A parish of the town of Ipswich known as the Hamlet established a Meeting House in 1713. The town parish broke away from Ipswich in 1793 to become the Town of Hamilton. The present meeting mouse for the First Congregational Church of Hamilton was constructed in 1762, reusing some of the framing from the earlier structure. By 1843, the new meetinghouse was showing its age. The building was picked up and turned 90 degrees to face the Bay Road, and the present bell was installed in the belfry. In 1888 a clock manufactured by E. Howard & Company of Boston was added to accompany the bell.
Pastor David Horn graciously gave a couple of us the opportunity to climb into the clock and bell tower, where I took the photos shown below.
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The First Church Clock
As the parish records of First Church in Ipswich tell us, “A clock purchased by subscription was landed in Ipswich May 29, 1762. The Parish on May 31st voted their readiness to receive it into the steeple of this meeting house and September 16, 1762 they voted to be at the charge of putting it up there.”
Stories from Hamilton
935 Bay Road, Hamilton MA, the Dane house - The date of construction is not available. The 1872 Hamilton map shows the owner of this house as Captain Dane. The owner in 1884 is "L. Dane." Several members of the Dane family lived in the vicinity.… Continue reading 935 Bay Road, Hamilton MA, the Dane house 
The Mill Road Bridge and the Isinglass Factory - The triple stone arch Warner Bridge that connects Mill Rd. in Ipswich to Highland St. in Hamilton was constructed in 1829, and rebuilt in 1856. The isinglass mill sat on the downstream Ipswich side of the bridge.… Continue reading The Mill Road Bridge and the Isinglass Factory 
The clock tower at Hamilton First Church - In 1843, the Hamilton meetinghouse was turned 90 degrees to face the Bay Road, and the present bell was installed in the belfry. In 1888 a clock manufactured by E. Howard & Company of Boston was added to accompany the bell.… Continue reading The clock tower at Hamilton First Church 
The Bones of Masconomet - On March 6, 1659 a young man named Robert Cross dug up the remains of the Agawam chief Masconomet, and carried his skull on a pole through Ipswich streets, an act for which Cross was imprisoned, sent to the stocks, then returned to prison until a fine was paid.… Continue reading The Bones of Masconomet 
Nancy’s Corner - Google Maps used to show "Nancy's Corner" at the intersection of Highland Street and Cutler Road in Hamilton. I wondered who Nancy was and discovered an amazing story.… Continue reading Nancy’s Corner 
Ipswich to Marietta, December 1787 - In December 1787, a group of Revolutionary War veterans and adventurers set out from Ipswich on an 800-mile journey through the wilderness by horseback and rafts to establish the first settlement in the Ohio Territory.… Continue reading Ipswich to Marietta, December 1787 
Asbury Grove Methodist Camp Meeting, Hamilton MA - The Asbury Grove Methodist Camp Meeting on Asbury St. in Hamilton is listed in the National Register of Historic Districts, and has a collection of historic buildings that were built between 1870 and 1960. 12,000 people, most from Boston, attended the first camp meeting in 1859.… Continue reading Asbury Grove Methodist Camp Meeting, Hamilton MA 
1793 and 1818: the “Burden of the Poor” divides Ipswich into 3 towns, Ipswich, Hamilton and Essex - As the people of the Hamlet were financially stable, the burden of taxation for the support of the poor in the old town of Ipswich was considered to be an unjust imposition. 25 years later, the men of Chebacco petitioned the Legislature for incorporation as a separate town.… Continue reading 1793 and 1818: the “Burden of the Poor” divides Ipswich into 3 towns, Ipswich, Hamilton and Essex 
Historic Ipswich 
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