32 Slades Corner Road
Leander Potter House
This Queen Anne style home was originally built as a tailor shop for Leander Potter in about 1877. It was located at the corner of Horseneck Road and Slades Corner Road, and moved to its current location in 1916. The present owner’s great grandfather, James Tallman Mosher, bought the house in 1922, and the house has remained in that family ever since.
The following details are from a Docent script for a 2018 house tour.
Entrance - Living room House Captain – Marian Ryall
This Queen Ann Style home was originally built as a tailor shop for Leander Potter and moved to its current location.
Leander Potter was born in New Bedford and moved to Russells Mills to work as a tailor before 1849. He married Laura Wilber from Raynham in 1853. Their two sons Edwin Leander and Charles Case were born in the village in 1856 and 1861. Unfortunately Charles died at the age of 4months from Cholera Infantine.
Don't know where the family lived before Nov. 4,1869 when Leander bought three aces of land on the south side of Slades Corner Road from George Smith, Jr. It is the land next door to the west and he paid $1300.
Leander Potter was listed as a tailor at Russells Mills in the directories of 1849, 1867, 1870 and 1872.
After the new schoolhouse on Russells Mills Road was built in 1871, the Town of Dartmouth sold the land and building formerly the school now called Pascamanset Hall on Fisher Road to William H. Cummings, James H. Slocum, John J. Gifford and Leander Potter for $187 on Feb. 3, 1872. Then on August 19, 1876 Leander Potter and his neighbor John J. Gifford sold their two quarter shares to James H. Slocum for $86.
Leander Potter gave Peleg P. Lawton and Albert M. Allen, both blacksmiths, a three year mortgage of $250 for their blacksmith shop on the corner of Slades Corner Rd. on June 10, 1873.
On March 8, 1877 Leander took a lease on 900 square feet of land which fronted 30 feet on Slades Corner Rd. from Samuel D. Read. The deed stipulated that “any buildings erected on lot are not to be used or occupied for any unlawful trade, traffic or use or for carrying on any immoral dangerous or offensive trade or employment or business”. The lease was for 30 years at $1.50 per year.
Leander bought 18.36 rods of land in New Bedford on the south side of Dartmouth Street near Fair St. for $675 on October 29, 1885. Then on December 10, 1890 he sold it to his son, Edwin L. Potter for $1. Edwin had a grocery store there.
Leander Potter hung himself on May 23, 1892. His wife Laura went to live with her son in New Bedford where she died from uraimia on March 30, 1895. Leander and Laaura Potter were buried in Rural Cemetery in New Bedford. Leander had willed his estate to his son Edwin.
10 April 1896 Edwin L. Potter sold the 3 acre homestead on Slades Corner Rd. to John T. Sherratt for one dollar and other considerations.
Kitchen
The tailor shop remained on the corner of Horseneck and Slades Corner Rds. We don't know how the house was used between 1892 and 1904.
In 1904-5 the library was moved from the schoolhouse to the old tailor shop because it was getting too large for the teachers to take care of it. Miss Mary Ann Tucker became the first librarian there in 1905. The schoolhouse was closed in 1914 when the new school was opened. The old school was renovated to become the library and opened in 1916.
In April 1916 Jane G. Read the lessor of the shop died and her daughter Sarah J. Slocum inherited the land on which the shop rested. That was the year that the building is believed to have been moved to this location. The house was moved by horses pulling and logs rolling it along. The little girl Margery Allen who lived across the street was about one year old at the time and the noise scared her according to her brother Cliffton Allen. The house was moved by Dudley Davenport, a contractor and lumber dealer on the New Bedford water front.
Peleg P. Lawton who had his Blacksmith Shop up the road by the curve bought this wood lot of 256 ¾ rods on January 26, 1882 for $125 from Sarah J. Leonard who owned the land to the east. This land had a right of way on the east side so Isaac Sisson could get to his land behind here.
You can see where the original house wall was. The cellar is also the original size. The chimney used to be on the back wall when it was the shop instead of the center of the house . There was a side door on the east wall at the back of the house where the bathroom is now located. That is why the bathroom is so narrow. In the laundry room and living room you can see the original floor broads. We don't know what year the L-addition and porch were added.
Dinning room
James T. and Sarah T. Mosher bought the property and house from Peleg P. Lawton in 1922 or 1927. James died two years later in 1929 from a heart attack while he was working in his coal pocket crane. His wake was held in the living room of this home. In 1930 Sarah was living with her brother and sister at their home at 41 Wing St. in New Bedford.
In 1937 Sarah T. Mosher died and the property went to Frederick C. Sylvia who lived on Barnie's Joy Road in Dartmouth. He rented the house to the Warren Ryder family for several years until they moved to California. It was then that current owner's family moved to the house which they eventually bought and it is still in the family.
Sarah Theresa Keane Mosher was born in Scotland and her family emigrated to New Bedford about 1867 or 1868. Her father Patrick Keane was a glass cutter and worked at Mt Washington Glass Works Company in New Bedford. Around 1885 He opened his own business, “P. Keane, Glass Cutter” at 272 South Water Street, Cor of Coffin, New Bedford, Mass. He gave examples of his work to his family.
James Tallman Mosher was a descendant of Hugh Mosher and Rebecca Maxson.
Barn
Peleg P. Lawton bought this land, which was a wood lot on January 26, 1882 from Sarah J. Leonard, who lived to the east.
. In October 1884 Peleg P. Lawton claimed the right to put a gate across the right of way at the road and fence the side of the right of way in a deed to Isaac Sisson, who owned the land in the back. Maybe he was planing on having live stock on the property.
Two out buildings are on the 1895 map, but not in the same position as this barn.
Dave thinks the barn was built around 1900.
I wonder who did all the foundation work. Was it the mover?
Leander Potter House
This Queen Anne style home was originally built as a tailor shop for Leander Potter in about 1877. It was located at the corner of Horseneck Road and Slades Corner Road, and moved to its current location in 1916. The present owner’s great grandfather, James Tallman Mosher, bought the house in 1922, and the house has remained in that family ever since.
The following details are from a Docent script for a 2018 house tour.
Entrance - Living room House Captain – Marian Ryall
This Queen Ann Style home was originally built as a tailor shop for Leander Potter and moved to its current location.
Leander Potter was born in New Bedford and moved to Russells Mills to work as a tailor before 1849. He married Laura Wilber from Raynham in 1853. Their two sons Edwin Leander and Charles Case were born in the village in 1856 and 1861. Unfortunately Charles died at the age of 4months from Cholera Infantine.
Don't know where the family lived before Nov. 4,1869 when Leander bought three aces of land on the south side of Slades Corner Road from George Smith, Jr. It is the land next door to the west and he paid $1300.
Leander Potter was listed as a tailor at Russells Mills in the directories of 1849, 1867, 1870 and 1872.
After the new schoolhouse on Russells Mills Road was built in 1871, the Town of Dartmouth sold the land and building formerly the school now called Pascamanset Hall on Fisher Road to William H. Cummings, James H. Slocum, John J. Gifford and Leander Potter for $187 on Feb. 3, 1872. Then on August 19, 1876 Leander Potter and his neighbor John J. Gifford sold their two quarter shares to James H. Slocum for $86.
Leander Potter gave Peleg P. Lawton and Albert M. Allen, both blacksmiths, a three year mortgage of $250 for their blacksmith shop on the corner of Slades Corner Rd. on June 10, 1873.
On March 8, 1877 Leander took a lease on 900 square feet of land which fronted 30 feet on Slades Corner Rd. from Samuel D. Read. The deed stipulated that “any buildings erected on lot are not to be used or occupied for any unlawful trade, traffic or use or for carrying on any immoral dangerous or offensive trade or employment or business”. The lease was for 30 years at $1.50 per year.
Leander bought 18.36 rods of land in New Bedford on the south side of Dartmouth Street near Fair St. for $675 on October 29, 1885. Then on December 10, 1890 he sold it to his son, Edwin L. Potter for $1. Edwin had a grocery store there.
Leander Potter hung himself on May 23, 1892. His wife Laura went to live with her son in New Bedford where she died from uraimia on March 30, 1895. Leander and Laaura Potter were buried in Rural Cemetery in New Bedford. Leander had willed his estate to his son Edwin.
10 April 1896 Edwin L. Potter sold the 3 acre homestead on Slades Corner Rd. to John T. Sherratt for one dollar and other considerations.
Kitchen
The tailor shop remained on the corner of Horseneck and Slades Corner Rds. We don't know how the house was used between 1892 and 1904.
In 1904-5 the library was moved from the schoolhouse to the old tailor shop because it was getting too large for the teachers to take care of it. Miss Mary Ann Tucker became the first librarian there in 1905. The schoolhouse was closed in 1914 when the new school was opened. The old school was renovated to become the library and opened in 1916.
In April 1916 Jane G. Read the lessor of the shop died and her daughter Sarah J. Slocum inherited the land on which the shop rested. That was the year that the building is believed to have been moved to this location. The house was moved by horses pulling and logs rolling it along. The little girl Margery Allen who lived across the street was about one year old at the time and the noise scared her according to her brother Cliffton Allen. The house was moved by Dudley Davenport, a contractor and lumber dealer on the New Bedford water front.
Peleg P. Lawton who had his Blacksmith Shop up the road by the curve bought this wood lot of 256 ¾ rods on January 26, 1882 for $125 from Sarah J. Leonard who owned the land to the east. This land had a right of way on the east side so Isaac Sisson could get to his land behind here.
You can see where the original house wall was. The cellar is also the original size. The chimney used to be on the back wall when it was the shop instead of the center of the house . There was a side door on the east wall at the back of the house where the bathroom is now located. That is why the bathroom is so narrow. In the laundry room and living room you can see the original floor broads. We don't know what year the L-addition and porch were added.
Dinning room
James T. and Sarah T. Mosher bought the property and house from Peleg P. Lawton in 1922 or 1927. James died two years later in 1929 from a heart attack while he was working in his coal pocket crane. His wake was held in the living room of this home. In 1930 Sarah was living with her brother and sister at their home at 41 Wing St. in New Bedford.
In 1937 Sarah T. Mosher died and the property went to Frederick C. Sylvia who lived on Barnie's Joy Road in Dartmouth. He rented the house to the Warren Ryder family for several years until they moved to California. It was then that current owner's family moved to the house which they eventually bought and it is still in the family.
Sarah Theresa Keane Mosher was born in Scotland and her family emigrated to New Bedford about 1867 or 1868. Her father Patrick Keane was a glass cutter and worked at Mt Washington Glass Works Company in New Bedford. Around 1885 He opened his own business, “P. Keane, Glass Cutter” at 272 South Water Street, Cor of Coffin, New Bedford, Mass. He gave examples of his work to his family.
James Tallman Mosher was a descendant of Hugh Mosher and Rebecca Maxson.
Barn
Peleg P. Lawton bought this land, which was a wood lot on January 26, 1882 from Sarah J. Leonard, who lived to the east.
. In October 1884 Peleg P. Lawton claimed the right to put a gate across the right of way at the road and fence the side of the right of way in a deed to Isaac Sisson, who owned the land in the back. Maybe he was planing on having live stock on the property.
Two out buildings are on the 1895 map, but not in the same position as this barn.
Dave thinks the barn was built around 1900.
I wonder who did all the foundation work. Was it the mover?
