Hancock-Clarke House
Also known as: John Hancock Boyhood House
Why it's listed
This two-part wooden house in Lexington, Massachusetts, was the parsonage where John Hancock spent his boyhood, living with his grandparents from 1744. The 1971 form describes a small gambrel-roofed ell attached to a two-and-a-half-story front section with a large central chimney. Later tree-ring testing of the timbers placed construction in 1736-1737 rather than the earlier dates first given. On the night of April 18, 1775, Hancock and Samuel Adams were guests of the Reverend Jonas Clarke here. Paul Revere and William Dawes arrived with word that British troops were advancing, and the two leaders were taken away to Burlington to avoid capture. It is the only surviving structure linked to Hancock for Massachusetts. The Lexington Historical Society bought the house in 1896 to save it from demolition and moved it across the street. It was moved back to its original site in 1975. The house is restored and open to visitors.
Significance in brief: It was the boyhood home of John Hancock, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and is the only surviving structure associated with him for Massachusetts. Hancock and Samuel Adams were staying here on the night of April 18, 1775, when Paul Revere arrived with the warning that British troops were coming. It was also the home of the Reverend Jonas Clarke, a patriot preacher.
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 71000895, listed July 17, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 36 Hancock St., Lexington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 17, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000895 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Reverend John Hancock (original ell, per the 1971 form); Thomas Hancock paid for the front section |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated July 17, 1971 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as restored to its 18th century appearance, well maintained, used as Lexington Historical Society headquarters and open to visitors. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.45371, -71.22885 (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 71000895.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5647018
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.