Henry, Jacob, House
Why it's listed
Facing Front Street and Beaufort Harbor, this two-story frame house with a finished attic rests on a high foundation of ballast stone. Deed research shows it was not built by Colonel John Easton, who earlier owned the lot, but by merchant Jacob Henry between 1794 and 1802. It is considered the largest and most ambitious Federal house in Beaufort. Its gable roof has five planes and is continuous with a two-story front porch in the coastal fashion. Inside, the parlor mantel combines Federal and Georgian features in a way regarded as characteristic of Beaufort. The house is also tied to Henry's place in American history. After winning a seat in the state legislature in 1808, he was challenged in 1809 because he was a Jew and the state constitution required belief in the divine authority of the New Testament. His speech against religious discrimination had influence inside and outside the state, and he kept his seat.
Significance in brief: It is described as the largest and most ambitious Federal house in Beaufort, with a dramatic roofline and a mantel in a distinctly Beaufort style. Its main significance is its link to Jacob Henry, whose 1809 speech defending his right as a Jew to hold state office was an early milestone in the fight for constitutional religious freedom.
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 73001303, listed May 7, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 229 Front St., Beaufort |
|---|---|
| County | Carteret County |
| Listed | May 7, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001303 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | after 1794 and before 1802 |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Henry (deed evidence indicates he built the house) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition, altered, on its original site, and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Beaufort Historic District |
| Coordinates | 34.71798, -76.66744 (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 73001303.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18151621
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.