The house plaque program here in Foxborough has the added bonus of allowing us to determine the date that many area homes were originally built. Often deed research assists us greatly in determining the age of a structure. Here we will show some of the oldest Foxborough Homes. First are the homes that have been researched under the plaque progam.

Oldest Area Homes - Researched

Built by Francois Daniels, circa 1759, West Street. A French prisoner of war from the French and Indian War, Francois Guydeau (who later changed his last name to Daniels,) never returned to his native France after the war. Instead in 1759 he purchased 250 acres in South Foxborough and started farming calling his land Normandy Farms in honor of his former country. Built circa 1759, the home is shown here in a historic view. The Daniels family remains connected to the property to this day.

The Wood-Sumner House, circa 1760, Mechanic Street. The Wood-Sumner House was built circa 1760 and was named for Dr. Joshua Wood and Sally & Milton Sumner who were early residents of the property. Built in a day when Foxborough numbered under 100 families, the home was placed close to the road and this has been made more prominent by the repeated widening of Mechanic Street over the years.

Built by Jacob Leonard circa 1770, Cocasset Street. Jacob Leonard Sr., a blacksmith, signed the petition for Foxborough to become a town in 1766, 1771, and again in 1773. During this time he bought land on Cocasset Street and built the family home. Later the property passed to son Jacob Leonard Jr and he married Millie Blake Leonard--the couple raised a large family of 14 children here.

The Robinson House built circa 1770, currently on Fales Place. This home once stood on Elm Street and was owned by Seth Robinson who signed the 1773 petition asking for Foxborough to become a town. The home was moved in 1875 by Alfred Fales to its current location of Fales Place.

Built by Etheridge Clark circa 1790, Elm Street. Etheridge was a Yeoman and married Olive Richardson in October of 1794. The couple then started their married life in this home on Elm Street where they brought five children into the world. Etheridge also served as a town selectman in 1812 and 1814. This property was once connected the the nearby Billings Forge. The home is shown here in a historic view from the early 1900s.

The Deacon Ebenezer Forrist Home built circa 1793, Granite Street. Deacon Ebenzer Forrist married Hannah Sumner in 1786 and the couple came to Granite Street to start their wedded life. Ebenezer worked as a Yeoman and the couple raised nine children.

This page last updated 6/23/08