Benjamin and Katherine Tupper Nye, Their Son Jonathan Nye, and Their 17th Century Sandwich Home & Mill

I recently visited the Nye Museum on Old County Road in Sandwich, which consists of Benjamin and Katherine (Tupper) Nye’s homestead, a Grange building, and a mill (not Benjamin’s grist mill but one built in 1855 that was moved to the property from Centerville) It’s a beautiful property owned by the Nye Family of America Association. It always thrills me to walk where my ancestors once lived!

The beautiful Nye Homestead

Benjamin Nye was first at Saugus, Massachusetts in 1635. His origins aren’t known but he was about 15 years old when he sailed on the Abigail so would likely have been connected by blood or as an apprentice to another passenger. In 1637 he joined others, referred to as The Ten Men Of Saugus, to establish the settlement of Sandwich on Cape Cod. There he married Katherine Tupper on 16 October 1640. Katherine was born Chelmsford, Essex, England 11 Jan 1623, the daughter of Thomas and Katherine (Gator) Tupper. Her father was also one of the “Ten Men.” 

Benjamin and Katherine built their first house on nine acres of land at Spring Hill where they began to raise their family which would grow to eight children. Benjamin was a builder and a farmer. Benjamin and Katherine are my 9th great-grandparents and I have lines of descent from their sons John as well as Jonathan. 

Benjamin & Katherine's First Home (right section)

Benjamin acquired land in East Sandwich near a spring-fed stream that flows into Scorton Creek. In 1665 the town had trouble coming to terms with miller Thomas Dexter, Jr., on the amount of the toll (payment in grain) he charged to townspeople, so Benjamin put his name in to operate a mill in East Sandwich.

Stream on the Nye property

Benjamin was selected, received an additional 12 acres near the land he already owned, and opened a water-powered grist mill in 1669. He was later granted another 8 acres. In 1676 he was given permission to build a fulling mill, which processed home-spun woolen cloth, on his property. 

Mill on the Nye property

Likely tiring of the 2.5 mile trip back and forth to the mills each day, Benjamin built a saltbox style house next to the mills in 1678. 

A bedfroom in the Nye Homestead

Benjamin died between 9 Jun 1704 and 17 May 1707 at Sandwich. He had already deeded the East Sandwich mills and his homestead to his son Jonathan. On 9 June 1704 Benjamin deeded to "Jonathan Nye my son" of Sandwich all his lands "both uplands and meadow grounds...in sd Town and Township of Sandwich...with all my mills and appurtinences to them belonging and all buildings houses and outhouse...(only Excepting what Lands I formerly gave to my son John Nye and now in his possession)…”

The museum has a copy of this deed which Benjamin signed with a uniquely shaped “8” as his mark. It stipulated that Jonathan take care of his elderly parents. Early in the 19th century a later owner, Silvanus Nye, raised the roof to transform the house into a full colonial.

Benjamin Nye's Deed to Jonathan

Jonathan, who was born 20 November 1689, had 14 children (including two sets of twins) by two wives, Hannah whose maiden name is not known, and Patience Burgess. I descend from Patience and Jonathan’s son David Nye.

Benjamin's son John had already been given the Spring Hill house. That house also still stands at 1 Nye Road and has been greatly expanded.

I wrote about Benjamin and Katherine here.

Exposed beams at the Nye Homestead

The property is beautiful with a stream and a pond and the house is in incredible condition. It is filled with Nye family items, including those uncovered in an archeological dig. There’s even an ancient thimble that was found under the floorboards during a renovation. We had an excellent docent and of course hit up the gift shop! We hope to return when it's not raining to walk the property. 

This 20-minute timer would have been used by Katherine to bake muffins

For more information on the museum, visit www.nyemuseum.org 

Source:

Marguerite Donley & John Nye Cullity, The 17th Century World of Benjamin Nye & Katherine Tupper, Nye Museum Press, East Sandwich, Mass., 2022