Alexander Lovell built a house at this location between 1700 and 1715. The Lovell residence was inherited by his daughter, Sarah, the wife of Joseph Pulcifer. He died in 1753, but she lived to 100 years of age, dying in 1813.
On the night of June 9, 1811, the Lovell house burned with most of its contents. A boy, Abraham Burnham (who died at a good old age), was sleeping in the house and forgotten until the last moment. Captain David Pulcifer, the owner, proceeded at once to rebuild and made a request that his line might be extended into the Green ten feet. Given the great loss he had suffered, the town granted the request. The new house was originally a hip-roof Federal-style house, but restoration in the 1870s added a Second Empire mansard roof. Miraculously, all original woodwork, wainscoting, molding, ornamental trim, a Samuel McIntire-inspired carved mantle, and a Vermont slate roof all survived the changes and have been renovated to their original condition.
Sources:
- Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony by Thomas Franklin Waters
- MACRIS
Historic Ipswich 