History of the Dow-Gove House

The Dow-Gove House was constructed between 1730 and 1737 by Philip Dow, a Quaker from Kingston. The original part of the house is a Georgian-style house with a center chimney and later Colonial Revival renovations. Another house built prior to 1732 was also located on the property but moved away before the turn of the 20^th century.

Photograph taken by Angeline McLane, 2023

The original owner of the house was Philip Dow, born in 1695 in Salisbury, then a part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Phillip married Hannah Griffin, born 1702, also of Salisbury, in 1722. He was one of three voters who voted against raising money for building schools and supporting education in Kensington in 1738. Maybe to Philip's lament, the vote did pass and Kensington’s first three schools were opened in private homes and schoolmasters were hired. Phillip also served as constable for the parish of Kensington in the 1740s and his duties included evicting 'undesirable residents' of town.

Phillip’s wife, Hannah, committed the first suicide recorded in Kensington in July of 1753. During her time in Kensington, eight of her children died before their 12th birthdays: two from the Diphtheria epidemic in 1735 (which took the lives of over 90 Kensington residents), six others by ordinary sickness or other causes. She was reportedly in bad health and decided to take her own life at the age of 51. Phillip died thirteen years later in 1766.

Capt. Nathaniel Gove purchased the house from the Dow estate in 1767. He was born in 1721 in Hampton Falls, NH and married Susanna Stickney of Newbury, MA in 1743. He served as a selectman in Hampton Falls prior to moving to Kensington. His second wife was Susan Gove, daughter of Michael Gove of Kensington (maybe a cousin??). Between his two wives, Nathaniel had 13 children, three of whom died of fever in 1770 at ages 13, 18, and 24, all daughters. He served on a local committee to see that the Resolves of the Continental Congress (Philadelphia 1775) were carried out. He committed suicide on April 15, 1795 by hanging himself with a hazel sprout, reason unknown. Apparently, several attempts to commit suicide were thwarted prior to this final incident.

Michael Gove, son of Capt. Nathaniel, was born in 1765 at Hampton Falls and took over management of the property after his father’s death. Michael was married to Mary Rowe, daughter of the “famous” Doctor Rowe of Kensington in 1788. Doctor Rowe is famous for his headstone inscription which describes his battle with dropsy (you can find it in the Upper Yard). Michael and Mary had eight children, seven of whom survived into adulthood. Their son Michael Gove, born in 1805, was the next owner of the home (grandson of Capt. Nathaniel). In 1838, one of the Michaels Gove (probably the elder) gave $25 for the construction of the future Union Meetinghouse. The second Michael Gove married Caroline Wiggin and lived in the house until he died in 1872. Michael and Caroline had two sons, George Michael and John Warren. Michael and Caroline’s first son, George Michael, born 1842, was noted as living here in 1912. He served as selectman in 1874 and he lived in the house until he died in 1921. John Warren died in 1900.

The barn on the property was constructed in 1856 to replace two earlier barns. A sawmill was located on the property in early 20^th century.

1940s photograph of the Dow-Gove House, possibly taken by Roland D. Sawyer

After the passing of George M. Gove, his estate sold the property to Alexander Groetz, a farmer, in 1923. The Groetz family lived here until they sold to Mr. Royal N. and Mrs. Rowena Hallowell from Winchester, MA, who began using it as their summer home. Royal N. was listed in the 1930 census as a resident of Winchester: his occupation listed as a “Sales Executive” of “Soap.” Rowena may have been an artist. The family, including Rowena, her parents Mr. and Mrs. Charels Warner, and the Hallowell’s 10-year-old daughter, Nancy, had a primary residence located at 14 Fenwick Road, Winchester, MA in 1930.

The Hallowell family sold the property in 1957 to Robert and Jean Burns. Mrs. Burns served as vice president and president of the Exeter Hospital Women’s Association in 1960 and 1961, respectively. Her obituary states that she was “instrumental in founding the Exeter Hospital Associates.” She also served as the recreation coordinator for the Kensington Parent Teacher Association in the late 1950s. There is a lovely article in the Exter News-Letter describing the wedding of Robert and Jean’s daughter Sara Jean at their home in 1961. It was then known as Hickory Lane Farm. Mr. and Mrs. Burns also raised A.K.C. registered Irish Setter puppies on the farm.

The Burns Family sold the property to Virginia K. Abernethy in 1968. Ms. Abernathy’s claims to fame are two 1972 petitions to change the town lot area to a minimum of 2 acres and banning mobile homes from being constructed as dwellings or residences in Kensington. Virginia sold the property to George S. and Ann C. Chaudoin and they, in turn, sold to Doris and Peter Atwood in 1973. According to the 1988 Sotheby’s property listing on file in Kensington Social Library, the house was restored and added to by Peter Atwood at this time. Unfortunately, Peter Atwood died suddenly at the age of 31 in 1980 and his estate sold the property to Stanley and Marguerite McKnight in 1985. Peter clearly had a love for preserving the past - his obituary asks for contributions in his name to be made to Historic Deerfield. The property was put on the market again by Sotheby’s in 1988. At this time the property was known as “Meadow View”.

A buyer was not found before the property foreclosed in 1990 and was then transferred to TRD Realty Corp. In, 1991 Alan and Elsie Dustin purchased the property and lived here for 13 years. Alan and Elsie sold to Charles and Kristin Chapman in 2004 and then the Chapmans sold to the McLane family in 2020. The McLane family has lovingly cared for this special home since.

House history compiled from House files at Kensington Public Library, Sawyer’s History of Kensington, Rockingham county deeds, Exeter News-Letter articles available online through the Exeter Public Library, online census records and online burial records by Meghan Gross, President, Kensington Historical Society, November 2023