The Great Bridge.

By grant of the Town, Thomas Wells had a house lot of an acre and a half on the further side of the river "near the foot-bridge" with the house lot of John Proctor, north, and that of Samuel Younglove, south, on the east and west compassed in by the Town River. This was recorded in 1635. At that time there was no cart-bridge over the river. All wheeled vehicles and horses forded the stream. There was no privilege of approach to the river apparently near the old Choate Bridge. If the foot-bridge were located on the site of the present Damon's Mill, where the little island in the river would have made a very favorable location, approach to it from the south would have been by the two rod way by the side of the Cove, which was always open to the public. The original grant to Proctor and Wells, bounded by the river east and west, would not have prevented this right of approach. But the road from the corner where the Meeting-House of the South Church stands, to the river-bank near the saw-mill, was opened in a few years. Examination of early deeds of conveyance of the Proctor, Wells and Younglove lots, reveals plainly that they had their frontage on County St. and the houses were near this thoroughfare.

As early as 1641 (Dec. 3) record was made, "agreed that what was due to the workmen for the new Bridge, before the late repairs thereof, and also what is due for the late repairs, shall be paid by the next rate, the total of which sums amounts unto 10-11-8." Again it was recorded (Dec. 29, 1642) that the Town will "pay to Mr. Symonds [that] due to him, viz. for one day carting to the new bridge, and for one day for his servant, Edward Bragg (carting for the bridge with the Captain's team)" The latter bridge was probably on the Argilla road, as Symonds and Denison, alluded to as the Captain, both owned farms on that road, and Bragg occupied the Argilla farm, and "the Bridge over the Creek near to Mr. Symonds his house," is alluded to in 1647. "Goodwife Haffield 's bridge " is also mentioned in that year. But on the 4th of January 1646-47, "the names of such as promise carting voluntary toward the Cart Bridge, besides the rate a 2 days work a piece, " were entered in full in the Town Record. This is the first definite allusion to a bridge for wheeled vehicles, and it occupied the site of the old Stone Bridge. Forty pounds sterling were appropriated. Mr. William Payne, John Whipple and Richard Jacob were chosen a building committee. On March 11, 1647, the work was so far advanced, that it was "Ordered that the Surveyors shall take care to make good the passage at both ends of the Cart Bridge, sufficient for passages of horse and carts soe soon as [ ] Carpenters have made it capable."

Thomas Wells's house lot reached from the Cove to the River, adjoining Proctor's, on the south side of the new Bridge. On the 7th of February 1647-48, the Town "Granted unto Thomas Wells 3 acres of marsh, . . . in consideration of the ground the Towne took from him for the Country highway to the Mill Bridge. " In the record of the Town Meeting on Feb. 22, 1649-50, memorandum was made that "Thomas Clark is possessed of a psell of ground at the end of the Towne, . . . granted him in exchange of a lott that lies att the Bridge foot, wch he bought of William Fuller. " This was on the north side. These land damages establish conclusively that the original Cart Bridge was on this spot. It was "near the Mill," and so was sometimes called the "Mill Bridge." In 1655, some repairs were needed, and the Town "agreed with John Andrews Jr., to bring so many sufficient rayles to the Bridge-foot, as will cover the Bridge over the River, neare the mill, for the sum of £3. "

It has been understood by some that allusion is here made to a footbridge, which was near the mills But the expression "bridge-foot " means the approach to the bridge. The expression is a common one in the Town Records, e. g. Isaiah Wood's district as road surveyor in 1678, was from the foot of the Town Bridge to the turning of the highway on this side Wind-mill hill. "

In 1764, the old bridge was found too narrow by six or eight feet for the increased travel, and a new one twenty feet wide was planned by the Town. The language of the Record indicates that some changes were made in the original plans, after the building or rebuilding began. It was proposed that two abutments already built be extended into the River not exceeding three feet, and that not less than twenty-eight or more than thirty feet be left between the abutments and the central pier.

Application was made to the County to bear half the expense. The Court coincided in "the necessity of a thorough rebuilding'' and decided that it was best to move the abutments so as to leave about sixty-eight feet between them. The substantial Stone Bridge was built forthwith at a cost of £996 l0s. 6 3/4d. This sum was allowed "excepting the Committee's extraordinary charge for Care and Trouble etc." There was a suspicion of a mild "graft" apparently, which was indignantly repelled by the Committee. Col. John Choate's account was scaled to £13-6s-8d, whereupon he gave his services without charge. Aaron Potter received ten shillings. Joseph Appleton Esq. received £20 for measuring rocks, keeping and settling accounts, paying and receiving money etc. Capt. Isaac Smith and Mr. John Appleton were refused any compensations. Col. Choate's name was associated with the bridge, and he was probably the moving party in the great undertaking. The tale that his horse was tethered near by, when the wooden arches were removed, that he might mount and ride if the popular belief that the bridge would not stand was realized, may be consigned to the limbo of idle traditions. Even a suspicion of such a casualty is a libel on the intelligence of our highly cultured Town. Col. Choate was one of the Judges of the General Sessions Court. After his death, the Court ordered in Sept. 1792, that; The County Treasurer shall procure the word ''Choate'' to be engraved before the word Bridge, on the corner stone of the Bridge over the Ipswich River." The bridge has been widened on the eastern side, but the western parapet and the central pier have probably never been disturbed.

Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony , Volume I, Page 55. Ipswich Historical Society in 1905