The main colonial farm house was originally built in 1700s prior to the American Revolution in what was then Salem, MA.

From a prominent Salem family, he was a graduate of Harvard College and friend and classmate of John Adams.

[3] William Browne accepted an appointment by General Gage as judge of the superior colonial court.

Browne was a British Loyalist, and because of his connection to Gage, he was listed on the Banishment Act of 1778 and was forbidden to return to Massachusetts.

[6] In February 1781, General John Glover purchased the house from the Massachusetts state government.

[10] As recorded in Registry of Deeds: Resolve on Petition of John Glover, Bridagadier General in the American Army: "Resolve that the committee for selling the estate of absentees in the County of Essex be, and they hereby are authorized and directed to appoint five sufficient freeholders in said Country, who are to be under oath, to appraise that part of William Brown(e), Esqrs., estate lately occupied by Thomas Vining and others, lying in Salem and Marblehead, in said Country, and said Committee are authorized and directed to give a deed to John Glover at said appeasement of said farm in behalf of this Commonwealth, and to take in pay notes given him by this State for his wages etc., which shall become payable in March next, at the real value, and the balance if any to be paid, in current money."

He would also lead the official welcome of President George Washington in 1789, who made a special detour and came to see his old army friend and thank those who served during the war.

[15] This would permit his vessels to unload goods in Salem and bring them up in smaller boats to his store at the farm.

[21][22] In 2022 a 140-unit condominium was proposed by Leggatt McCall Properties to be built on the land spanning Swampscott and Marblehead.