The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines heritage tourism as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.”
Ipswich is the country’s best-preserved Puritan town, and its residents have been the proud custodians of its history. Many people trace their roots back through several generations to Ipswich, one of the earliest towns in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, to “walk in the footsteps of their forefathers.”

Resources:
Ipswich Genealogy Resources - Vital Records to 1850, Early Inhabitants of Ipswich, Massachusetts, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, and more.
The ancient houses of Essex County - Historic houses in Amesbury, Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salem, Topsfield, Wenham and West Newbury.
Early settlers of Ipswich - The Puritan settlers of Ipswich arrived during the “Great Migration. Sources include "Early Inhabitants of Ipswich" by Abraham Hammatt, "Vital Records to 1850," and "Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony" by Thomas Franklin Waters.
Ipswich burying grounds - Old North Burying Ground, Highland Cemetery, Old South Burying Ground, Leslie Road Burying Ground, Old and New Linebrook Cemeteries, Immigrant’s Cemetery, Locust Grove, and Chebacco Parish.
Heritage and Genealogy - Many people trace their roots back through several generations to Ipswich, one of the earliest towns in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. No community in this country is a more fulfilling destination for the genealogy tourist.
Arrival of the English - Within three years of the arrival of the Winthrop fleet to New England, so many immigrants had arrived in Massachusetts Bay that Boston Neck could not hold them all. Perceiving a threat from the French, thirteen men arrived in 1633 to establish the town that would be named Ipswich a year later.
Names of the Ipswich slaves - In 1641 the Massachusetts Bay Colony adopted a code of laws that made slavery legal. In 1755, the slaves in this town above the age of sixteen numbered sixty-two, but within ten years, public opinion began turn against slavery. In 1780, the present Constitution of Massachusetts was adopted, its first article asserting that all men are born free and equal.
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I will visit Ipswich for the first time next September 24, 2018. My 8 x Great Grandfather was Lieutenant Thomas Burnham who arrived on the Angel Gabriel. The next 7 generations of Burnhams were obviously proud of the name. When my Grandma got married and lost her Burnham surname, she kept the name alive by giving my father, Colonel Charles Burnham Milliken, the middle name Burnham. Growing up, family referred to him as just “Burnham.” My dad was General George Patton’s finance officer during WWII, reporting to his Chief of Staff. He named my older brother (d. 1959) Robert Burnham Milliken. When my daughter had a Grandson last summer she asked me for a list of interesting names from our family tree, and from that list she chose to name him Ethan Thomas Doan, after Lt. Thomas Burnham. Anyone want to meet me and my wife for coffee the morning of Sept 24, before we spend the day exploring the Ipswich area?
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I suggest you post this to the Historic Ipswich Facebook group, which has over 700 members. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ipswichhistory/
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My grandfather was Fenton Burnham Weaver born in Elmira, NY. I have a copy of the genealogy of the Burnham family.
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Janice, would you be willing to email the Burnham geneology to me? If so, my email is douglasamilliken@gmail.com Thanks, Doug
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I did a talk at the Ipswich Museum two years ago on the topic of family history, with the slant on
visiting those places that one’s ancestors came from – walking those paths, going to those
churches, breathing that air and listening to the accents gives you some insight into their lives that you
don’t get by merely doing genealogical charts.
Field trips, especially to other countries, can be greatly rewarding!!.
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i visited ipswich in may 2017. i am a direct descendant of john cogswell. i visited cogswell’s grant and many other places. i loved my time in ipswich. i hope to return sometime.
sandy harrigan
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I would love to visit someday! 9th great grandfather, Palmer Tingley, was granted 8 acres for service in the Pequot War in 1639. I’d love to be able to trace where the land was and see if I can find out more about him. I’m excited with all of the research material mentioned in your article. I inquired about him at the Historical Society a few years ago – never heard anything back. Such is life – I’m sure they are busy. Another oddity, I went to Marietta College. The name Putnam is all over the place, but at the time I wasn’t aware of the connection. Small world!
Thank you so much for this article!
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https://archive.org/stream/ipswichinmassach00water#page/125/mode/1up/search/tingley Palmer Tingley
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WOW! Thank you so much!
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I just love that locally brewed Ipswich beer , it tastes more like a Canadian full bodied beer
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I visited Ipswich several years ago while during genealogy research in Essex County and thoroughly enjoyed the early houses, the cemeteries, and the history. My Lovering ancestors lived there for several generations. I also really enjoy your posts. You do a fantastic job of educating those of us interested in Ipswich history.
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My husband and I want to visit the are next spring.my ancestors the Story’s lived there
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The Story family settled in Chebacco, the part of Ipswich that is now Essex, MA. You can see their houses on our site at https://historicipswich.org/2016/10/18/historic-houses-of-essex-ma/
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Mr. Harris,
My wife and I visitedIpswich in September 2016 and loved every minute we were there. I’vespent years exploring my genealogy roots and have known for some time thatGiles Birdley, (Burley Burleigh) came to Ipswich around 1640 and died there in1668. He is my 7x great-grandfather and is the main reason I visitedIpswich.
During our visit my wifeand I spent many hours exploring The Old North Burying Ground hoping to findhis grave site. We never found it, and I was wondering if there isanother place we should have looked?
By the way, sincevisiting Ipswich, I’ve enjoyed your Historic Ipswich onlinestories and articles. Thank you for all you do to keep Ipswich’shistory alive and accessible to everyone.
Sincerely,
William Burley
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I don’t have a record of Giles Burley’s grave, but there are three others in the Old North Burying Ground at https://historicipswich.org/ipswich-old-north-burying-ground/
Burley, Andrew d-158 February 1, 1718
Burley, John c-8 December 26, 1742
Burley, Lydia Pingry c-6 August 26, 1736
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