Clifford-Warren House
Why it's listed
Overlooking Eel River Pond south of Plymouth Center, this one and one half story wood frame house was built about 1695. It has a fieldstone foundation, clapboarded facade, large central chimney and a low pitched gambrel roof. Later changes include an early-to-mid nineteenth century entrance treatment, shed dormers, a late nineteenth century kitchen and a 1957 living room replacing an early shed. The house sits on 1.39 acres, what remains of a four hundred acre tract granted in 1627 to Richard Warren, a Plymouth Colony settler and Mayflower Compact signer. It is believed to have replaced two smaller dwellings. James Warren, a Revolutionary-era legislator, Speaker of the Massachusetts House and Continental Army paymaster, was among its notable occupants, along with his wife Mercy Otis Warren, a playwright, poet and historian. The house is valued as an example of early wood frame construction, as a reminder of Plymouth's agricultural past, and for archeological potential.
Significance in brief: The house is a good example of early wood frame construction and represents Plymouth's early agricultural character. It stands on land granted to Mayflower Compact signer Richard Warren in 1627. James Warren and Mercy Otis Warren, prominent figures of the Revolutionary era, lived here. Archeological investigation may yield more information, since a hearthstone and former foundation have already been found.
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 80000666, listed April 8, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Plymouth at 3 Clifford Rd., Plymouth |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | April 8, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000666 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.93905, -70.61721 (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 80000666.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5132846
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.