Winter 2016

Winter 158 www.afamag.com | w ww.incollect.com Samuel Appleton (1766–1853) was one of Boston’s wealthiest citizens. Born on a farm in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, he tried his hand at driving cattle, homesteading in Maine, teaching school, and operating a country store before coming to Boston with little money to begin his career as a “merchant.” He encouraged his brother Nathan to join him and the two became very successful, culminating in their involvement in the burgeoning textile manufacturing business. Both were involved in civic affairs and known for their philanthropy. In 1823, Samuel wrote, “I promise, during the following year, to spend the whole of my entire income, either in frivolity, amusement, public utility or benevolence.”  1 He is best remembered for the latter since for most of his later years he spent more than half of his considerable income on charity. Both Appleton brothers built elegant houses on Beacon Street and furnished them in the most up-to-date style. Nathan’s house at number 39 remains and many of its original furnishings have become touchstones in the study of Boston classical furniture. 2 In contrast, Samuel Appleton’s house no longer stands and its furnishings have virtually disappeared. A year after his death, his widow sold the house at 37 Beacon Street, remodeled another house that she had inherited further down Beacon Street and moved there. What she took with her, sold, or gave away at that time is unknown. The Appletons had no children, so when Mary Appleton died in 1870, I originally surmised that she had left her estate to her favorite niece, Maria Goodwin, whom Samuel said had lived with the couple “as one of my family.” I long thought that the story stopped there, but a series of Fig. 4 : Pier table with specimen marble top, attributed to Vose and Coates, Boston, Mass., ca. 1819. Mahogany, white pine, chestnut. H. 35⅞, W. 44½, D. 23 inches. Kaufman Americana Foundation, National Gallery of Art; promised gift of George M. and Linda H. Kaufman.