History
Three centuries of Farmers
William Paine, a merchant in Ipwsich, was granted over 700 acres in Topsfield by 1639, a grant which included this farm. Over the years the property was divided and subdivided but what is now the Nutter property has always been farmed. That makes three centuries of farmers.
| 1639 | William Paine | 1645 | Daniel Clark | 1650 | William Bartholomew | 1661 | William Evans | 1665 | Daniel Boardman 300 acres | 1696 | Joseph Boardman 100 acres from father | 1742 | Elisha Cummings | 1767 | Palatiah Cummings | 1786 | Rev. Joseph Cummings | 1787 | Daniel Towne | 1787 | Asa Perkins | 1825 | Joshua Wildes & Stephan Bartlett | 1861 | James Manning 100 acres | 1902 | Albert Davison | 1909 | T E Proctor | 1947 | Arthur & Murial Matheson 70 acres | 1949 | John and Bunny Nutter 30 acres |
Photos
Historic
Boardman-Towne House
Although sold separately later, many generations of the Boardman and Towne families farmed the land from this house.
Documents
Original European Landowner
William Paine's wealth, the original landowner, lived in Ipswich and he had a significant legacy for it. William Paine in Ipswich
Maps
1846
Ipswich Road was not extended to the border with Ipswich until 1856. This map shows a preliminary road to what is now the Nutter Farm.
Modern
Google Satellite View
Historical Collections
1639
William Paine
In 1639, William Paine was granted 700 acres in Topsfield. He never lived on this land, it was given to him to increase his fortune through selling it.
Topsfield's First Innkeeper
Daniel Clark purchased the property from William Paine. Clark was Topsfield's first inkeeper. Dow, History, p. 33
Centuries of Farming
In 1665, Daniel Boardman bought the property and his descendants lived there until 1825. THC, v. 8, p. 110
Boardman-Towne House
Generations of the Boardman and Towne families lived in this house. (see photo above.) The property was sold separately later. See THC, vol. 8, p. 24
