Located in Kittery Point, the William Pepperrell House was rumored to be the finest house in Maine at the time it was built. The house has been remodeled several times, first in c.1720 and then again in 1848 and no description of its original appearance exists. It is currently two stories high, with clapboard siding and a gambrel roof. The former primary entrance, facing Pepperell Cove, consists of a highly ornate surround of a broken pediment with a wood carved pineapple mounted in the center. The other entrances, each pedimented, are located on the western gable end and the north gable side. The second-floor window above the street side door is tall and arched, flooding the center hall and staircase with light. The interior of the home showcases the work of nineteenth-century joiners, or fine carpenters, including turned banisters, built in corner cupboards, and molded paneling on the walls - all of which were hand crafted. William Pepperrell came to Kittery from Devonshire, England, around 1680. He married Margery Bray, the daughter of John Bray, a local merchant and shipwright. His father-in-law gifted the couple an acre of land adjacent to his home where William built this house. Pepperrell went into business with Bray and by 1695 he owned most of Kittery Point. His son, also William, joined his father in business and became involved in the local militia, eventually being given the command of the District of Maine. As part of England's continued effort to weaken French holdings in North America, he led the expedition to capture Fortress Louisbourg in Nova Scotia and was awarded a baronetcy. William Jr. remained loyal to the crown during the Revolutionary War which led to the confiscation of the family's large landholdings by the state after he fled to England.
Year Listed: 1973
For more information: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=d8f388f9-1fe9-40af-8d78-492467aef4e2