McKinstrey House
Why it's listed
Built in 1759 at 115 High Street in Taunton, this Georgian house was constructed for William McKinstry, a minister from Windsor, Massachusetts. Its walls combine brick and clapboard, and it is one of two "brick-end" houses in the city. The design features a symmetrical five-bay facade framed with quoins, a pedimented entry, a hipped roof and a double-pile center-hall plan. The house sits about 100 feet back from the street on a rise, with no outbuildings and no recorded major alterations. It served as the home of a notable political and military figure during the Revolution. McKinstry sided with the Colonists, while his wife, Priscilla Leonard, was a Tory. She was reputedly forced by his associates to dance in defiance of the King on Taunton Green. The house is also reputed to have been the scene of one of Taunton's earliest recorded murders. It was listed for its well-preserved, stylish design and its association with Colonial-era prosperity. Today it serves as the rectory of St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
Significance in brief: It is one of a small number of stylish 18th-century houses surviving in Taunton and one of two local "brick-end" houses. It was also the residence of a notable political and military figure during the Revolution and is reputed to have been the scene of one of Taunton's earliest recorded murders. The form says it retains integrity and expresses Taunton's Colonial-period prosperity.
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 84002181, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 115 High St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002181 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is as a rectory; no major alterations are recorded. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.89968, -71.09661 (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 84002181.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6802002
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.