The Phineas Upham House is a traditional Colonial Period Saltbox house. The Saltbox was one of three common styles of houses built in Colonial America. The other two styles were the Cape Cod and the Georgian. Colonial houses were traditionally two-story wood frame box-like houses with a linear floor plan and usually one room deep. The Saltbox originated in medieval Europe and was named “saltbox” because of the similarity of the shape of the saltbox ornament.
This style house had a gable roof with the rear slope of the roof much longer than the front slope. This produced a shed-like appearance. There was usually one central chimney, simple windows small diamond shaped panes, a central entrance, and clapboard shingles. The Upham House was built in 1703 which was during the Colonial period in America between 1680-1820……..Mark Rendall (Descendant of John Upham).
This style house had a gable roof with the rear slope of the roof much longer than the front slope. This produced a shed-like appearance. There was usually one central chimney, simple windows small diamond shaped panes, a central entrance, and clapboard shingles. The Upham House was built in 1703 which was during the Colonial period in America between 1680-1820……..Mark Rendall (Descendant of John Upham).
“Built in or about 1703 for Phineas Upham (the third), a descendant of Lieutenant Phineas Upham who died from casualties sustained in King Phillip’s War, the Upham House is a rare and significant 3-bay, central chimney, First Period Massachusetts Landmark. When the Tamzen and Phineas Upham House was built, all of Melrose was part of adjacent Malden, and the house retains significance as an early Malden landmark as well. Since 1915, the property has been maintained as a furnished historic house museum first by the Melrose Historical Society and since 1940 by the Upham Family Society”…….Historic Preservation and Design (Salem, MA).
The over 200 members of the Upham Family Society are descendants of John Upham who brought his family to Massachusetts Bay Colony from Bicton, England to Massachusetts in 1635. The Uphams were among 21 families who came to Massachusetts under the guidance of Rev. Joseph Hull of Somerset, England. The ship arrived in Boston on May 6, 1635. It carried 104 passengers. The name of the ship is not known, however, the passenger list was printed in 1870 in The New England Genealogical Antiquarian Register.
He was 35 years old when he arrived in the New World. He was a farmer and was accompanied with his wife Elizabeth, son John Jr. (age seven), Nathaniel (age five), and Elizabeth (age three) also John’s sister Sarah Upham (26).
He joined a small group of earlier settlers in what is now Weymouth. He negotiated with the Indians to buy some of the land that became Weymouth. Then, fifteen years later, after he moved to Malden, he was a witness to the document that established the boundaries of Malden and Charlestown.
He was 35 years old when he arrived in the New World. He was a farmer and was accompanied with his wife Elizabeth, son John Jr. (age seven), Nathaniel (age five), and Elizabeth (age three) also John’s sister Sarah Upham (26).
He joined a small group of earlier settlers in what is now Weymouth. He negotiated with the Indians to buy some of the land that became Weymouth. Then, fifteen years later, after he moved to Malden, he was a witness to the document that established the boundaries of Malden and Charlestown.