Joseph Newman built the house at 9 High Street in 1762. It was later owned by Samuel Newman.
The present form of this house is composed of at least 3 structures, and the attic tells the story. It started out as a colonial home with a center chimney and center entrance. When the present owner purchased the home in 1985 it had become a tenement and was suffering from years of neglect. The previous owners had begun efforts at restoration. The exterior renovations were largely completed in 1993. The landscaping was done on 2005-6, designed and installed by Dianna Pacella.
As with several houses on High Street it once had a brick cistern in the yard, used for fighting fires by the early hand-pump “fire trucks.”
Samuel Newman was born in Ipswich in 1809, a son of William and Hannah Newman. After leaving college, Mr. Newman was for several years the town clerk of Ipswich and authored the book, “Reminiscences of Ipswich.” Newman had a mercantile business in a brick building on Central Street, selling West Indian goods, broadcloth, crockery, glass and confections. In 1843, he moved to Peabody and became associated with the firm of Dane, Dole & Company, who operated a grocery and general variety store. Newman was very involved in the Essex Agricultural Society.
Joseph Stockwell Manning grew up in this house and received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during a battle in the Civil War. Read the amazing story.
