Dillingham, John and Elizabeth Freake House

The Dillingham House on Route 6A in Brewster is a saltbox dwelling thought to be the second oldest house on Cape Cod, probably constructed by 1660 (a date burned into one of the attic rafters) on land John Dillingham acquired in 1657. John Dillingham was a leading citizen and militia lieutenant, remembered in local legend for frightening off a pirate ship by marching his neighbors around the house while firing guns and beating drums. The house remained in the Dillingham family and was occupied by their clipper-ship captains until 1875; it was carefully restored and enlarged in 1915-1918, preserving its original paneling, fireplaces, and wide pine floorboards, and is significant both architecturally and for its long association with the Dillingham family.

Dillingham, John and Elizabeth Freake House is a landmark in Brewster, Barnstable County. It is one of 6,558 landmarks documented in Barnstable County, among 6,897 historic sites cataloged across the county on MassRoam.

The site sits at 41.7493, -70.1243 near Brewster. The nearest cataloged historic site is Ellis, Marshall - Cahoon, Azariah Allston and Bessie U. Sylvia White House (landmark), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Hall, George F. and Alice L. Walker House, Hall, George F. Cottage #2, and Hall, George F. Cottage #3.

This record is drawn from public historical records. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.