Hancock-Clarke House
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Hancock–Clarke House
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The Hancock–Clarke House, Lexington, Massachusetts
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| Location | Lexington, Massachusetts |
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| Coordinates | 42°27′12.8″N 71°13′42.8″W / 42.453556°N 71.228556°WCoordinates: 42°27′12.8″N 71°13′42.8″W / 42.453556°N 71.228556°W |
| Built | 1738 |
| Architect | unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Georgian |
| NRHP Reference # | 71000895 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | July 17, 1971 |
The Hancock–Clarke House is a historic house at 36 Hancock Street in Lexington, Massachusetts, that is a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1738, the house is notable as the only surviving house associated with statesman John Hancock, who lived here for several years as a child. It played a prominent role in the Battle of Lexington and Concord as both Hancock and Samuel Adams, leaders of the colonials, were staying in the house before the battle. The House is operated as a museum by the Lexington Historical Society. It is open weekends starting in mid-April and daily from May 30–October 31. An admission fee is charged.
The Reverend John Hancock, grandfather of the American revolutionary leader of the same name, purchased this site in 1699. In 1738 he built this two-story timber-frame house. Rev. Hancock's son, Thomas, a wealthy Boston merchant, is said to have financed the construction. The front or main portion of the house consists of the 2 1⁄2-story structure with central chimney, a short center hall, two rooms on each of the two floors, and an attic. The small rear ell, 1 1⁄2 stories high with gambrel roof, contains a kitchen and tiny study downstairs and two low-studded chambers upstairs. As confirmed by tree-ring dating (dendrochronology), both portions of the house were built from trees felled in the same year, refuting a commonly held belief that the ell was built in 1698. Succeeding Hancock as minister in 1752, the Reverend Jonas Clarke, who reared 12 children in the parsonage, was an eloquent supporter of the colonial cause.
This house is the only surviving residence associated with John Hancock, famous American patriot, President of the Continental Congress, first signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, and the first Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It became his boyhood home in 1744 when, upon the death of his father at Quincy, the seven-year-old boy came to live at this house with his grandfather. In 1750 John joined his childless uncle, Thomas Hancock, a wealthy Boston merchant who adopted him.
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