Godfrey, Richard, House
Why it's listed
This gambrel-roofed house at 62 County Street in Taunton dates to the mid 18th century and was built as a residence for Richard Godfrey, whom local sources cite as the original settler of the property. The exact dates of his settlement are not known. By 1836 it was the home of another family member, Job Godfrey, and several other Godfreys lived nearby by 1850. The house has five bays across the facade, 6/6 sash windows, an original central chimney stack and clapboard siding. Dormers were added more recently. It is considered one of the few early gambrel-roofed houses in Taunton. It may also have been among the first buildings in a small group of residences at the "Neck of Land," near Ingell, County and Williams Streets, an early commercial area linked to the shipping trade of Weir Village. It was listed for its architecture as a rare, relatively unchanged example of its type.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare surviving and relatively unchanged gambrel-roof cottage from the mid 18th century in Taunton, meeting criterion C. It may also be one of the first buildings in a small cluster of residences at the "Neck of Land," an early commercial area tied to the shipping industry of Weir Village.
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 84002121, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 62 County St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002121 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Gambrel Colonial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a residence; dormers and altered window sash were added in the 20th century. The building has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.89719, -71.08019 (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 84002121.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7325959
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.