The Cabots have lived in the Cabot House ever since it was built in 1711.[1][Non-game 1][2] They are an affluent family who were well-known and well-connected in pre-War high society.[3][4] Even post-War, they maintain great wealth and a network of hired helpers who see to the family's work outside their ancestral home, overseen by family "servant" Edward Deegan.
The most prominent member of the family is Lorenzo Cabot, an archaeologist who was known for his theory of an extraterrestrial precursor civilization on Earth; this earned him widespread ridicule from even his son Jack.[5][6] He underwent a secret expedition to Ubar, an ancient city buried beneath the Rub' al Khali desert, where he came upon an artifact that rendered him a changed man upon his return.[5] The artifact fused to his nervous system and imbued supernatural powers upon him, but also made him increasingly irrational and violent.[3][7] In 1898, after a crime spree that would have carried a death sentence if not for the Cabot family's influence, the family confined Lorenzo in the Parsons State Insane Asylum, which they had built.[8][9][Non-game 2]
While conducting experiments in order to cure Lorenzo of his insanity, Jack was able to extract a mysterious serum that could halt or greatly slow aging, as was the case with Lorenzo himself.[4][7][10] With matriarch Wilhelmina's persuasion,[11][12] the family began using the serum. Because of this, despite hailing from the late 19th century, well before the Great War, the family still lives on in the 2280s. Lorenzo remains confined in the basement of the asylum while Jack remains absorbed in his research to free his father from the artifact's influence.
While the serum has preserved the family for centuries, the Cabots have not adapted equally to the times. Wilhelmina barely acknowledges the state of the outside world, concerning herself only with household standards (irritating both her children).[13][14] Jack understands the reality of the world but cares for little apart from his research. In contrast, Emogene is bleakly self-aware and often spends time in the wasteland to escape boredom.[15][16][17] This creates domestic conflict, as Wilhelmina pesters Jack to bring back Emogene as a result, which he ends up doing.[18] Jack sees Emogene's actions as intentional provocations, while Emogene sees Jack's interventions as controlling.[19][20] Meanwhile, Lorenzo would like nothing more than to gain his freedom and take revenge on his family.[8] Unbeknownst to the rest of the family, Lorenzo has slowly been using his psychic influence to convince a group of raiders to carry out his plans, promising them a supply of the serum.[21]
The Cabot family is based on the real world Cabot family, one of the Boston Brahmin, the "first families of Boston." The first of the family, John Cabot, arrived in Boston from Europe in the year 1700 and since then, many business leaders and politicians have hailed from the family.
"John Cabot" is also one of the identities Jack adopted during his pre-War life.[22]
A living Salem-based occultist, High Priestess Laurie Cabot, claims to be related to the historic Cabot family.
↑The Sole Survivor: "What is this place?" Jack Cabot: "This is my ancestral home. The Cabots have always lived here, since long before the Great War.If you're asking what we're still doing here, with Boston in its current sad state, well... that's a story for another time, perhaps." (Jack Cabot's dialogue) Note: This is part of the conversation with Jack Cabot which occurs if the player enters Cabot House uninvited.
↑ 4.04.1The Sole Survivor: "Jack has a serum that reverses aging?" Emogene Cabot: "It's more like it halts aging. I started taking it when I was 32, so normally that's what I look like.You'll see once I get my treatment. I was well-known as one of the belles of Boston society - back when there was any." (Emogene Cabot's dialogue)
↑ 7.07.1The Sole Survivor: "Where do you get this serum from?" Jack Cabot: "My father, Lorenzo Cabot, is... confined in Parsons. He became dangerously unstable after handling an artifact he found on an archaeological dig in Arabia. He gained various seemingly paranormal powers... as well as becoming increasingly irrational and violent. In the end, I had no choice but to confine him - for his own safety as well as ours." Wilhelmina Cabot: "Jack! Are you sure it's wise, telling him/her all this?" Jack: "In the course of my attempts to cure him, I discovered that the artifact had introduced... anomalies into his blood. So, the source of his insanity is also the basis of the treatments that have prolonged all our lives. The irony isn't lost on me." (Jack Cabot's and Wilhelmina Cabot's dialogue)
↑ 8.08.1The Sole Survivor: "How long have you been locked up in here?" Lorenzo Cabot: "My loving son trapped me here in the year of our lord 1898... so almost 400 years.I think you were about to agree to helping me kill Jack and the rest of my traitorous kin. Yes?" (Lorenzo Cabot's dialogue)
↑The Sole Survivor: "What would he have done if he'd gotten free?" Jack Cabot: "Oh, he would have killed both of us. And then the rest of my family. And that would only have been the beginning. His crimes, back when he was free... It was only because of my family's influence that he ended up here rather than on Death Row.The world now... it's a world made for monsters. Nothing could have stopped him.No. I've answered my own question. We truly had no choice." (Jack Cabot's dialogue)
↑The Sole Survivor: "I want to know why no one in your family seems to age, and I want to know now." Emogene Cabot: "So either Jack blabbed or you're smarter than the thugs he usually has working for him.He must have told you about the strange artifact my father found? Jack's been studying it for years.Early on he figured out a way to transfer the beneficial side effects to the rest of us.He developed a serum that we all take. It pretty much halts aging, although you can see what happens if you stop taking it for too long.Don't worry, I'll be my usual stunning self as soon as I get some more serum." (Emogene Cabot's dialogue)
↑Wilhelmina Cabot: "I always knew it would end this way! I never should have allowed you to lock up Lorenzo in that place!" Jack Cabot: "That isn't helping, mother! And as I recall, using the serum was your idea, not mine." (Wilhelmina Cabot's and Jack Cabot's dialogue) Note: This is part of the conversation between Wilhelmina and Jack at the start of The Secret of Cabot House.
↑Emogene Cabot: "Mother tried to blame Jack, but she was the one who pushed him to use the serum in the first place." (Emogene Cabot's dialogue)
↑Wilhelmina Cabot: "I do wish you would remember to dress for dinner more often. We do have standards to maintain in this family." Jack Cabot: "Oh for heaven's sake, Mother. Don't you have anything else to worry about?" Wilhelmina: "Hmph. Things have come to quite a sorry state if people can't even be bothered to dress for dinner." (Wilhelmina's and Jack Cabot's dialogue)
↑Wilhelmina Cabot: "How have you found Edward's cooking lately?" Emogene Cabot: "Um. I haven't noticed anything different." Wilhelmina: "I just think he may not be putting quite as much effort into it as he used to. I mean, I think yesterday he actually served us canned peas!" Emogene: "Mother, you do realize that we are lucky to have canned peas. Most people nowadays don't even have enough to eat." Wilhelmina: "Well, the Cabots have never been most people. I just think he should try his best to maintain the standards we're used to." Emogene: "Whatever you say, Mother." (Wilhelmina's and Emogene Cabot's dialogue)
↑Wilhelmina Cabot: "That is not acceptable. Emogene is missing and I want her found!" Jack Cabot: "She's not missing, mother." Wilhelmina: "Do you know where she is?" Jack: "No, but that doesn't mean..." Wilhelmina: "Your sister is missing and I want her found! What else is Edward for if not to keep the family safe?" (Wilhelmina's and Jack Cabot's dialogue) Note: This is part of the looping conversation between Wilhelmina and Jack at the end of Special Delivery.
↑Jack Cabot: "Emogene runs off like this mainly to provoke Mother. And by extension, irritate me." (Jack Cabot's dialogue)
↑The Sole Survivor: "Just one more crazy Cabot." Emogene Cabot: "That's right. I'm the crazy one in the family. Ask anyone.And I know it was Jack who sent you. He's always trying to control me." (Emogene Cabot's dialogue)
↑Lorenzo Cabot: "I'll be happy to show you how to get more of the serum. As soon as you let me out of here." (Lorenzo Cabot's dialogue) Note: This is a randomly played line spoken by Lorenzo when the player has not yet entered his containment cell in Parsons State.
↑Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Collector's Edition p. 462: "[12.03] CABOT HOUSE This 1711 mansion is sealed up tighter than a T-60 Power Armor vacuum attachment: It is strangely preserved amid the general decay. Located on Louisburg Square, the park is still well maintained. The intercom at the front door allows you to ask to gain entry." (Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Map)
↑Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Collector's Edition pp. 276-277: "[2.07] PARSONS STATE INSANE ASYLUM Before the Great War, this asylum was built to house the addled, weak of brain, and terminally confused folk of the Commonwealth. Old records state that additional subterranean rooms were created to house particularly difficult guests. The location appears to have been built by the Cabot family of the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. Armed mercenary guards currently patrol the facility." (Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Map)