Thomas Burnham sold his homestead on this lot to his son Aaron in 1710, and the present house was purchased by John Patch in 1795. Although Patch owned the large farm and house at Castle Hill, he used this as his townhouse. Abner Day bought the house from the heirs of John Patch in 1814, and added the large ell in the rear for an inn and tavern, and while under the ownership of Capt. Samuel Day was known later as the Franklin House. Sitting at the intersection of Turkey Shore and Poplar St., the house is only a block from historic Old Bay Road.
It is believed that the front part of the house may sit on the foundation of an earlier structure. Reused summer beams from a late 17th-century house are found in the basement supporting the floor joists, but for all practical purposes, this is a fine Georgian house, part of which is believed to have been constructed in 1730. This private home has a preservation agreement with the Ipswich Historical Commission.
The Burnham-Patch House at 1 Turkey Shore Road in Ipswich has one of the original covenants established with the Ipswich Historical Commission. It is believed to have been built in 1730 based on the early Georgian paneling, but in the book “Something to Preserve,” it is described as “much more difficult to date than the Heard-Lakeman dwelling” next door. The house appears to have been built on the unbalanced floor plan of an earlier house from the 1670s, with rooms of varying dimensions. Heavy quarter-round chamfered summer beams in the cellar support the floors above, complete with “lambs-tongue” stops, and in the ceilings are boxed with federal trim, evidently a renovated First Period structure. The large ell on Poplar Street was added in the early nineteenth century, and its beams are supported by slender granite posts. The house’s early-period stairway and railings are shown in the photo below.
Thomas Franklin Waters wrote a history of the ownership of this house until the 20th century:
“The lot on the corner of Turkey Shore Road and Poplar Street was sold by George Giddings to Thomas Burnham, one and a half acres, with Samuel Hunt, north, June 3, 1667. Thomas Burnham sold to his son Aaron, his house and homestead “now occupied by my sons Moses and Aaron,” Dec. 30, 1710. Aaron Burnham and Esther sold it to his brother Thomas, Oct. 3, 1720. He conveyed to William Dodge of Wenham, March 18, 1728-9, and he to his son, William, May 1, 1752 (119: 154). Nathaniel Wade, the executor of Abraham Dodge’s estate, sold the house and one and three-quarters acres to John Patch, “reserving Priscilla Dodge, the northwest lower room and kitchen according to the will of her father, William Dodge,” Aug. 4, 1795. Bethiah Dodge, widow, and Abigail Cogswell, widow, sold to Abner Day, “the homestead of the late John Patch, our father, devised to us by will, May 7, 1814. Abner Day sold to Samuel Day, on March 14, 1825, and he to Samuel H. Green, on Jan. 22, 1847 (whose heirs still owned and occupied in 1900). The oldest part of the present dwelling is of venerable age, but no precise date can be assigned.”
John Patch owned a large farm and house at Castle Hill and Castle Neck but preferred to stay in his “town house.” Abner Day bought the house of the heirs of John Patch in 1814 and kept a well-known tavern, which was later known as the Franklin House, under the management of Capt. Samuel Day.
Burnham-Patch House, 1 Turkey Shore Rd. Preservation Agreement
This house is protected by a preservation agreement signed by the owners. Protected elements include:
- The exterior frame of the building
- Central frame including primary and secondary members
- Wooden architectural elements, including doors, paneling, mantelpieces, and other molded details on the inner walls of the four rooms of the original 1730 building,
- Wooden window seats in the second-story left bedroom of the original building.
Sources:
- The Ipswich Historical Commission, “Something to Preserve,” pp. 58-60
- T.F. Waters, Ipswich in the Mass. Bay Colony, vol. I, p. 478, vol. II, pp. 84, 73, 117, 126, 490
- MACRIS
Historic Ipswich 
Thank you for the images and history of these beautiful colonial homes! I am currently researching the Acadian families in Ipswich including the locations they resided while they were there from Feb, 1756. This house was owned by William Dodge at that time. Your information confirms my previous research:
Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony – Vol. 2
by Waters, Thomas Franklin, 1851-1919
Publication date 1905
Pg 205:
The coming of these people of strange language, devotees of the Catholic religion, was anticipated and discussed by the Ipswich people for several months. At last on February 9th, 1756, three families arrived. They had come to Marblehead apparently by water, had been transported from
Pg 206:
there to the Hamlet and John Patch had furnished two teams to carry them and their baggage to Town Mistress Susanna How of the Tavern, afterwards known as Swasey’s received them, and at her hostelry, Margaret Landry, wife of John, gave birth to a son, named in honor of his place of nativity, John Ipswich Landry. Dr. Samuel Rogers, whose house was on the spot now occupied by the Meetinghouse of the South Church, provided shelter and fuel for ten days, and on Feb. 19th, they found a permanent home in William Dodge’s house. At that time he owned the dwelling on Turkey Shore, now in possession of Mr. A. Story Brown, and various allusions to this neighborhood in Town accounts, confirm the belief that here they made their home.
Thank you,
Dawn Lawreence
Alberta, Canada
PS: I can’t wait to visit!