When COVID hit a few years back, I suddenly found myself quarantined with lots of extra time on my hands. Like many others around the globe, I kept myself busy by researching my family roots. This journey led me to find out many interesting things about my ancestry. I discovered that I am a descendant of Roger Conant, the founder of Salem, Massachusetts, as well as two of the women who were persecuted during the witchcraft trials of 1692. My digging also led me to another fascinating find. It turns out that my distant Essex County relatives once owned land in the little town of Rowley  The spot where they lived is now the renowned Village Pancake House. I couldn’t wait to find out more!

I figured the best way to do further research was to go straight to the source. This was also a great excuse to have a delicious breakfast. When the world began to open up again, my husband and I hopped in the car and took a road trip to Rowley.

I’d visited The Village Pancake House many years ago, but my newfound ancestral discovery made this visit extra special.

The Village Pancake House (also known as Stephanie’s Village Pancake House) is a wonderful family-run breakfast and lunch spot that is a favorite among locals. The restaurant serves a vast assortment of pancakes (I ordered the blueberry option), as well as fabulous omelets, french toast, and waffles.

They also have an extensive lunch menu full of seafood, burgers, sandwiches, and steaks.

The restaurant is housed in a building that dates back over 350 years! It was built around 1660 and was later remodeled in the mid-1800s.

As soon as we entered, I could feel the history inside. The tiny rooms within the home, the antique fireplaces, and the floral wallpaper make the space feel cozy and comfortable.

There is typically a long wait to get a table at the pancake house on the weekends. However, on this cold weekday morning, my husband and I were able to get seated right away. Our friendly waitress sat us at a table in one of the quaint little rooms near the back of the building.

After we ordered our food, I read the back page of the menu, which featured information about the “Jewett” family, who were some of the first settlers of Rowley. The land that the restaurant sits on today was once owned by a man named Joseph Jewett. He is also my 10th great-grandfather! In the early 1660s, Joseph sold the land to his nephew, Abraham Jewett, who built a home on it.

While I devoured my gigantic blueberry pancakes, I let all this new information soak in. It was amazing to think I was eating in the home that my ancestors lived in centuries ago.

On the way out, I passed by this wonderful photo of the Jewett home. A framed copy of the original deed to the property was also on display

And we couldn’t leave Rowley without paying our respects to the Jewetts. Before returning home, we headed down the street to the nearby Rowley Burial Ground and located the dedicated plaque and gravestones of my newly discovered ancestors.

Has your ancestral journey led you to a surprising discovery? If so, we would love to know more about your story. For more information about the Village Pancake House please visit Stephanie’s Village Pancake House website and the Village Pancake House Facebook page. Please note that the restaurant is a cash-only facility.

The book Genealogy - Family Tree Research Made Easy by Poppy Sure is a great resource if you want to start your family tree.