Gardner, Samuel, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1768, this 1½-story cape with a gambrel roof, central brick chimney and double-pile plan stands at 1035 Gardner's Neck Road in South Swansea. Samuel Gardner the younger received the northern part of his father's farm and built the house after marrying Elizabeth Anthony in 1767; the couple had 13 children. His father and a partner, Ralph Chapman, had bought the land from the Rev. Ebenezer Brenton in 1693, when the area was wilderness. The Gardner family drove much of the 18th and early 19th-century development of Gardner's Neck, building at least five houses along the main road. The house has wood-shingle walls, 6/6 sash, three facade dormers with heavy gabled hoods and a one-story north wing, all 19th-century changes reflecting continual use. Farmland dominated the Neck until a railroad station arrived in 1865 and summer and suburban houses followed. This cape survives from the limited 18th-century settlement and is valued for its architecture and its link to early settlement.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a well-preserved late 18th-century cape tied to the early settlement of Gardner's Neck. It is also a good example of typical 18th-century farmhouse construction in Swansea. It meets Criteria A and C at the local level.
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 90000068, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1035 Gardner's Neck Rd., Swansea |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000068 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; condition described as good; the house has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.72299, -71.20169 (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 90000068.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7411461
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.