Of course the sale of spirits led to problems even as they do today. The White Horse Tavern on High Street was operated by Corporal John Andrews. He was licensed by the General Court on September 3, 1635 to keep an ordinary. According to Joseph Felt (History of Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton, 1834) it was located in a one-story house, a few rods east of the "old brick house," at Smith's corner. Thomas Franklin Waters (Ipswich  in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1905) placed it on the South Side of High Street in the Lot called the Archer Lot on his 1841 map.   

The good corporal kept his bar open after nine p.m. and encouraged young men to drink thus he soon became the subject of a petition protesting against the renewal of his license. The petition was presented to the Court and the license was renewed only "until Salem Court" where, in 1658, a second petition was filed as follows:

(The petition which is reproduced is evidently the second one, which was presented on June 4, 1658, at the Salem Court. It was found by Mr. Daniel Fuller Appleton in an Antiquary's store in New York City and presented by him to the Historical Society.)

The humble peticon of sundry of y^e Inhabitants of y^e Towne of Ipswich whose names

are subscribed

Sheweth

That whereas at y^e last Court held at Ipswich, there was presented to [ ] Hon^d Court, a serious and earnest request upon weightv grounds for removin and suppressing one of y^e Ordinaryes, found to be many wayes prejudiciall [ ] good of the place which peticon found such acceptance with this Hon. [ ] as they were pleased to grant and continue no longer leave and liberty for [ ] continuance of y^e said Ordinary, then to this next Court at Salem. We are emboldened and encouraged (the causes of our greivances still continuing and increasing) to entreat this Hond Court to recall and review our former request and supplications tenderd to them in y^t particular. And according to our hopes then conceived, no longer to continue or grant any license for upholding and keeping y^e same ordinary. Which we verily believe will be an affectual meanes for y^e remooving of much sin and evill and minister cause of Joy and thanksgiving to many of gods people, amongst us.

John Appleton                             William Goodhue

Samuell Appleton                       Moses Pengry

William Adams Sen.                 Richard Kimball Sen.

Edward Chapman?                 William Bartholomew

Ezekiel Cheever                        Anthony Potter

Reginold Foster                        Thomas Nowlton?

Jacob Perkins                            John Warner

Edward Thomas                       Mathew Whipple

Edward Browne                        Tho. Stace

Robert Day                                 John Adams

William Adams Jun.                Daniel Warner

"The Court having considered of the petition of many of the Inhabitants of Ipswich, together with ye complaint and information of divers strangers for want of needfull and convenient acomodation and entertaynment at the other ordinarye and the intymation of the selectmen of the need of two in that town, have thought meet to license Corporal Andrews to keepe an ordinary for the entertaynment of strangers only till the next court at Ipswich, and not longer, provided that the Inhabitants doe at the sayd Court present some meet pson to keepe an ordinary wch will accept of the same and the Court shall approve of, only he hath liberty in that tyme to sell wyne and beere to townsmen out of dores." The suitable person fixed upon was Deacon Moses Pengry and he was licensed on September 7, 1658. Andrews was permitted to keep his license until March 1659.

Corporal Andrews was not happy with the proceedings. The Court Record of April 28, 1658 records: "Corporal John Andrews stands bound to ye Treserer of this County in the sum of fiftye pound upon condidtion the sayd John Andrews shall appeare at the next Court held at Ipswich to answer to what shall be objected against him about a vehement suspition of severall misdeameanors and facts as pulling down the signe of Moses Pengry and Mr. Browne his gate and dore and Lieut. Sam. Appleton his gate." The latter two were among the signers of the petition to recall Andrews' license.

The above is compiled from:

 History of Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton by Joseph Felt, published Cambridge, Charles Folsom, 1834.

Little Pilgrimages Among Old New England Inns by Mary Caroline Crawford, published Boston, L. C. Page & Co., 1907.

Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony by Thomas Franklin Waters, published Ipswich, Ipswich Historical Society, 1905.