 Zechariah Symmes, pastor of the Charlestown church, was granted land in this area that was settled by his sons about 1650.One son Deacon John Symmes, a blacksmith, built this house about 1807, making it the oldest surviving house of the Symmes family.The house was originally fitted with a balustrade around the roof, which was removed at an unknown date; the front portico is also a later addition.