SAVE Ingersoll's Tavern
History of Ingersoll's Ordinary/Tavern
Once the home of Nathaniel Ingersoll, a Salem Village Church deacon and a Lieutenant in the militia, Ingersoll and his family ran a Tavern, which was the community’s social center. The Tavern served food and drinks to the village residents and rented rooms to travelers. Just down the street was the location of the meeting house where church services were held every Sunday. Today, there is a memorial across the street from where the meeting house stood.
Ingersoll’s was a favorite spot for village residents to unwind and socialize with their neighbors. The Tavern had a large taproom and fireplace. In addition to socializing, local government committees, including the Essex County court, would meet there.
In 1692, when the Witch Hysteria struck Salem Village, the Tavern was used to house the accused while they waited to be examined by the magistrates. They were kept under lock and key in an upstairs room. The first to be accused of witchcraft were examined in the main room of the Tavern. One can picture the seen as the afflicted throw themselves to the floor, claiming to see the “specters” of the accused tormenting them. When the crowds of spectators got too large to fit in the Tavern, the hearings were moved down the road to the meeting house.
When Examinations concluded for the day at the meeting house, the judges and spectators made their way down the road to Ingersoll’s for lunch and drinks. The afflicted were also regulars at the Tavern, and it was here that many accusations were made.
In 1709, Nathaniel Ingersoll willed a field down the street from the Tavern to the village to be used as a militia training field. In 1719, Nathaniel died, and the home remained a tavern through the 1700s and into the 1800s. The Tavern was frequented by the militiamen who held meetings and would later fight the British in the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.
In 1832, the First Church of Danvers, located across the street, purchased the Tavern to be the home of its minister. The church owned it until 1968, when a private resident purchased it. In 2011, the house was sold and has been left vacant. It has since fallen into disrepair, with a large hole in the roof covered by a tarp. Due to the deterioration of the home, it has been marked for demolition by neglect.
Show your Support
Our mission is to spread the word about the deteriorating condition of this historic house and to work together to save it. We’ve started a Facebook group to bring together people who love history and those in the local community who want to see this house saved and brought back to life. This group will be a place where we can support the efforts of the Town of Danvers and the Danvers Historical Society as they work hard to make sure this house has a future in the community. Please consider joining our group and supporting preserving this house and its history.
Donate
You can also show your support by donating to the Davers Historical Society. This fantastic organization maintains several historic buildings in Davers and will play a vital role in the future of Ingersoll’s Tavern. Whether it’s a one-time donation or a monthly donation, every dollar counts and is used to preserve the rich history of Davers for future generations.
Other Organizations that need our support
This home sits on 25+ acres of the original 300 acres of land once occupied by Rebecca Nurse and her family. Today, visitors are welcome to tour the house and grounds, which also includes a reproduction of the 1672 Salem Village Meetinghouse and the Nurse family Cemetery.
The Rebecca Nurse Homstead is a private Non-profit house museum owned by the Dancers Alarm List Coy. The homestead is run by a group of dedicated volunteers. Please consider making a donation to the upkeep of this historic homestead and keep the memory of Rebecca Nurse and the victims of the Salem Witch Trials alive for future generations.
