Whipple House, Ipswich, Massachusetts.
The Whipple House in Ipswich, Massachusetts, one of the earliest surviving homes in New England, clearly demonstrates the development of a 17th-century dwelling over the centuries.
Its three distinct units reflect the evolution of workmanship and architectural detail as the Whipple descendants grew away from their English origins. The original portion of the house may have been built as early as 1638, but the earliest documented date is 1650, when an earlier sale from John Fawn to John Whipple was confirmed. The original portion of the house was a two-story, two-room structure with casement windows and a thatched roof. At one end of the lower room are the entrance door, great chimney, and stairway to the large sleeping chamber on the upper floor. The sleeping room may have been divided originally by a partition. The original building was the lifetime home of the first John Whipple, a leader of some distinction in the settlement of Agawam, later Ipswich, and the Massachusetts Colony. He served as deputy of the General Court in Boston and held the offices of selectman, deacon, and ruling elder at the church in Ipswich.
Whipple’s son, also named John, continued the family tradition of public service. He served as a General Court representative and officer during King Philip’s War of 1675-76. In 1670, a year after his father’s death, the captain added a second unit to the house, doubling its size, and a hewn overhang to each story at the east end. The additional rooms contained triple-light windows, fine molded framing timbers, and summer beams uniquely crossed at right angles. On the death of Captain John Whipple, the executors of his will appraised the house, as well as 2-1/2 acres of land, kiln, and outhouse, at £330; even at that early period, the house was unusually valuable property. The structure assumed today’s form when its next owner, still another John Whipple, added a lean-to at the back sometime after 1700.
The restoration and preservation of the Whipple House have involved minimal alteration. Today, it is in excellent condition and exceptionally well furnished from a period standpoint. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960. Maintained as a historic house museum, it is open to the public. It is located at 53 S. Main Street in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
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John Whipple House
53 S. Main Street
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Compiled by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated April 2024.
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