PUBLICATIONS OF THE

In the year 1634 when the land was being divided among the settlers, and homes were being built, a mill had already been erected by Mr. Richard Saltonstall, probably the wealthiest and most influential man of the town. Mr. Samuel Appleton had received a grant of six acres near the mill, part of which is now occupied by the railroad, and adjoining this lot, a house lot was assigned to Mr. John Fawn. He had received a six acre lot on Town Hill in December, 1634, and although the grant of the house lot is recorded under the date, " The 13th of January, 1637 ," it is probable that he received his house lot at about the same time, as tillage lots were granted only to house owners. The earliest records were made in various old books, which the Town Clerk of later years, Robert Lord, copied into another volume, and in many cases, it is evident that the record of the grant was made some time after the lot was assigned.

The adjoining lot, including the square bounded by the present Saltonstall, Market and Union Streets, was granted to Mr. Daniel Denison, who came with his wife Patience, daughter of Governor Thomas Dudley, Simon Bradstreet and his wife, Ann, the poetess, sister of Patience, and the peppery Governor Dudley, to make their home in the new settlement in 1635. Undoubtedly the house lots were assigned in that same year, but no mention of Denison 's lot is made until the memorandum, which follows Mr. Fawn's grant:

"Granted to Daniell Denison a house lott next to: Mr. Fawne's, to come to the scirt of the Hill next the swamp."

Upon this lot, Mr. Denison, later the military leader of the Town and eventually Major General of the Colony, built his house and "paled in" his lot. He sold it to Humphrey Griffin on January 19, 1641-2 and built a new dwelling on the lot now owned by Mr. Robert S. Kimball and others on Green St .

Mr. Fawn also built: a dwelling on his lot, but he sold it in a few years, as the record occurs:

"Granted Mr. Samuel Appleton by the company of freemen, as followeth. Imprimis, Eight acres of Land more or less as it lyeth above the Mill bounded on the Southeast by the Town River also having a houselott formerly granted to John Faun on the northeast also on the northwest the highway leading in to the Common."

Mr. Fawn, therefore, had disposed of his lot at that date, and a little later he was a resident of Haverhill .

The new owner was undoubtedly Mr. John Whipple, who had received from the Town a six acre planting lot, and in company with his brother, Matthew, a two hundred acre farm in the locality now included in the town of Hamilton , recorded in September, 1638. He was certainly dwelling there in 1642, as the Town Record contains the item.

"Whereas it was ordered that John Whipple should cause the fence to be made betweene the house late Captaine Denisons and the sayd Jo: Whipple namely on the side next Captaine Denisons and to be paid by the Towne for the one halfe; and the other half by the Captain; The said John brought in his accompt for his charge which came to 35 s. 6 d. Whereof there is due to

Md. that I, John Fawne, gent, do by these presents, allow, certifie & confirme, unto Mr. John Whipple his heires and assigns forever, a certaine bargaine & sale of an house & house lott in Ipswich conteining by estimation two acres & a halfe, more or lesse, formerly sould unto the said John Whipple by John Jolly, Samuell Appleton, John Cogswell, Robert Muzzey, & Humphrey Broadstreete & doe hereby release all my right and title thereunto, as witness my hand & seale, this l0th day of October, 1650

This deed & release were acknowledged the day & yeare above written by the said John Fawne

The original deed is not to be found, and this quit claim deed only perfects the title to the property, which was purchased by Whipple from six well-known citizens acting in some collective capacity, not yet discoverable. But it is of great value as proving Fawn's original ownership.

Is it possible that the house built by Mr. Fawn before 1638, which passed to Mr. Whipple, is identical in whole or part with the ancient mansion, which beyond a doubt was owned by generations of Whipples, and has come at last into the possession of the Ipswich Historical Society ? By a happy accident the record has been preserved of one Ipswich house of this period, which contains such minute details, that it affords a valuable criterion for comparison. This is the house which was built for Deputy Governor Symonds on the Argilla farm, which he had purchased of John Winthrop, Jr., in 1637. There was no dwelling on the farm and Mr. Symonds wrote to Mr. Winthrop, requesting his good offices in building a substantial house, which might serve the double purpose of a farm-dwelling and store-house. His letter is as follows :

To the Right Worshipfull his much honored brother, John Wenthrop of Ipswich , Esqr. Speed this I pray.

I have received your lettre, I thanke you for it, it hath bin my earnest desire to have had an oportunity longe ere this to have bene with you againe, but was hindered by the weather. ..

Concerneinge the bargaine that I have made with you for Argilla, my wife is well content, & it seems that my father Peter[2] hath imparted it to the Governor, who (he tells me) approves of it very well, alsoe soe I hope I shall now meete with noe rub in that businesse; but go on comfortablely according as I have & daily doe dispose my affaires for Ipswich.

Concerneinge the frame of the howse, I thanke you kindely for your love & care to further my busines. I could be well content to leave much of the contrivance to your owne liberty vpon what we have talked together about it already.

I am indiferent whether it be 30 foote or 35 foote longe, 16 or 18 foote broade. I would have wood chimnyes at each end, the frames of the chimnyes to be stronger than ordinary to beare good heavy load of clay for security against fire. You may let the chimnyes be all the breadth of the howse if you thinke good; the 2 lower dores to be in the middle of the howse one opposite to the other. Be sure that all the dorewaies in every place be soe high than any man may goe vpright under. The staiers I think had best be placed close by the dore. It makes no great matter though there be noe particion vpon the first floore; if there be, make one biger then the other. For windowes let them not be over large in any roome, & as few as conveniently may be: let all have current shutting draw-windowes, having respect both to present & future vse.

I think to make it a girt howse will make it more chargeable then neede; however the side bearers for the second story being to be loaden with corne, etc. must not be pinned on, but rather eyther sett into the studds or borne vp with false studds & soe tenanted in at the ends. I leave it to you and the carpenters. In this story over the first, I would have a particion, whether in the middest or over the particion vnder, I leave it. In the garrett no particion but let there be one or two lucome windowes, if two both on one side. I desire to have the sparrs reach downe pretty deep at the eves to preserve the walls the better from the wether. I would have it sellered all over, and soe the frame of the howse accordeingly from the bottom. I would have the howse stronge in timber though plaine and well brased. I would have it covered with very good oake-hart inch board, for the present to be tacked on onely for the present, as you tould me. Let the frame begin from the bottom of the seller, & soe in the ordinary way upright for I can hereafter (to save the timber within grounde) run vp a thin brick work without. I think it best to have the walls without to be all clap boarded besides the clay walls. It were not amisse to leave a doreway or two within the seller, that soe hereafter one may make comings in from without, & let them be both vpon that side which the lucome window or windows be. I desire to have the howse in your bargaineing to be as completely mentioned in particulars as may be, at least so far as you bargaine for, & as speedily done alsoe as you can. I thinke it not best to have too much timber felled near the howse place westward etc. Here are as many remembrances as come to minde. I desire you to be in my stead herein, & what euer you doe shall please me.

I desire you would talke with Mr. Boreman & with his helpe buy for me a matter of 40 bushells of good Indian corne of him or of some honest man to be paidd for now in ready money & to be deliuered at any time in the sumer as I please to vse it. I would deale with such a man as will not repent if corne rise, as I will not if it fall. Thus acknowledging my bouldness, I desire to present our respectfull love to you, my sister, & your little one, not forgetting my daughter, I cease, committing you to him that is mercy & wisdome it selfe & soe rest.

A lengthy postscript is appended which is omitted here. The letter bears no date, but was written evidently soon after the purchase of the Argilla farm, as it was called even in Winthrop 's time, sometime before the spring of 1638. Its quaint and labored phrasing does not obscure the meaning. We can see the old farm house, with its over hanging eaves and windows, few and small, oblong in shape, as we understand "the current shutting draw-windowes," its clap- boarded sides and enormous chimneys, one at each end, perhaps as broad as the house itsel£, its lutheran windows in the roof, and the low door on either side. Within, one great room occupies the whole or the larger part of the ground floor. The upper floor, designed in part for the storage of corn, is divided into two chambers and the great garret is open throughout. The sides are filled with clay and covered with "good oake-hart inch board," and to secure proper strength £or the floors, instead of the more expensive girth, upheld by studs, the studs are continuous from sill to plate and the "side-bearers," on which the floor joists of the second story rest, are let into the studs and securely fastened or held up by a second set of studs. The Deputy-Governor built a house in town on the slope of Meeting House Hill for his dwelling, and he was content to have his farmhouse strong and serviceable albeit crude and rough.

Between this lonely farm house and the old Whipple dwelling there are very interesting resemblances. The original house, as the architecture plainly shows, did not include the heavily timbered east rooms, which with the chimney, are a later addition. In its original form the house was 26 ft. 10 in. long and 17 ft. 8 in. wide on the ground. The chimney was at the end, as was frequently the case in houses of the first period. The door and stairway occupy their original place. There were only two great rooms, but these may have been divided by wooden partitions to secure necessary sleeping chambers. The most striking coincidence of plan is the long stud, which was revealed when the house was repaired and restored, into which a stout two inch oak plank is gained or mortised and secured by a wooden pin or tree-nail, precisely in the manner specified in the letter of Mr. Symonds. The windows are few and small. The walls were filled with bricks and portions of an ancient "daubing" with clay and hay were found in the inner plastering. The chimney is as large as the width of the house admits, allowing room for the entrance and stairway.

Architecturally, therefore, the evidence is all in favor of the identity of the present west rooms of the old mansion with the John Fawn house. There is nothing in the wills or deeds of conveyance or any local record which suggests a building of later date, and there is no reason why a well-built and until its last years, a well-preserved wooden dwelling, should not have come down to us from the earliest years of our town, and should not survive, barring unforeseen accident, for centuries to come.

The individuals and families, who have dwelt under the old roof tree in so many generations, are of unusual interest, and give a peculiarly tender sentiment to these old rooms. First of all in point of time and it may be of character, we may place John Whipple, as Mr. Fawn is known to us only by name. "Mr." John Whipple, he is called in the earliest mention of his name, the simple prefix indicating higher social standing than the more humble "Goodman." In 1640 he was admitted to be a freeman, and henceforth could vote in the affairs of the Colony and was entitled to the highest civic privileges. That same year he was sent as Deputy to the General Court, and served until 1642, then in 1646, and again from 1650 to 1654. In February, 1640-1 he was chosen one of the "Seven Men" as the Selectmen were then called. In 1641 the Town appointed a Committee to further trade, and a group of notable men, Simon Bradstreet, Robert Payne, Captain Daniel Denison, Mr. Tuttle, Mr. Saltonstall and the brothers, Matthew and John Whipple, were authorized to look after buoys and beacons, to provide salt and cotton, to oversee the sowing of hemp seed and flax seed and "cards wyer canes." That very important public service was supplemented by another in the same year.

A special Committee was chosen to promote the fishing interest, the most important industry of the town, Mr. Bradstreet, Mr. Hubbard, Mr. Symonds, Mr. Robert Payne and Mr. John Whipple, and to them was assigned the important function of carrying out the Town's order regarding the fishing settlement on Little Neck, the curing of the fish, the planting of the land by the fishermen, and the assignment of lots for the building of fishermen's houses. Mr. Whipple's account for the fence between his neighbor's land and his own, it has been noted, was 15 shillings 6 pence. The Town order of November 19th, 1642 is of particular interest:

"It is ordered that the late Constables shall forthwith pay to our Deacon, Jo: Whipple 15 s. 6 d. according to money or in money being due to him as appeareth upon the account of the said Jo: Whipple delivered in the 31th of the 8th mo. 1642."

There is an affectionate touch in the words "our Deacon," which suggests that he not only held the office, but that his townsmen regarded him in his high estate with pride and esteem.

When the first cart bridge was built in the year 1647, where the stone bridge now stands, he was one of the three honorable and competent men to whom the task was assigned. Ezekiel Cheever, the most eminent teacher of his day, came to Ipswich in 1650 to teach the grammar school, and in January, 1652,

"for the better aiding of the schoole and the ftffaires thereof, Mr. Samuel Symonds, Mr. Nathaniel Rogers, Mr. Jonathan Norton, Major Daniel Denison, Mr. Robert Paine, Mr. William Paine, Mr. William Hubbard, Dea. John Whipple and Mr. W^m Bartholomew were chosen a Committee to receive all such sums of money as have and shall be given toward the building or maintaining of a Grammar schoole and schoole master. ..."

He was an agent for "the Worshipful Mr. Saltonstall" in his business affairs, during his absence from the country. The note of warm personal friendship is evident in the power of attorney.

Being by Gods Providence upon a voyage for England I doe heerby constitute my very deare & verye faithfull friends the present Pastor & Deacons of the Church of Christ in Ipswich for me & in my stead to act & deall in & about all my estate and every part & parcel thereof in Ipswich (or New England) ...

When the pastor of the Ipswich church, Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, lay on his death bed, he summoned Ezekiel Cheever and Deacon Whipple to take his will from his own mouth, and his will provided:

"I ordain my trusty and well-beloved friends, Mr. Robert Payne and John Whipple to be the executors of my will."

He was called for friendly advice to the sick room of Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, the famous minister of Rowley. The brilliant John Norton, teacher of the Ipswich church for twenty years, was his near friend, and William Hubbard, preacher and historian, who was graduated from Harvard in its first class in 1642 and spent his days as minister of the Ipswich church. President John Rogers of Harvard was a friend of his later years. Mr. Samuel Appleton, whose land adjoined his own, and his sons, Major Samuel and Captain John, were neighbors and friends.

The final honor of his life came to him in the year 1658, when he became a Ruling Elder as well. Hull's diary quoted by Mr. Felt,[4] states that "Mr. Hubbard was brought up under Mr. Norton" and "was ordained teacher" November 17, 1658, and that the church chose two ruling elders which they never had before, to make up their want of Mr. Norton." Rev. John Norton was called to Boston on the death of Rev. John Cotton. Mr. Robert Payne was the other Elder.

The Elder was a very important official, his duties being specified in detail in the Cambridge Platform. Lechford says:

When a minister preacheth abroad in another congregation, the Ruling Elder of the place, after the Psalm is sung, says publicly : - If this present brother hath any word of exhortation for the people at this time, in the name of God, let him say on."

His seat was directly under the pulpit above the Deacons. The home and fireside of this devout, strong-minded, public spirited man must have been common ground, where in the changing years, minister and magistrate, soldier and merchant, the poet, Anne Bradstreet and school master Cheever, Winthrop, Dudley, Saltonstall, Denison, Symonds, Elder Payne, the Appletons, the Rogerses, and the wise and gracious women of those early days often met and discussed the affairs of church and state, school and college, and the common matters of their daily life. As to the family life that centred in the low-ceiled room and about the hospitable fireplace, we are left largely to our own imaginings. Of course there was the daily family prayer, and the instruction of the children in Mr. Norton's Catechism. The long hours of the Sabbath day from three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, were spent with Puritanical propriety, with much Bible reading and study at home, and the lengthy services in the meeting house on the hill. The children grew up, married, returned with their children at the great family Thanksgiving feast, and before the worthy Elder died there must have been a merry company.

John was the only son but there were four daughters, Susanna, Elizabeth, Mary and Sarah. Susanna married Lionel Worth of Newbury and had a son and four daughters. Elizabeth married Anthony Potter and became the mother of seven sons and daughters. Mary married Simon Stone of Watertown and was the mother of his eleven children. Sarah, the youngest, was born in 1641 and married Joseph Goodhue, son of Deacon William Goodhue, on July 13th, 1661 . In accordance with the custom of the time Deacon Goodhue and Deacon Whipple made a formal agreement on the occasion of the marriage, whereby the young bridegroom was assured the possession of the house and land, then occupied by his father, but which his grandfather Watson in England had desired should be made over to his daughter, Margery, wife of Deacon Goodhue, and to their eldest son Joseph.[5]

The document is lengthy and labored but is of unique value as a specimen of the ancient marriage contracts. Courtesy required Deacon Goodhue to wait upon the father of the bride, and we may reasonably believe that the terms of the settlement were discussed and the formal instrument drawn in the home of Elder Whipple.

Articles agreed upon between John Whipple Sen^r of Ipswich in New England of y^e One party & William Goodhue, Deacon of y^e church of Ipswich on y^e other party in Consideration of a Marriage between Joseph Goodhue & Sarah Whipple thire children in Manner & forme following viz. that I William Goodhue doe promise & Covenant that I will Settle my Eldest Son Joseph Goodhue upon my farme according to our Ageement already made & Signed upon his Marriage with Sarah Whipple which is now to be Consummated alsoe I John Whiple above named have Covenated & Ingaged to pay or Cause to be paid unto Joseph Goodhue forthwith upon his Marriage to my Daughter Sarah forty pounds In good & Marchantable pay alsoe I John Whipple doe Ingage that my daughter Sarah shall have an Equal Share of my household goods with her Two Sisters at my decease & my wife Susannah Whiple, alsoe I y^e aboves^d William Goodhue & Margery Goodhue my wife doe Ingage & Covenant that our Eldest Son Joseph Goodhue now to be Maried to Sarah Whipple shall have & possess y^e house that I now live in with all y^e Orchards and buildings upon y^e land belonging to It that I bought of Mr. Giles Firman as it is bounded on ye other Side at my decease & his owne Mothers Margery Goodhues decease this house & land being payed for by his grandfather In England with that provisal that his grandchild Joseph Goodhue and his Should Injoy it after y^e death of his father & Mother as an absolute & perfect Inheritance for Ever with percell of Salt Marsh of about 22 acres bought of Mr. Thomas Firman with Ten pounds of y^e Twenty five pounds In Silver that Our father Watson Sent over to me to purchase Meadow & upland to lay to y^e house and land aboves^d for his grand Child Joseph Goodhue to Inherit after our death & his hiers for Ever with Six acres of upland at Milebrooke of that land that I had in Exchange of Mr. John Appleton for land in y^e pequott.lotts all this housing & lands aboves^d wee give grant & Confirme wIth Our Son Joseph and his hiers for Ever after our deceases & if that he have Children by his Wife Sarah but if he have not Children or a Child by her then after our Son Joseph death & Sarah his wife without Children it shall be to y^e rest of Our Children that shall outlive them. furthermore I y^e aboves^d John Whiple upon Deacon Goodhue & his Wife Owning & Confirming the house & lands aboves^d with thier Son Joseph Goodhue after thier death I doe promise & Ingage that at ye decease of my wife Susannah & my Selfe that I Give unto my Daughter Sarah Joseph Goodhues wife now to be Confirmed Thirty pounds In good Currant Merchantable pay at y^e Merchantable price to be payed by my hiers or Executors within Six months after my decease & my wife Susannahs unto Joseph Goodhue or his hiers besides y^e forty pounds first Agreed upon & y^e Share of household goods above mentioned These Several Articles above Agreed upon between Elder John Whiple of Ipswich In y^eCounty of Essex in New England and Deacon William Goodhue of y^e Same Towne & County & his wife Margery Goodhue upon the Marriage of Joseph Goodhue & Sarah Whipple Our Children wee doe here witness & Confirme our Agreements Each to y^e other by Signing & Sealing hereof y^e thirteenth day of July In y^e yeare of Our Lord Sixteen hundred & Sixty Six

This Iinstrument above written Signed Sealed declared delivered & Owned by y^e Severall partyes above Named to be thiere agreement & act & deed before us y^e 13 of July 1666

The marriage was duly consummated and proved ideally happy. Ten children were born to them, but before the birth of the last, Sarah Goodhue was impressed that she would not survive. She composed therefore a "Valedictory and Monitory Writing," which was found after her death. It was published and republished and still remains a classic in the annals of the olden time. Her portrayal of her profoundly religious life, her joy in the Lord, her delight in sermons and all religious exercises, her affection for her husband and children, is unspeakably tender and reveals the depths of spiritual experience that underlay the severe legalism of the old Puritan religion. The literary style, moreover, is chaste and beautiful and betokens a cultured and luminous atmosphere in her early home. The fine quality of that home life is well reflected as well, in the last item in the inventory of the Elder's household goods: "Item in Books £2 8 0."

She was the youngest daughter of ELDER WHIPPLE, born at the said Ipswich , Anno 1641, and died suddenly, (as she presaged she should) July 23, 1681 , Three Days after she had been delivered of two hopeful Children, leaving ten in a11 surviving.

DEAR and loving Husband, if it should please the Lord to make a sudden change in thy family, the which I know not how soon it may be, and I am fearful of it:

Therefore in a few words I would declare something of my mind, lest I should afterwards have no opportunity: I cannot but sympathize and pity thy condition, seeing that thou hast a great family of children, and some of them small, and if it should please the Lord to add to thy number one more or two, be not discouraged, although it should please the Lord to deprive thee of thy weak help which is so near and dear unto thee. Trust in the living God, who will be an help to the helpless, and a father to the motherless: My desire is, that if thou art so contented, to dispose of two or three of my children: If it please the Lord that I should be delivered of a living child, son or daughter, my desire is, that my father and mother should have it, if they please, I freely bequeath and give it to them. And also my desire it, that my cousin Symond Stacy should have John if he please, I freely bequeath and give him to him for his own if thou art willing. And also my desire is, that my cousin Catharine Whipple should have Susanna, which is an hearty girl, and will quickly be helpful to her, and she may be helpful to the child, to bring her up: These or either of these I durst trust their care under God, for the faithful discharge of that which may be for my children's good and comfort, and I hope to thy satisfaction: Therefore if they be willing to take them, and to deal well by them, answer my desire I pray thee, thou hast been willing to answer my request formerly, and I hope now thou wilt, this being the last so far as I know.

Honoured and most loving father and mother I cannot tell how to express your fatherly and motherly love towards me and mine: It hath been so great, and in several kinds; for the which in a poor requital, I give you hearty and humble thanks, yet trusting in God that he will enable you to be a father and mother to the motherless: Be not troubled for the loss of an unworthy daughter; but rejoice in the free grace of God, that there is hopes of rejoicing together hereafter in the place of everlasting joy and blessedness.

Brothers and Sisters all, hearken and hear the voice of the Lord, that by his sudden providence doth call aloud on you, to prepare yourselves for that swift and sudden messenger of death: that no one of you may be found without a wedding garment; a part and portion in Jesus Christ: the assurance of the love of God, which will enable you to leave this world, and all your relations, though never so near and dear, for the everlasting enjoyment of the great and glorious God, if you do fear him in truth.

The private society, to which while here I did belong; if God by his Providence come amongst you, and begin by death to break you; be not discouraged, but be strong in repenting, faith & prayers with the lively repeatal of God's counsels declared unto you by his faithful messengers: O pray each for another and with one another; that so in these threatning times of storms and troubles, you may be found more precious than gold tried in the fire. Think not a few hours time in your approaches to God mispent; but consider seriously with yourselves, to what end God lent to you any time at all: This surely I can through grace now say; that of the time that there I spent, through the blessing of God, I have no cause to repent, no not in the least.

O my children all, which in pains and care have cost me dear; unto you I call to come and take what portion your dying mother will bestow upon you: many times by experience it hath been found, that the dying words of parents have left a living impression upon the hearts of Children; O my children be sure to set the fear of God before your eyes; consider what you are by nature, miserable sinners, utterly lost and undone; and that there is no way and means whereby you can come out of this miserable estate; but by the Mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ: He died a reproachful death, that every poor humble and true repenting sinner by faith on God through him, might have everlasting life: O my Children, the best counsel that a poor dying Mother can give you is, to get a part and portion in the Lord Jesus Christ, that will hold, when all these things will fail; O let the Lord Jesus Christ be precious in your sight.

O children, neighbours and friends, I hope I can by experience truly say, that Christ is the best, most precious, most durable portion, that all or any of you can set your hearts delight upon; I for ever desire to bless and praise the Lord, that he hath opened mine eyes to see the emptiness of these things, and mine own; and to behold the fulness and riches of grace that is in the Lord Jesus Christ: To that end my children, I do not only counsel you, but in the fear of the Lord I charge you all, to read God's word, and pray unto the Lord that he would be pleased to give you hearts and wisdom to improve the great and many privileges that the Lord is at present pleased to afford unto you, improve your youthful days unto God's service, your health and strength whilst it lasteth, for you know not how soon your health may be turned into sickness, your strength into weakness, and your lives into death; as death cuts the tree of your life down, so it will lie; as death leaveth you, so judgment will find you out: Therefore be persuaded to agree with your adversary quickly, whilst you are in the way of these precious opportunities: be sure to improve the lively dispensations of the gospel; give good attention unto sermons preached in publick, and to sermons repeated in private. Endeavour to learn to write your father's hand, that you may read over those precious sermons, that he hath taken pains to write and .keep from the mouths of God's lively messengers, and in them there are lively messages: I can through the blessing of God along with them, say, that they have been lively unto me: And if you improve them aright, why not to all of you God upbraideth none of the seed of Jacob, that seek his Face in truth: My children be encouraged in this work, you are in the bond of the covenant, although you may be breakers of covenant, yet God is a merciful keeper of covenant. Endeavour as you grow up, to own and renew your covenant, and rest not if God give you life, but so labour to improve all the advantages that God is pleased to afford you, that you may be fit to enjoy the Lord Jesus Christ in all his Ordinances. What hath the Lord Jesus Christ given himself for you? if you will lay hold upon him by true faith and repentance: And what will you be backward to accept of his gracious and free offers, and not keep in remembrance his death and sufferings, and to strengthen your weak faith; I thank the Lord, in some measure, I have found that ordinance, a life-making ordinance unto my soul.

Oh the smiles and loving embraces of the Lord Jesus Christ, that they miss of, that hold off, and will not be in such near relation unto their Head and Saviour. The Lord grant that Christ may be your Portions all.

My children, one or two words I have to say to you more, in the first place, be sure to carry well to your father, obey him, love him, follow his instructions and example, be ruled by him, take his advice, and have a care of grieving him: For I must testify the truth unto you, and I may call some of you to testify against yourselves; that your Father hath been loving, kind, tender-hearted wards you all: and laborious for you all, both for your temporal and spiritual good: -You that are grown up, cannot but see how careful your father is when he cometh home from his work, to take the young ones up into his wearied arms, by his loving carriage and care towards those, you may behold as in a glass, his tender care and love to you everyone as you grow up: I can safely say, that his love was so to you all, that I cannot say which is the child that he doth love best; but further I may testify unto you, that this is not all that your father hath been doing for you, and that some of you may bear me witness, that he hath given you many instructions, which hath been to the end your souls might enjoy happiness, he hath reproved you often for your evils, laying before you the ill event that would happen unto you If you did not walk in God's ways, and give your minds to do his will, to keep holy his sabbaths, to attend unto reading God's Word, hearing it preached with a desire to profit by it, and declaring unto you this way that he had experienced to get good by it; that was I pray unto the Lord for his blessing with it, and upon it, that it might soke into the heart and find entertainment there: and that you should meditate upon it, and he hath told you, meditation was as the key to open the door, to let you in, or that into your heart, that you might find the sweetness of God's word.

Furthermore, my children, be encouraged in this work, your father hath put up many prayers with ardent desires and tears to God on behalf of you all : which if you walk with God, I hope you will find gracious answers and showers of blessings from those bottled tears for you. O carry it well to your father, that he may yet be encouraged to be doing and pleading for your welfare : Consider that the scripture holdeth forth many blessings to such children that obey their parents in the Lord, but there are curses threatened to the disobedient.

My children, in your life and conversation, live godly, walk soberly, modestly, and innocently: be diligent, and be not hasty to follow new fashions, and the pride of life, that now too much abounds. Let not pride betray the good of your immortal souls.

And if it please the Lord that you live to match yourselves, and to make your choice: Be sure you chuse such as first do seek the kingdom of Heaven .

My first, as thy name is Joseph, labour so in knowledge to increase, as to be free from the guilt of thy sins, and enjoy eternal Peace. Mary, labour so to be arrayed with the hidden man of' the heart, That with Mary thou mayest find, thou hast chosen the better part. William, thou hadst that name for thy grandfather's sake,

Labour so in holiness among the daughters to walk, as that thou mayest excel.

Now dear Husband, I can do no less than turn unto thee, and if I could, I would naturally mourn with thee.

And in a poor requital of all thy kindness, if I could, I would speak some things of comfort to thee, whilst thou dost mourn for me.

A tender-hearted, affectionate and entire loving husband thou hast been to me several ways. If I should but speak of what I have found as to these outward things; I being but weakly natured: In all my burthens thou hast willingly with me sympathized, and cheerfully thou hast helped me bear them: which although I was but weak natured; and so the more unabled to go through those troubles in my way: Yet thou hast by thy chearful love to me, helped me forward in a chearful frame of spirit. -But when I come to speak or consider in thy place, thy great pains and care for the good of my soul.

This twenty years experience of thy love to me in this kind, hath so instamped it upon my mind, that I do think that there never was man more truly kind to a woman: I desire for ever to bless and praise the Lord, that in mercy to my soul, he by his providence ordered that I should live with thee in such a relation, therefore dear husband be comforted in this, ( although God by his providence break that relation between us, that he gave being to at first) that in thy place thou hast been a man of knowledge to discharge to God and my soul, that scripture commanded duty, which by the effects in me wrought, through the grace of God, thou mayest behold with comfort our prayers not hindered; but a gracious answer from the Lord, which is of great price and re- ward. Although my being gone be thy loss, yet I trust in and thro' Jesus Christ, it ,will be my gain.

Was it not, to this end that the Lord was pleased to enable thee and give thee in heart to take (as an instrument) so much pains for his glory and my eternal good, and that it might be thy comfort: As all thy reading of scriptures and writing of sermons, and repeating of them over to me, that although I was necessarily often absent from the publick worship of God, yet by thy pains and care to the good of my soul, it was brought home unto me : And blessed be the Lord who hath set home by the operation of his spirit, so many repeatals of precious sermons and prayers and tears for me and with me, for my eternal good: And now let it be thy comfort under all, go on and persevere in believing in God, and praying fervently unto God: Let not thy affectionate heart become hard, and thy tears dried away: And certainly the Lord will render a double portion of blessing upon thee and thine.

If thou couldest ask me a reason why I thus declare myself? - I cannot answer no other but this; that I have had of late a strong persuasion upon my mind, that by sudden death I should be surprised, either at my travail, or soon after it, the Lord fit me for himself: although I could be very willing to enjoy thy company, & my children longer, yet if it be the will of the Lord that I must not, I hope I can say cheerfully, the will of the Lord be done, this hath been often my desire and thy prayer.

Further, if thou could'st ask me why I did not discover some of these particulars of my mind to thee before, my answer is because I knew that thou wert tender hearted towards me, and therefore I would not create thee needless trouble.

O dear husband of all my dearest bosom friends, if by sudden death I must part from thee, let not thy trouble and cares that are on thee make thee to turn aside from the right way.

Be courageous, and on the living God bear up thy heart in so great a breach as this.

Dear husband, if by sudden death I am taken away from thee, there is infolded among thy papers something that I have to say to thee and others.

John Whipple made his will on May l0th, 1669. Rev. William Hubbard and Robert Day being with him in the upper chamber, no doubt, as witnesses to his mark which he appended, because of physical weakness. His signature is preserved in many documents. Mr. Hubbard wrote the will.

In the name of God, Amen. I John Whipple Senior of Ipswich in New England being in this present time of perfect understanding and memory, though weake in body, committing my soule into the hands of Almighty God, and my body to decent buryall, in hope of Resurrection unto Eternall life by the Merit and power of Jesus Christ, my most mercyfull Saviour and Redeemer, doe thus dispose of the temporall Estate W^ch God hath graciousely given mee.

Imprimis. I give unto Susanna Worth of Newbery my eldest daughter thirty pounds and a silver beer bowle and a silver wine cup.

Item. I give unto my daughter Mary Stone twenty pounds and one silver wine cup, and a silver dramme cup.

And all the rest of my household goods my will is that they be equally divided betwixt my three daughters afore sayd. But for their other Legacyes my will is that they should be payd them wi^thin two yeares after my decease: and if it should so fall out y^t any of my daughters above sayd should be taken away by death before this time of payment be come, my will is the Respective Legacyes be payd to their Heyres when they come to age. Likewise I give unto Antony Potter, my son-in-law, sometime, fourty shillings.

Moreover I give unto Jennett my beloved Wife ten pounds which my will is y^t it should be payd her besides the fourteen pound, and y^e annuity of six pounds a yeare engaged unto her in the Articles of Agreement before our Marryage. Concerning the four-score pound, which is to be Returned backe to her after my decease, my will is y^t it should be payed (both for time and manner of Pay) according to y^e sayd Agreement, viz: one third part in wheat, Mault and Indian Corne in equall proportions, the other two thirds in neat Cattle under seaven yea^re old. Further my will is y^t no debt should be charged upon my said wife as touching any of her daughters, until it be first proved to arise from the account of Mercy, Sarah or Mary.

I do appynt my loving friends, M^r William Hubbard and Mr. John Rogers of Ipswich, the overseers of this my last will and Testament, and I doe hereby give them power to determine any difference y^t may arise betwixt my executor, and any of the Legatees, aforesayd, about y^e payments aforesayd. Lastly I ordayn and Appoynt my son John Whipple the sole executor of this my last will and Testament. To whom I give all the rest of my estate, both houses, lands, cattle, Debts from whomsoever due and to his heyres forever.

In confirmation whereof I have hereunto set my hand and. seale this l0th day of May, 1669. In the presence of

"This will was presented in court held at Ipswich 28 of September, 1669, by the oath of Mr. Wry Hubbard and Robert Day to be the last will and testament of Elder John Whipple deceased to the best of their knowledge. As attest, Robert Lord, cleric."

"An inventory of the estate of Mr. John Whipple deceased the 30 of June, 1669."

It. The houses and lands in ye Towne contayning about one hundred acres 250 0 0

THE JOHN WHIPPLE HOUSE