ðə smˈɔːl kˈʌntɹi ᵻstˈeɪt ɪn pˈoːɹtsməθ wʌz pˈɜːtʃɪst ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti tˈuː baɪ tˈɑːməs ˈiː. bɹˈeɪtən wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi fˈoːɹ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi nˈaɪn, hiː wʌzðə tɹˈɛʒɚɹɚɹ ʌvðə jˈuːniən kˈɑːʔn̩ mˌænjuːfˈæktʃɚɹɪŋ kˈʌmpəni ɪn nˈɪɹbaɪ fˈɔːl ɹˈɪvɚ, mˌæsɐtʃˈuːsɪts ænd hiː wʌz lˈʊkɪŋ fɚɹə kˈʌntɹi sˈʌmɚ ɹᵻtɹˈiːt.
The small country estate in Portsmouth was purchased in 1872 by Thomas E. Brayton (1844–1939), He was the treasurer of the Union Cotton Manufacturing Company in nearby Fall River, Massachusetts and he was looking for a country summer retreat.