Jeremiah Lee Mansion, c. 1768, Marblehead, MA: Georgian Splendor - History Bites: New England

A ship owner and merchant, Jeremiah Lee was one of the most affluent men of the North American colonies, and a glimpse of his life can be experienced here in Marblehead, a coastal town located about 20 miles northeast of Boston. Lee's ships, laden with salted and dried fish, sailed to ports in the West Indies, delivering the poorer quality fish for plantation owners to feed to their enslaved people. His ships then traveled to various ports along Europe's Atlantic coast, selling fish and acquiring goods to bring home. In 1766, at age 45, Colonel Lee began building the mansion. According to Marblehead Museum, only the best quality woodwork, hand-painted wallpaper, and custom-made furnishings were used in this public statement of Lee's wealth and importance in the community. Remarkably, most of the architectural elements remain intact. For example, the original mahogany for the wainscoting along the entry hall and double-wide staircase was imported from Santa Domingo. The hand-painted wallpaper found throughout much of the first and second floors was made to order from an English firm. The wallpaper in the hallways feature idealized Roman ruins, reflecting the fashion and popularity of classical scenes after the discovery of the ruins of Pompeii in the 1750s. In the great hall, the ornately carved wooden mantle is the centerpiece of the lavish room. The townspeople welcomed and entertained dignitaries here, including President George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. Trevette married Susanna Ellis in 1742 in Beverly, Massachusetts Bay Colony. They were the parents of at least one son and three daughters. The family's private parlor presented a more relaxed informal atmosphere for conversation, family meals, and other diversions. Colonel Lee lived here with his wife Martha and their six children. Joseph, the eldest son, went to Harvard College in 1768 and got married three years later. Mary, the eldest daughter, married wealthy Newport merchant Nathaniel Tracy in 1777. Jeremiah Lee, according to the Marblehead Museum, was also a slave owner, owning three enslaved individuals when he died in 1775. Whether or not some or all of the enslaved people lived in the mansion or his adjacent building is unknown. This was Jeremiah Lee's office space where his ship captains and others could discuss business. Gary was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a member of the Constitutional Convention. He also served in Congress and, beginning in 1810, served for two years as governor of Massachusetts. He was elected vice president in 1811. The inscription above the portrait reads, it is the duty of every man, though he may have but one day to live, to devote that day to the good of his country. Also in the counting room is an original letter from George Washington written in 1779 to General Glover. A Marblehead native, General Glover's ship, the Hannah, named after his wife, was charted by Washington and it became one of the first ships in what would later evolve into the Continental Navy. The letter from Washington concerns a request by Glover to resign due to his wife's death. Washington expressed sorrow over the situation but stated that only Congress could grant such a request. Congress ultimately gave Glover time to grieve but denied his resignation and he ultimately returned to military service. Glover is also known for increasing the Marblehead Militia, which became the 14th Continental Regiment to nearly 500 men. It was Glover's regiment that rode Washington's troops across the Delaware, leading to a victory at the Battle of Trenton. Jeremiah Lee was an ardent patriot. He was active in town government and served as colonel of Marblehead's town militia for 25 years. Using his trading agents in Spain, Lee procured weapons and ammunition which he then smuggled into various locations in towns outside of Boston. Colonel Lee's involvement in the preparations for armed conflict between England and the colonies in April 1775 turned deadly after meeting with Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and fellow Marbleheaders Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne. The three Marblehead men had settled down for the night at the tavern where they had held their meeting. Disturbed by the news that the British regulars were marching toward Lexington, the men left the tavern and hid in a cornfield. Jeremiah became ill with fever from the exposure and died three weeks later in Newton, Massachusetts. He was 54 years of age. Colonel Lee died. Revolutionary war and a new form of government were among the reasons that would take 13 years for the estate to be settled. In 1788, the estate was declared bankrupt and the assets were liquidated. After 1785, title to the mansion was held by mortgage holders. Following the death of Jeremiah Lee's eldest son, Martha Lee waived her rights and the title title then went to Tracy's creditors. Also on the second floor is a suite of three rooms where Martha kept her bedroom, her dressing room, and a cozy spot for reading or taking tea with a friend. The third floor of the Lee mansion is a showcase for the Marblehead Museum's fine portrait collection of local residents. In 1804, nearly 30 years after Jeremiah Lee's death, the mansion was bought by the newly formed Marblehead Bank, which owned the mansion until 1904 when it ceased operations. The bank made few changes to the building and the Marblehead Historical Society, now Marblehead Museum, purchased the mansion in 1909.