Buildings of New England

Philip Hathaway was born in 1740 in Freetown, Massachusetts, into one of the most prominent local families. He appears to have worked in the maritime trade like many men in his family before accepting positions as the clerk, treasurer, and assessor for the town. Upon the start of the American Revolution, Philip served as Lieutenant of the local militia, which disbanded in 1781. Within a year of mustering out, he built this stately home on Main Street in Assonet Village, just south of the Taunton River. The stately home with its symmetrical facade is special for the projecting windows. A gambrel roof store, which was constructed in the 1790s in town, was moved here and added onto this home as a rear ell and remains there to this day.