News release from  the Citizens for Community Preservation

The public is invited inside the 1794 Isaac Davenport Manor House at the Polly Wakefeld estate, 1465 Brush Hill Road in Milton.

On this Sunday, October 14 from 1 to 4 PM the first floor of the house, which he called his “Country Seat”, and the estate gardens will be open. The late Polly Wakefield, a Davenport descendant, left the 1707 farm house, this mansion, and a 22 acre estate and the contents, for educational purposes.
The event is for the benefit of the Citizens for Community Preservation, an educational campaign supporting a Yes vote on Question 4 on the November 6 ballot. Admission is $30 per person or $50 for two ticket, payable at the door or on line at Www.PreserveMilton.org/events.

The estate is the Southernmost on Brush Hill Road, across from Fuller Village, next to the Thatcher Montessori School.

Guided tours will be conducted at 1:30 and 2:30 PM. There is ample off street parking. The farm has chickens, sheep and a lama, an orchard, a small pond, and the Davenport Brook which flows to the Neponset. Mrs. Wakefield was trained as a landscape designer and studied under Dr. Donald Wyman at Arnold Arboretum. Mrs. Wakefield hybridized Kousa dogwoods, several varieties of which were introduced to the trade. Over 300 Kousa dogwoods are growing on the estate. The property has extensive formal gardens and a noteworthy arboretum, which are being restored.

John Davenport, of Dorchester, bought this property in 1706, built the extant farm house and moved his family here in 1707 (305 years ago) to farm. A grandson, Samuel, continued the farm and became a silversmith, and served as a juror in the Boston Massacre (1770) trial. Attorney John Adams, represented the British and essentially got the Redcoats off, who had faced the death penalty, averting a major and premature conflict with the crown.

Isaac Davenport, son of Samuel, great grandson of John, gained wealth as a Boston Merchant and built this manor house as his summer “Country Seat).