The common ancestors of the great majority of Kimballs in this country are Richard Kimball Sr. of the parish of Rattlesden, county of Suffolk, England who with his wife Ursula Scott and eight children embarked from Ipswich, Suffolk England, April 10, 1634, in the ship Elizabeth. They arrived in Boston and first settled in Watertown, Mass. He was proclaimed freeman in 1635, and they removed to Ipswich, where he worked as a wheelwright. The town granted him a house lot, Feb. 23, 1637, adjoining Goodman Simons at the west end of the town, on what is now High Street. The plaque above is located at St Nicholas Churchyard Rattlesden, Suffolk, England.
In 1641 Richard Kimball is listed among the Commoners of Ipswich, and was appointed one of the seven men (selectmen) March 1, 1645. After Ursula died in 1659, Kimball married second, Oct. 23, 1661, Margaret Dow, widow of Henry Dow of Hampton, NH. They died within a few months of each other in 1675.
Richard and Ursula had a total of eleven children, eight born in Rattlesden Parish, Suffolk county, England, one in Watertown and two at Ipswich:
- Henry Kimball
- Abigail Kimball Severens
- Elizabeth Kimball
- Richard Kimball, Jr.
- Mary Kimball Dutch
- Martha Kimball Fowler
- John Kimball
- Thomas Kimball
- Sarah Kimball Allen
- Cornet Benjamin Kimball
- Caleb Kimball
The Kimball houses of Ipswich
There are many houses in Ipswich that were built by or occupied by the early descendants of Richard and Ursulla Scott Kimball.
83 High Street, the Isaac Lord house, 1696 – 1806 - This house was in the Lord family for several generations. The right side is probably First Period. Boards and timbers from the 1771 Jail on Meeting House Green were used when the house was enlarged in 1806.… Continue reading 83 High Street, the Isaac Lord house, 1696 – 1806 
8 Meeting House Green, the David T. Kimball House (1808) - In 1808 the jail site was sold to Reverend David Tenny Kimball; the old jail was removed, and he built the house that is located there now. Rev. Kimball was highly respected for his ministry and a staunch abolitionist.… Continue reading 8 Meeting House Green, the David T. Kimball House (1808) 
77 High Street, the John Kimball house (1680) - Richard Kimball owned this lot in 1637. The property passed to John Kimball, and the present house dates from the time of his ownership. It belonged to the Lord family through the 19th century.
… Continue reading 77 High Street, the John Kimball house (1680) 
3 Summer Street, the Benjamin Kimball house (Thomas Smith “currier” c 1730, moved in 1803) - This house dates to about 1720 and was a single-floor 2 room cape moved to this location in 1803. The first floor outside corners have gunstock posts, evidence that they once supported the roof. … Continue reading 3 Summer Street, the Benjamin Kimball house (Thomas Smith “currier” c 1730, moved in 1803) 
24 Topsfield Road, the Moses Kimball house (1688) - The land on which the Moses Kimball house was built, is part of a larger grant to early settler Samuel Appleton. His son John Appleton sold a five and 3/4 acre lot on the south side of Topsfield Road to Moses Kimball, a taylor, who built some portion of this house in 1688.… Continue reading 24 Topsfield Road, the Moses Kimball house (1688) 
2 Jeffreys Neck Road, the Merrill-Kimball house (1839) - Abigail Holland sold Ezra Merrill, a mariner, 3/4 of an acre in 1839 and he built the present house shortly thereafter. The house was conveyed to his daughter, Kate M. Kimball, upon his death in 1901 An interesting feature in this house is the presence of an oven on the second floor, suggesting that it may have been a 2-family house.… Continue reading 2 Jeffreys Neck Road, the Merrill-Kimball house (1839) 
18 North Main Street, the Charles Kimball house (1834) - Charles Kimball attained honor as a colonel of the militia, a distinguished probate lawyer, and deacon of the Church. He was one of the original trustees of the Ipswich Female Seminary. The house shares a subdued Greek Revival style with the Stephen Coburn house next door. It is remembered as the home of the Manning School master.… Continue reading 18 North Main Street, the Charles Kimball house (1834) 
110 High Street, the John Kimball Jr. house (1730) - John Kimball Sr. acquired this land in 1708. Kimball's son, John Jr. built the house and a barn. The eastern half is older, and its timbers were originally exposed. The driveway is the original High Street before the bridge was constructed in 1906.… Continue reading 110 High Street, the John Kimball Jr. house (1730) 
106 High St. the Caleb Kimball house (1715) - Caleb Kimball (1) was born in 1639 in Ipswich, the son of Richard Kimball and Ursula Scott. The owner has maintained the left inside as a First Period home, with exposed beams and a large fireplace. The right inside was updated with Georgian features, plaster ceilings and a Rumford fireplace.
… Continue reading 106 High St. the Caleb Kimball house (1715) 
104 High Street, the John Kimball house (1715) - This is is one of three John Kimball houses along High Street, two said to have been built by the father, the third by the son. The 1st period house has a chamfered summer beam and wide plank tongue and groove sheathing. This house is protected by a preservation agreement between the owners and the Ipswich Historical Commission.… Continue reading 104 High Street, the John Kimball house (1715) 
Lucy Kimball - Born in the Hart House, Miss Kimball was a graduate of the Manning High School, class of 1894. She died in 1980 at the age of 105, after teaching first grade for 45 years.… Continue reading Lucy Kimball 
Homes of the descendants of Richard and Ursula Scott Kimball of Rattlesden, who settled in Ipswich - The common ancestors of many of the Kimball family in America are Richard Kimball Sr. and his wife Ursula Scott of the Parish of Rattlesden, England who moved to Ipswich in 1635. Four of the First Period homes of their descendants are still standing.… Continue reading Homes of the descendants of Richard and Ursula Scott Kimball of Rattlesden, who settled in Ipswich Books and other online resources about the Kimball family
- History of the Kimball family in America, from 1634 to 1897
- Richard Kimball, 1634 to 1897
- Richard Kimball (WikiTree)
- Richard Kimball (Geni)
- Richard Kimball and Ursula Scott
- Ursula Scott Kimball
- Abigail Kimball
- Benjamin Kimball
- Cornet Benjamin Kimball
- Caleb Kimball
- John Kimball
- John Kimball and Mary Bradstreet
- John Kimball, Jr
- Mary Bradstreet Kimball
- Mary Jordan Kimball
- Corporal Richard Kimball
- FindaGrave
- Kimball Family Association
18th Century Kimball graves at the Old North Burying Ground
The letters with numbers are the map locations at the Old North Burying Ground
- Kimball, Aaron c-23 February 12, 1728
- Kimball, Aaron c-24 November 19, 1731
- Kimball, Aaron e-247 September 10, 1779
- Kimball, Benjamin d-31 May 28, 1716
- Kimball, Lucey d-87 August 13, 1714
- Kimball, Richard d-61 May 26, 1716
Historic Ipswich 
It was fun to see this in today’s post. I descend from Richard and Ursula in this way: Richard/Ursula, Benjamin/Mercy Hazletine, Ebenezer/Ruth Eaton, Abner/Dinah Barnard, Lt.Moses/Jemima Clements, Charles Kimball/Jane Mansfield, Thomas Mansfield Kimball/Harriet Edith Whisner, Sarah Rebecca Kimball/Benjamin Franklin Jackson, Frederick Kimball Jackson/Martha Mae Lisenbury, Mary Lee Jackson/Delbert Wayne Anderson (my parents). Richard and Ursula are my 8th Great Grandparents.
This is very interesting, I believe I am the 10th generation living in Peabody MA
I am descended from Richard and Ursula through their daughter Martha Kimball Fowler. I grew up in Ipswich, where both my parents had grown up, with both lines going back a long way. My first husband is also related to the Kimballs, but to a brother. Small world in those days!
[…] Richard and Ursula Scott Kimball of Rattlesden, Who Settled in Ipswich by Gordon Harris on Historic Ipswich […]
My family in Leamington , Ontario ,Canada are also descendents . Very interesting seeing the homes still there and I want to visit the area next time we are out east
I also am descended from Richard and Ursula through their daughter Martha , They are my 9th Great Grandparents. I was born and raised on Vancouver Island in canada. Now live in Alberta Canada.
Amazing to see this info, and that the homes are still surviving! FYI, Ursula’s brother was married to Margaret Stephenson Scott, who was hanged at the Salem With Trials in 1692. Some of Richard and Ursula’s descendants are also what are referred to as New England Planters in Nova Scotia.
I am doubly descended from Richard and Ursula Scott Kimball through their two sons, Henry and Richard II.