Thorbiskope
Also known as: John Elliot House
Why it's listed
Thorbiskope, also called the John Elliot House, is a plantation dwelling on 2.92 acres near the Little River in rural Harnett County. It grew in two stages. The rear section began about 1820 as a story-and-a-half coastal cottage with Georgian/Federal finish. Around 1848, John Elliot added a two-story Greek Revival block with a center-hall plan and a two-tier portico. A later remodeling around 1893 extended the rear shed rooms and porch. A commissary from the original period also stands on the property. Elliot belonged to a Scottish-descended family that settled the Lower Little River in the later eighteenth century. In 1860 he held 8,000 acres and 80 slaves, making him the county's third largest slaveholder. Two other Elliot family houses, Ellerslie and Cool Springs, followed the same pattern of a cottage enlarged in the 1840s. Together the three are described as a closely related group for studying local architecture and history. The house had been vacant for several years when it was bought in 1985 for restoration.
Significance in brief: It is tied to the Scots settlement of the Lower Little River and to the prominent Elliot family, including John Elliot, a planter and large slaveholder. Architecturally, it shows the common pattern of a coastal cottage enlarged with a formal two-story front section. It is one of three related Elliot houses, and the site may yield archaeological information.
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 86000132, listed January 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off SR 2049 at SR 2050, Bunn Level |
|---|---|
| County | Harnett County |
| Listed | January 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000132 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Georgian/Federal coastal cottage with Greek Revival addition |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form says the house had been vacant for several years before being purchased in 1985, that some vandalism had occurred, and that the new owner was undertaking a restoration. A commissary contemporary with the original dwelling also survives. |
| Acreage | 2.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.23289, -78.89737 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 86000132.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711679
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.