Page "Longfellow House–Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site" Paragraph 15

After Elizabeth Craigie's death, the entire property was leased by Joseph Emerson Worcester from her heirs ; he in turn rented the eastern half of the house to Longfellow.

In 1843, the house was purchased by Nathan Appleton, who gave the house to Longfellow as a wedding gift when Longfellow married Nathan's daughter Frances.

He paid $ 10, 000 for the home.

Frances wrote to her brother Thomas Gold Appleton on August 30, 1843: " We have decided to let Father purchase this grand old mansion ", especially after Longfellow's friend George Washington Greene reminded them " how noble an inheritance this is — where Washington dwelt in every room ".

Longfellow was proud of the connection to Washington and in 1844 purchased a bust of the home's former occupant, a copy of the sculpture by Jean-Antoine Houdon.

Worcester and his wife became tenants under Longfellow in the western half of the house until their new home a few doors down was completed that spring.

Mrs. Longfellow wrote on May 5, 1844, " Worcester family left us in complete possession the house, with rooms nicely cleaned, and uncarpeted stairs and entries ".