INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property

Marlborough Samuel Brigham, II

House

Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form No.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 AE 34

Additional information by Anne Forbes, consultant to Marlborough Historical Commission,

5/18/95:

ASSESSOR'S # 103-13 less than one acre PHOTOS #95-14: 3 and 4

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
In spite of some alterations, including a new main entry, this house is significant both for the
probable very early date of one of its ells, and as an illustration of a rare house-type that has
several representatives in Marlborough, the eighteenth-century non-symmetrical "three-quarters"
house. The main part of the building is a two-room-deep, 2 1I2-story house with a large chimney
placed off-center at the roof ridge. Its a four-bay facade arrangement reflects a two-windowed
room on one side of the door, and a room with one window on tbe other. Although all sections
of the house are clapboarded, the upper story of the main house is clad in patterned shingle,
probably an alteration of the 1890's. The windows of the main part of the house are 6-over-6-sash
(and one 2-over-2) at the first story, and 6-over-9-sasb in projecting frames at the second.

Abutting the rear northwest comer of the main house is a succession of ells. The first, which may
well be an earlier house, is 1 lI2-stories, two-bays wide, with 3-over-6-sash windows at the upper
story, and 6-over-6-sash at the first. To its west is a lower one-story, two-bay ell, with a shed-roofed
extension behind it.

Recent alterations to the house include the removal of a west side porch between 1974 and 1976,
and of a main door hood sometime after that.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE, cont.

Although Marlborough historian Cyrus Felton argued persuasively in the 1870's that the Samuel
Brigham garrison was located at 320 South Street (MHC #1170--Area AG), instead of here, other
traditional knowledge has placed it at this house. Confusion about its possible construction date
may also arise from the fact that two Samuel Brighams, father and son, were both alive in 1711
during the later "Indian Wars", when the Samuel Brigham House was designated a garrison, or
place of refuge for colonists in case of Indian attack. According to Hudson, the elder Samuel
Brigham (1652-1713), a colonist who was born in Watertown, lived 1.25 miles east of the
meetinghouse, where he operated a tannery for many years. (The tannery, and the house
associated with it, were on East Main Street, just west of the foot of Hosmer Street.) Thus it is
not likely, as the 1976 inventory form claims, that he raised a family here on Brigham Street. The
geneology of the Brigham family says that Samuel's son, Samuel Brigham, II (1689-1771), who
married Abigail Moore in 1716, (and Hudson says lived in the south part of Marlborough,) had a
175-acre farm here, and erected the first part of this bouse. Still, it may not have been "Capt.
Brigham's garrison". The elder Samuel Brigham homestead was on East Main, and his twenty-two-
year-old son was not yet married and the head of a household in 1711. In addition, this was not
the location "southeasterly of the east village" where both Hudson and Bigelow place the garrison.
Samuel Brigham II, like his father, was apparently a Representative to the General Court from
Marlborough (1741). He is also listed as Town Clerk in 1754-55.
(Cont.)
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property

Marlborough Samuel Brigham, II

House

Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form No.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 AE 34

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE, cont.

Although map evidence indicates otherwise (see below), according to Ella Bigelow, the house and
farm passed to Samuel II and Abigail's son, George Brigham (b. 1730). George Brigham, too, was
a Representative to the General Court, in 1776-77, and 1781. He and his wife, Mary (Bragg) had
sixteen children, six of whom died in 1771, five of those within one month of each other. The
property was inherited by one of their surviving children, Ashbael Samuel (A.S.) Brigham (1772-
1839).

The map of 1803, in contradiction to the family geneology, shows a third Samuel Brigham as the
owner of the property in that year. This is likely, however, to refer to Ashbael Samuel. Sometime
before 1830, A.S. Brigham sold the farm to Dr. Daniel Brigham (1760-1837). A former
Revolutionary War soldier, he was the son of Capt. Jonas and Persis Brigham of Westborough.
He practiced medicine in Northborough, Berlin, and later in Marlborough. He left the property
to his son, Barnabus Brigham (1786.1865). He had married Persis Maynard in 1817, and had been
a town officer and constable in Berlin before coming to Marlborough. He, in tum, left the property
to his son, Addington Munroe Brigham (b. 1837), who evidently owned it until his death in the
1890's. Like many farmers in Marlborough after the Civil War, he operated a dairy farm here.

BIBLIOGRAPHY, cont.
Maps and atlases: 1803, 1830, 1835, 185617, 1875, 1889.
Marlboro vital records.
Marlboro directories and tax valuations.
Brigham, W.T., and Brigham Family Assoc. Brigham Family Geneology.
Felton, Cyrus. A Record of More than 450 Events ....in Marlborough and Vicinity. 1879.

[X] Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked, a completed
National Register Criteria Statement form is attached.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property

Marlborough Samuel Brigham

House

Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form No.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 AE 34
 7. Originalowner(if known) Capt. Samuel Brigham

Originaluse Garrison Fann

Subsequentuses (if any)anddates

:~. Themes(checkas manyas applicable)

'.,.•..
"'Aboriginal Conservation Recreation
Agricultural -X-- Education --. R~ligion
Arcliitectural X. Exploration/. ;'--- Science/--
;"Theh-rts '\ ,settlement:··· . invention'.'
·'Comiherce Industry =====
=--=--._.-._- Social!·-
~Communication _ Military -X .' ~.' humanitarian
.·~Community development -X Political 'X - .Transportation
"\ ~,.. .
7 '"1\:·( ·c._
~9.-Historical significance(includeexplanationof themes checkedabove)
-n}"; Addington M. Brigham, son of Barnabas and Mary (Fife) Brigham was
~~rborn in Marlborough, 1837,. on thes -old Fazm of Samuel Brigham, and mar-
i!:h:~ ried Mary Estabrook of Westminster., Mass•
.:' This Farm originally covered "175 acres and has ever been occupied by
i}~'~ Brighams. It was first owned bY.~9apt. Samuel 3rd, then by Samue1's son
r.~...:Georget who left it to Ashbael Samuel, who sold it to Doctor Daniel, who :,..'.
;';:<=was followed by Barnabas and ~hen'by Addington. George s ; Ashbael Samuel, ~.~;
~~and Addington Brigham were all born here· on this old homestead, which "\:-=
~cwas built as a' garrison to dei;en9-,the .city in case of·-attack by Indians. ,~:3
''',When King Philip at tacked and ..burned a large portion of the town on the.'\F'
. ,'26, of March 1676' this house was .one of 26· such Garrison houses in the ',f''''';
:,town. .Today this is the onlY,.Garrison left. in .tbe present boundaries ~';~
:~-t' of l1arlborough. . . . .,..~
~E' . Addington Brigham has served"':"-thetown as Road Commissioner and the
~J:;'~city of Marlborough as meinber of the OommonCouncil of --which he has been :..-·:
;i;}\'j,:president. He is charter member of ~rlborough Grange and member of the-'.~:;i
~~~~G.A. R. enlisting in 1864 in Co. E, '5th Mass.-. Inf.·. ·.Addingtoll· s son . ~'{.~~
~~.>\-1illiamM. Brigham was a graduate of -Bos ton University 7 a prominent lawyer:~~
: "~ho has served on pos Lt Lons vof trrus t .in' Marlborough' and '~as Represent- 'i,~,~~
";ative to the General Court from: 2lst'Middels~District', 1899-1907 in-· .';~
;:r'·r-:clusive. This grand old home still stands three-quarters of a mile from "':--':~-i
:'i;''''.Mar1boroughJunction as it has for nearly 300 yearst~'?::
~.. ;-.... ~.;.;,
""'=:-·:;;~t\m
~ "'.-'/... -" .••_ •.•.~~. ~ 1\
_.,,:::::7~.~
~ •.•-

~".:;""- .'. ." t••• oo;; ---:. .- t''' __

~{to~:~::~~~
or references ..:/I\:" ..
(S~~f~~~~Yg~~;~~ei·,~~:d_~.~:~::~~'~:r~
:}'~
..:~.,./Homestead names are taken··from·-·Oct~ "2lt~ 1893: map,of Marlborough'.bY,,:,:::
:II~i,las. Holman Surveyor. Which"::i:ncludes:the.::~toWh 'of._-Hudson.. . ' '~::~d'm
·~>.Histories t.aken fron\)-l;i..~.~o'ki~al:cRe!ninis,ce~s.>;;:O:f;:·.Marlborough ..by
,Eila Bigelow ;1..910. -.'X:T_·~~:X:~;~;'-};·:::.1:~'/:··. -:-i-·-'·:' .'~': ..
.:::f"'·~·
.-. - ..-.::
0_ •• - .-. ~..... _. • .'. • ."

. ... .
 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Office of the Secretary, state House, Boston

--
--- ..........• '
1. Town

Address
Harl borough

Brigham Street

Name Samuel Brigham Homestead

Present use Residence
2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5")
Staple to left side of form
Photo number
------ Present owner Mr. Ralph
,. ~",~o~~~~~i
,
I..aItiWr.r, '~~~~
c· ;~'~~~~i
3. Description: 2~ story 3/4 Center;'Ghimney
-..~...•..;. .•.

Date 1st Qtr 18th Century1'..6,7flY

Source Pub. Local Histories

--,"':"

Style Colonial (Early)

4. Map. Draw sketch of building location Architect

~
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabr-ic Wood Clapboard

Outbuildings (describe) None Left :~~~~~

, -t:....-,"

2 eils West, 11 & ""3/

Other features ~'" 4
I'f these two ells are probably thex~:
original dwelling. I>,.

,yo •••••
t Altered

Moved
Date

Date
. .:~.~'\
-~"

00 5. Lot size:
DO One acre or less

Approximate frontage 100 ft.

Approximate distance
-
of building fro -' ~-~

9Jvrtl /3tJ/fql/6-H 30 ft,

; ,

,NOT WRITE IN THIS S 6. ,~ecorded by" Ernest Ginnetti

, GS Quadrant . ' ~'~.
,,~~ .~~,.~
. . -._- .
':'.~

ECEIVE[jrganiz~tion
~ . r. ., ':--

Marl~ ,Hist. Cormii.<

He Photo no.
Dare Feb. 20 ' 1974
 FORM H - PARKS AND USGS Quad Area(s) Form No. Fonns within
lANDSCAPE FEATURES I Marlboro 1 I I [913 I
ASSESSO~R-'S-1O-3--9--
Massachusetts Historical Commission
80 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 Town Marlbomllgh
l"< ~:
:',
~
Place (neighborhood or village) _
!.,
Iericho Hi1I

Brigham Street

Iericho Iii]] Ski Area

ership: [] private [X] public

ype of Park or Landscape Feature

(check one):

[ ] park [ ] farm land

[ ] green or common [ ] mine or quarry
[ J garden [ ] training field
[ J boulevard/parkway
[X] other ski slope

ate of Construction _-",1~9...•.

38U- _

Centennial '90

audscape architect unknown

unknown

Alterations/Intrusions (with dates) _

modem fencing, c1ubhO!lSe,utility lines

I~

Condition fair/good

Acreage 1925 acres

Setting On SW side of Brigham Street jn area

Organization for Marlboro Hist Comm of recent single-famjly residential constmctjon

Date 7127(95 Asphalt parking lot near mad

PARKS AND LANDSCAPES FORM

VISUAUDESIGN ASSESSMENT [] see continuation sheet

Describe topography and layout. Note structures such as bandstands, gazebos, sheds, stone walls, monuments, and
[ountains. Note landscaping features such as formal plantings, agricultural plantings, and bodies of water. If
possible, compare current appearance with original.

The ski slope at Jericho Hill, one of the earliest facilities of its type in the region, in contrast
to other popular slopes which have grown and modernized over the years, retains the small
J-
scale and simplicity of character it must have had when first opened at the end of the 1930's.
It still consists primarily of one long, rectangular cleared area on the hill's east-facing slope, ,
lined on either side with primarily deciduous trees. A small "island" of trees and rocks \
stands in the center of the upper section. Two lines of tall wood light poles, which today
allow night-time skiing, extend the full length ofthe hill, and a 900-foot Tvbar parallels them
up the south edge of the slope. A small secondary open slope is located south of the main
area. There are also two rope tows-one 850-foot, and one 100-foot. At the foot of the hill
the ground again rises toward the street, where a one-story modern wood-frame ski-rental
building is located. A small asphalt parking lot is located just to its north, and several large
maple trees line the edge of the street.

/i.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE [] see continuation sheet

Discuss history of lise. Evaluate the historical associations of the landscape/park with the community.

Jericho Hill, in the southwestern section of Marlborough, is one of the many hills that has
always contributed to the beauty of the community's rolling terrain. In 1938 it was opened
as a ski slope, one of the earliest in this part of New England. For a time a ski jump was
located here. In 1945 a ski-tow was installed, and in 1950 Jericho became the first facility
of its type to make snow. Privately owned and operated for many years, the ski area was
purchased by the city in about 1980.
(
i

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Maps and atlases: Marlborough Assessors Maps; USGS Map: Marlborough Quadrangle.
Centennial '90: Marlborough, the City. 1990

[ J Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked, you
must attach a completed National Register Criteria Statement form.
 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no.

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 45

Office of the Secretary. State House. Boston

i I 1. Town Marlborough

Address 303 Brigham Street

Name Capt. Samuel Brigham Homestea<

Present use Residence

2.

Present owner Ralph Barnes

I 3. Description: 2t Story Center Chimney

I ~ ~,-' Date 1660

1\
l'
,
'.co;
' '- '-:-:'.- ,~.:
' 2.,j ",)..~:#
Source Pub.

Style Colonial
local histories

4. Map. Draw sketch of building location Architect Samuel Brigham (builder)

in re lation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabric Clapboard

Outbuildings (describe)_N_o_n_e _

Other features
-------------

Altered Date
@ COOOO Moved Date
at? I r; M --------- ------
5. Lot size:
n 0 D tJ o
One acre or less Over one acre X

fA 7T
--
A.«L~OR.O

- vTI-t
50
__ -

841"po
-----
__
-- - ...•..
Approximate frontage
--
100 Feet
----------
Approximate distance of building from street

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by Ernest Ginnetti

USGSQuadrant MarlbOrough Histor~cal
Organization Commission
IMHC Photo no.
Date 12/29/76
'\
'\ (over)
'\~

\~

SM-2-75-R06146S'; (20M-2~76)
\
\tt \
 )
)

Subsequentuses (ifany) and dates Residence

8. Themes (checkas many as applicable)

------------------
Aboriginal Conservation Recreation
Agricultural x Education Religion
Architectural X Exploration/ Science/
The Arts settlement x invention
Commerce Industry Social!
Communication Military x humanitarian
Community development X Political X )
Transportation
)
9:.Historicalsignificance(includeexplanationofthemes checked above)

Captain Samuel Brigham was born in this house Jan. 25, 1689, and mar-
ried Abigail Moore Aug. 23, 1716. He was one of forty persons who bought
Grafton off the Indians in 1727,
His father also named Samuel was one of the earliest settlers of Marl-
borough and one of the original petitioners for the Grant of the Plant~~~~l
In 1711 this house was designated to be one of 26 Garrisons througho
·the city to protect the citizens from Indian attack. The families of
Peter Plimpton and Benjamin Mixer were assigned to defend this Garrison,
which had 175 acres as ~ farm.
Addington Brigham served the town as road commissioner and President
of the Common Council, he was charter member of the Marlborough Grange,
and member of the G. A. R., enlisting in 1864 in Co. E, 5th Mass. Inf.
William Brigham wa s a graduate of Boston University, a prominent law-
yer who became Represen&tive to General Court from Middlesex District,
1899-1907 inclusive.

1&. Bibliographyand/or references(suchas localhistories,deeds, assessor'srecords.

early maps, etc.)
History of Marlborough Mass, Charles Hudson, Boston, 1862.

Historical Reminiscences of Marlborough, Ella Bigelow, Marl. 1910.

Marlborough Engineering Dept.