Marie Antoinette house, North Edgecomb, ca. 1930
Item 105208 info
Penobscot Marine Museum
According to legend, this house was prepared for Queen Marie Antoinette of France, although there was no supporting historical evidence to confirm the statement.
The home was originally built for Captain Joseph Decker in 1774 on the head of Squam Island—"Squam", now Westport Island, was known as Jeremysquam. After Decker’s death in 1792, his son-in-law Captain Stephen Clough, acquired the property.
Captain Clough was the registered owner of the ship Sally in 1793, and was working in France. He hatched a scheme to stow Marie Antoinette aboard the Sally, and bring her to Maine for safety during the French Revolution.
The Sally was loaded with furniture and royal finery—possibly belonging to Marie Antoinette—but on the eve of sailing, the plan was foiled. Instead, Marie Antoinette was delivered to the revolutionary mob and executed, but according to legend, her possessions made it to Westport Island.
In 1838 owners moved the so-called Marie Antoinette house across the Sheepscot River to Edgecomb. In the 20th century, it became a destination for school groups, civic groups and history buffs interested in its possible role in the tale of Marie Antoinette. Tourist maps featured the house, and there were several postcard views printed.
"And then they went and took our Marie Antoinette house away from us, you see. They put that on a scow and paddled it across the river. It was up at Clough's Point. Captain Clough was going from here to France... Well, he got acquainted somehow with this Marie Antoinette. He built this house for her and the last trip he went over there to get her, it leaked out what she was doing and they beheaded her. Edgecomb wanted the house. It really belongs on Westport. It's really ours, our history, because Clough didn't belong in Edgecomb; he belonged on Westport."
Verlie Greenleaf, 1987
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