[4] The home was built in 1804 by the future president's father, Benjamin Pierce, who had served during the American Revolution and would later become governor of New Hampshire.

Benjamin Pierce bought 200 acres (81 ha) in the Lower Village area of Hillsborough after the new state turnpike opened nearby.

Pierce lived at the homestead until 1834 when he married, with the exception of a seven-year span spent away for school, college, and law study.

[3] He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1824, as the young Pierce and his friends were supporting Andrew Jackson for President, and returned to the family home in Hillsborough to study law.

[6] In March 1828, Pierce returned to Hillsborough and made his first formal political appearance to assist his father's campaign for governor at a town meeting.

Jane was never comfortable in Hillsborough, and the Pierces moved to Concord, New Hampshire, while Franklin was then serving in the state legislature, where they lived in a rented house while he established a new law partnership.

[8] On August 19, 1852, the town hosted a mass meeting and rally for Pierce's presidential campaign which drew an estimated 25,000 people with speeches and food.