More Ipswich homes of ancestors, Robert Lord 1575-1641

"The First Period of colonial American architecture was approximately 1626 through 1725. There are more remaining first Period houses in Essex County, MA than anywhere else in the country, and Ipswich has 59 (depending on who’s counting), more surviving First Period homes than any other town.

"First Period houses have steeply pitched roofs, are asymmetrical due to having been built in phases, and feature large central chimneys. Exposed chamfered summer beams are almost always found, especially in the front rooms. First Period builders were often trained in English Medieval techniques. The fronts of these houses faced south to maximize heat from the sun’s rays, which explains why so many First Period homes line the north side of High Street in Ipswich.
From Historic Ipswich

Ipswich MA, 17 High St.

My 10th Great grandfather, Robert Lord was the first owner of this property, (but did not build the house)

17 High Street, the Thomas Lord house (1658)

The Thomas Lord house at 17 High Street in Ipswich features original champfored summer beams, unpainted feather edge paneling in the front rooms and hall, an original saltbox frame, center chimney and five cooking fireplaces with bake ovens and large hearths. The saltbox roof slopes down to one story in the rear. The front entry features the original stairway and paneling. Typical of many early homes, the windows are 6 panes over 9 (cottage style).

This First Period house stayed in the Lord family for generations. The lot was granted to Robert Lord who arrived as one of the first European settlers of Ipswich in 1634 and served as town clerk until his death in 1683. The property was transferred to Robert Roberts and then to Thomas Lord, a cordwainer (shoe maker) who built the early section of this house in 1658. This house remained in the Lord family until the 1860’s.

Thomas Lord House Ipswich

 “This lot was first granted to Robert Lord, but by 1658 Robert Roberts was in possession, as he sold the land with a house to Thomas Lord, a shoemaker (2:9). The main frame of the present house may correspond to that early dwelling. This oaken frame with simple chamfers encloses a two-room over-two-room house; the leanto is framed in pine, suggesting a later addition. A restoration of the house, beginning in 1949, has exposed the early frame and opened the fireplaces. The original fireplaces with carved backs, made of bricks laid up with mud and clamshells, were found and restored. In the west chamber, the fireplace had never been reduced in size.”

Robert Lord "...served in various town offices (as mentioned by Gordon,) including: deputy of general court (1637), committee to adjust town, county and farm boundary lines (1637), clerk of court at Ipswich (1648), court recorder (1649), sealer of weights and measures (1649), clerk of Salem court (1658), empowered to issue executions (1652), marshal/sheriff for Ipswich court (1648-60) [Cutter]. Thomas was a cordwainer.”

Front stairs at the Thomas Lord house

Post and beam framing is exposed in the attic as well and shows the scribe marks that the builder used to match the pre-cut tenons and mortises.

 

Massive summer beams are exposed throughout the house

Robert Lord 1575-1641, was married to  Katherine Bartholomew Thompson 1579-1650.  Their daughter Faith Lord 1628-1679 married first Edward Brown, 1627-1658 (See posted blog here) and they had Joseph Browne Sr. (see his blog HERE) and his siblings. Faith Lord Brown married Daniel Warner in 1660 following the death of her first husband in 1658. 

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I don't have any records that show Thomas Lord was related to Robert Lord...perhaps a nephew.

52 Jeffreys Neck Road, Shatswell Planters Cottage (c 1646)

The Shatswell family is one of the earliest to arrive in Ipswich. A small building that was moved to the Collins-Lord property on Jeffreys Neck Road is believed to have been the original planters cottage of John Shatswell or his son Richard. It may have been built as early as 1646, in which case it would be the oldest structure in Ipswich. It was moved in the 1940’s to Strawberry Hill on Jeffreys Neck Road, and was placed beside another building that was moved and reassembled by Daniel Wendell from the Lord-Collins House and the Ross Tavern in Ipswich.

 No, I don't know of any ancestors of mine connected with the Shatswell cottage, I just like it.