The Framingham History Center recently hosted a roundtable discussion about the Sarah Clayes House on Salem End Road. The house, one of the oldest in Framingham, was built around 1693 by Peter and Sarah Clayes, who were one of several families impacted by the Salem Witch Trials that relocated to land then owned by Thomas Danforth. Sarah escaped hanging as a witch, her two sisters were not as lucky.
Thomas Danforth, owner of Danforth’s Farms, which became a part of Framingham, was a magistrate for part of the trials. While many have tried to find documented evidence that he helped Sarah and her relatives escape and resettle in what became known as Salem’s End (of Danforth’s farms and later Framingham) it is educated guessing and connecting the circumstantial dots.
The house has had many additions and reportedly has many hidden compartments and passageways and is thought to have been part of the Underground Railroad, continuing the site’s reputation for offering safe harbor to refugees.
The house has been vacant for years, following a divorce that has left the house’s stewardship up to a series of mortgage holders. Although there were two auctions by the bank owners, the sales fell. The property has been subject to some vandalism as well as natural causes like rain and wind damage.
During the roundtable discussion it was revealed that several people have been working behind the scenes to resolve the barriers to buying the house and to either raise money to buy it, or to help a private buyer take it on. There is the possibility of a foundation being founded to start a non-profit and create a museum.
The people of Framingham have tremendous will and, despite the great task of saving the house, they just might do it.
More to come in a future post….
Sarah’s story was dramatized by PBS in a special called “Three Sovereigns for Sarah” starring Vanessa Redgrave:
