Historic Hewlett Homestead for sale

The Island Now

The historic Hewlett family homestead built in 1713 has been listed for sale for $1,685,000, according to  Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

 The 5,833-square-foot house in Port Washington has six bedrooms, three bathrooms and two half bathrooms, according to the real estate listing.

The 1.1-acre property at 1 East Gate Road was occupied by eight generations of the Hewlett family and was originally purchased by Lewis Hewlett in the early 1700s, according to a document describing the house’s history. 

Lewis’ son, Samuel, inherited the house from his father, the document said, and then passed it down to his children.

According to the history, the Long Island branch of the Hewlett family alternated naming its eldest sons Lewis and Samuel.

The tradition was broken by Maria Throne Hewlett (1796-1882), the wife of Samuel III. She decided to take a name from her side of the family, naming her oldest son Henry. However, Henry revitalized the tradition and named his son, who would inherit the property, Samuel, the document said.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind home because of its history,” said Jill Berman, the listing agent working with Maggie Keats. “It’s a really wonderful house.”

The property includes a detached barn that has heating and air conditioning and is currently being used by the owners as a gym.

“It’s a fully developed room that is being used as a gym now, but would be great for a recreational room or a ‘man cave,’” Berman said.

Berman said the entire house has been updated, including the electricity and plumbing, and there are beautiful views of the surrounding acres .

The house, the history noted, was originally built for John Willis, for whom Willis Avenue in Roslyn was named.

The property had another structure near the main house, the document said, that housed slaves until the early 1800s.

Elizabeth Hewlett, the last Hewlett to occupy the house, sold the property in 1982, the document said.

The property was sold for $1,625,000 in 2002, according to Nassau County property records.

By Stephen Romano

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