[1] The Manse is located in a residential area north of downtown Northampton, on the west side of Prospect Street at its junction with Trumbull Road.

[2] The property's history begins in the 17th century, when it was part of a land grant to Reverend Solomon Stoddard, whose parsonage was built here in 1684.

Stoddard was the pastor of the first church in Northampton and the grandfather of Jonathan Edwards, a leading force in the First Great Awakening who briefly lived in that house.

His son, also named Solomon, built the front portion of the house in 1782; he served as sheriff of Hampshire County.

[2] Other notable residents include Josiah G. Holland, writer and founder of Scribner's Monthly, and Dr. Benjamin Barrett, a prominent local politician.