History of Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA

Ipswich was settled in 1633, making it one of the earliest English settlements in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The town played a significant role in the early days of the American colonies, and its historic buildings and landmarks are a testament to its colonial past.

Ipswich, Massachusetts
Essex county. This is one of the shire towns of the county, and a port of entry, on a river of the same name, sometimes called Agawam, the Indian name of the place. Ipswich village is very pleasant, and the country around it is well cultivated and beautifully variegated. There is a cotton mill in the town, and a number of vessels are engaged in the coasting trade and fishery. The manufactures consist of cotton goods, hosiery, vessels, leather, boots, shoes, chairs, and cabinet ware:—total annual amount, about $120,000. Ipswich is 12 miles N. by E. from Salem, 10 S. from Newburyport, and 26 N.E. by N. from Boston. First settled, 1633. Incorporated, 1634. Population, 1820, 2,553; 1837, 2,855.

The Indian name of Ipswich was Agawam, and the first minister, Mr. Ward, wrote a witty satire, entitled The Simple Cobbler of Agawam.

Essex and Hamilton were formerly a part of Ipswich.

The second minister was a descendant of the martyr, John Rogers. Another minister, Mr. Hubbard, is distinguished for his History of the Indian Wars.

The principal village is built on Ipswich river, over which is a substantial Stone Bridge.

Ipswich was once celebrated for the manufacture of lace, but its chief manufactures now are shoes, and cotton goods.

Distance from Salem, 12 miles ; from Boston, 27.

Ipswich, a post-village, port of entry, and one of the shire-towns of Essex county, Massachusetts, is situated on both sides of a river of its own name, about 4 miles from the sea, and ou the Eastern railroad, 25 miles N. N. E. from Boston. Ipswich river affords good water-power, and at its mouth is an excellent harbor. It is crossed by a stone bridge, built in 1764, at a cost of 1000 pounds. The village is very pleasant, and contains, besides the county buildings, 3 or 4 churches, a house of correction, a county insane asylum, and a flourishing female seminary. It has several vessels engaged in the coast trade and the fisheries. The shipping of the port, June 30th, 1852, amounted to an aggregate of 521 tons enrolled and licensed. During the year one schooner of 88 tons was admeasured. Manufacturing is also carried on to some extent. The Indian name of Ipswich was Agawam, signifying fishing station. Incorporated in 1634. Population, about 3000; of the township, 3349.

Ipswich is a pleasant seaboard town in Essex County, 27 miles northeast of Boston by the Eastern Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad. It is of triangular form, with the base on the sea. Rowley lies on the northwest, Gloucester, Essex, Hamilton and Topsfield on the south, and Boxford on the west.

Its extreme length, on a straight east and west line, is very near 10 miles, and its width on the sea about 6 miles. The assessed area is 15,290 acres; of which, 1,314 acres are woodland.

Ipswich River forms a part of the southern line; so also does Miles River farther east, then enters the Ipswich. The latter continues northeastward through the midst of the town to Plum Island River coming down from the north; the two forming Ipswich Harbor. The chief channel of this passes between Castle Neck in Ipswich, on the south, and Plum Island Bar on the north. The Ipswich is navigable for small vessels to the grain-mill, some two miles up the river. Castle Neck River also forms a part of...

Three Blocks Totally Destroyed and Several Dwellings Burned.

Fire Fighters Suffered From the Bitter Cold - Sparks Carried a Half Mile.

IPSWICH, Mass., Jan. 14. - This town was visited Saturday morning by one of the worst fires in its history. Three business blocks are in ruins and three dwellings are destroyed, beside other buildings. The total loss will foot up $50,000. The firemen suffered great misery in coping with the flames, the wind blowing furiously and the thermometer being nearly down to zero.

It was about 1:30 when the fire was discovered by Arthur Howard, who look out the window of the Boston and Maine station, and saw the light of the fire in the Jewett block. He gave the alarm as soon as possible, but before the firemen could be awakened and get to the fire it was nearly 2 o;clock.

Then the chief engineer saw that he had more of a fire than he could fight successfully with his department, and he sent to the neighboring towns for help. The news arrived in...

IPSWICH, Mass., July 21. - The black diphtheria has broken out in Ipswich. Already two children in the family of Thomas Began have died from this disease and the mother is seriously sick with it. Just as soon as the worst is over the house will be destroyed. There are several other cases in the city, but are lighter.