The stars themselves proclaimed Timothy Dexter to be a great man, so why wouldn't the Newburyport, Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce? Dexter, a wealthy merchant, wanted nothing more than the respect of Massachusetts high society. And he'd do anything to get it, even if it meant blurring the line between being a great man and a bad guy. Read a full transcript of this episode on the Something True website. Follow Something True on Twitter @atruepodcast. (Or just follow Duncan and Alex.) Music on this week’s episode: A. A. Alto – Skip Song* Kai Engel – Twinkling Stars Won't Answer Me* Kai Engel – Brooks* A. A. Alto – Canyon* Lloyd Rogers – Ground Machine (After Purcell)* Jahzzar – Storyteller* *modified for the podcast.
At 94 State street, in the small Massachusetts coastal town of Newburyport, you'll find a beautiful, expansive 18th century georgian mansion.
Today, it's a public library.
But the man who built it, Patrick Tracy, in 1774, didn't want it to be a library.
He made it so he could give it to his cool son, Nathaniel.
Nathaniel became a successful sea merchant and made good use of his house.
George Washington came for a sleepover, and that was very exciting.
Nathaniel laughed and called him snorge.
Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Aaron Burr, they all hung out there, too.
And Nathaniel was a good ally to those revolutionary friends.
He poured his own money into the war for independence and developed a healthy side business in privateering.
At sea, his ships blew the English away and returned to their master, carrying neat loot with which he could decorate his mansion.
When the British blockaded Newburyport, Nathaniels privateer industry went bust and his finances collapsed.
In a desperate measure, he sold his beloved house to his brother in law and business partner.
But when he, too, fell on hard times, they were forced to put it on the open market at a low price for a quick sale.
Newburyport high society.
The heroes of the american revolution, the sons of the city fathers, the shipping magnates, were troubled.
Was this how a great self sacrificing patriot like Tracy should fall in poverty?
They couldnt stomach the idea, and his creditors respected him so much, they forgave his massive debts.
But what of the house?
Could they perhaps get some money together and buy him his house back?