Ebenezer Downs was granted settler rights in Steuben for 100 acres on lot 23 on the Lothrop Lewis town plan by the proprietor representative, Samuel Freeman, on June 4, 1794. Lot 23 covered most of what is now the central part of Steuben village to the west of Tunk Stream, extending Northwest over the current US Route 1. (1:389). In 1813, he sold most of his land to Robert Gould Shaw (1776-1853), a Boston merchant and financier. Robert’s father, Francis Longfellow Shaw Jr. (1748-1785) was one of the three original proprietors of neighboring Gouldsboro.

Born in Gouldsboro, Robert Gould Shaw left for Boston probably before 1800. It appears Robert held the deed to the properties on which several Shaw family members resided.

It’s difficult to trace the origins of the house other than it was part of Robert Gould Shaw’s property holdings (8:52) and leased to Nancy D. Shaw (see 102 Village Road) in 1845, “authorizing her to occupy the above premises during her natural life.” However, Nancy and her family lived at the larger house across the road.

Seaman Leighton (1818-1899, son of Israel and Priscilla (Strout) Leighton) married Eliza Willard Shaw, daughter of William and Nancy Shaw, in May of 1851. Seaman was a carpenter and joiner. Seaman and Eliza moved onto the property at some point after 1851. In 1856, the heirs of Robert Gould Shaw conveyed the property to Seaman with a life estate for Nancy D. Shaw, his mother-in-law (85:438).

Seaman and Eliza had one daughter, Jeanette Shaw Leighton (1852-1920), who never married and lived in the house until she died in 1920. At that point, it was transferred to the Dutton (Shaw) family, where it stayed until 1968.