General John Glover (1732-1797) has two extant homes: his elegant mansion in Glover Square in Marblehead, Massachusetts and his final home, a modest farmhouse, in Vinnin Square, Swampscott. Beverly was, in a sense, his third home, or at least a center of his business operations. Glover owned a wharf in Beverly where he outfitted the first vessel in Washington’s Navy, the schooner Hannah. His 14th Continental Regiment defended Beverly Harbor from attack by the British Royal Navy. Glover first read the Declaration of Independence to his assembled troops in July 1776 at what is now known as Beverly’s Independence Park. His business colleagues in Beverly worked closely with him to manage supplies and captured privateer prizes. As we celebrate Beverly’s 400th birthday, and the 250th birthday of the country, let us mark these important milestones on Armed Forces Day by hearing about the on-going preservation efforts to save Glover’s farmhouse. Nancy Lusignan Schultz, Ph.D., Chair of the Swampscott Historical Commission, will update us on this important work of saving the final home of a Revolutionary War hero during this Semiquincentennial year. This is a combined fundraiser program for preservation efforts for both Historic Beverly and Save the Glover.
