78 



Jonathan Pickering's house (which stood to the east of 

 the present house) was the same "which one Deacon 

 built before 1661." The first John Pickering died in 

 1657, and his widow Elizabeth married John Deacon. 

 The oldest son John, remained in the house which his 

 father had built in 1651, while his mother and the 

 younger son Jonathan, removed to the new house which 

 John Deacon built on that part of the homestead which 

 was set off to Jonathan. The mother died in 1662 ; 

 and in 1671, the two brothers made a final settlement 

 of the estate between them, at which time, according to 

 Deacon Pickering, the western part of the present house 

 was built. In regard to the original house in which 

 John Pickering lived previous to 1651, we have the fol- 

 lowing evidence given in a deposition by his grandson, 

 showing that it was sold in 1663 or 1664, and removed to 

 another place. On the Commoners Record for 1714, is 

 entered one right to John Pickering "for his grandfather's 

 house," which shows that another house had stood on his 

 land which had belonged to his grandfather and was built 

 before 1661. The following explains what became of it, 

 and is also interesting as showing at what an early period 

 houses were moved. 



" The testimonie of John Pickering of full age saith, to his cer- 

 tain knowledge the little house that was William Beenses * was his 

 father's Cottage Right, that is allowed to me. He further saith that 

 in the year 1663 or 1664, my father sold it to William Beens and it 

 was removed to that plac with oxen. JOHN PICKERING." 



Opposite the Pickering house and south of Broad 

 street (which at first included the present Cemetery and 

 a strip of land west of it), was the "Broadfield" consist- 

 ing of twenty acres and extending from the Hathorne 



* William Beans lived where now is the corner of Boston street and 

 the Turnpike. 



