the boat design was commissioned by charles henry davis, who received the "hun", the first of the four boats built. the "witch" was the second in the series, and was delivered to osborne howes ii. (in-laws of howes purchased the other two.) the "witch" was first berthed at the summer house of the howeses in yarmouth, massachusetts, which was called "the witch house", and used by the family in informal races. she was sold by howes in 1926, and came into the hands of edward barus, who sailed her in the osterville area. after she was damaged in the new england hurricane of 1938, she was rerigged from a gaff rig to a marconi rig. in 1949 the boat, now named "wren", was purchased by marjorie o'brien, its present owner, who gave the boat its present name.