The Isaac Adams Homestead (formerly Chestnut Manor)
In 1844, Polly Clough of  Holderness, bought 7 acres more or less from Joseph Wentworth. Stephen and Harriet Clough inherited the land and buildings from Polly Clough in 1855 and sold it back to Joseph Wentworth who then sold it to Isaac Adams. To the original house (Mrs. Clough’s) he attached two others he had purchased. He purchased surrounding farms and buildings, some of which were incorporated into the estate. He built barns, stables, chicken and turkey houses, an ice house, and windmill tower. He built a bowling alley, a carriage house (though some say this building was the Sandwich Academy building moved from its former site where the windmill now stands), and a duck pond. Adams had formal gardens laid out and dotted the grounds with statuary. Isaac Adams died at his estate in 1883. Around 1910, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Moorhouse purchased the property and repaired and restored the old Adams estate, renaming it Chestnut Manor for the grove of chestnut trees then growing below the house. They spent summers there. They entertained family and friends and held an annual fireworks display to which the townspeople were invited.  In 1943, Katherine Flett Bryer purchased the property and soon after married W. Leroy White. She made extensive alterations and repairs to accommodate her antique business. After the deaths of Mrs. White in 1952 and Mr. White in 1962, the property was purchased by Denley Emerson.

The property was recently purchased again in 2013 by Mr. John Dolan and is being renovated.


 (Excerpts taken from Sandwich Historical Society Annual Excursion bulletins # 54 and 74).

Rochester, NH History - Isaac Adams, the Eccentric Millionaire from Rochester

​Isaac Adams's life is a rags to riches to  story.  He was born in Rochester in a house located at the intersection of Salmon Falls Road and Portland Street in 1803.  His inventions made him millions of dollars and changed.  His inventions also changed America.  ~ Bob Griffin

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