The term "Pyncheon" refers to a fictional family featured in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, *The House of the Seven Gables*. The Pyncheons are depicted as a once-prominent family in New England, whose fortunes have declined over generations. The family's ancestral home, a large and decaying mansion, symbolizes their troubled legacy and the impact of greed and guilt. In the story, the Pyncheons are intertwined with themes of social class, morality, and the supernatural. The family's history is marked by a curse, which adds to the novel's exploration of fate and redemption. The character Matthew Maule, a key figure in the family's past, plays a significant role in the unfolding drama.