Williams, Abiathar King, House
Why it's listed
This farmhouse at 43 Ingell Street in Taunton is a 2½-story, five-bay Greek Revival dwelling with a central hall plan and a gable roof. Abiathar King Williams began construction, and his brother George B. Williams finished it in 1843. Its entrance has a simplified pilaster enframement with an entablature and sidelights, and the roofline shows a flat cornice board and gable returns. The walls are clapboard, and the central chimney was replaced in the early 20th century. The house is linked to the development of Weir Village, although it now sits visually apart from the village center. The Williams family were early brickmakers, shipping owners and lumber operators who held considerable economic influence in the Weir during the 19th century. The house is typical of vernacular Greek Revival building of the mid-1800s, yet it is one of few of its type left in Taunton. It was listed for its architecture, its integrity and its long association with the family.
Significance in brief: The house is a rare surviving example of a substantial mid-19th-century vernacular Greek Revival farmhouse in Taunton, retaining its original style details. It is also tied to the Williams family, early brickmakers, shipping and lumber figures who shaped Weir Village as it grew from an agricultural area into a commercial center.
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 84002278, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 43 Ingell St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002278 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Abiathar King Williams (begun); George B. Williams (completed); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; the form says it is still owned by the Williams family. A central chimney was replaced in the early 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.89344, -71.08338 (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 84002278.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4667553
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.