Hinckley Homestead
Why it's listed
Set on the outskirts of the village of Marstons Mills in Barnstable, this shingled Cape cottage has been a family home for generations. Dated to the early 18th century or about 1750, it is a full five-bay house under a gable roof with end chimneys, a feature usually associated with the later 18th century. Its center entry is framed by pilasters carrying swelled consoles, a treatment found on only three period houses in town. Windows are simply framed and mostly hold six-over-six sash. The house and land have stayed with the Hinckley family since Samuel Hinckley received a land grant after arriving from Kent, England, in 1639. Estate records trace the property through Benjamin, Edmund, Enoch, Luther and Prentiss Hinckley and later relatives. It was listed for its intact Georgian architecture and its long association with an early settlement family and the growth of Marstons Mills. A barn remains on the 3.04-acre lot.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent, intact example of an early Cape cottage with Georgian detailing, including an elegant swelled console entry, one of only three period houses in town with this treatment. It is also tied to the Hinckley family, who have held the land continuously since the 1600s, and to the development of Marstons Mills. The final listing was approved under criteria A and C.
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 87000248, listed September 18, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1740 S. County Rd., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | September 18, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000248 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as excellent, with no major alterations and not moved; used as a dwelling. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 41.64932, -70.39726 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 87000248.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5765759
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.