Cuffe, Paul, Farm
Why it's listed
Paul Cuffe's Farm is a large two-story, wood-shingled frame house with a pitched roof on Drift Road in Westport, Massachusetts, set in a clearing at the end of a long, narrow private road. A lawn slopes toward the East Branch Westport River, where weathered remains of the docks Cuffe used to build and launch ships can still be seen. Although the house has been altered, original features survive inside, including mantelless fireplaces, original doors, vertical interior siding and wide-planked floors. The property is recognized for its link to Paul Cuffe (1759-1817), the son of a former slave and an Indian mother, who began on a marginal farm and became a prosperous ship owner, sea captain and merchant. He promoted Black settlement and trade with Sierra Leone, joined the Society of Friends in 1808, helped fund the Westport meeting house, and joined petitions against taxation without the vote. The farm was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is tied to Paul Cuffe (1759-1817), one of the most prominent Black men of his time, who rose from a marginal farm to become a shipowner, sea captain and merchant. He promoted Black settlement in Sierra Leone and petitioned for minority rights in Massachusetts. The significance statement largely describes the nearby Friends Meeting House rather than the house itself.
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 74000394, listed May 30, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1504 Drift Rd., Westport |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | May 30, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000394 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Black, Politics/Government, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 30, 1974 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as a private residence in a rural residential area, altered somewhat but retaining original interior features; portions of Cuffe's docks remain though weather damaged. |
| Acreage | 6.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.54606, -71.06474 (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 74000394.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7150045
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.