Secretary/desk closed - A wooden desk with a wooden top and drawers
This desk is in two pieces, which were built at separate times in the early 1800s (circa 1810) by Topsfield resident David Towne. It is made of birch and maple predominantly. David Towne learned his trade from ... More
Secretary/desk open - A wooden dresser with china on top of it
This desk is in two pieces, which were built at separate times in the early 1800s (circa 1810) by Topsfield resident David Towne. It is made of birch and maple predominantly. David Towne learned his trade from ... More
Oak glass case fragment
English "glass cases" were used for the storage of glasses, table garniture and pots. This fragment of the front of a glass case is the only New England example known and was made in Rowley, Massachusetts circa... More
Portrait of Hannah Gould Lake - Public domain portrait
This unsigned oil painting was done circa 1830 by an unknown American artist. The portrait is of Hannah Gould Lake (1809-1898) and was an engagement portrait for her marriage to Eleazer Lake on 20 December 1832... More
Portrait of Eleazer Lake (III) - Public domain portrait
This unsigned oil painting was done circa 1830 by an unknown American artist. The portrait is of Eleazer Lake (1805-1867) and was an engagement portrait for his marriage to Hannah Gould on 20 December 1832. Cou... More
Portrait of Izannah White Capen
The portrait of Aaron Capen's wife, Izannah White (1801-1851) was done the same year (1830) as that of her husband. They were married 3 October 1821. Courtesy of Topsfield Historical Society
Portrait of John Pike Towne - Public domain portrait
This oil-on-canvas portrait of John Pike Towne was painted in the 1860s by the Reverend George Chapman. Chapman was minister of the Topsfield Methodist Episcopal Church (1866-1867). The Towne family was a prosp... More
Portrait of General Aaron Capen
Aaron Capen (1796-1866) was the great-great-grandson of Samuel Capen, the brother of Reverend Joseph Capen. He became a major general in the Massachusetts Militia at age 32, the youngest to attain that rank. La... More
Parson Capen House with people on lawn
Public domain photograph - New England history, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Parson Capen House - postcard postcard
Public domain photo of vintage Massachusetts postcard, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Parson Capen House with attached structures
Public domain photograph of a house, cottage, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Parson Capen House open for docent tour
Public domain photograph of a house, cottage, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Parson Capen House - A large brown house sitting next to a tree
Picryl description: Public domain image of a residential building, house, 19th-20th century architecture, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Parson Capen House - A group of people standing in front of a house
Public domain photograph - New England history, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Capen family chair - whole
Inscribed with "P. Capen 1708," this maple banister back chair was made in Waltham, Massachusetts. It was most likely a gift given to Parson Capen's daughter, Priscilla, when she married Boxford, Massachusetts ... More
Capen family chair - detail
Inscribed with "P. Capen 1708," this maple banister back chair was made in Waltham, Massachusetts. It was most likely a gift given to Parson Capen's daughter, Priscilla, when she married Boxford, Massachusetts ... More
Six-board chest - A wooden table with a wheel in front of a window
This American-made piece has the original India-red paint, though the hinges have been replaced on it. It is called a "six-board chest" for the number of oak boards that make up the piece. It features "bootjack... More
Windsor side chair - A wooden chair sitting on top of a hard wood floo...
Locally made, this chair was made sometime in the early 19th century at Averill cabinet shop on Averill's Island (in the modern-day Audubon Sanctuary, Topsfield, MA). The chair features original black paint. Co... More
Low joined cupboard - A wooden dresser sitting in a room next to a win...
Contemporary with the building of the Parson Capen House (1683), this low joined cupboard of oak and chestnut was made in Essex County, Massachusetts. It predates the house by nearly a decade. Courtesy of Topsf... More
Dower chest - A wooden chest sitting on top of a hard wood floor
Made in Essex County, Massachusetts, this oak and pine chest belonged to Francis Peabody. In 1658, Peabody settled in Topsfield and built the first grist mill. The chest features shadow-molded stiles and rails.... More