On earth my lot was soonest cast/Thy generation after mine
Thou has thy predecessor past/Earlier eternity is thine.
--Daniel Webster
June 2011
N
The Orator
Newsletter of the Daniel Webster Preservation Trust, Inc.
Dear Members and Friends,
We of the Daniel Webster Preservation Trust (DWPT) look to the life of our famous orator and
statesman for cues on how to keep his estate alive and well for future generations to enjoy. We
know that Webster was a man of many dimensions. Apart from his public roles, he was also a
devoted husband and father. Thus, he was devastated when he lost his son Edward and his
daughter Julia within three months of each other. As you will read on page 2, he planted two
trees on his property as living memorials to them, and we followed his lead and did the same.
Webster was also an avid fisherman and hunter and an enthusiastic farmer, referring to himself
as the “Farmer of Marshfield.” So, he would surely have welcomed the summer season with
great enthusiasm and anticipation. His beloved Marshfield estate would then be teeming with
life—birds from all over the world, a veritable zoo of domesticated animals, acres of vegetable
and flower gardens, and row upon row of trees—and it would be time for him to participate in all
the activities he so loved. Likewise, the DWPT looks forward to this summer. As you’ll discover
as you read this issue of our newsletter, we have exciting events planned for June, July, and
August. We encourage you to add them to your summer calendar. From our Paranormal
Evenings to our third annual Family Fun Day, and from our ever-popular Seasonal Teas to our
Marshfield “Houses Beautiful” Tour, there is plenty to do and plenty to enjoy. If you participated
in these events last year, come again! If you haven’t, please join us—you’ll be glad you did!
Happy Summer, Everyone!
Barbara Carney, DWPT President
Special Visitors Tour the Webster Estate
April of this year may not have brought us
springtime weather, but it did surprise us
with a visit from a very special woman
from Brunswick, Maine—Barbara Hall
Coffin—and her daughter Carolyn, of East
Sandwich. Barbara is the granddaughter of
Walton Hall, who bought the Webster
Estate in 1884 from Daniel Webster’s
daughter-in-law Caroline (his son Fletcher’s
Left to right: Barbara Hall Coffin and her
widow). Carolyn is named to reflect the
daughter Carolyn Coffin
many Carolines in the Webster family.
Barbara’s father, Lincoln Hall, inherited the Estate and lived on its 1,000 acres with his
family until 1950. Barbara spent her first sixteen years here and tours the mansion
whenever she drives down from Maine to visit her daughter on the Cape. Her
reminiscences reflect her fondness for this place, and her youthful spirit shows when
she relates stories about her mischievous deeds as a child here.
The Hall family had great respect for the legacy of Daniel Webster, and they have
from time to time returned items of relevance to the DWPT. During her April visit,
Barbara continued that tradition by donating an antique plate that had hung in the
house and was revered by her father. She has also sent us several relevant newspaper
articles and, quite importantly, has donated her grandfather’s large leather-bound guest
register for display in the Estate’s Museum Room. It contains among the signatures
those of Presidents Chester Arthur and Calvin Coolidge. While she continually praises
the DWPT for its care and beautification of the Estate, it is we who must praise this
interesting woman for her part in its preservation: Heartfelt thanks to you, Barbara!
Membership/Volunteerism
Invest in history—contribute today!
As a nonprofit organization, the DWPT heartily
thanks everyone who has given monetarily to our
cause via either dues or donations during the 2011
membership year. Your contribution directly
supports all of our activities, both present and
ongoing. We encourage those who have not yet
contributed to do so today. You’ll be instrumental in
helping us meet our responsibilities for maintaining
and preserving this historic landmark and for
continuing to provide the community with the
interesting programs and special events for which the
Daniel Webster Estate has become known. In return,
we’ll keep you well informed—and give you a
discount on admission fees at qualified events! Our
categories of giving include Student/Senior $15,
Individual $25, Family $50, Friend $75, Donor
$100, Sponsor $250, Patron $500, Benefactor
$1,000. Please choose a category at the highest level
you can, or make a donation of any amount you wish.
Then mail your tax-exempt check (payable to DWPT)
to Daniel Webster Preservation Trust, Post Office
Box 238, Green Harbor, MA 02041.
Seize the day—become a volunteer!
The DWPT is an all-volunteer entity and therefore
heartily welcomes new volunteers. We can’t praise
our current volunteers enough for their extraordinary
enthusiasm and dedication. One way we recognize
their importance to us is by inviting them each March
to our Volunteers’ Thank You Tea. On this occasion
we highlight their special contributions and express
how much we value the time and energy they give to
the day-to-day activities here. Volunteering at this
beautiful estate offers a new opportunity for adults to
share their special skills and talents. We need
assistance with a wide variety of responsibilities that
include fundraising, event planning/setup/breakdown,
public relations, gardening, landscaping, interior
design, restoration, and maintenance. If you are
interested in knowing more about our organization
and about how to become a volunteer, please call
781-834-9867 or 781-837-2403 or visit our website
www.DanielWebsterEstate.org.
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST
AND GENEROUS SUPPORT!
Daniel Webster Preservation
Trust, Inc. (DWPT)
Major Edward Webster (1820—1848)
An all-volunteer entity recognized by the IRS as a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Executive Board:
Barbara Carney, President
Carol Kiburis, Vice President
Jim Botelho, Treasurer
Cathy Maher, Secretary
Jim Cantwell, Chairman Ex Officio
Board Members:
Eileen Byrne, Mickey Carr, Pat Cate,
Gail Connolly, Virginia Gaffey, R-lene Gilgan,
Robert Gilgan, Gwen Frazier, Ann McAleer,
Larry Nelson, Phyllis Nielsen, Jean Peck
Newsletter Editor: Jean Peck
Estate Location: 238 Webster Street,
Marshfield, Massachusetts 02050
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 238,
Green Harbor, Massachusetts 02041
Estate Telephone: 781-834-0548
Website: www.DanielWebsterEstate.org
Estate Hours: Public tours 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., first
Sunday in May—November (except Labor Day
weekend), every Thursday in June—September
Born on July 20 of 1820, Edward Webster, nicknamed “Neddy,” was the most high-spirited and
adventurous of Daniel Webster’s five children. Nine years old when his mother Grace died, Neddy
became the pet of the family. To help his son mature and learn more “exact and steady habits,”
Webster sent him to Exeter and then to Dartmouth, where he had his fair share of missteps. In one
instance, he wrote his father that he was “wounded by a sword,” to which Webster replied, “but
what had you to do with swords? You would have been safe…if you had been about your proper
business….You are to have nothing to do with horses, dogs or guns.” Years later, however, Edward
would choose a career that had everything to do with the things his worried father counseled against.
Did You Know…
Julia Webster Appleton (1818—1848)
that Daniel Webster personally
planted two trees on his property at
Marshfield on May 10, 1848 as a
living memorial to his son Edward
and daughter Julia, who died within
three months of each other?
Called the “Brother and Sister” trees,
they stood on the lawn in front of the
Webster mansion, apart from the many
elms that lined the long drive leading up
to it. Over the years, time unfortunately
took its toll on them.
In its ongoing efforts to restore the
grounds of the Webster Estate, the
DWPT planted an American elm on the
property for Marshfield’s 2010 Arbor
Day celebration. This “Brother” tree
honors Major Edward Webster and also
salutes Veterans Agent Richard Martin
for his many years of service.
On Arbor Day 2011, the DWPT
completed its goal of replacing Daniel
Webster’s two memory trees by planting
a second elm. This “Sister” tree honors
Julia Webster Appleton and recognizes
Ann Treadwell for her dedicated
volunteer work on behalf of veterans.
The DWPT extends thanks to Barry
Bartlett, Ann Marie Sachetti, and the
DPW for their part in helping us expand
the visual and historical landscapes of
the Daniel Webster Estate & Heritage
Center in a way that Webster himself
would surely have appreciated. After
all, it was he who said, “Plant trees,
adorn your grounds, live for the benefit
of those who shall come after you.”
After a trip to England for his sister Julia’s wedding in 1839 and then a few years of education in
Switzerland and Florence, Edward returned home to study law. He also served briefly on a
governmental commission to establish the nation’s northeast boundary line but resigned when the
Mexican War broke out in 1846 in order to organize a company of volunteers in Massachusetts.
Early in 1847 their regiment left for service in Mexico. The Webster family was not happy about
Neddy’s decision, and his father feared most, not “the accidents of war,” but “the effects of climate”
since many soldiers died from disease in those days as well as from battle wounds. Webster’s
apprehensions unfortunately became reality when, in February of 1848, he learned from the War
Department that Major Edward Webster, having been assigned to General Taylor in northern
Mexico, had died—from typhoid disease—on January 23. Devastated by the loss and the thought of
having outlived his 28-year-old son, Webster then suffered even more grief when his daughter Julia,
seriously ill at the time with tuberculosis, followed in Edward’s footsteps just three months later.
When Julia Webster, daughter of Grace and Daniel Webster, became ill with “consumption” at age
30, her father, already uneasy about his son Edward and the Mexican War, was said to be “infinitely
concerned.” Julia, born on January 16 of 1818, was the most congenial and beloved of Webster’s
children. Having her mother’s good sense, she was always aware of family responsibilities and thus
inclined to speak her mind to her brother Edward as well as to her father, with whom she had a
particularly close relationship. Julia designed Webster’s library at Marshfield, always had time to
hear his concerns, and was the only one of the family to attend his marriage to New York socialite
Caroline LeRoy in 1829. Julia herself became “a woman of society,” marrying wealthy, Britishborn, Boston merchant Samuel A. Appleton in London on September 24, 1839, and honeymooning
in Europe (accompanied by her stepmother, Caroline LeRoy, and her aunt, Harriet Paige).
The Appletons produced five children (Caroline, Samuel Jr., Julia, Daniel, and Constance Mary). It
is from Julia’s issue that any descendants of Daniel Webster are derived. Julia would not live to see
her family into the future, however, since she, like so many others in the 1800s, became a victim of
tuberculosis. Too late to be cured, and grief-stricken with the dreadful news of her beloved brother’s
death, she died on April 28, 1848, and was buried in Boston on the first of May—the same day that
Edward’s coffin arrived from Mexico. After the funerals, Webster, despite being overcome with
sorrow, chose to express his firm belief in life by planting two trees at Marshfield in Edward and
Julia’s honor. (See related “Did You Know” article on this page.)
References: Daniel Webster, Irving H. Bartlett, 1978; Speak for Yourself, Daniel, Walker Lewis, 1969.
Webster Estate Public Tours Continue into November
Tours of the historically rich and beautifully appointed Daniel Webster mansion continue through Sunday,
November 6. Enjoy an interesting and informative guided tour by one of our trained docents. Wind your way
from the gracious front hall foyer through the elegant rooms of the first floor and then up the grand staircase to
the second floor. Learn about famous orator and statesman Daniel Webster, his family, and his property. Feel
free to ask questions! Note that the mansion is air-conditioned and the first floor is wheelchair-accessible.
Admission is free (but donations are gratefully accepted). To arrange a private tour, call 781-834-6241.
Open for public tours 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., each first Sunday in May through November
(except Labor Day weekend), and every Thursday in June through September
Please take special note of the Estate’s outbuildings and grounds, including the Laundry House,
Victorian and Perennial Gardens, famous Linden Tree, and “Brother and Sister” Elms!
Happenings at the Mansion
          Marshfield’s YesterDays Celebration 2011          
Memorial Day Monday, May 30, marked the opening of Marshfield’s historic museum homes along Webster Street,
including the Daniel Webster Estate & Heritage Center, Marcia Thomas House, and Winslow House.
Presented by the Marshfield Historical Commission, this year’s YesterDays commemorated our historical heritage and emphasized Marshfield’s veterans
by sharing the life story of Moina Michael, the woman who introduced the selling of the poppy on Memorial Day after World War I.
From the raising of the American flag at the 1857 Winslow Schoolhouse to the beautiful sound of “Taps,”
YesterDays uplifted our community spirit with historic house tours, educational demonstrations, and old-fashioned activities for all ages.
The Winslow House hosted an ice cream social and presented old-time schoolhouse classes and horseshoeing and forging demonstrations,
while the Marcia Thomas House featured antique clothing, needlepoint, and butter churning and sold hot dogs and soda at vintage prices.
The Daniel Webster Estate presented handicrafts, information on “Webster’s Regiment,” and a Rod and Gun Club display and served cookies and punch.
No cell phones, no iPads—just a delightful day spent in honor of local history and yesterday’s way of life!
Upcoming
Upcoming
Paranormal Evenings
Webster Estate Seasonal Teas
Last year’s foray into paranormal investigations at the Webster Estate
continues into the summer of 2011. Open your mind to the haunting
sights and sounds of the mansion at night. Tickets are limited, so you
may not have a ghost of a chance for one unless you sign up soon!
June 4 and August 6
7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Admission $55 (refreshments included)
For more details, visit MassParanormal.net
or call 617-947-6960
Who knows what you’ll hear or see?
Two more seasonal teas for 2011 are planned for June 12 and October
16. Indulge yourself by enjoying perfect tea and delicate nibbles in
our most elegant and convivial setting. These Victorian-style teas sell
out quickly, so please reserve early and mark your social calendar!
June 12, Summer Victorian Tea
October 16, Fall Victorian Tea
2:00 to 4:00 p.m., with seating at 2:00 p.m.
Admission $15 (mansion tour included)
RSVP 781-837-2403 or 781-834-7818
Let us evoke the inner duchess in you!
Upcoming
Upcoming
Family Fun Day—July 24, 2011
“Houses Beautiful” Tour—August 13, 2011
Our third Family Fun Day is scheduled for July 24, 2011 from noon to
4:00 p.m. (rain or shine). Organizer and Trust director Phyllis Nielsen
is excited that this year’s event will again feature family-oriented
activities as well as crafts, face painting, pony rides, bouncy house,
petting zoo, storytelling, tarot card reading, tae kwon do, and music—
and, of course, kid-friendly foods and lots of chowder for everyone.
New to the event will be a children’s identification program sponsored
by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department and a canine (K-9) unit
demonstration. For more details, call 781-834-6813.
Last year’s Marshfield House Tour was so successful that the Daniel
Webster Preservation Trust is pleased to announce that it will sponsor
another tour on August 13 of this year from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(rain or shine). Organized by Trust directors Virginia Gaffey and
Barbara Carney, this tour will feature five fabulous Marshfield homes
that are located along a route from Green Harbor to Damon’s Point
and that capture the essence of colonial architecture, grand style, and
seaside living. For your convenience and pleasure, rest and light
refreshments will be provided at the Estate during tour hours.
Admission is free, but all proceeds from the sale of activity tickets and
food will go toward the DWPT’s primary 2011 goal of painting the
Webster mansion. As DWPT President Barbara Carney explains,
“Time has taken its toll on this historic 1880 mansion, and we can’t
wait any longer to beautify and preserve it with fresh new paint!”
A good day for you and for your family too—
Join us and paint summertime a great shade of “fun”!
Advance tickets of $20 are available at Buckles & Boards (985 Plain
Street), The Business Center of Marshfield (3 Snow Road), and
Marshfield Hills General Store or by calling 781-837-2403. Tickets
of $25 may be purchased starting at 11:00 a.m. on the day of the tour
at the Webster Estate (238 Webster Street).
Don’t miss your chance to tour some of Marshfield’s
most beautiful and interesting homes!
Host your special happening at the gracious and historic Daniel Webster Estate & Heritage Center!

Unforgettable Queen Anne-style mansion and lovely gardens showcased on fourteen acres of rolling lawns
Turn-of-the-century elegance with state-of-the-art kitchen and service area
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and shared with the public through tours, lectures, and special events
Weddings  Showers  Special Occasions  Reunions  Holiday Parties  Corporate Meetings and Events
Function Manager: Virginia Gaffey (781-837-2403)
Website: www.DanielWebsterEstate.org
Daniel Webster Estate & Heritage Center
…historic landmark, community showplace, unforgettable venue
Estate Telephone:
781-834-0548 Website: www.DanielWebsterEstate.org

238 Webster Street, Marshfield, MA 02050
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Marshfield, MA
Permit No. 238
 The DWPT needs your help! 
Please contribute to our 2011 “Paint the House” campaign by sending
a tax-exempt check payable to “DWPT” to P.O. Box 238, Green Harbor, MA 02041.
We thank you, and the Webster mansion thanks you!
We have a ton of clapboards and Victorian trims to cover,
plus a wraparound veranda, 10 doors, and 56 windows—
that’s a lot of paint and a lot of painting!
Your monetary contribution will directly support the protection
and beautification of the Webster Estate’s mansion house.
Remember, it’s never too late to donate, and every dollar
counts, so mail your contribution today!
2011 Calendar of Programs and Special Events 
JUNE
12 Summer Victorian Tea Enjoy summer’s blooms and perfect tea in grand style at the Webster Estate.
Elegant setting, convivial atmosphere, gracious service—2:00 to 4:00 p.m. (seating at 2:00 p.m.), $15 admission
(tour of 1880 mansion and lovely gardens included). RSVP Virginia at 781-837-2403 or Carol at 781-834-7818.
JULY
24 Family Fun Day Experience a happy day of good old-fashioned summertime fun on the grounds of the
Webster Estate. Afternoon includes family-oriented activities, great eats and treats, and surprises for young and old.
12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. (rain or shine), free admission. Check our website or call 781-834-6813 for details.
AUGUST
6 Paranormal Evening Bring your flashlights, cameras, and audio recorders and have some supernatural
fun at this paranormal search at the Webster Estate. 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., $55 admission (refreshments included),
no children, 16-18 accompanied by adult. Contact MassParanormal.net or 617-947-6960 for more information.
13 Marshfield House Tour Discover the beauty of several of Marshfield’s finest homes during our second
DWPT-sponsored House Tour. 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (rain or shine), $20 advance tickets available at Buckles &
Boards, The Business Center of Marshfield, and Marshfield Hills General Store or by calling 781-837-2403,
$25 day-of-tour tickets available at the Estate beginning at 11:00 a.m. Rest and refreshments provided at the
Estate during tour hours. Check our website, newspapers, and local bulletin boards for house descriptions.
Save These Dates 
SEPTEMBER 18 Mother/Daughter/Granddaughter Tea
Honor your
OCTOBER 16 Fall Victorian
Tea past, celebrate your present, and shape your future by joining us
for
these
special
holidayGala
eventsand
at the
Daniel Show
Webster
Estate2011
& Heritage Center!
DECEMBER 2—11 Victorian Christmas
Designer
House