Boykin, Gen. Thomas, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1810 near Clinton, this two-story frame house with an attic served as the family seat of the Boykin family, long prominent in Sampson County. It was erected for Thomas Boykin (1785-1859), a captain in the War of 1812, later a militia general and a member of the state House and Senate. His father, Byus Boykin, settled in the area in 1807. The house follows a vernacular Federal design with a hall-and-parlor plan, rear shed rooms on both floors, steep dog-leg stairs, and a three-part Federal mantel with fluted Doric columns. It is described as the earliest and largest Federal house remaining in the county and was the finest, most up-to-date house there when finished. The family held it until 1940. Neglect and vandalism have taken a toll, and the porch and some chimneys are lost, but the heart pine structure remains stable. It sits on 249 acres of fields and woods that preserve its rural setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the earliest and largest Federal house remaining in Sampson County and the oldest surviving Boykin family house. It was the home of General Thomas Boykin, a War of 1812 captain, militia general and state legislator. It is also tied to the settlement and growth of the county in the early 19th century.
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 86000551, listed March 17, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1214 SW of SR 1222, Clinton |
|---|---|
| County | Sampson County |
| Listed | March 17, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000551 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal (vernacular), hall-and-parlor plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant for about ten years, deteriorated by neglect and vandalism but structurally stable, with excellent restoration potential; a descendant hopes to restore it. |
| Acreage | 249 |
| Coordinates | 34.96153, -78.37345 (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.
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 86000551.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19873807
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.