John Hodgkins sold a piece of land to Nathaniel Treadwell, 3rd, on Feb. 8, 1799 (163:272). Hodgkins had come into ownership of the northeasterly half of a house on the lot in 1796 (164:222). Treadwell seems to have built a store, as is evident from his deed of sale on March 5, 1799, to Hannah and Joseph Hale (271: 153), who owned it for the next 32 years.
The heirs of Joseph Hale sold the land, store, and house to Ebenezer Burnham on October 21, 1831. His wife, Mary Dodge, died Sept. 11, 1799, at 27, and he married, second, Mrs. Hannah Hale (the daughter of Joseph and Hannah Hale), who died March 30, 1838, aged 57. Ebenezer Burnham, Jr. was the master and owner of the new schooner “Lively” in 1807 and died in 1862 at age 90. Burnham sold this property to Joseph Hale of a later generation on October 18, 1851, but the second Joseph Hale lived here for only three years.
Ebenezer Burnham’s gravestone inscription reads:
E-48 In memory of Ebenezer Burnham, died Feb. 6, 1862, aged 90. *And his wife, Mary Dodge, died Sept. 11, 1799, aged 27, and of their children:
- Ebenezer Burnham, died Feb. 17, 1824, aged 25.
- Isaac Burnham, died, Aug. 15, 1825, aged 30.
- Judith Burnham,, died Aug. 3, 1837, aged 44,
- and of his second wife, Mrs. Hannah Hale, died March 30, 1838, aged 57.
- And of their daughter, Mary Abigail, died April 25, 1837, aged 22.
There is a stone cooking hearth in the basement of the house and a dumbwaiter (which still exists inside the walls).
Sources
Treadwell ā Hale House, 52 North Main Street Preservation Agreement
This house is protected by a preservation agreement between the owners and the Ipswich Historical Commission. The address is listed as 60 N. Main but changed to #52 when the town adopted Enhanced 911. Leonard and Beverly Oakes established the preservation agreement with the Ipswich Historical Commission.
Protected elements include:
- The exterior facade facing southeasterly on North Main
- Central frame including primary and secondary members
- 18th-century chimney
- Wooden architectural elements, including the stairway, paneling, doors, and other molded details in the front and rear halls
- The wooden architectural elements, including the paneling, mantlepieces, doors, and other molded detail and their surfaces in the rear cellar kitchen of the dwelling
Historic Ipswich 
