Henry Davis Sleeper and architect Halfdan M. Hanson built Beauport mansion in on beautiful Eastern Point in Gloucester beginning in 1907. The construction lasted 27 years. It was a summer house to contain his colonial era collections of art and furniture. In the 1940s collectors Charles and Helena McCann bought Beauport and later donated it to Historic New England (formerly known as the Society for New England Antiquities) as a museum house.
Beauport is a fantasy summer cottage, with over 40 rooms, 19 roof lines, a Norman style tower housing a two level library, terraces and a terrific view of Gloucester Harbor. It is located on Eastern Point Boulevard, a very swanky neighborhood and private road so you may not be able to even drive by to check it out without passing muster with the guard at the entrance to the Boulevard. Sleeper used to entertain the Boston Brahmins and artistic friends of the family, including Isabella Stewart Gardner, Henry James, Childe Hassam and John Singer Sargent at Beauport. It is open for tours Tuesdays through Saturdays, and closed in the winters.
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Genealogy Information:
Generation 1: Thomas Sleeper, b. about 1616 in Bristol England, d. 30 July 1696 in Hampton, New Hampshire, married 1654 to Joanna Unknown. He arrived about 1640 with his brother Moses, living first at Boston and then to Hampton and Kingston, New Hampshire.
Generation 2: Aaron Sleeper, b. 20 Feb 1660/61 in Hampton, New Hampshire, d. 9 May 1732 in Kingston, New Hampshire; married 23 May 1682 in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire to Elizabeth Shaw, b. 1664, d. 1708 (my 8x great grandparents). He was also married to her sister, Sarah Shaw.
Generation 3: Moses Sleeper, b. 22 January 1683/4 in Kingston, d. 13 January 1754 in Kingston; married on 9 January 1713/4 to Margaret Sanborn, daughter of Jonathan Sanborn and Elizabeth Sherburne. Moses Sleeper and Margaret Sanborn are my 7x great grandparents.
Generation 4: Sherburn Sleeper, b. 16 March 1733/4, d. 12 March 1734/5 in Kingston; married to Hannah Clough. I am descended from his sister, Hepzibah Sleeper, born 24 March 1742 and married to Samuel Lane in 1760.
Generation 5: Jacob Sleeper, b. 17 September 1761 in Kingston, d. 1816 in Newcastle, Maine; married to Olive Dinsdale. He was also married to Dorothy Clough.
Generation 6: Jacob Sleeper, b. 21 November 1802 in Newcastle, d. 31 March 1889 in Boston; married 7 May 1827 to Eliza Davis, daughter of Benjamin Davis and Mary Mann. He married again to her sister Maria Davis. He is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was one of the three founders of Boston University.
Generation 7: Jacob Henry Sleeper, b. 6 April 1839 in Boston, d. 19 August 1891 in Marblehead, Massachusetts; married 23 October 1867 to Maria Wescott. He was a Civil War Major. He is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Generation 8: Henry Davis Sleeper, b. 27 March 1878 in Boston, died 22 September 1934 in Boston, unmarried, no issue. He is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
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For more information:
http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/Beauport/beauport-sleeper-mccann-house-history The Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House History
Beauport House, 75 Eastern Point Boulevard, Gloucester, Massachusetts
(978) 283-0800
Operated by Historic New England June 1 to October 15, Tuesdays – Saturday 10AM to 5PM
$10 for adults, $9 for seniors, Gloucester residents are free!
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Copyright 2010, Heather Wilkinson Rojo
The Beauport Mansion is interesting, a place I might like to go. Never heard of it. Thanks.
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