Grant, Benjamin, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1735 at 47 County Street in Ipswich, this 2 1/2 story end-gable house has a large central chimney, a one-room-deep front section and a rear lean-to. Its five-bay facade is slightly asymmetrical. Asbestos shingle siding was added in the 20th century, yet the house is described as an excellent early eighteenth century example that retains many original features. Inside, one chamber chimney wall combines feather-edge panelling at the sides with raised field panelling over the fireplace, and more early finish may survive behind the walls. Benjamin Grant bought the land in 1735 and built the house. A corporal, he was killed in the French and Indian War in 1756. Joseph Ross, a Revolutionary War soldier, bought the property in 1784, and it stayed in his family until the mid-20th century. The chimney was rebuilt above the roof in 1978, and preservation easements now protect the house.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of an early eighteenth century house that keeps many original features, with integrity of location, design, setting and workmanship. It is tied to the early development of Ipswich through Benjamin Grant, who died in the French and Indian War, and the Ross family, who owned it from 1784 into the mid-20th century.
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 80000449, listed September 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 47 County St., Ipswich |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | September 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000449 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Benjamin Grant (built his house) |
| Architectural style | early Second Period |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; the central chimney was rebuilt above the roofline in 1978, and the house is protected by preservation easements. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.67812, -70.83532 (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 80000449.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4888720
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.