The oldest portion has a frame of oak timbers, with heaving wooden planking forming its walls.

[2] Despite its unusual architectural features, there is no evidence that the house was built as a garrison or that it was ever attacked.

[4] It was owned late in the 18th century by Ebenezer Clifford, a master carpenter of renown throughout New Hampshire's Seacoast region, who took on Daniel Webster as a tenant while the latter attended Phillips Exeter Academy.

[2] In the 20th century, it underwent restoration and was converted into a museum of Americana, which also showcased some of the building's distinctive features.

[1][6][7] In 2005 dendrochronology testing was conducted on the house, which confirmed a tree felling date of 1709.