Carpenter, Col. Thomas, III, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1755, and possibly earlier, this large 2½-story house on Bay State Road in Rehoboth was the homestead of Colonel Thomas Carpenter III. It has a central chimney plan, a gable-on-hip roof and a set-back second story, with a narrow pent roof between the first and second floors on every side. Its form departs from typical Massachusetts building of the period, and uneven window placement suggests it was built in more than one stage. Inside, the two main downstairs rooms keep their fine panelling, interior shutters and cased posts and beams. Carpenter (1733-1807) was among Rehoboth's wealthiest citizens before the Revolution, worked as a surveyor, and may have designed or built many local houses. He likely designed the 1773 Old Yellow Meeting House, and during the Revolution he led a regiment of local men. The house stayed in the Carpenter family until at least 1830. It was listed for its architecture and its link to him.
Significance in brief: The form argues the house is an outstanding and highly unusual example of early to mid 18th-century design that departs from typical Massachusetts architecture, with a gable-on-hip roof and a set-back second story. It is also tied to Colonel Thomas Carpenter III (1733-1807), a wealthy Revolutionary-era patriot, surveyor and regimental commander. It is nominated under criteria B 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 83000644, listed June 6, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 77 Bay State Rd., Rehoboth |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | June 6, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000644 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; no major alterations are known. The former kitchen has been altered, and the two main downstairs rooms are in original condition. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 41.84459, -71.24271 (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 83000644.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5141792
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.