New Hampshire is beautiful most any time of the year, but right now, with flowers in full bloom, taking the side roads instead of one of the state's highways can be rewarding in many ways...not just for those more adventurous of spirit, but those seeking to uplift the spirit, or relive a spirit.
Almost every small town has some legend or "story" associated with a particular part of town; some have more than one, and some are noted by metal NH state placards which tell a brief history of the "legend". Do stop when you see one and take the time to read and learn what in the past has made that spot special.
However, many tales take some ferreting....and all the legends can lead to an interesting collection of memora bilia. Whether souvenir china or historical Staffordshire plates; the size of your collection is only limited by the amount of time you're willing to take (# of places you're willing to stop at), the expensiveness of the item (depth of your pockets), and the extensiveness of items available (rarity).
We warn you now that acquiring a collection of items related to Ocean Born Mary may take you some time... but what fun to take that road less traveled. Just be sure you can separate fact from fiction before you begin the journey.
In 1720, a ship left Londonderry, Ireland headed for Boston, MA. Her name has long been lost in oblivion. At the time, many Scotch families were emigrating to the New World, and among those on board were James Wilson and his bride of one year, Elizabeth Fulton. They were bound for Londonderry, NH, where land had been granted to James Wilson. Friends already awaited their arrival. Ship travel at the time was highly perilous, and the waters were frequented by many pirates.
Such was the fate of this particular ship, that it was boarded by pirates. From what is known as true, apparently none of the passengers were killed. Here two different versions emerge: either that Elizabeth Fulton Wilson was giving birth or that she had already given birth to a baby girl. Either case, it is known that the ship, crew and passengers were "spared" by the pirate captain, who asked that the baby girl be named Mary. The mother agreed, and she was presented with either a bolt of light green brocaded silk, or an actual silk dress. The pirate captain asked that the baby Mary use the fabric in her wedding dress on her wedding day.
The above is all true (we believe according to records from the time) and one would think that it, in and of itself, would be enough for a "good tale", but over the years this story took on a life of its own. How this happened is most interesting.
The pirates departed. The ship landed in Boston. It is unclear if James Wilson died on board the ship, or soon after landing in Boston. However, Elizabeth Wilson, now a widow, accompanied by Mary, left for Londonderry, NH and there married James Clark, great-great-grandparent of Horace Greeley.
It is also known that for many years, the town of Londonderry, NH held a celebration on July 28th as a day of thanksgiving for the deliverance of their friends from the hands of pirates.
In 1738, Thomas Wallace emigrated to America and settled in Londonderry, NH, and on Dec. 18, 1742? married Ocean Born Mary. And yes, she wore a dress made of the pirate silk.
Three pieces of cloth, allegedly from that dress, remain in NH to this day: one in Londonderry, one at the Tucker Free Library in Henniker, NH, and one at the NH Historical Society.
The Wallaces had five children: four boys and a girl. Three of the sons married three sisters, and all three couples settled in Henniker, NH. Apparently, James died young. William built a fairly large house and farm, while Robert Wallace became the most successful of the three, and built a large Georgian colonial style home, the same home which to this day is known as the Ocean Born Mary house. William's house, after his death, apparently served as the town poor-farm until it burned in 1920. It is actually in William's house that Ocean Born Mary lived in the latter part of her life...so why is Robert's house still known to this day as the Ocean Born Mary house?
Well, on Oct. 30, 1791, her husband died at the age of 81 and was buried in Londonderry, NH. In 1798, at the age of 78 years old, Mary finally came to Henniker, NH and lived with her son William. United States census records of 1800 and 1810, as well as William's daybook records and account sheets bear this out, and prove she lived in his home from 1798 until her death in 1814, at the age of 94.
She is even buried in William's family lot in the cemetery in back of the Henniker Town Hall, if you feel so inclined to search out the grave.
The Henniker Historical Society, which currently has an ongoing exhibit of Ocean Born Mary memorabilia and early artifacts, has in its possession payment records clearly showing where son Robert was making payments to William for the care of his mother.
So if Mary never lived with Robert, why is his house known as the Ocean Born Mary house?
Well, in an article by Alice Flanders, "The legend - it was fun while it lasted", (1970?) reprint of the 1969 Centennial Edition of the Hillsboro Messenger at the NH State Library in Concord, NH, allegedly in 1917 the Henniker Postmaster received a letter from Louis Maurice Augustus Roy, a photographer, "inquiring if there were any old interesting places for sale" which he might purchase and settle with his widowed mother.
The "old Wallace place" was suggested, this being the former home of Robert, which had fallen on hard times and was in much disrepair. "Gus" Roy bought the place and spent a great deal on restoring it, also filling it with antiques. It would also appear that along with being a photographer, Gus Roy was also quite a story teller.
The story of Ocean Born Mary grew; his house (formerly her son Robert's) became her house; the house was haunted by her spirit; the pirate built the house for her and when he retired (from pirating?) he settled there and buried treasure on the grounds; that the pirate was murdered in the orchard and Mary buried him and his treasure beneath the kitchen hearthstone.
In other versions, the treasure was buried in the orchard. The "news" spread, and soon tourists from all over wanted to visit the house. They were willing to pay to visit the house. Roy conducted tours of the property, entertaining visitors with versions of the "ghost story". Soon books, magazines and newspapers began to carry other versions of the embellished "story". Apparently none of the reporters or authors talked with local historians to check the record; from what we can ascertain, Roy's word was taken as gospel. If other "locals" were consulted, they were never quoted, that we could find. The tale of the haunting of the Ocean Born Mary house grew.
One version of the story, "Here's a Real Haunted House", written by Donald Wayne and published in the 4/30/1950 "Parade" magazine section of the Hartford Courant stated:
"Mary Wallace was suddenly widow- ed. The old pirate sent for her. Move in with him, he proposed, and be his companion and housekeeper and have a home for her four fatherless sons.
To everyone's surprise she accepted. So Ocean Born Mary wound up with her pirate godfather, mistress of his house with servants, slaves, wealth, and a fine coach-and-four."
Then there was the article by Elizabeth Watts entitled "New Hampshire House of Mystery" run in the Boston Sunday Globe pictorial magazine, Oct. 30, 1955, which states: "And maybe if you watch with believing eyes you'll see the figure of Ocean-born Mary, a red haired, green eyed Irish beauty, six feet tall, step out of the coach and disappear into the house."
Inquiring minds might ask, since we know Mary was 78 years old when she came to live in Henniker, NH, that would make the "pirate" what? 100 plus? and it is highly doubtful she had red hair at the time or was six feet tall.
Still the public loved the story...and came to visit they did. Many "tourist" type items sprang up around the subject - the easiest to find are post cards of the house. Interesting, some of these are of photographs taken by Roy of the house at the time he and his mother lived there. Makes you wonder if that elderly woman, probably his mother, standing at the front door wasn't supposed to be depicting "Mary the ghost".
In 1968, as an incoming freshman student at New England College in Henniker, NH, this writer had already heard many of the "tales" surrounding the Ocean Born Mary house. Growing up in the surrounding town of Weare, NH, "Ocean Born Mary" was the stuff that high school students thrived on in those days. A big Saturday night out was either to attend a "battle of the Bands"...or take a drive to Henniker to search out the Ocean Born Mary house, where you would find many other similar high school students in Barracuda's or Ford Falcons all trying to outdo each other in "spooking" their dates...while all eyes watched the house searching for "lights" or Mary walking the orchard or seeking out the well, where she supposedly had been seen "dropping something"...treasure?
Of course, we knew it was all bunk..right?
Well, a recent visit to the Henniker Historical Society, directly next door to the Young at Heart Antique shop at 7 Maple Street in Henniker, NH, did much to finally dispel any remaining remnants of the "myths" I retained. At the same time, I learned again why I love to take "the road less traveled" in New Hampshire. You'll meet the most interesting and friendly people.
Enter Martha Taylor, President and Archives Chair for the Henniker Historical Society.
She was more than willing on a Saturday afternoon to take many hours of her valuable volunteer time to walk around the Society's wonderful "new" museum...it opened last August, and truly should be visited by all. Please be sure to make a donation!
Along with the Ocean Born Mary exhibit, I found a great auction broadside and a wonderful 1951 Profile Magazine article on Henniker auctioneer Silas Rowe. I also learned that West Henniker had once been the site of a "magical cure" type natural spring which was bottled under the name of "Magnetic Spring". Martha informed me she'd found one of these bottles (you can see one at the museum) being recently auctioned online at ebay auctions on the WWW, so I checked it out...Sure enough, there it was...it hadn't sold at $683.90 because it hadn't met it's reserve at auction. I'll be keeping my eyes open for these bottles in the future!!!
Some of the items for the Ocean Born Mary exhibit at the Henniker Historical Society museum are on loan from the NH Antiquarian Society as well as the Tucker Free Library.
The Henniker Historical Society museum is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.
Stop in soon and get an idea of the type of collection you could form. They have mocha ware and flow blue and well...lots of great stuff! And while there, stop in at Young at Heart Antiques next door, because they'll be able to get you started on that collection. Then you could take the road less traveled down to Weare and visit Marianne's Antiques...or over to Peter Wood Hill Antiques in Deering, or up to Hillsboro, where you'll have any number of shops to frequent and browse...
Which, of course, was the main idea behind this article...because no matter which "road less traveled" you take, you're bound to discover some fascinating history, and if you visit the local private and non-profit volunteer museums, you'll find a treasure trove of wonderful items, friendly curators and guides, and much helpful informa- tion to assist you in your search to building the collection of your choice.
So take the road less traveled, educate and entertain yourself along the way, soak up some local culture and "lore", and be sure to stop in at the local antique shops in the area. They'll be able to assist you in locating a new acquisition for your collection; be sure to ask if there is a local auction in the area and when and where; and find out if there might not be a show happening while you're in town.
Remember, while taking "the road less traveled" may mean a little more work, it is well worth the effort. You'll meet great, friendly folks in some of the best towns in New England. Oh, and by the way, if you happen to come across a copy of Lois Lenski's book "Ocean Born Mary" with book jacket, I'd be interested in buying it if the price isn't steep. The same for 1966 "Yankee Ghosts" by Hans Holzer including a chapter on Ocean Born Mary. Email me at gavel96@worldpath.net or write me care of "the Gavel", 9 Hurricane Road #1, Belmont, NH 03220.
Editorial Note: Dealers and collectors should note that while many small museums and historical societies do not have funds to make purchases of items for their collections, and largely expand via donations, many other small local museums and historical societies do have endowments to make additions to their collections. The Henniker Historical Society does have a small endowment with which to make purchases. If you have a Henniker related item you think they might be interested in, it doesn't have to be Ocean Born Mary related, Martha Taylor, President and Archives Chair for the Henniker Historical Society said it wouldn't hurt to stop by, bring your items, and discuss what you have. Donations are always welcome!
©1998 Unravel the Gavel