Wheeler-Ingalls House
Why it's listed
Located at 51 Summer Street in Rehoboth, this Georgian lean-to house dates to roughly 1710-1750 and sits about 100 feet from the road in a rural setting. Samuel Millard built it and may have owned it in 1710. It then passed to his daughter Hannah Morey and her husband, Dr. John Morey. In 1760 it was sold to Dr. John Wheeler, a local physician described as a "Practitioner of Physick" in the Palmer River Precinct, and by the Revolution the Ingalls family owned it. The rear lean-to and a northeast dogleg ell were added about 1775-1800. Inside, chamfered posts, girts and a summer beam were apparently never covered in the right hall, while the left parlor received Federal-period updates such as the mantel and paneled dado. A well-preserved pre-1840 side-entry barn also remains. The house is considered the best surviving example in Rehoboth of a once common house type and the only one of its period retaining its original character.
Significance in brief: The form argues it is the best remaining example in Rehoboth of a once common lean-to house type and the sole example of its type and period that retains its pure architectural form and character. It also has ties to local owners, including Samuel Millard, Dr. John Wheeler and the Ingalls family.
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 83000731, listed July 5, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 51 Summer St., Rehoboth |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000731 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by Samuel Millard (architect unknown) |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as recently restored and in use as a residence. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.83451, -71.24706 (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 83000731.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7992183
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.