Henry David Thoreau Birthplace Site - Concord

Henry David Thoreau's birthplace site is on Virginia Road in Concord, Massachusetts. The original farmhouse which stood here was built around 1730 for John Wheeler, then purchased in 1798 by Deacon Samuel Minot for his son Jonas, who had recently married Mary Jones Dunbar.  Mary moved into the farm with her daughter, Cynthia, who would live here for the next 14 years, until 1812, when she married John Thoreau.  After Jonas' death in 1813, Cynthia and John moved back to the farm.  On July 12, 1817, noted transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau was born here, and would spend the next 8 months of his life living in the farmhouse.  In early 1818, after having spent nearly 5 years trying to make a go of the farm, Mary, Cynthia, John and young Henry moved off the property and back into town.  In the ensuing years the farm saw several different owners, mainly tenant farmers and immigrants.  In 1878 the farmhouse was moved 300 yards along Virginia Road to it's present location, while a new house was then built on the old site.  There is a marker outside the home acknowledging Thoreau's birth here.    

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