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 inventory was delivered in court held at Ipswich the 28 of September, 1669, upon the oath of cornett JohnWhipple to be a full & true inventory of the estate of his ffather, deceased, to the best of his knowledge and if more appears afterwards it should be added. As attest,

It appears from the will that Susannah, his wife and the mother of his children, who was living in July, 1666, had died and that he had married Jennett . His daughter, Elizabeth, wife of Anthony Potter, is not mentioned, and undoubtedly was not living. Her name appears however, in a deed given by Mr. Potter, Dec. 22, 1664 .[6] His "loving friends," whom he appointed the overseers of his will, were the ministers of the church. Mr. Rogers was called subsequently to the Presidency of Harvard college.

An ancient document, which Mr. D. F. Appleton found in the shop of an antiquary in New York City and presented to the Historical Society, is of unique interest in this connection. It is a Petition of remonstrance to the Quarter Sessions Court , against the renewal of the license of Corporal John Andrews of the White Horse Inn in High St. , who had offended the sensibilities of his towns men by keeping open doors or open bar until past nine o'clock , and encouraging young men in devious way. It was drawn up and signed in June, 1658, by Ezekiel Cheever, the school master, and bears the signatures of Robert Payne, John Whipple, Senior, Deacon William Goodhue, Matthew Whipple, Samuel Appleton, Senior, and his two sons, Major Samuel and Captain John.

The humble peticon of Sundry of y^e inhabitants of y^e Towne of Ipswich whose names are subscribed

That whereas at y^e last Court held at Ipswich, there was presented to [ ] Hon^d Court a serious & earnest request upon weighty grounds for removin & 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 & continue no longer leave & liberty for [ ] continuance of y^e said Ordinary, then to this next Court at Salem. We are emboldned & encouraged (the causes of our grievance, still continuing & increasing) to entreat this Hon^d Court to recall & review our former requests & supplications tendred to them in y^t particular. And according to our hopes then conceived, no longer to continue or grant any license for upholding & keeping y^e same Ordinary. Which we verily beleeve will be an effectuall meanes for y^e remooving of much sin & evill, & minister cause of joy & thanksgiving to many of good people, amongst us.

Captain John was a man of different temper. His tastes were martial, rather than churchly, and he was distinctively a man of business. He received a license in 1662 "to still strong water for a year and retail not less than a quart at a time and none to be drunk in his house." In May, 1663, Mr. Baker and Corporal Whipple had licenses renewed for another year. In the year 1667, two years before his father's death, he had already built a malt house on the homestead lot and may have been in occupancy. Captain Appleton, Cornet Whipple and Thomas L(owe) were granted liberty to fell some walnuts for their kilns in 1667, and in 1673, Cornet Whipple had liberty to set up a fulling mill at the Little Falls. He had been chosen Cornet of the Ipswich Troop in 1668, under Captain John Appleton.

In 1674 he was a Representative to the General Court and served until 1680 and again in 1682 and 1683. In the sharp division that separated the Town into Royalist and Colonial camps, prior to the loss of the Charter, he sided with General Denison, Captain John Appleton, Francis Wainwright and many others in a timid appeal to the King in 1666, praying that he would not suspect the Colony of disloyalty, while Major Samuel Appleton and Deputy Governor Symonds were bold and defiant in the opposition. At the outbreak of the King Philip War, he was early in the field as a lieutenant in Captain Paige's troop. Fresh levies of foot and horse soldiers were ordered in February, 1675-6, to repel the Indian foe, already at their very gates, and Cornet Whipple was appointed Captain of the new troop of horse. His experiences in the field seem to have been rather unfortunate.

Major Savage in a letter of instructions dated April 1st, 1676 , remarked, "touching that rebuke of God upon Captain Whipple & y^e poore people of Springfield , it is matter of great shame and humbling to us.” The order from the Council to attack the Indians at Wachuset was discussed in a council of war at Quabaug, now Brookfield . It was decided to be impossible under the circumstances.

Captain Whipple had good reason for this stand as he reported that half of his troop was not able to march, and the other half had but one day's provision for six days' march. Sixteen men under Lieutenant Flood had petitioned to go home and plant for the support of their families, as their poor horses were nearly worn out. The whole troop apparently returned. Among the spoils of the war were the Indian captives and the Captain purchased a lad named Lawrence . Major Appleton bought three and Governor Symonds paid £5 for an Indian boy and girl. If these Indian slaves were allowed to meet each other with reasonable frequency, the hardships of their servile life were alleviated in measure.

In the summer of 1677 he led his troop to fight the Indians at Salisbury . Captain Whipple was a Feoffee of the grammar school, and a prosperous man of affairs. He married first Martha Reyner,[7] daughter of Humphrey and Mary Reyner of Rowley, who died February 24, 1679 -80, and for his second wife Elizabeth Paine[8] June 28, 1680 . His eldest son John, was born July 15,1657 , and there were other sons, Matthew, Joseph, born March 6, 1664 , who died in August, 1665, and another Joseph, born June 8, 1666 ; a daughter Susanna, who married John Lane of Billerica at Salem , December 10, 1683 , and Sarah, who was born in September, 1671.

He was chosen Treasurer of Essex County and on April l0th, 1683, took his oath of office in open Court. He was taken ill shortly after as it appears from his will, which he signed on August 2nd, 1683 , and died, as Mr. Felt says, on August l0th. Capt. John Appleton was chosen his successor as Treasurer of the County in September. His will and inventory are of especial interest. The latter is very minute but is published in a very slightly abridged form.

I, John Whipple, Sen. of Ipswich, having not settled my estate before, in case of death do thus order the estate which God hath graciously given me. Imprimis my will is y^t Elizabeth, my well beloved wife, shall enjoy one halfe of my dwelling house so long as shee shall see cause to live therein, and if my execut^rs shall provide her y^e going of a cow or two with y^e use of an horse for her occasions during y^t time: And my will further is y^t my execut^rs shall pay or cause to be paid unto her fifteen pounds by y^e year, besides w^t is already mentioned during y^e time of her natural Life. Item, my will is y^t my daught^r Susan Lane shall have y^e portion w^ch she hath already Received (which I judge to be about seaventy pound) made up an hundred and fifty pounds in like specie as before. I will also that my s^d daughter shall have y^e remainder of her portion paid her within three years after my decease. my will likewise is, that my youngest daughter Sarah Whipple shall be brought up with her mother (if shee be willing there-unto) and my executors to allow her w^t maintenance is necessary thereunto, & to have likewise an hundred and fifty pounds for her portion at the time of her marriage, or when she comes to one and twenty years of age. Concerning my three sons, it was my intent y^t if my estate were divided into five parts y^t my eldest son should enjoy two fifth parts thereof, y^e other three to be left for y^e other three viz. Matthew, Joseph & Sarah. But apprehending that I am not like to escape this sicknesse, I thus dispose concerning the same, viz. I will that my son John and my son Matthew shall be execut^rs of this my last will & testament for y^e present & y^t my son Joseph shall be joyned as an execut^r W^th them two, as soon as ever he comes to be of age. And then my Will is that if my son John enjoys all y^e Lands, houses, buildings & appurtenances, and Priviledges thereunto belonging where he now lives together with y^e Land in y^e hands of Arthur Abbot to be Added thereunto: And that my son Matthew enjoyes y^e Lands, houses, where he now lives, the appurtenances & privileges w^th y^e saw mill & y^e Land in y^e tenure of Fennell Ross, y^t then my son Joseph when he Comes of Age shall enjoy y^e houses, buildings, Malting office, w^th y^e other Lands, pasture, Arable & meadow where I now live as his right of Inheritance & portion, to him and his heires forever, provided y^t my son John do help him to order & manage y^e same till he himselfe comes of Age. And also my will is that then he pay an hundred pound out of his estate to his sister Sarah, and y^e rest of her and her sister Susan's portion to be paid out of y^e Debts and other chattels which are found belonging to my estate. But if my two elder sons be not satisfied with this Distribution of my Reall estate, my will is y^t my whole estate (with what is in my son John's and Matthew's hands already of houses and lands) both reall and personal be equally divided by indifferent Apprizall into five parts, and if then my eldest son shall have two fifths thereof, my son Matthew another fifth, and if Joseph shall have another fifth and y^t y^e last fifth shall be improved to pay debts and other Legacies and y^t w^t ever land falls to any of my three sons shall be to them and their Heires forever. In witness whereof I have set to my hand & seale this second of August 1683.

my will also is yt if my two sons, John & Matthew choose to enjoy y^efarmes y^t then J^ho shall also have y^e ten acres of marsh by Quilters & Matthew as much of my marsh in y^e Hundreds to them and their Heires forever excepting y^e marsh in y^e Island W^ch may be sold to pay debts.

An Inventory of the Estate of Captaine John Whipple of Ipswich , taken by us whose names are underwritten the tenth of Septemb^r 1683

It. A feather Bed & Bolste^r £5 curt^ns vallins, coverl^d all of searge £12 17 0 0

It. Linsy woolsey cloeth 12s 3d a Remnant of Broad cloth 6s a yd Kersey 8s 1 6 3

It. Fine cloth to bottom chairs £3 13s cushions 9s a chest of draws £2 15s 6 17 0

It. A looking glass 10s two wicker baskets 5s gloves 3s four chairs £1 12s 2 10 0

It. Two course pillow beers 3s three bolster cases 7s 3 pillow beers 1 sheet 1 5 0

It. A yard 1/2 fine holand 15s Remn^ts of hol^nds 3s yarns, thread tape 7s 1 5 0

It. A great Bible 16s in Books £5 8s 9d 5 Bottles of syrrup of clove gilly fl 7 8 9

It. A Glass Bottle of Port wine 2s Angelica water sirrup of gilli fl^wrs strawberry water 3 Bottles

It. Three greate Gally Pots W^th w^t was in them 4s 2 earthen chamber pots, etc l0 0

It. Seaven dishes of white earthen ware one Bason and a sully bub pot 16s 0 16 0

It. Forty cheeses £5 an apple trough 6s two powdering tubs 6s 6d Lether 2s 5 14 6

It. Three beer Barrells 8s a great glass 1s a powdering tub 5s and old tubs 4s 18 0

It. Two earthen pots 2s 4 pound candles 2s 8d a hand jack 1s 2d 2 pr scales gally pot 10 5

It. The best pewter 77 lb £7 14s 10 lb more of pewter £1 old pewter 15 lb £1 candlesticks £1 10 14 0

It. a Bed pan 9s two basons 8s four old candlesticks 9s 5 salt sellers 5s one more 2s 1 13 0

It. Two Basons & 4 Pottongers one beaker 9s 6 new pottingers 7s 6d a pottinger 4s 1 0 6

It. Two old chamb^r pots 10s 4 lb old pewter & a 3 qt bason 9s cop^r pot 6s tin-ware 6s tin ? 1 11 0

It. Plate one bowle? £3 three spoons £1 10s silver cup 10s pair buttons 2s 6d three pair button 3s

It. a still with Instrum^ts belonging £1 10s tin lanthorn 1s beams for scales & weights 2 1 0

It. a Box iron 4s a smoothing iron 1s a brass Copp^er £7 a great Brass pan £2 14s 9 19 0

It. Two small brass pans £1 12s 6d old copper kittle 15s a brass kittle £1 5s 3 12 6

It. Two bell mettle pots one £2 5s ye other £1 5s an iron kettle 8s & lit' iron pot 4 4 0

It. Two dozen of trenchers 1s 6d one tray 6 old dishes W^th other dishes 3s 4d two piggins Is 6d 0 16 4

It. Three cheeshoopes 1s earthen Pitcher 3d one payle, one piggin & strainer 3s 9d 5 0

It. a pair of bellows, meat forke, sugar augar & gridiron 4s a trammel with hooks to it 12s 0 16 0

It. a fowling piece £1 10s two carbine £2 a jack, weight & a spit £2 10 6 0 0

It. a salt box & salt 1s two old bibles 1s 4 old chairs & old joynt stoole 4s 0 6 0

It. a meale trouth 6s sives 3s 6d shreding knife 1s frying pan and marking iron 4s 14 6

It. a great saddle bridle & breast plate, crouper W^th a cover at £3 10s 3 10 0

apples upon y^etrees at £2 10s Irish yarn 24 lb at 1d 4s 7 cowes at £1 6 oxen at £5 per ox 2 oxen at

The will lacks the invariable pious prelude, with which all wills of the period begin, and proceeds to the solemn business in hand with manly firmness, but the Captain chose for his witnesses, two ministers, William Hubbard of Ipswich and Samuel Phillips of Rowley, and Captain Daniel Epps of Castle Hill, a fellow soldier and friend. Mr. Hubbard wrote it as he had done for his father, fourteen years before.

The homestead was apportioned to Joseph but in the final division as it is recorded under date of October 31, 1684 , John received

"the mansion house his father deceased in W^th Barn, outhouses, kilne, orchards, & homestead W^th commonage & privileges in and upon Two acres & a half of land be it more or less, called y^e Homestead in Ipswich Towne. (Pro. Rec. 305 : 135.)

This record makes it certain not only that Captain Whipple made his home and died in the homestead, though he owned a large estate in houses and lands in the Hamlet, but also shows that the item in the inventory: "The homestead at towne, dwelling house, kilne & other houses £330 0 0" is identical with the homestead as described in the division, and that the words "other houses" have reference only to the usual out buildings. This large valuation, therefore, is in the main, the valuation of the dwelling as there were only two and a half acres of land, a barn, malt-kilne, and other ordinary out-buildings.

General Denison's property was inventoried the year before, 1682, and his dwelling and lot were appraised at £160. He was a man of great prominence and comparative wealth. (£2105.) His house had been burned by an incendiary fire only a few years before, yet this new residence, fine as we may imagine it to have been, was reckoned to be worth less than half as much as Captain Whipple's mansion. Deputy-Governor Samuel Symonds died on October 13, 1678 , leaving an estate of £2534 sterling, but his house and about two acres on the Meeting House hill, in the very center of the town, were estimated at only £150. These valuations lead us naturally to believe that Captain Whipple's man- sion was far more elaborate and costly, and that it was the grandest dwelling in the town or the larger neighborhood.

It is an easy conclusion that Captain Whipple, prosperous in his business affairs, and one of the wealthiest men in Ipswich, added to the plain and substantial house of the Elder, the elaborate and expensive eastern rooms, with massive and finely carved oak summers, and heavy girth on the east end, allowing the moulded edge on the outside. The beds with great feather beds, and serge curtains, vallance and coverlid, a single equipment, valued at £17, the Turkey work for chairs and fringe, the fine wrought chairs and form, the leather chairs, the abundant silver ware, the great store of pewter, the books worth £5 8 9, reveal a home of luxury with large rooms adequate to hold such furnishings. The military equipments are everywhere in evidence, the great saddle, bridle and breast plate, pistols and holsters, rapiers and cutlass. An ancient spur was discovered when the house was repaired and we query if it might not have been part of the trooper's military gear.

We have no means of knowing whether the widow exercised her right under the will and made her home in half the dwelling, and whether the young Sarah was willing to live with her mother. It is a matter of record, however, that the young girl married Francis Wainwright, on March 12th, 1690 , and made her home in the Wainwright mansion on High St. , where her children were born, and where she died on March 16, 1709 in her thirty-eighth year. Col. Wainwright was a distinguished citizen, a Harvard graduate, Colonel of a regiment, Justice of the General Sessions Court, Feoffee and Representative. The most tragic remembrance attaches to his death. He had covenanted marriage with Elizabeth Hirst of Salem and the intention had been published, but he was taken sick at home on July 29, 1711 , and died on August 3d. Judge Sewall's Diary bears the entry:

Tis the most compleat and surprising Disapointment that I have been acquainted with. Wedding Cloathes to a Neck C1oth and Night Cap laid ready in the Bride's Chamber, with the Bride's Attire. Great Provision made for Entertainment, Guests several came from Boston and entertained at Mr. Hirsts, but no Bridegroom, no Wedding. He was laid in a new Tomb of his own making lately and his dead wife taken out of another and laid with him.

Sarah, daughter of Colonel Francis and Sarah Wainwright, married Stephen Minot of Boston , who, with John Whipple, brother of Sarah, were the executors of the colonel's will.

John Whipple, son of Captain John, was twenty-six years old when his father died, but he had been married two years and had a home of his own. We may presume he removed in due time to the stately mansion he inherited from his father. His first military office was that of Cornet, to which he was appointed in 1689, and he may have had a command in the Expedition to Quebec . It is uncertain, also, whether the John Whipple, who was one of the Selectmen, and met in the revolutionary caucus at John Appleton's house, distant only a stone's throw from the Whipple dwelling, is Major John.[9] Several men of this family, bearing the same name, were then living.

On July 6, 1706 Captain John Whipple with his troop passed Haverhill ferry, on an Indian alarm. Later in life, he became Major, and a Justice of the Sessions Court.

Major Whipple married Katherine Layton June 16th, 1681 , who died January 15th, 1720 -21, in her 63d year.

Their daughter Martha, married Rev. Richard Brown, Jr. of Newbury, April 22, 1703 , and had a daughter, Martha, and son William, at her father's death. Katherine, born August 25th, 1685 died in her seventeenth year on August 16th, 1702 . Elizabeth, died in 1688 and another Elizabeth on January 2, 1695-6 . Mary, born October 20, 1684 , married Benjamin Crocker, intention December 12, 1719 . Sarah, born December 16, 1692 , died on July 4, 1713 . Susanna, born April 3, 1696 , married Rev. John Rogers of Kittery , son of Rev. John, pastor of the Ipswich church, intention September 6, 1718 . Mercy was born February 7, 1697-8 .

"Major John Whipple, Esq.," as he is styled in the record of his death, "went to bed well at Night & was found dead in the morning." June 12, 1722 , in his sixty-fifth year. He had made his will in the previous year.

In the name of God Amen. The thirtieth day of August 1721. I John Whipple, of Ipswich, In the County of Essex in New England, being sick & weak of Body but of perfect Mind & Memory, Thanks be Given to God therefore, Calling to Mind y^e Mortality of my Body & knowing y^t Is Appointed for all Men Once to Dye Doe make and Ordaine This my Last Will & Testament; that Is to say principally & first of all I Give and recommend my Soul Into the hands of God that Gave it, and my Body I Recomend to ye Earth to be buryed in a Decent & Christian Buriall att ye Discretion of my Exec., nothing Doubting but att ye Genll Resurrection I shall receive the same againe by ye Almighty power of God; and as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith It hath pleased God to bless in This Life, I Give, Demise & Dispose of the same in the following Manner or Forme.

Impr. I give to my Daughter Mary Crocker & To the Heirs of her Body Lawfully begotten my now Dwelling House & Homestead with all the building upon the same. Also I give to my Daughter Crocker all ye furniture both of the parlour and Parlour chamber also one Bed More such as shee shall Chuse with all ye furniture to ye same belonging, also Three pair of Sheets, Two Large Table Cloths & Two Smaller Ones & Two Dozen of Napkins, also I give unto my Daughter C'rocker all the utensills of ye Kitchen & Leantoe & also my two Neb oxen & all my utensills for husbandry, also One old Common Right & my Negro Man & Two Cowes.

Item. I give to my son-in-law Benj. Crocker my __________ and fouling piece.

It. I give to my Grandson, John Rogers, twenty pounds and after all my Lawful debts and all ye above Legacies & my funerall Charges are all payd, the whole of my Estate which shall then remaine Both real and personal, Bills, Bonds, Whatsoever to be honestly apprized & Equally Divided between my Three daughters, Martha, Mary & Susannah

It. I do Hearby Constitute and Apoint my three Sons in Law, Richard Brown Benjamin Crocker & John Rogers my Sole Executors of this My Last will & Testament. (Probate Records 313 :458.)

An Inventory of the Estate of John Whypell, Esq., late of Ipswich Desesed as was presented to us by his Executor. viz.

An addition of y^e personall Estate of John Whipple Esq. Deceast. appriz'd by y^e Subscribers April 17, 1723

Memorandum a mistake of 15s. in y^e10^1bcotton wool to be rectifyd & 10£ in y^e bonds overcharged & about 150£ of y^e bonds not payable yet for several years, & y^e intrest on y^m is at 5^1. p Cent per annum.

In this will and inventory mention is made for the first time of the various rooms. There are the parlor and the parlor chamber, the hall with its household stuff valued at £16 14s. the kitchen and kitchen chamber, a bed-room below and one above and a leanto. We naturally identify the parlor and parlor chamber as the fine new rooms added by Captain John, and the kitchen and kitchen chamber as possibly the two rooms of Elder Whipple's. The hall was the seventeenth century kitchen, living room, often times sleeping room as well. Apparently the word kitchen, had about supplanted the old term, as the Major mentions the "kitchen" in his will, and the appraisers speak of the "hall" and the "kitchen chamber."

When Captain John enlarged the house he simply doubled the size, as the old rafters still remaining in the attic are evidence. The Major made a further enlargement by adding a leanto. This may have been only eight feet wide, the width of the little room on the northeast corner, thus making a long, narrow room the whole length of the house. Such narrow leantoes are sometimes found in old time houses, and they were provided with fire places and might have served for kitchens or for laundry or other rough work, incident to the farm. But the inventory mentions a bed-room above in addition to the parlor and kitchen chambers, and it may be that Major John during the thirty-nine years he owned the paternal dwelling, with his increasing family of daughters, six of whom were probably living at home in the year 1700, may have been obliged to make another change by widening the narrow leanto, and running new rafters over the original ones, thus giving the house about the same outward appearance it now has and securing some second story bedrooms under the sloping roof. The negro man and Hannah, the slave woman, may have found their humble sleeping quarters in the spacious attic.

The barn, in the Major's time, was well occupied with his horse and mare, the two "neb oxen," the cows, steers, heifers and calves. The calash and its tackling, the earliest form of two-wheeled carriages, which were affected only by the most wealthy, probably required a carriage house by itself. Perhaps the most singular item in the whole inventory is "1 knife and fork."

Major Whipple grieved bitterly, no doubt, that he had no son, but there may have been the greatest compensation possible under the circumstances, in the singular fact that all three of his daughters, who lived to mature age, married ministers. For Benjamin Crocker was educated for the ministry, and

frequently preached in the Ipswich pulpits, and Mr. Rogers and Mr. Brown were regularly settled. Not- withstanding this fact, there was a deal of unbrotherly wrangling over the settlement of the estate which was complicated by Major Whipple's guardianship of his niece, Lucy Wainwright.

Benjamin Crocker, whose wife, Mary, inherited the Whipple family dwelling, was a graduate of Harvard, class of 1713, a Representative to General Court in 1726, 1734 and 1736, Chaplain in the Louisbourg expedition in 1745, and teacher of the grammar schools for many years. The records of the South church show that he preached frequently, and he was so insistent on the old order that he removed his membership to the First church, because the Ruling Elders, who had been elected by the South church, were not ordained.

A daughter, Mary, was baptized Nov. 6, 1720 and a son, John, on Sept. 21, 1723 . His wife, Mary, died Oct. 25, 1734 aged 51 years, 5 days. He married the widow Experience Coolidge on May 17, 1736 , who died Nov. 4, 1759 , in her 67th year. His third wife was Elizabeth Williams of Weston, whom he married at Weston, Sept. 9, 1760 . Mary Crocker, daughter of Benjamin and Mary, married Joseph Gunnison of Kittery , Sept. 10, 1738 . Mr. Benjamin Crocker died April 9, 1767 in his seventy-fifth year. He had made and signed his will just one year before.

I, Benjamin Crocker of Ipswich in County of Essex, in New England, being in Health of Body and Mind & Memory (thro the Favour of Almighty God) & calling to Mind the Uncertainty of Life and Certainty of Death, Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament, and Principally and above all I recommend my Soul into the Hands of God, Thro Jesus Christ, hoping for his sake and Righteousness to find acceptance with God at the great Day of his Appearing; and my Body to decent Christian Burial : and touching such worldly Estate as God been pleased to bestow upon me, I give and despose of the same in Manner following, viz-

Imprimis. I give to my well beloved wife Elizabeth fourteen pounds, and all that estate which she brought with her to me upon our Marriage: provided and on Condition she shall acquit all her Right or Claim and Interest in & to all the rest of my estate.

Item. I give to my daughter, Mary Gunnison, the two best silver spoons, which, with what I gave her at her Marriage, together with what she held of land which she and her Brother sold to Charles Tuttle after her Marriage, which I account of a sufficient Part of my Estate. (The particulars of which I have set down in a Pocket Book in my Desk.)

Item. I give all the rest of my Estate both real and personal of what Nature soever to my son John Crocker, after my Debts and funeral Charges are paid by my said Son.

No mention is made of Tom and Flora, slaves of Mr. Crocker, who were married Sept. 6, 1726 . In the long interval before his death the bondmen and their families may have received their liberty or may have been freed by Death. They are the last slaves who were kept in the old mansion.

This worthy man was a Deacon of the South church, and the distinctively religious tone which had characterized the home of so many generations of Whipples suffered no loss in his time. The memory of neighborhood prayer meetings held in the great old rooms still lingers. He married Mehitable Burley, Dec. 3, 1747 . She died July 9, 1766 in her 39th year. Her children were:

Mary, born Nov. 4, 1748 , who married William Wade, intention March 11,1769 , and died Dec. 22, 1771 , leaving two sons, Thomas and Samuel.

Mehitable, born Feb. 17, 1750 , married Thomas Appleton, intention Nov. 26, 1768 .

Hannah, born Dec. 29, 1752 , married Edward Waldron. She died before her father and left two children, Mary and Abigail.

Lydia , born N ov. 7, 1754, married Elisha Treadwell, June 21, 1780 , who died Dee . 19, 1792. She married Col. Joseph Hodgkins, Dec. 18, 1804 .

Deacon John Crocker married again, Elizabeth Lakeman, intention Nov. 28, 1767 .

As his father, Benjamin Crocker, died in 1767, and the first marriage of Deacon Crocker's daughters occurred in 1768, it is very probable that the old homestead was full of life and bustle. There were babies in their cradles, little children, with their sports, and older girls, who had their daily stint of knitting and sewing and working of samplers, and the grown up daughters had the privilege of the parlor for entertaining their bashful lovers. By and by there was much spinning and weaving and the making of the bride’s great store of fine linen, and then the glorious excitement of the wedding days. Aaron, apparently died in early life and two boys only seem to have grown up in this throng of girls, John and Joseph. To them fell a daily round of chores in the barn and kitchen, for the great fireplaces were ever in need of wood, and there was much drawing of water from the old well by the door for the constant use of the large family.

Deacon Crocker died on April 21, 1806 , in his 83d year, having made his will in due form about two years before.

In the name of God .Amen. I John Crocker of Ipswich in the County of Essex as to my worldly goods and estate, [I] give, demise and dispose of the same as follows-viz.

Impri.mis. I give and devise to my son Joseph his heirs & as- signs forever, my malt house and about one acre of land adjoining with the well and drane leading to said malt house, also a desk that his mother brought to me when we were married.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth, the great Chamber in the west end of my dwelling house so long as she shall remain single and unmarried. I also give her a case of drawers and a chest with two drawers, which was her mother's. I also give and bequeath to my said daughter, Eliz. one cow and two sheep, such as she shall choose, to be winterd and summerd for her by my son John, and also sixty dollars in money. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mehitabel Appleton, sixty dollars in money. Item. I give to my son-in-law Thomas Appleton a note of hand I have against him dated April 28, 1795 .

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Lydia Treadwell, sixty dollars in money. Item. I give to my grandson Thomas Wade and Samuel Wade thirty dollars each. Item. I give and bequeath to my grand daughters Mary Waldron and Abigail Waldron, thirty dollars each. I give and bequeath to my son-in-law, Edward Waldron, at my decease, my great Bible. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth, one feather bed and bedding which her mother brought to me, when I married her. Item. I give and bequeath to my three daughters and to my grand-children, children of my Daughters, Mary and Hannah, deceased, the whole of my household goods ( excepting my silver tankard) to be equally divided between them.

I give to my daughters aforenamed and my aforesaid grand- children, at my decease, all my books to be divided in same manner as I have ordered my household goods to be divided. Item. I give and devise to my son Joseph and to my daughter Elizabeth, and to their heirs and assigns in equal shares, my Pew in south Meeting House in this town. Item. I give to my sons John and Joseph all my wearing apparel and farming utensils to be equally divided between them. Item. I give and devise to my son John and to his heirs and assigns forever all my buildings and lands, excepting such parts of my buildings and lands as I have before given to my son Joseph and my daughter Elizabeth. I give and bequeath to my said son, all my stock of cattle and sheep, all my notes of hand, my silver Tankard, and all the rest and residue of my estate.

An inventory and appraisement of the estate of Deacon John Crocker late of Ipswich (Probate Records 374: 81).

writing desk $1 small round table $1, light stand 30 cts stand^g candlestk 1.25 3.55

Westerly bed room. 1 bed, bolster & pillows $27 under bed & bedstead. $2.75 29.75

In the East chamber, 1 bed, bolster & 1 pillow $25. under bed, bed std. & cord 2.50 27.50

Two sons only are mentioned in the will, John and Joseph, allusion is made to Mary and Hannah, deceased, and the names of Eunice, Martha, Sarah, and Eliza, do not appear. They died in early life undoubtedly.

Joseph received as his portion of the estate the malt house and about an acre adjoining, the first division ever made in the original grant. The malt house stood where the brick machine shop of the Mill now stands, on the corner of Estes St . It was taken down by Mr. Nathaniel Wade and removed and rebuilt on his house lot on the south side, in the rear of the residence of Jesse H. Wade. John; then living at Londonderry , received the homestead. He sold, however, to his brother Joseph. The deed was not recorded but on the death of Joseph on Jan. 21, 1813 , the inventory of his estate was recorded.

1 black waist coat $1.00 2 green waist coats $1 2 pair small clothes woolen and drawers $2 4.00

1 pair kersey rneer smale cloths 50 cts. 1 pair nankin jacket and breeches $1 1.50

3 pr. old trowsers 75 cts 2 frocks $1. 2 pair of boots $3.75 2 pair of shoes $1.50 7.00

Col. Hodgkins had married for his third wife Mrs. Lydia Treadwell, relict of Elisha Treadwell and daughter of Deacon Crocker. On the death of Joseph Crocker the administrator of his estate sold five-sixths of the dwelling and land about it to Col. Hodgkins, the deed ofsale bearing date, May 16, 1813 . It reserved for Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon Crocker

the great chamber in the west end of the house, with the privilege of going in and out at the front door, and a right to use the entry way and stairs in common, and a right to bake in the oven in the northeasterly room, to go to and from the well, and a privilege in the cellar to put and keep so much cider, vegetables and other necessaries sufficient for her own use, also liberty to pass and repass to and from the yard at the southwest end of said house, and to keep therein the wood for her own use, said reservations to continue so long as she shall remain single and unmarried, as expressed in the last will and testament of said John Crocker deceased.

The oven in the northeast room was in place when the house was restored by the Historical Society. It was not a part of the original construction, and was removed and the old lines of the fireplace restored.

Col. Hodgkins was an old man, seventy years old, when he bought the house in 1813, and his granddaughter, Miss Sarah Wade, used to say that he did not occupy it until 1818, but he lived to be eighty-six years old, and he had dwelt eleven years at least in the old mansion. He was an interesting figure in his day, and his ownership adds to the sentimental value of the house. He marched in Captain Nathaniel Wade's company of minutemen on the Lexington alarm, and was first lieutenant in Captain Wade's company at the battle of Bunker Hill . His letters from the field to his wife are still preserved. He wrote from Cambridge , on the 18th of June.

I take this oppertunity to inform you that I am well att Present I would Just inform you that wee had a verry hot ingagement yesterday. But God Preserved all of us for whitch mercy I Desire Ever to be thankfull.

Have not time to write Pertickler of y^e Engagement., But we whare Exposed to a very hot fire of Cannon & small armes about two ours. But we whare Presarved I had one Ball went under my arme and Cut a large hole in my Coate & a Buck shot went through my coate & Jacket. But neither of them Did me any harme.

He served through the war with distinction, was at Valley Forge, and in the battles of Long Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains and Princeton, and at the capture of Burgoyne's army. He won the rank of Colonel, and succeeded Colonel Wade as commander of the Middle Essex Regiment of the militia. From 1810 to 1816, he was a Representative to General Court. Miss Sarah Wade, daughter of Nathaniel Wade, Jr., who married Hannah Hodgkins, daughter of the Colonel, was a petted visitor at

her grandfather's house when she was a little girl, and her recollections of the venerable gentleman and his home were very vivid. He was a very tall man, with strongly marked Roman nose and thin hair, which was gathered into a queue. To his last days, he would have his pewter plate, which was kept with the platters on a high shelf in the kitchen.

The room furnished as a kitchen by the Historical Society was the parlor, and the only carpet in the house covered the floor. Some roundabout chairs and a pair of great brass andirons were included in the parlor furnishings, and a quaint colored English print of the Countess of Suffolk's house near Twickenham, published in 1749, hung on the wall. It was owned recently by the late Miss Nellie Wade. The west room was the family sitting room, and in this room the old soldier died, lying in a press bed in the centre of the room, on September 25, 1829 . Sarah slept in a little bedroom, that opened then from this room, on the night her grandfather died, and she remembered distinctly that the window in that room was diamond paned and opened like a door. Her brother, Mr. Francis H. Wade, remembered a window of the same style in the front gable end. Miss Wade remembered as well, that her father, who was a carpenter, built on the addition, as a pantry, for the convenience of the old people, now occupied by the stairway. The upper east chamber was occupied by Miss Polly Crafts, who made her scant living by weaving towels on a cumbrous hand loom.

One child alone of his great family of twelve children was alive at the death of Colonel Hodgkins. His widow survived four years until June 21, 1833 . Upon her death the ancient home of the Whipples for six successive generations, three in the Whipple name and three in the Crocker; passed out of the family. Mr. Nathaniel Wade, whose wife was Hannah Hodgkins and other heirs of the Colonel, sold the house and an acre and 11 rods of land to Caleb K. Moore of Canterbury , N. H., a peddler by trade, October 31, 1833 , for $501. ( Essex Deeds 271:164). The same heirs sold the remainder of the lot, an acre and about eleven rods, on Aug. 11, 1841 , to James Estes, for $300,

beginning at the north east corner by the road & Caleb K Moore's land, south east by the road to land and barn of Enoch Pearson, south west by said barn and a barn and land of Joseph Farley, thence South-east by Farley's land to the river, thence by the river to land of Samuel Wade, northwest by said Wade to Moore, northeast by Moore to first.

Caleb K. Moore sold to Abraham H. Bond, manufacturer, one of the Nottingham stocking weavers, who colonized in Ipswich, on .October 7, 1841, for $900 (Essex Deeds 327 : 157). The property remained in the hands of Mr. Bond until his death. During his ownership an old house was removed by him from the estate now owned by Miss Lucy Slade Lord, it has been said, and located on the comer of Market and Saltonstall streets. Mr. James W. Bond, son of Abraham, acquired the homestead by inheritance and purchase from other heirs, and sold to the Ipswich Historical Society, the house and land about it on May 12, 1898 . (Essex Deeds, 1549 : 6), the corner house with land, July 26, 1899 (Essex Deeds, 1584 :266), and the remainder of the land with an old barn, November 17, 1902 . ( Essex Deeds, 1691 : 470.)

On the evening of April 14, 1890 , Rev. Augustine Caldwell, Hon. Charles A. Sayward, Mr. J. Increase Horton, Mr. John H. Cogswell and Mr. John W. Nourse, met at the residence of Rev. Thomas Franklin Waters to consider the organization of an Historical Society. Mr. Arthur W. Dow was unavoidably detained. It was the unanimous sentiment of this gathering that such a society should be organized to foster systematic and accurate historical studies and promote a better acquaintance with the history of the town. They voted, then and there, to organize a society, to be known as The Ipswich Historical Society, and elected as its officers: Mr. Waters, president, Mr. Cogswell, secretary, Mr. Sayward, Mr. Horton and Mr. Cogswell, executive committee.

During the spring and early summer several public meetings were held in the studio of Mr. Dow, at which papers on the early history of the town were read and interesting reminiscence was in order. In the winter of that and several following years, occasional meetings were held in the vestry of the South Church . The president read a series of papers on the original locations of the early settlers and some studies on the old houses. Mr. Sayward contributed an interesting paper on the probable visits by voyagers to the spot now occupied by the town before Winthrop 's coming. Hon. W. D. Northend of Salem read on several occasions some chapters from an unpublished work on early colonial history and Mr. Winfield S. Nevins gave a lecture on "The Homes and Haunts of Hawthorne in old Salem ."

These meetings were well attended and it was evident the community was interested in the society. The membership enlarged gradually, but it was plain that the Society could not gain the success it desired until some permanent place of meeting should be secured, and the beginning of an historical collection should be made. Mr. Daniel S. Burnham very generously offered to give the half of the ancient house in East St. , owned by him, provided that the Society should acquire the remainder. The old mansion would have been admirably adapted to our use in many ways but its location was unfavorable, and later investigations robbed it of its association with Rev. Mr. Norton and Rev. Mr. Cobbett. No active steps were ever taken toward securing this property.

The removal of the post office from the Odd Fellows' building opened a more promising opportunity, and at a meeting in the early autumn of 1895, the project of renting the vacant portion was enthusiastically approved. A generous subscription was made at once and in a short time sufficient funds were collected to provide a cabinet and table case for expected gifts. The first meeting in the new room took place on Friday evening, January 3, 1896 . It was well attended and plans for the development of the society were adopted. Gifts of objects of interest, books and documents, began to be made.

In his address at this first meeting the President expressed the hope that some suitable monuments or markers might be put in place near the meeting house of the First Church, and on the South Green to recall and perpetuate the great associations, clustering about these spots. Shortly afterward, Mr. Francis R. Appleton generously offered to bear the expense of a monument with bronze tablets on the South Green. This was unveiled and dedicated with public exercises of great interest on Wednesday, July 29, 1896 . The Town has since appropriated sufficient funds to place the large tablet near the meeting house, and the smaller ones, which mark the spots where Governor Dudley and Simon and Anne Bradstreet dwelt.

At the annual meeting in December, 1897, the attention of the Society was called to the ancient Whipple house, as an admirable type of the earliest style of architecture, already much decayed and likely to fall into utter ruin. It was suggested that this old mansion, repaired and restored, would be an ideal permanent home for the Society. A committee was appointed to examine the house, and consider the feasibility of this project. It was found that notwithstanding its decayed condition the interior was well preserved, and of phenomenal attractiveness, and as the owner was willing to sell the committee reported in favor of its purchase.

A preliminary canvass for funds resulted in the contribution of fourteen hundred dollars, and the house and a small lot of land, with aright of way in the narrow passageway, separating from the other house on the corner, were purchased in May, 1898, at the cost of $1650. Work was begun at once and it was found that the original plastering against the second floor still remained above the modern plastered ceiling, which was put up in Mr. Bond's boyhood, and that the original sheathing in the second story was intact behind the later plastering. The locations of the ancient casement windows were disclosed, the original fireplaces were excavated, and the splendid oak beams were laid bare. Unexpected bits of the original architecture, the ancient door-post, old batten doors with huge, unshapely hinges, portions of the old clay plastering, traces of the early coloring came to light and afforded invaluable guidance in the restoration of the old mansion to its pristine glory.

The work of repair and restoration being well completed, the dedication exercises were held on October 19, 1898 . Miss Alice A. Gray, a lineal descendant of the Ipswich Howards of two centuries ago, after twenty-three years of service at the Fine Art Museum in Boston, felt the charm of the old house so powerfully, that she relinquished in a large measure her museum work and became the custodian. She brought a beautiful collection of furniture, which was installed in the great east chamber, and her fine taste was everywhere evident in the "setting up" of the old rooms. She was instrumental in securing from Miss Ellen A. Stone of Lexington a large and valuable collection of antiques, and the sequel of a quiet five o'clock midsummer tea to a company of her friends, was the gift of $1800 by Mrs. William C. Loring, wife of Judge Loring of the Supreme Court and daughter of the late Amos Adams Lawrence, the former owner of the Ipswich Mill. During his visits to the Mill Mr. Lawrence often came into the old dwelling and frequently expressed the wish that it might be preserved. Mrs. Loring was so appreciative of the work already done, and was so impressed with the necessity of safe-guarding the house by the removal of the dilapidated dwelling only a few yards away, that she made her generous gift to accomplish this end and beautify the lot thus secured, as a memorial of her honored father.

An immediate purchase of the house and lot and an additional strip six feet wide, the whole depth of the two lots now acquired, was made for $1950, in July, 1899. The buildings were removed and the unsightly corner was soon transformed into an attractive setting for the house. An old and very unsightly barn still stood on the land owned by Mr. Bond, and in November, 1902, it seemed best to forestall a purchase, which might involve an undesirable and unsafe neighbor, by buying the balance of the lot. This involved an increase of the mortgage to $3500, but ample compensation was secured in the increased safety of our house from fire and the ornamental value of the old orchard. This burdensome mortgage has been gradually reduced. Mrs. William G. Brown bequeathed $500 to the society, which was used in this way as well as a later legacy of $50 from Miss Elizabeth B. Jewett. The Historical Pageant of 1910 was so successful financially that a further reduction of a thousand dollars was made, and at last only four hundred dollars remains unpaid.

Besides the gradual payment of its mortgage indebtedness, the Society has issued a regular series of publications which has now reached its twentieth number. The elaborate "Sketch of the Life of John Winthrop the Younger," with portrait and valuable reproductions of ancient documents, No. VII, was published by Mr. Robert A. Winthrop, Jr., at his own expense. Members of the Society bore the cost of two other numbers. With these exceptions, the Society has met the large outlay involved in the work of publication out of its own treasury. Though the sale of these publications is limited, the permanent contribution thus made to the history of Ipswich is of sufficient value to warrant this expenditure and such gradual increase as our funds will allow.

Gifts of pieces of furniture, portraits, ancient documents and records, books, newspapers, and a great variety of other interesting articles have been made by the members, until the Society has attained a collection of notable value. Its membership has increased in gratifying fashion and the en- rollment now includes 16 life members, who have paid $50 and are not subject to annual dues, 141 resident and 111 non-resident members, who pay an annual due of two dollars. There are no conditions or qualifications for membership beyond an interest in the work of the Society, and a large proportion of the membership is composed of those, who have a sentimental regard for Ipswich as the home of their ancestors, but whose residence is often far removed.

The generous support which the Historical Society has received in the quarter century now completed, encourages it to hope that this anniversary year may witness an immediate access of funds for its work. It needs the sum of $400 to complete the payment of the mortgage, $200 to defray the expense of necessary repairs and improvements just completed, and a large increase in its membership, to provide a larger annual revenue.

It dares to cherish the dream of a substantial, fire-proof building, to be erected on the land already owned, which would serve many useful purposes. Primarily it would be a memorial building, affording the means of perpetuating and honoring the names of the noble founders of the town, and those who have won renown for themselves and for the place of their birth in many generations. No outward and visible memorial of the Ipswich Resistance of the Andros government, the proudest event in its history, has yet been raised. A Hall of Fame in this building would provide the place for enduring tablets of bronze.

Room would be provided for the systematic arrangement of a museum. The interesting pre-historic remains of the Indians, who dwelt here for ages, the weapons, tools and garments of the old times, the clumsy industries of the home, might be displayed. The library and valuable documents would here be safely housed. A room for lectures and meetings would be secured. Relieved of the miscellaneous and distracting collections that now of necessity find place in the old rooms, the venerable dwelling, furnished throughout so far as possible in the ancient fashion, might be made a notable illustration of a Puritan home.

These are great ideals but the amount needed for their realization is not excessive. A beginning of a fund for this end is certainly possible and once begun, additions would surely follow. Such a building would be second only to our Public Library, as an educational influence; as a grateful recognition of the noble past, and an inspiration to just civic pride and high citizenship, it would be unique and impressive and of far-reaching value.

THE JOHN WHIPPLE HOUSE