Historic Homes of New England

by Mary Harrod Northend

At the time of its erection, Captain Archibald Macphaedris was a wealthy merchant and Tory at heart, being a member of the King's Council. He came over from Scotland, attracted by stories of the new country's wealth, in the early part of the eighteenth century, and taking kindly to life here, he entered into trade and was so prudent that later on he was able to build this splendid house. The building was designed as a town residence, and although twelve miles distant from his industry, was considered a suitable situation for this very reason. He preferred to leave business cares at the close of the day and spend the intervening time as far removed from them as possible.

Early in the eighteenth century iron works were founded at Dover, New Hampshire. They were the first of the kind ever established in this country, and Captain Macphaedris was the chief promoter of the new industry. In addition to this, he carried on an extensive fur trade with the Indians, with whom he was very friendly; by combining the profits from his two ventures he was able to amass a considerable fortune.

A distinct feature of this house is the design of the roof and the high brick chimneys, which convey a hint of Dutch sturdiness and which resemble many of the houses in the Netherlands. This goes to show that the valiant captain imported Dutch ideas along with his bricks and tiles.

Plate XLVII.—Doorway, Warner House; Porch, Warner House.

When finished, this mansion was three stories in height, being perfectly plain with the exception of two fine doorways, the one on the front being much the more elaborate. These have never been changed since the days they were placed there. Whether the walls were built to resist attacks of the Indians or not will never be known, but they are eighteen inches thick, making the house one of the warmest of that period.

The plans of the house were designed in accordance with the wishes of the bride, who was no less a personage than Sarah Wentworth, the daughter of Governor John Wentworth, and one of the reigning belles of Portsmouth. That it was an expensive house is shown from the fact that it cost six thousand pounds or thirty thousand dollars, a considerable sum to be spent in those early days, when money was not plentiful. The furniture was all imported, brought over in Captain Macphaedris' ships and especially designed for the house. It was in many respects quite different from much of the furniture that had been brought into the colony, and as much of the original is still shown, we realize how carefully the captain must have sought to combine beauty and comfort.

The house was most carefully built, for it was first commenced in 1718 and not completed until five years later, in 1723. In all probability the opening of the house was attended by a large housewarming, to which the dignitaries of Portsmouth, including Governor John Wentworth, were invited, but the event was considered of too little importance to be mentioned in the annals that are left concerning the mansion.

By a strange irony of fate, the name of the man whose money and brains built the house is rarely associated with it; the fine old pile is known far and near by the name of the man who married the captain's daughter Mary, a comely lass who was a great belle in the town. He was the Hon. Jonathan Warner, a member of the King's Council until the Revolution made his commission ineffective. Mr. Warner was a familiar figure about Portsmouth in the latter days of the eighteenth century and is spoken of, in an old review, as "one of the last of the cocked hats." He invariably wore a long-skirted brown coat, small clothes, silk stockings, and buckles on his shoes. He always carried a cane, and his dignified bearing never failed to impress the youngsters of the place with proper respect, and they always courteously saluted him as he passed. And to-day the visitor at Portsmouth has the Macphaedris-Warner house pointed out to him as the Warner house.