Seldom does a house of this age and distinction become available for restoration. Located near Edenton in the historic Albemarle region, Martinique embodies more than 200 years of history. The core of the two-story house was built in the 18th century, possibly as early as the 1750s, for John Wallace on the land grant he received in 1752. Early features include double-shoulder chimneys, beaded weatherboards, and some Georgian woodwork. In a remarkable story of continuity, Martinique was handed down through the family for seven generations. Descendants added Federal-style woodwork about 1800 and Greek Revival features in the antebellum period. The engaged, two-tier front porch, a traditional feature of coastal North Carolina, also dates from the mid-19th century. The house was moved to a temporary location with the front and rear porches being removed. The house and four outbuildings need to be moved to a nearby site and require a complete rehabilitation.