This Georgian structure was extended in the middle of the 19th century with a 1+1⁄2-story Greek Revival ell that was added to the front of the house.

[2] The early ownership history of this property is not none because a fire at the county courthouse in 1827 destroyed those records.

William Sturgis, the buyer, was a noted local philanthropist, funding Barnstable's first library.

The house was owned by members of the Merrill family as a summer estate from 1889.

[2] The estate was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987,[1] cited as a well-preserved local example of a Georgian colonial house with Greek Revival alterations.