The Hovey family were among the original settlers of Ipswich. The builder of this house was the son of Daniel Hovey and Abigail (Andrews) Hovey. His grandfather was the settler Daniel Hovey. (There were several descendants of the settler Daniel Hovey given the name Nathaniel. This is not the Nathaniel Hovey who removed to Windham, Connecticut.)
Samuel Dutch in the year 1718 mortgaged his dwelling on County Street to Joseph Boles and John Gains (30: 105) and divided his orchard land on Summer Street into four building lots: Nathaniel Hovey bought the lot about midway of the Lane, Nov. 5, 1718 (33: 260). Hovey enlarged his lot by purchasing eleven square rods from Alexander Lovell in the rear of the land sold to William Donnton in 1739 (88: 277).
The asymmetrical layout of the front of this house suggests Hovey built a half-house and expanded it later. The ell on the left appears to be a modification of a Beverly Jog. View MACRIS
From the Hovey Book:
“Nathaniel Hovey 4 was born in Ipswich, Mass., in 1696 He was a weaver and always lived in Ipswich. For twenty pounds, he conveyed to his uncles Thomas Hovey and John Hovey, both of Ipswich, his interest in the dwelling house of his father, on the south side of the river, in Ipswich, April 8, 1718. On the same day, for forty-eight pounds, he conveyed to his said uncles his interest in the estate of his grandfather Daniel Hovey. On April 10, 1718, he bought of Thomas Hovey of Ipswich, a fisherman, by way of exchange. Thomas had an interest in the estate of his father Daniel Hovey.
In exchange for other land, he bought ten acres of marsh and upland in Ipswich, on the west side of Labor In Vain Creek, on March 20, 1718, from his brother Thomas Hovey, and bought from his nephew Nathaniel Hovey, the latter’s interest in the dwelling house of the latter’s deceased father, in Ipswich, on the south side of the river, April 8, 1718, and, on the same day, the said Nathaniel also conveyed to his said uncles his interest in the estate of his grandfather Daniel Hovey. His will was proved in 1776.
Houses on Summer Street that were constructed on the old Samuel Dutch lot
11 Summer St.: Nathaniel Hovey bought the lot about midway of the Lane, Nov. 5, 1718 (33: 260). Hovey enlarged his lot by purchasing eleven square rods from Alexander Lovell in the rear of the land sold to William Donnton in 1739 (88: 277).
13 Summer St.: Richard Ringe bought the adjoining lot on the southeast on the same day in 1718. (49: 259). Richard Ringe, heir of Richard, sold to John Pinder Jr., Feb. 5, 1760 (163: 23). His widow, Sarah, sold to Wm. Leatherland, Jan. 3, 1799(163: 256). By order of Probate Court, Chas. A. Sayward as guardian of Jacob Leatherland, insane, sold the property, and it was purchased by Daniel Clark, on Feb. 21, 1872 (855: 157), and the present house was erected. By the beginning of the 20th Century, it was owned by his son, Philip E. Clark, whose cabinet shop and undertaker’s establishment occupied the site of the old house, which was moved to 5 County Street, where it still stands.
15 Summer St: Jonathan Pulcifer acquired the lot southeast of Ringe on Nov. 17th, 1718 (34:205)
17 Summer St: Deborah Lord, a spinster, bought the next lot on Nov. 18, 1718 (35: 80).
Sources:
- Hovey Book: Nathaniel Hovey
- Waters, Thomas Franklin: Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony Vol. 1
Historic Ipswich 