1710The White-Ellery House was built at the Meeting House Green.People and Communities, Location and Setting, Buildings & Architecture, African American History

The house, originally situated on the Town Green, was used as a parsonage for Reverend John White. It was later owned by James Stevens and used as a tavern, where the selectmen sometimes met. In 1740, Captain William Ellery bought the house, and for the next 200 years, it was occupied by six generations of the Ellery family. William Ellery was captain of the slave ship Jenny, owned by the Boston merchant Timothy Fitch. His sons William and Elias were also involved in the slave trade. The house was moved to its present location in 1947 when the rotary was constructed. Since that time the house has been owned by the Cape Ann Museum.