The lot at 72 County Road once had an earlier structure, which was used as a general store. The lot was bequeathed by Jonathan Wade to his grandson Nathaniel, who came into possession of the property in 1749 (Essex Probate 329:133). Wade Cogswell inherited the property from his grandfather, Nathaniel Cogswell, a Rowley doctor, in 1822, and in 1828, he sold the lot and the one-story shop standing on it to David Giddings (Essex Probate 259:229). Giddings enlarged it to a dwelling by adding a two-story portion facing the Green. In the twentieth century, the shop portion, by then reduced to the role of an ell on the rear of the main house, was removed, and only the 1828 Federal/Greek Revival house remains. Evidence of the earlier wing remains in the northeast rear wall, which has two parallel studded walls, with plaster lath facing the outside on the inner wall.
David Giddings moved from Ipswich in 1835 and left the house with members of his family. His ownership is confirmed by a 1856 deed, in which they deeded the house to Abigail Giddings. The 1856 Ipswich map shows the owner as “Mistress Giddings.” The 1872 map shows the house owned by “Miss. A. Giddings”, with the rear wing.
David Giddings
The book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, has a section about David Giddings from Ipswich, born July 24, 1806, who was the son of Joshua Giddings on Labor in Vain Road. David Giddings, occupation “trader,” operated a general merchandise and liquor store in Ipswich, apparently at this location. In 1835, he took a stagecoach to Buffalo, boarded a brig to Chicago, then built a primitive boat with a friend and sailed it to Green Bay, Wisconsin, arriving there with $5 in his pocket. He made his home in Sheboygan, obtained a job as a surveyor. He was elected County Judge and to the state legislature. David Giddings built several sawmills, became wealthy, and purchased a 500-acre farm in Fon du Lac, where he retired and lived to a ripe old age.
Deeds:
- Salem Deeds site, book 259 page 229: Wade Cogswell to David Giddings May 23-24, 1831
- Salem Deeds: book 278, page 54 release of mortgage; David Giddings to Joshua Cogswell, 1834
- Salem Deeds book 696 page 077: Release by David and Dorothy Giddings of Sheboygan to Abigail Giddings, 1856
Sources and further reading:
- MACRIS
- T.F. Waters, Ipswich in the Mass. Bay Colony, vol. I, pp. 472-473
- 1832 Ipswich map
- Wikipedia: David Giddings
- Portrait and Biographical Record of Sheboygan County, Wis., 1898: Hon. David Giddings, Page 696
Historic Ipswich 