Revolutionary War 'Hero' Legacy Honored Amid Swampscott Farmhouse Restoration Campaign

SALEM, MA — The legacy of Revolutionary War Gen. John Glover will be honored as part of the Essex Heritage and Salem Maritime National Historical Park 250th anniversary lecture series amid concerted fundraising efforts to save his one-time farmhouse in Swampscott.

The program takes place on April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

The evening will feature a performance by Scurvy Fellows Indeed, followed by presentations from three speakers — historian Robert Booth, living historian and reenactor Larry Sands, and scholar Nancy Schultz — each illuminating a different dimension of Glover's life and legacy.

"As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, stories like General John Glover’s remind us that the Revolution was shaped by the people and maritime communities of places like Essex County," said Jennifer Hardin, Superintendent at Salem Maritime National Historical Park. "Through programs like this, we connect the public to that history and show how our coastal heritage continues to shape this region and its national significance."

The lecture comes amid the $1 million campaign to preserve, restore, and ultimately save the former home of the Revolutionary War general.

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The groups Save the Glover! and the Swampscott Historical Commission told the Swampscott Select Board last month that developers of the property surrounding the farmhouse had pledged $250,000 toward the project to renovate the building to avoid its demolition as part of the new 140-unit housing development.

Organizers said about $1 million of the estimated $2 million for a full renovation will need to be raised by July, as the developers go before the Planning Board for a height variance, they said, is necessary to complete the project if the Gen. Glover farmhouse — which has fallen into disrepair since the former restaurant housed in the building vacated decades ago — remains on the property.

The April 29 program opens with a performance by Scurvy Fellows Indeed, a Marblehead-based ensemble of 18th-century privateers whose sea chanteys bring the sounds of the Revolutionary-era waterfront to life.

The group — comprising Larry Sands, Peter Franklin, Ken Harris, and David Goss — performs the traditional maritime songs of the age of sail, with audience sing-alongs strongly encouraged.

Scurvy Fellows Indeed has performed at events across the region and lent their voices to numerous heritage causes, including fundraising efforts for the preservation of General Glover's historic farmhouse.

Booth is a preservation consultant, architectural historian, and author based in Gloucester whose books focus on maritime history. Booth will explore how Glover's Marblehead roots and family ties shaped his path to becoming a Revolutionary War hero.

Sands is a retired banker and consultant who has been a Revolutionary War reenactor for more than 35 years. He serves as Captain of Glover's Marblehead Regiment, an active reenactment unit that has participated in events from North Carolina to Quebec. Sands is the chairman of the Fort Sewall Oversight Committee, charged with restoring and maintaining an historic 1644 fort in Marblehead, for which he recently helped raise $1.8 million to complete a significant restoration. Sands will bring Glover's battlefield career to life with a lively overview of his major engagements and accomplishments.

Schultz is chair of the Swampscott Historical Commission and a leader in the ongoing effort to preserve the General John Glover farmhouse at 299 Salem Street. She will share the latest news on the effort to preserve General Glover's historic farmhouse.

"General John Glover is one of the great unsung figures of the American Revolution — a man whose extraordinary leadership at critical moments helped determine the outcome of the war," said Annie Harris, CEO of Essex Heritage. "This program brings together some of the finest voices in living history and community preservation to give Glover the recognition he deserves.

"We're thrilled to welcome audiences into this story in such an engaging and multifaceted way."