Lincoln, Gen. Benjamin, House
Why it's listed
This two-story clapboarded frame house at 181 North Street in Hingham grew in three stages. Thomas Lincoln began it in 1637 with two rooms in the northeast corner. In 1715 a large kitchen, a new main dining room and a stair hall gave it an L-shape. In 1790 General Benjamin Lincoln added a center stair hall and parlor, producing the present rectangular plan and a balanced seven-bay Georgian south facade. Fireplace walls in the principal rooms are fully panelled, and the front parlor fireplace is faced with blue delft tiles. The house was listed because it was Benjamin Lincoln's home from 1733 to 1810. He was a Major General in the Continental Army who fought at Saratoga, surrendered Charleston in 1780, accepted the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, served as secretary of war, and led state troops against Shays' Rebellion. The house stayed in one family for over 300 years, has never been restored, and still holds original Lincoln furniture and the General's personal items.
Significance in brief: The house was the home from 1733 to 1810 of Benjamin Lincoln, Major General of the Continental Army during the War for Independence. Lincoln served at Saratoga, defended Charleston, accepted the British surrender at Yorktown, and later served as secretary of war and put down Shays' Rebellion.
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 72001303, listed November 28, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 181 North St., Hingham |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | November 28, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001303 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Lincoln (started the dwelling in 1637); General Benjamin Lincoln (1790 additions) |
| Architectural style | Georgian appearance on the main facade (1790 additions); organic growth house |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 28, 1972 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence, not open to visitors; in the same family for more than 300 years, little altered and never restored. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Lincoln Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.24300, -70.89223 (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 72001303.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5531731
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.