Joseph Reynolds House - Bristol RI
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nomadwillie
N 41° 41.006 W 071° 16.724
19T E 310342 N 4617137
The Joseph Reynolds House (also known as Willowmere) was built c. 1698–1700. It is significant for its use by the Marquis de Lafayette as headquarters during the American Revolutionary War.
Waymark Code: WM1677H
Location: Rhode Island, United States
Date Posted: 05/24/2022
Views: 0
The Joseph Reynolds House (also known as Willowmere) is a historic house at 956 Hope Street (RI 114) in Bristol, Rhode Island, United States, built c. 1698–1700. The three-story wood-frame house is one of the oldest buildings in Bristol and the oldest known three-story building in Rhode Island. It exhibits distinctive, well-preserved First Period features not found in other houses, despite an extensive history of adaptive alterations. It is further significant for its use by the Marquis de Lafayette as headquarters during the American Revolutionary War. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1983.
Nathaniel Reynolds was one of the original settlers of Bristol in 1680 when it was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His son Joseph built this house, and also operated a tannery and gristmill on his land. It was during the ownership of the house by his son Joseph II that the Marquis de Lafayette occupied the north parlor chamber. Lafayette was a general in the Continental Army and was responsible for the defense of Bristol and Warren from September 7 to 23, 1778 during failed military operations to drive the British from occupied Newport.
The house remained in Reynolds family hands until 1927. In the 1950s, its owners converted the building into apartments, but subsequent owners restored it to single-family use and began to restore the property.
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