Moffatt-Ladd House facts for kids
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Moffatt-Ladd House
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The Moffatt-Ladd House in December 2009
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 154 Market Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
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| Built | 1763 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000010 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1968 |
| Designated NHL | November 24, 1968 |
The Moffatt-Ladd House, also called the William Whipple House, is a very old house in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It's now a museum you can visit! This beautiful house was built in 1763. It was once the home of William Whipple, an important person in American history.
William Whipple (1730–1785) was a Founding Father. This means he helped create the United States. He even signed the Declaration of Independence, which announced America's freedom. He was also a general in the American Revolutionary War, fighting for America's independence.
Inside the house, you can see some of William Whipple's personal items, like his sword. There is also a painting of him. Outside, there's a special horse chestnut tree. William Whipple planted this tree in 1776 with seeds he brought from Philadelphia. The Moffatt-Ladd House was named a National Historic Landmark in 1968 because of its important history.
Exploring the Moffatt-Ladd House
The Moffatt-Ladd House is a large, three-story building made of wood. It sits on a small hill, looking over the old part of Portsmouth Harbor. The house is almost square, about 42 feet (13 meters) on each side. It has a special roof called a hip roof.
The outside of the house is covered with wooden boards called clapboards. The corners have decorative blocks known as quoins. There are three chimneys on the sides of the house. The front of the house has five windows across. The windows on the first two floors have curved tops. The smaller windows on the third floor are close to the roof.
On top of the roof, there is a flat area called a widow's walk. It has a low fence around it with decorative urns. You can also see these urns on the fence that separates the house from the street. The property also has a small office building that was built in 1810.
A Look at the House's History
The Moffatt-Ladd House was built in 1763 by a very rich man named John Moffatt. He gave the house to his son, Samuel, as a wedding gift the next year. But in 1768, John Moffatt bought the house back from his son.
John Moffatt then lived in the house with his daughter, Catherine, and her husband, William Whipple. They lived there until John Moffatt passed away in 1785. After some legal discussions, the house eventually went to Samuel's family members.
In 1819, the house became the property of Maria Tufton Haven Ladd. She was one of Samuel Moffatt's granddaughters. Maria Ladd's son, Alexander Hamilton Ladd, lived in the house until 1900. He was responsible for creating the beautiful gardens around the property.
In 1911, Alexander's children gave the house to the National Society of Colonial Dames in New Hampshire. This group now takes care of the house and opens it to the public as a museum. In 1968, the house was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo Gallery
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1915 postcard
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1905 photo of the Moffatt-Ladd House
See Also
