Historic Beverly
Guardians of Our Legacy
One Thing is certain! Ancestry Tour Agents could not exist without our friends at Historic Beverly. AS the owner of Ancestry Tour Agents, I can't possibly say enough about what a wonderful organization this truly is, and is one of our most precious hidden gems. I hope it will not be hidden for long.
Historic Beverly was founded in 1891 by a group of local residents with deep familial ties to the founding of the city. Among them was John Israel Baker who would become Beverly's first mayor in 1895.
The Houses
The John Balch House
The Reverend John Hale House
The Reverend John Hale House
John Balch was one of the first Planters to arrive in what is now Beverly along with Roger Conant and 3 other families. The earliest section of the house was built around 1679, which makes it one of the oldest timber frame house in North America, and the oldest in Beverly. The house remained in the Balch family for over 200 years until
John Balch was one of the first Planters to arrive in what is now Beverly along with Roger Conant and 3 other families. The earliest section of the house was built around 1679, which makes it one of the oldest timber frame house in North America, and the oldest in Beverly. The house remained in the Balch family for over 200 years until it was purchased by the Balch Family Association, who would later to Historic Beverly in 1932.
In 1692, a witness would testify that David Balch (who had died in this house in 1690) had complained of being tormented by three witches, he named Dorcas Hoar (of Beverly), Sarah Wildes and her daughter, and another unnamed woman from Marblehead
The Reverend John Hale House
The Reverend John Hale House
The Reverend John Hale House
Reverend John Hale was the first minister of Beverly. He was also famously involved in the Witch Trials of 1692, first as a supporter, but as the trials progressed so did his views.
The house was built sometime around 1694, and was the house he lived in when he penned his famous "A Modest Enquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft.." an hone
Reverend John Hale was the first minister of Beverly. He was also famously involved in the Witch Trials of 1692, first as a supporter, but as the trials progressed so did his views.
The house was built sometime around 1694, and was the house he lived in when he penned his famous "A Modest Enquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft.." an honest look into the nature of witch hunts in which he used biblical scripture and his own experience to describe his views.
Historic Beverly purchased the Hale House in 1937.
The John Cabot House
The Reverend John Hale House
The John Cabot House
John Cabot was a merchant and privateer. His home, built in 1781, was the first brick house in Beverly. The building would later become the first office for the Beverly Bank in 1802. In 1891 it became the headquarters of Historic Beverly and has been since.
Within the building now are some of exciting and compelling exhibits on the No
John Cabot was a merchant and privateer. His home, built in 1781, was the first brick house in Beverly. The building would later become the first office for the Beverly Bank in 1802. In 1891 it became the headquarters of Historic Beverly and has been since.
Within the building now are some of exciting and compelling exhibits on the North Shore including "Set At Liberty", the story of Beverly's enslaved people; "A Story of War", an exhibit of 28 paintings used by Ken Burns in his American Revolution documentary.