OWNERS/RESIDENTS OF THE ALDEN HOUSE - circa 1622 to PRESENT

John Alden, ship’s cooper, and Priscilla Mullins with her family, arrive in Plymouth. Priscilla’s family dies during the first winter, leaving her an orphan. She marries John Alden about 1622. They build their first home in Plymouth, where School St. is today. In Jan. 1627/28, under the original agreement between the "merchant adventures" and the colonists, a major division of the colony's property (in land and livestock) takes place. John and Priscilla and their three children each receive a land grant of 20 acres, giving them a hundred acre farm in what is now Duxbury.

The Aldens build their first dwelling, ca. 1628, on what is known today as the "First Site." At some point after 1672, the present Alden House is built and the earlier dwelling is demolished. Priscilla dies (year unknown). John dies in 1687, leaving the property to his son, Jonathan, who is living there with his wife, Abigail Hallet Alden and their six children.

Jonathan and family live in house. Jonathan dies in 1697, his wife continuing to live in the house. In 1703, when the estate is settled, Jonathan’s oldest son, Colonel John becomes the owner. He uses a few of the timbers from the older house in the 1711 addition. Colonel John lives in the enlarged present house with his wife Hannah Briggs of Scituate and their family, until his death in 1739.

Col. John dies in 1739, his wife Hannah soon after. Their oldest son Samuel, living in England, becomes the owner while another son, Briggs Alden, continues to live in the house with his family. Samuel Alden dies in England in 1757 (age 44), leaving the house to his brother, Briggs. Briggs marries Mercy Wadsworth and lives in the house until his death in 1796.

Briggs Alden dies at age 73, leaving house to his youngest son, Amherst. Briggs' wife, Mercy and daughter Edith remain in house and are provided for by Amherst who remains unmarried, dying in 1804 at age 45. House is left to Amherst’s older brother, Major Judah Alden. Mercy and Edith remain in the house until their deaths.

Judah’s sons; John (known as "Storekeeper John") with his wife, Mary (Winsor) Alden, - "Aunt Polly" - and Briggs with his wife, Hannah James, move into the house (date unknown). Judah Alden dies in 1845 (after his son Briggs, who dies in 1840), leaving the house to "Storekeeper John" who lives in it until his death in 1871. He leaves house to wife, "Aunt Polly."

Aunt Polly lives in the house with her two sons, John ("Captain Jack") and Henry. Their wives have died. Aunt Polly dies in 1882 at age 93. She divides the house between Captain Jack and Henry who, reluctantly, share the house. They partition off their respective halves (Jack on the east side and Henry on the west), but must share the from stairs and the kitchen - Aunt Polly left Henry the kitchen but Jack inherited the kitchen stove.

Jack dies in 1887, having previously sold his half to his son Frank. Frank's half defaults by reason of a mortgage to John T. Alden of St. Louis in 1896, who rents it to Frank’s brother, John W. Alden. Henry dies in 1891, leaving his half to his son Henry B. Alden, who immediately sold it to cousin John W. Alden. John W. Alden sells his half in 1896 to John T. Alden, making him the sole owner. He allows John W. Alden and his family to continue to live in the house.

John T. Alden is declared incompetent and his guardian sells the house to the Alden Kindred of America in 1907. The Alden Kindred allow John W. Alden and family to continue to live in the house until 1921.

Charles L. Alden, treasurer of the Alden Kindred, takes a 20-year lease on the Alden house in 1919 (and a second one in 1938), and turns the house into a museum. He spends $20,000 of his own money buying antiques and restoring the house. He also built a log cabin which served as a tea house, and a meeting hall (both no longer in existence)

After Charles' death in 1943, his son Arthur continues to exhibit he house until the Alden Kindred assumes possession in 1955. The antiques are sold at auction. The Alden Kindred acquired a new collection of furnishings, in part donated by Alden descendants, and made necessary repairs to the house. In 1960, the original site was archaeologically investigated by Roland Robbins, shedding new light on the Alden's first Duxbury dwelling. The Alden House Historic Site is today still maintained and operated by the Kindred.