Cabot, Capt. John, House
Also known as: Cabot House
Why it's listed
Built in 1781 on Cabot Street in Beverly, Massachusetts, this five-bay brick mansion was the first brick house erected in the town. Captain John Cabot, a Harvard graduate and one of Beverly's most successful merchants, had it built after his mother's death. The house has a hip roof, interior chimneys, granite foundation and steps, and a hand-hewn pegged oak frame. An Ionic portico shelters an eight-panelled door with sidelights and transom, and a two-story wooden ell was added in 1802. Inside, a central hall with double staircase and four rooms per floor retain elaborate mantels, panelling, delft tiles and Chinese-influenced mouldings. Cabot and his brothers ran the importing house of J. & A. Cabot, took part in privateering, and helped found Beverly's first cotton mill in 1788. He also served in the General Court. The house is valued for its preserved architecture and its link to the town's mercantile growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the first brick mansion built in Beverly and one of the few mansions of its period that has not been greatly altered. Its exterior woodwork, brickwork and interior have been preserved. It is also tied to Captain John Cabot, a leading Beverly merchant, privateer and co-founder of the First Cotton Manufactory.
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 75000246, listed April 16, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 117 Cabot St., Beverly |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | April 16, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000246 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 (specific date 1781) |
| Architectural style | Georgian (state data sheet); described in the narrative as a Federal mansion |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition, on its original site, and used as a museum; owned by the Beverly Historical Society. The exterior is described as essentially unaltered and the interior as intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Beverly Center Business District |
| Coordinates | 42.54583, -70.87966 (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 75000246.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6224700
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.