Mott House

One of Rhode Island's oldest houses.
This stone-ender was built in Portsmouth, RI around 1680 by Jacob Mott.
The Mott House was dismantled and documented by Anne W. Baker Restorations in 1973.

Roger Williams Unversity Archives, Baker Collection
https://docs.rwu.edu/baker_mott_house/

In her book, Collecting Houses, Anne Baker writes: Thirty years later, the stonewalls, fields and of goldenrod, winding lanes, and gnarled fruit trees have been replaced by checkerboard lots and houses that look like they came out of a box. I often wonder what owners think when they find a rusted hinge, an axe head, a horseshoe, an iron lock, a pipe stem, while they dig in their gardens. Do they know that they are living on land that once was the site of a Rhode Island stone-ender-The Mott House- the last of its kind?

The Four Phases of Mott House

Phase 1 - Jacob I

Drawing of the Mott House in its first phase built by Jacob Mott I, circa 1680. The house started out as a Rhode Island stone-ender, a purlined roof in the attic, an ell and a jetty overhang.

Phase 2 - Jacob II

Jacob II addition making it a 2 story, one room deep structure - circa 1725. Jacob Mott II enlarged the house, removed the ell and removed the jetty overhang. He also tore down the massive stone chimney on its west end.

Phase 3 - Jacob III

Jacob III enlarged the house, added rooms across the back and raised the roof. Circa 1732.

Phase 4 - Jacob IV

Jacob IV added an ell for his 19th century kitchen.

The Mott House

Adam Mott was one of the first founders of Newport and Portsmouth in 1634. Built around 1680 by Jacob Mott, the house was located on a 100-acre tract of land on West Main, Portsmouth, on the south side of Cory's Lane. It is one of Rhode Island's earliest houses. Baker and her team dismantled the house in 1973, planning to re-assemble it. Unfortunately, the wood decayed and crumbled while in storage.

In her report on the Mott House, Anne Baker describes the historical significance of the Mott House and makes the case for its re-assembly to demonstrate the ways American domestic architecture has evolved. Baker describes what was uncovered while dismantling the Mott House, including evidence that the house had originally been a typical Rhode Island two-story "stone-ender." She offers detailed information on how the house was constructed and updated in each of its four stages. Below is an excerpt from her report.

The Mott House by Anne W. Baker

The Mott House is without doubt the finest and most complete example of 17^th century Newport, Rhode Island, architecture. In some of its structural and decorative details it is specially exemplary of all New England of that period. In particular its architecture reflects the life style, as well as cultural and political growth of this area. To be sure, there are a few other fine examples existing today, but for the most part they are incomplete.

Fortunately, from a historical view the Mott House had been a low-income property for the past century, a situation of preservation by neglect, which had protected its antiquity from destructive changes which certainly would have come about had the house continued I more affluent hands. In 1973 the structure had been unoccupied for two years and was slated for demolition – its site was to be developed for industrial purposes. Until that year the full impact of the historical significance of the structure was unknown.

To an architectural historian, the massive and decorated 17^th century timbering visible in two rooms clearly showed at the outset that indeed, the Mott House was a very special find… indicators enough to stimulate an awareness that this unique slice of American heritage must be preserved. Consequently, an agreement was established with an independent backer who was aware of this significance and who planned to dismantle and re-erect the house elsewhere.

The full importance of the treasure unfolded as dismantling progressed. The uniqueness became self-evident quickly, so many experts were called upon for their knowledge, skills, and, later, their influence not only to preserve this historically rare building but to keep it in situ where it began and grew for three centuries.

Continue Baker’s full original account available at https://docs.rwu.edu/baker_documentation/18.

Learn More about the Mott House

mage of the exterior of the Mott House that was originally built circa 1680 by Jacob Mott I. It was an excellent example of vernacular architecture in early New England.

1973 image of the exterior of the Mott House that was originally built circa 1680 by Jacob Mott I. It was an excellent example of vernacular architecture in early New England.

17th century roof framing in Mott House

Photograph of an attic beam and purlin pocket over the L Room on Mott House plans. Taken in 1973.

Mott House fireplace

Fireplace in H Room of Mott House

East North End of Mott House as it is being dismantled.

Dismantling the Mott House in 1973

Mott House dismantling, 2nd Floor, Room L. East summer beam lifted.

Searching for artifacts in the dirt from the ceiling that the crew had pulled down.

Some of the artifacts uncovered in the dismantling of the Mott House.

Steve Tyson's daily work record of the dismantling of Mott House in fall 1973. Tyson was hired by Baker to lead the work to preserve the house and uncover its history.