East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-07-03
THE LoNGFELLoW ESTATE SOLD

The famous Longfellow estate in
Byfield, which had been in possession
of the Longfellow family and its pro-
genitors for more than 200 years, has
been divided and sold. Edward Hatch
of Boston, conducted the sale, which
was held to settle the estate of the
late Joseph Longfellow.
The division of the property marks
the passing of one of the historic es-
tates of old Essex county. The old
Longfellow house stands on the Hen
ry Sewall grant, and it is now occu-
pied by Charles Longfellow, who is
eighth i'm the line of descent.
Notwithstanding apparently we'll
founded reports to the contrary, it
has always been claimed by the By
| field Lougfellows that the poem, THE
Village Blacksmith" was written in
recognition of the smithy which once
stood on this very site, and was con-
| Quoted by Stephen Longfellow, the
second of the name. who was born in
| 1855. 1t has also been asserted by the
| Byfield branch of the Longfellow
| family that a letter is in existence in
which the poet said that THE Village
| Blacksmith was suggested by the
occupation of his early ancestor.
The old Longfellow estate has shell
tered many whose names shine in the
colonial and provincial life of New
England. and include statesmen, sol
diers, poets and clergymen.
The first of the name of LongfelloN
to occupy the place at Byfield was
| William Longfellow, who married
Annie Sewall, sister of Judge Samue
Sewall and daughter of Henry an(
Jane Dummer Sewall. the progenitors
of the Sewalls in New England.
OF their descendants, five have
been judges Of the highest courts IL
the province and the commonwealth
and three of them have been chic
justices of the supreme court of th'
province from 1898 to 1918, and chic
justice from 171S to fT2S; Stephel
Sewall, judge og the supreme cour
of the province from 1893 to 1852, AM
chief justice, 1852 to 1860; David Sew
all, judge of the supreme court from
of the supreme judicial court from
1900 to 1914, and chief justice in tn
latter year; William Sewall Gardner
judge of the supreme judicial cour
from 1885 to 1887.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wa
descended from Judge Samuel Sewal
whose beautiful daughter, Annie
married William Longfellow. Ex
President Grover Cleveland also trace
descent from this family
One of the letters, still in existence
of the poet was written to the lat
Judge William ID. Northend of Ch
= cago, and describes a visit to the ar
cestral estates in company wit
e Charles Sumner, Benjamin Perle
Poore and Judge Northend.
ByfieId was always a dear spot
= the poet, even though the properi
= did not descend into his branch I
i the family.
= The estate was sold in six differel
/; parcels. The homestead, twot BARI
: and 27 acres of field land was sold
t. Mrs. Leila Speed Of Maiden for $3.50
e A lot Of woodland was sold to Orr
IL Ordway for s775. Mrs. Speed al:
d bought a 26-acre pasture, known I
r, the home" pasture, for $500. TT
D, lower pasture of 80 acres was bougl
10 by Walter f. Hill. The spring o
10 chard and meadow was bought by
te r. Sanford for $3.50, while the sa
le meadow went to him for $40. Boy
i ton field. a most desirable site for
e house lot was sold to stephen
Adams of Boston, for $3.50.