Coggeshall House

Coggeshall House was built in Westport, Massachusetts in 1710, though an original room was said to date back to circa 1664.  If the 17^th century date is correct, Coggeshall House would have been one of the oldest structures in Westport. In 1976, its owner, William Gifford offered it to the Westport Historical Society. The Westport Historical Society asked Anne Baker to report on the condition of the house and if it could be dismantled and preserved for future re-assembly. Although, the damage to the house was too extensive for re-construction, there were some good timbers and Baker recommended that a set of drawings be done in order to reproduce Coggeshall house.  Her drawings and plans are essential to anyone studying Westport and its earliest settlers. See all of Baker's Drawings and Plans at https://docs.rwu.edu/baker_coggeshall_house/

Although the Westport Historical Society refused the donation by the owner, Arthur Marshall, who worked for the Newport Preservation Foundation, purchased the house and had it dismantled by Baker and other volunteers in May 1976.  In 1977 the Coggeshall house was reproduced and relocated to its present location at 66 Williams Street, Newport, Rhode Island by the Newport Restoration Foundation using its original wood frame, chimney stone, and interior detail.  (https://www.newportrestoration.org/property/66-william-street/) Of particular interest was the featherboard panels located behind the plaster walls.

References: Westport News, May 18, 1976 and June 8, 1976.