Nathanael Greene Homestead
50 Taft Street
Coventry, RI
The house a Quaker foundry owner built beside his ironworks, before he left to become the general who won the war in the South.
The Nathanael Greene Homestead preserves the home of the man many historians rank as the finest general of the American Revolution after George Washington himself. Greene built this house, which he called Spell Hall, in 1770 beside the family ironworks in Coventry, and from here he left to join the fight for independence, rising from a militia private to the commander who broke British power in the South.
His story is remarkable because he began with none of the usual advantages. A Quaker raised in a faith that opposed war, largely self-educated, and walking with a limp, Greene taught himself the art of command by reading every military book he could find. That a general of his stature came from this quiet Rhode Island forge village is exactly what makes the modest house worth the visit.
What Guests Love
- The preserved home of one of the Revolution's most important generals
- The story of a self-taught Quaker who became Washington's right hand
- A handsome 1770 house furnished to its eighteenth-century period
- A quiet riverside setting tied to Rhode Island's early iron industry
Worth Knowing
- The house is open on limited seasonal days and by appointment, so check ahead
- Visits are by guided tour, which brings the history to life
- It is a modest, authentic historic house rather than a large attraction
- The surrounding village and river add a pleasant sense of place
Details
Coventry, RI
Learn about Nathanael Greene Homestead
From Quaker foundry to Continental Army
Nathanael Greene was born in 1742 into a prosperous Rhode Island Quaker family in the iron business. He ran the family forge at Coventry and built Spell Hall nearby, but he chafed against the limits of his upbringing, teaching himself law, history, and above all military science from books, an unusual passion for a young Quaker.
When war came, his faith community disowned him for taking up arms, but Greene helped organize a Rhode Island militia and, despite having no combat experience, was appointed a brigadier general when the Continental Army formed in 1775. Washington quickly recognized his talent, and Greene became one of the small circle of officers the commander trusted most.
The general who won the South
Greene served throughout the war in roles from field commander to quartermaster general, the demanding job of keeping the army supplied. His greatest achievement came in 1780 when Washington sent him to take over the collapsing American effort in the Southern colonies.
There Greene ran a brilliant campaign of maneuver against a stronger British army, wearing it down through a series of engagements even as he lost individual battles. His strategy is captured in his own famous line about fighting, getting beaten, rising, and fighting again. Within about a year he had maneuvered the British out of most of the Carolinas and Georgia, setting up the final victory at Yorktown.
Spell Hall
The house Greene built in 1770 is a substantial two-and-a-half-story frame dwelling, well made for its time, reflecting the standing of a successful ironmaster. It sits near the Pawtuxet River, whose water powered the Greene family forge that gave the village its early prosperity.
Preserved and furnished to the eighteenth century, the homestead is maintained as a museum by a nonprofit association. Rooms and objects interpret both the domestic life of the Greene family and the extraordinary career of the general, connecting the everyday setting to the sweep of the Revolution.
After the war
In gratitude for saving the South, the state of Georgia granted Greene a plantation there, and he moved his family south after the war. He died in 1786 at only 43, his life cut short just as the new nation he helped create was taking shape.
His name endures across the country in the many places called Greene or Greeneville, and in Rhode Island the homestead keeps his memory close to home. For a figure of such national importance, this unassuming house offers an unusually direct connection to the person behind the reputation.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Coventry
Paine House Museum
About 4 miles, a 9 minute drive
A colonial tavern house preserved by a local historical society, giving a glimpse of everyday life in western Rhode Island.
Scituate Reservoir
About 8 miles, a 15 minute drive
Rhode Island's largest body of fresh water, a protected drinking-water reservoir ringed by scenic roads.
Providence
About 18 miles, a 30 minute drive
The state capital, with the RISD Museum, the marble State House, and the dining of Federal Hill.