a walk-in-fireplace and beehive oven was discovered. These features have been reconstructed and are in use today.
The house is furnished with 17th and 18th century furniture and is open to the public for tours between 1 and 4 Sunday afternoon beginning with the last weekend in April and ending the last weekend in October.
Broomall, Pennsylvania
Broomall is a census-designated place in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,046 at the 2000 census. The community was named after John Martin Broomall, a 19th century U.S...
. The brick section was created by Thomas Massey, a Quaker, in 1696 as an addition to an earlier wooden house. Thomas's son Mordecai Massey likely tore down the wooden house and built the first stone addition during the 1730s. A stone walled kitchen was added in the early nineteenth century with a second story added about 1860. The house was donated to Marple Township
Marple Township, Pennsylvania
Marple Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 23,737 at the 2000 census. ZIP codes include mainly 19008, but also partially 19064 and 19063.-Geography:...
in 1964 to avoid destruction. The Thomas Massey House is one of the oldest English Quaker homes in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It is on the National Register of Historical Places, and the Historical American Building Survey.
Thomas Massey was born in the village of Marpoole (Marple) in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England. He landed in America on September 29, 1683 at the age of twenty, disembarking from the ketch "Endeavor" at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
as an indentured servant
Indentured servant
Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
to Francis Stanfield. His master similarly provided transportation to America for seven other indentured servants. When Thomas worked off his indenture, he received 50 acres (20.2 ha) of land from his master and another 50 acres from William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
. In 1692, at age 29, he married 22 year old Phebe Taylor, who had arrived in America at age 13 with her family on the same ship as Massey. Together they had seven children. Thomas died in 1707 or 1708 and Phebe remarried two years later.
The house remained in the Massey family until 1925, and was used as a farmhouse into the 1930s when a furnace and electrical wiring were added. When the land around the house was developed into suburban housing, the Massey House was used for storage and painting.
In 1964 the Massey House was on the verge of demolition when a descendant, Lawrence M.C. Smith bought the house and 1 acre (0.404686 ha) of ground, and gave it to the Township of Marple for restoration. Restoration was completed in ten years. During the restoration, evidence of a walk-in-fireplace and beehive oven was discovered. These features have been reconstructed and are in use today.
The house is furnished with 17th and 18th century furniture and is open to the public for tours between 1 and 4 Sunday afternoon beginning with the last weekend in April and ending the last weekend in October.
External links
- Thomas Massey House at the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...