In 1657, Roger Preston sold this lot with a house on it to Reginald Foster, who arrived in Ipswich in 1638 with his wife Judith Wignol, five sons, and two daughters. The existing house was once attributed to Preston, but the oldest part was likely constructed by Reginald Foster’s son Deacon Jacob Foster after 1681, when he inherited the property from his father, who lived “to a ripe old age.”
In the right half are two massive quarter-round chamfered summer beams typical of the late seventeenth century. The very sharp-pitched roof adds additional evidence of the early date. The west side of the house was added in 1741 by Nathaniel Foster, and in 1758, ownership of the house became divided when two sisters each inherited half the house. Two nearby houses on Lower Summer Street are also attributed to this family. For half a century, this house was the residence of children’s story-book writer and illustrator Ed Emberley and his wife, Barbara. This home has a preservation agreement with the Ipswich Historical Commission. Read more about the Reginald Foster House.
Historic Ipswich 