Terrell, William, Homeplace
Why it's listed
Built around 1827 near Lawrenceville, this two-story farmhouse is the only surviving building of a once-large Gwinnett County plantation. William Terrell, who came from Habersham County after the 1820 land lottery opened the area, is said to have built it shortly before his death in 1827. The house follows the Plantation Plain style, with two rooms up and two down, wide-board walls and little ornament, yet all four main rooms keep finely detailed Federal-style mantels. Later styles such as Greek Revival and Victorian left it largely unchanged. The same family has owned the property since it was built. Terrell's son Kenan, a lawyer, county Inferior Court justice, Confederate captain and school board member, ran the farm afterward. Locations of many vanished outbuildings, including barns, a detached kitchen, a school house and cabins, are documented, giving the site archaeological potential. The nominated area covers about 29 acres.
Significance in brief: The house is significant in architecture as a good example of Plantation Plain style, unusual for its very simple plan combined with finely detailed Federal-style mantels. It is significant in archaeology because the locations of nearly all former outbuildings are known and family documents survive. It is significant in local history for the role of the Terrell family in Gwinnett County.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002423, listed August 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Lawrenceville off US 29, Lawrenceville |
|---|---|
| County | Gwinnett County |
| Listed | August 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002423 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by William Terrell, according to the form) |
| Architectural style | Plantation Plain, with Federal-style mantels |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as fair, with a modern rear addition. |
| Acreage | 29 |
| Coordinates | 33.96556, -83.96668 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002423.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104903229
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.