Liberty Hall
Also known as: Outlaw House
Why it's listed
Built in the years just before the Civil War, Liberty Hall is a two-story frame house on a high brick basement, standing in a yard shaded by live oaks in rural Bertie County. Its exterior, with narrow paired four-over-four sash, a hipped-roof porch on six paneled box columns and a wide molded cornice, reflects the Italianate style, which is rare in a county dominated by Greek Revival building. The interior has a center hall plan, plaster medallions, and Greek Revival woodwork. Local tradition credits carpenter S. L. Pennoyer as contractor, and the house was built for planter John P. Rascoe, who owned 1,592 acres and 88 enslaved workers in 1860. Later it was the home of his son-in-law, Capt. Edward R. Outlaw, a Civil War company captain who afterward served as county commissioner, sheriff and state legislator. It is regarded as the largest antebellum dwelling remaining in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the exterior is a rare example of Italianate architecture in a county where Greek Revival was dominant, and that it is the largest antebellum dwelling remaining in Bertie County. It is associated with the planter John P. Rascoe and his son-in-law Capt. Edward R. Outlaw, a Civil War officer and local public servant, and the house is considered likely to yield information about a large plantation household.
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 82003433, listed June 8, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off SR 1108, Windsor |
|---|---|
| County | Bertie County |
| Listed | June 8, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003433 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | S. L. Pennoyer (builder) |
| Architectural style | Italianate (exterior) with Greek Revival interior woodwork |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is described as dilapidated but basically sound, with a rear portico that recently collapsed; the basement floors have largely rotted away. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 35.88321, -77.05218 (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 82003433.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18153581
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.