Weymouth New England Genealogy

Henry Baldwin, the immigrant ancestor, probably from Devonshire,in England, was one of the first settlers of the new town ofWoburn, and of that part of it which is now known as NorthWoburn. Here in 1661, he built the "palatial house which isstill on of the most imposing in the town, and which, thoughwith some changes and occasional improvement," has been ownedand occupied by his descendants for six generations. The houseis the oldest dwelling in Woburn. The estate connected with itand its owner, Colonel Loammi Baldwin, contained in 1801 thelarge number of 212 acres, valued at $9,000 by the townassessors at that time. A late owner, George R. Baldwin, son ofColonel Baldwin, is succeeded by his daughter, Mrs. Griffith.In 1820, the house was in looks much the same as now. The northchimney, put up by George R. Baldwin, was reputed to be thefirst "single flue" chimney made in the country. He designedthe chimney caps and built a small addition to the rear of thehouse. On the south, between the house and the canal, wasformerly a beautiful garden, with walks and trees, superior toanything of the kind then in this section. All traces of itsappointments having long since disappeared, "neither fountain,nor arbor, nor walk, nor boat, is there now to hint at the storyof the past." In 1832, George R. Baldwin occupied the mansionhouse. Attached to the estate in 1820 was a farm house which,doubled in size, still exists as an attachment to the largerplace. Henry Baldwin was a sergeant of the Woburn militia from 1672-85,and deacon of the First Church, Woburn, from 1686 until hisdeath.