55 



stood the house of Eoger Conant, built in 1626 ; and 

 this belief is confirmed by the evidence that two others 

 of the Old Planters, John Woodbury and Peter Pal- 

 frey, lived close by ; and also by the probability that the 

 house, which is mentioned as next adjoining, where 

 John Fisk lived, who was then acting as minister of 

 the church, would be in the vicinity of the meeting 

 house. 



THE HOUSE OF ROGER WILLIAMS, 1635. 



On the western corner of North and Essex streets 

 stands the old house well known as the Witch House. 

 We have already given -in a former article (Historical 

 Collections Vol. VIII, p. 257) the history of this house 

 so far as it was then known, showing that it was originally 

 owned by Roger Williams, in 1635-6, and afterwards by 

 Captain Richard Davenport, whose administrators sold 

 it to Jonathan Corwin, in 1675, and that it was 

 then thoroughly repaired by him, and was again altered 

 in 1746, a new roof being built and the back part of 

 the house raised to two stories and the porch taken 

 away. 



Since -that article was written we have obtained, 

 through the kindness of Mr. E. M. Barton, Assistant 

 Librarian of the Antiquarian Society- of Worcester, a 

 complete copy of the original contract between Jonathan 

 Corwin and Daniel Andrew, in 1675, as to the repairs to 

 be made upon this house, which we here present. 



"Articles and Covenants made, agreed upon, and confirmed be- 

 tween Mr. Jonathan Corwin, of Salem, merchant, and Daniel An- 

 drews of , of the other part concerning a parcell of worke as 



followeth, viz. : Imprimis, the said parcell of worke is to be bestowed 

 in filling, plaistering and finishing a certaine dwelling house bought 

 by the said owner of Capt. Nath'll Davenport of Boston, and is 

 situate in Salem aforesaid, towards the west end of the towue be- 



