In 1887, William Russell removed a house at 12 High Street, which had been built in 1772 by James Harris, and built the Victorian house at that location. The old house was removed to 8 Warren St., in the ownership of David Grady, and the front section was added. The rear part of this house may have some First Period construction elements.
James Harris and his wife Susanna received the eastern part of the land owned by his father, Job Harris, on April 4, 1772, and quitclaimed any rights to the rest of his father’s estate (131: 124). Thomas Franklin Waters wrote, “The James Harris homestead, built about 1772, was sold by his heirs to Thomas Staniford Ross, May 15, 1826 (241: 227) and by him to his father Thomas Ross, Jan. 29, 1830 (254: 274). It was then owned by Aaron P. Ross, who sold Mr. George Augustus Lord, the land on which he built his residence, May 2, 1857 (551: 229). The remainder of the estate with the old house was purchased by Mr. William S. Russell, who removed the James Harris homestead and built his new house on the site.
Sources:
- Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Vol 1
- 1910 Ipswich map
- A Walking Tour of Ipswich by William Varrell and Marge Robie
Historic Ipswich 
