Originally published September 2016. Updated August 2026.

What do Law & Order’s Sam Waterston and former Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. have in common?

No, it’s not that they both spent a lot of time in the courtroom. Although they did… if you count the TV courtroom.

And while it’s true that both men were Ivy League educated, Holmes at Harvard and Waterston at Yale, that’s not the connection that binds them either.

What they actually share is that both men made Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, their home for at least part of their lives.

Holmes and his wife began spending summers in Mattapoisett in 1873. They returned for about 15 years, until a fire destroyed their summer home.

Waterston, whom generations of television viewers know as Law & Order prosecutor Jack McCoy, has called Mattapoisett home for many years.

Why Mattapoisett?

It’s not hard to see what attracted both men to this South Coast community.

Set along Buzzards Bay, Mattapoisett offers sailing, fishing, beaches, waterfront dining, and the relaxed pace of a small New England seaside town. Shipyard Park sits right along the harbor in the heart of the village and remains a favorite gathering place.

Cyclists can also explore the Mattapoisett Rail Trail. The trail forms part of the developing South Coast Bikeway across southeastern Massachusetts.

Not falling in love with Mattapoisett might even be considered a crime by its famous residents.

And for anyone wondering what it might be like to call the town home, these are the stories currently being written…

Explore homes for sale in Mattapoisett

Mattapoisett offers homes in a variety of coastal settings. Buyers may find waterfront properties, village homes near the harbor, and quieter neighborhoods farther inland.

From its harbor and village center to its coastal neighborhoods, Mattapoisett has a character all its own. Explore our Mattapoisett area guide to learn more about the community, then view current homes for sale in Mattapoisett to see what’s available today.

We believe the evidence still makes a pretty convincing case for Mattapoisett.
Case dismissed.

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