Hale Farm

The original Hale Farm was built in 1694. Reverend John Hale was the owner of the house, who was the first minister of Beverly at Beverly’s First Parish Church. He was also a crucial figure in the Salem Witch Trials. Hale was an eyewitness of Betty Parris and Abigail Williams in 1692, and because of this, he supported the trials. In the Hale Farm in 1697, he wrote A Modest Enquiry Into the Nature of Witchcraft, and in this book, he was against the trials in retrospect and acknowledged that many innocent lives were lost because of them (John Hale House, 2024). 

On my visit to the Hale Farm, the program that they put on there was closed for the winter. Despite this, the grounds are open to walk around, and there are informational signs around the walkway. I was also able to peek through the window and see what the inside looked like. This house, unlike the Cabot House, was fully maintained as what it could have and should have looked like in the past. There were also stones around the grounds with names of people who died during the Salem Witch Trials because of his role in them. I definitely plan on going back when the weather is nicer and I can check out the inside of the building. 

Click this link to Historic Beverly’s website for more information on Rev. John Hale and his residence. 

Top left: one room inside the Hale Farm. Bottom left: a stone marking a death from the Salem Witch Trials. Right: the Hale Farm and its grounds