Northborough in Worcester County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Peter Whitney Parsonage Historic District

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

1. Peter Whitney Parsonage Historic District Marker

Inscription. The original house was built in the late 1600s by Nathaniel Oakes. Sold to Northborough's first two ministers, Rev. John Martyn in 1747 and Rev. Peter Whitney in 1770, it became one of the first places for religious ceremonies. After a fire in 1780, Whitney rebuilt the house in its present form. Whitney, an author and forceful advocate of independence from England, died in 1816.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1747.

Location. 42° 19.496′ N, 71° 38.571′ W. Marker is in Northborough, Massachusetts, in Worcester County. It is on Whitney Street 0.1 miles north of Country Candle Lane, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 62 Whitney St, Northborough MA 01532, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Quiet Corner

and in Greater Worcester.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the

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Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Brigham Saw Mill Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Burial Map of the Howard Street Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Northborough Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Northborough World War I Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); PFC. Neil R. Ellsworth (approx. ¼ mile away); Northborough's First and Second Meeting House (approx. ¼ mile away); Cold Harbor Brook Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Boston Post Road (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northborough.

Also see . . . Peter Whitney Parsonage Single Building Historic District Study. The site of the Peter Whitney parsonage has been a unique witness to the early development of Northborough's religious and political foundations. From 1741 to 1744, before Northborough had its own meeting house, religious services were held here. (The Peter Whitney Parsonage Single Building Historic District Study Committee, Town of Northborough, March 26, 2014; via FlipHTML5)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

2. Peter Whitney Parsonage Historic District Marker

(Submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Rev. Peter Whitney (1744-1816) image. Click for full size.

from Northborough History, Josiah Coleman Kent (1921); via Google Books (Public Domain)

3. Rev. Peter Whitney (1744-1816)

A close acquaintance of John Adams and John Hancock, among others, he advocated American independence in sermons and pamphlets.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 732 times since then and 132 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.