Osgood, Samuel, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1740 on a five-acre lot in a rural-residential part of North Andover, this clapboard house shows the classical style of the mid-18th century. It has a center hall, eight rooms, three chimneys and seven fireplaces set in field-panelled walls, with stop-fluted pilasters, a dentilled cornice and hinged interior shutters. Later changes include an enclosed side entrance added in 1931, a rear dormer and an altered rear ell. Three later outbuildings stand on the property. The house is also known as the birthplace and boyhood home of Samuel Osgood (1747-1813). Osgood served as an aide to General Artemus Ward during the Revolution, sat in the Continental Congress from 1781, and became one of the first three Treasury commissioners. President Washington appointed him the first Postmaster General under the Constitution. During the Revolution the house sheltered books from Harvard's library, and a historical marker about Osgood's career was placed outside in 1953.
Significance in brief: The house is notable as a fine example of mid-18th century architecture, with much original panelling and field-panelled fireplace walls. It is also the birthplace and boyhood home of Samuel Osgood (1747-1813), a Revolutionary War aide, member of the Continental Congress and first Postmaster General under the new Constitution.
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 74000380, listed December 30, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 440 Osgood St., North Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | December 30, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000380 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (specific date 1740) |
| Architectural style | Classical, mid-18th century |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and altered, on its original site; occupied as a private residence, with preservation work in progress. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 42.69731, -71.11423 (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 74000380.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7412320
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.