[3] It was built, beginning in July 1761, by Samuel Dexter, a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress.

[8] The building was remodeled in 1901 following the design of J. Harleston Parker, using Colonial revival elements.

[10][8] The house served as the headquarters of General George Washington for a night following the evacuation of Boston.

[11] Dexter had retired to Connecticut by this point, but his fellow Governor's Councilor Joshua Henshaw was living at the house.

[14][5] The house also contained all but two books of records from the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds.