The house at 33 East St. dates to approximately 1830, and is known as the “Old Store.” Thomas Franklin Waters wrote that it was built near the corner of East and County Streets for use as a store by James Quimby: “He bought a building, built for a grocery store by James Quimby on the corner of East and County Streets, and moved to a place on his lot in 1850.”
Quimby was a native of Sandwich, New Hampshire. Ipswich Vital Records show that in 1849, at the age of 29, he married Elizabeth Treadwell, daughter of William and Welcome Treadwell. Their home was on Summer Street. The 1831 Philander Map of Ipswich shows a house or building owned by William Treadwell at the intersection of East, County, and Spring Streets. The 1856 Ipswich map shows a building owned by James Quimby adjoining the Treadwell lot on Summer Street. The 1872 map shows the Quimby house owned by Isaiah Rogers.
(From the Ipswich Vital Records: James Quimby, age. 29, a trader, was born in Sandwich, NH, and married Elizabeth S. Treadwell, age 26, daughter of William and Welcome Treadwell, Feb. 22, 1849.)
Quimby’s store was moved to this location by Joseph Wait. James Quimby’s gravestone indicates that he died at the age of 38 in 1856.
Locations of their graves are from the book Memento Mori:
- G-151 – Elizabeth S. Quimby, wife of James Quimby, born March 14, 1882 – Passed away Nov. 10, 188. She made all around her, happy.; Quimby, Elizabeth
- G-152 – My Husband, James Quimby, died Dec. 9, 1856, aged 38 years. 7 mos. Asleep in Jesus blessed sleep, From which none ever wake to weep; Quimby, James
The Neighbors
The land along the southwest side of East St., from the intersection with County St., about halfway to Scottons Lane, was granted in the settling of the town to John Baker. A lot behind it, continuing to Scottons Lane, was granted to John Kendrick. Thomas Franklin Waters fills in the details in his book, Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony:
A lot granted to John Baker in the area of 33 East St, on both the north and south sides, was known as the “Clay Pitts Meadow.” John Baker sold this property to John Harris, and the meadow descended from John Harris to his sons. It was owned by John, then by John and William, his sons, and John sold his part of it to John Jr. on December 22, 1742. John Harris’ heirs owned the lot in 1832. His widow, Mary, sold the lot, or part of it, to Joseph Wait.
- Joseph Wait sold a lot, measuring eight rods and ten links, on East St., to Elizabeth Caldwell, widow of Thomas Caldwell, on May 6, 1829. She removed a dwelling from another site, built in 1775, to this spot. Her home, the “Elizabeth Caldwell house“, is at 27 East St
- Mr. Wait moved a building used as a wash-house from the House of Correction grounds and remodeled it into a dwelling. The house still stands at 31 East St., and is known as the “Insane Asylum Wash House.”
- Joseph Wait also bought a building, built for a grocery store by James Quimby on the corner of East and County Streets, and moved it to a place on his lot in 1850. That is the building which is now at 33 East St, known as the “Old Store.” The 1856 and 1872 Ipswich Village maps both show that J. Wait owned 33 and 35 East St.
- Joseph Wait’s home at 35 East Street continued in the family and is known as the Luther Wait house. Rebecca D. Wait, widow of Joseph, and others sold to Luther Wait and others, children of Wm. R. Wait, the house and land.
The 1832 “Philander” Ipswich map shows a widow, Elizabeth Caldwell, at 27 East St. with B. Dawson next, and S. Spiller beyond, on the same side. The Spiller remained for years, but the “B. Dawson” house disappeared. From Memento Mori:
- Benjamin Dawson died May 15, 1861, aged 78 years.
- Martha, His wife, died Sept 16, 1871, Age 84 yrs. 6 mos.
The 1856 Ipswich Village Map shows Elizabeth Caldwell at 27 East, followed by two houses owned by Wait, then J. Wells, and Hovey at the corner of Scottons Lane.
In the 1872 map, S. Hunt lived at the Widow Caldwell’s house, G.W. Falls was at 31 East St., the J. Wait estate at 33, and Mrs. Hovey was still near the corner of Scottons Lane.
Sources and Further Information
Historic Ipswich 
