James Foster bought this former orchard land in 1720 from Nathaniel Clark, who moved to Newbury. The northwest side is the original half-house, which was doubled in size and remodeled to appear Georgian, with two chimneys, dormers, and a symmetrical front. The original frame is exposed in places, and the chimney girt in the southeast first-floor room has simple beveled lamb’s tongue chamfer stops. On the second floor is a rare 2-panel door. Except for the mid-18th-century stairs, much early material is concealed.
Thomas Franklin Waters recorded the deed history of the house:
- Nathaniel Clark sold James Foster 24 rods, out of the orchard that was his father’s, on Summer St., April 1720. Foster built this house and sold it to Joseph Emmons and John Leatherland on Oct. 29, 1733 (72: 91).
- Emmons sold his half to John Hodgkins on Nov. 8, 1738 (81: 65).
- Sarah Leatherland, the widow of John, sold her half to John Soward, March 24, 1770 (156: 293).
- The other half was owned by Hodgkins at his death and was assigned to his only son, Francis, in 1797 (Pro. Rec. 367: 504).
- Dr. Francis Hodgkins of Sandwich sold this to John Manning on Dec. 26, 1797 (239: 239).
- Manning sold to Rebecca Soward, wife of John, on May 23, 1799 (179: 7).
- Isaac and Eunice Stanwood and widow Elizabeth Perkins conveyed their interest in the “northwesterly or new part” of the dwelling, and also in the small corner lot below, to Dr. John Manning, May 9, 1806 (239: 239).
- Manning’s interest was sold by the administrator of Manning’s estate to the widow Sarah Emmons, Aug. 2, 1826 (306: 181).
- John Soward sold the southeast part to his son, Moses, on March 7, 1817 (213: 105). The house was partially burned in the mid-19th Century, but continued to be known as the “Soward” house.”
Sources:
- MACRIS
- T.F. Waters, Ipswich in the Mass. Bay Colony, vol. I, p.412; vol. II, p.108
Historic Ipswich 