The 1681 Salem Village Parsonage
{Not all of the text on this marker can be transcribed.}
In February, 1681, the Salem village inhabitants voted, "We will build a house for the Ministry and provid convenient Land for that end. The Dementions of the House are as followeth: 42 foot long; twenty foot Broad; thirteen foot stude: Fouer chimleis no gable ends."
The house faced south and included a half-cellar on its west side which was composed of dry laid fieldstones, and which was entered by means of a stairway from the porch (front entry). The east side of the house did not include a cellar, the house sills resting on ground stones. The first floor consisted of two rooms separated by the front entry and a massive brick chimney structure. Two bed chambers were located on the second floor. Each of the house's four rooms included a fireplace. By 1692 a "saltbox" leanto was attached to the rear of the house, and used as a kitchen.
Rev. George Burroughs first lived in this house followed by Rev. Deodat Lawson. In 1689 Rev. Samuel Parris, his wife Elizabeth, daughter Elizabeth, and nice Abigail Williams came to live here.
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The witch hysteria and subsequent legal proceedings resulted in the imprisonment of over 150 persons and the deaths of 23, including former Parsonage resident George Burroughs.
Continued to be occupied by the Salem Village and Danvers ministers, the 1681 parsonage was finally torn down in 1784, and the land reverted to a pasture.
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By 1970 the property was owned by Alfred and Edie Anne Hutchinson, who were approached by history student Richard B Trask with a proposal to find and excavate the site. The resulting "Danvers Dig" was accomplished through the efforts of numerous volunteers assisted by archaeologist Roland Wells Robbins. In 1988, with state assistance, the Town of Danvers purchased the site as an historic landmark.
Marker can be reached from Centre Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
