16 PEPPERELL ROAD
013-070
DAR# 11
Tenney Farm

Basic text is from the DAR History of Hollis Homes, edited by Deborah E. Lovejoy 1953 with accompanying map (Cudworth). Codes used are initials of editors from this book and from 1999-2000 update editors. See bibliography for full information.

In 1747, William Tenney of Rowley, MA established his home, as he supposed, near the road to Pepperell. When the road was finally laid out, he found his house was 300 feet east of the road. In 1783, his son, Captain William Tenney, who served in the Revolutionary War, succeeded him. Captain Tenney died in 1806, and his youngest son, Ralph E Tenney, took over the farm. Ralph Tenney was known as Squire Tenney, and was very active in public affairs. His son, William N Tenney, was postmaster from 1856-1858, and kept a store for a time. At his death in 1874, Ralph E Tenney (William’s son), inherited the farm. He married Sallie, the daughter of John H Cutter, and had four daughters. The youngest daughter, Agnes, of the sixth generation, is now (1951) on the place, and with her, the name lapses.

This is one of the oldest houses in town. In the dining room, which was the original kitchen, a single pine plank above the mantelshelf, covers the entire space to the ceiling. In the parlor, we find a fine example of wood paneling, also corner posts and a broad summer across the ceiling. The nails and the H and L hinges are hand wrought. In 1849, Squire Ralph E Tenney raised the east side and made considerable changes within. The four front rooms, two above and two below, were untouched as were the front door and the south door.  (Cf. article by Judge Hubbard in DAR I.)

House	Barn
Old photo