Stearns-Cummings House circa 1790 (#94)
New Ipswich Historical Society
The builder of this house is not known, but Dr. Moors Farwell, who also lived in the Abel Shattuck House (#90) and the Farwell-Spaulding House (#92), is the first known occupant, followed by Richard Wheeler (d. 1832), Levi Ward (d. 1836), and Job Davis (c. 1776-1850), who first married Mary Stearns, in 1805, and, after her death, her sister, Sarah. In 1858 Jesse Stearns (1784-1866), a brother of Mary and Sarah, and a teacher, surveyor and formerly a farmer near Gibson's Four Corners, was living here. Two of his sons became ministers, and three of his daughters married ministers. One of them, Abigail Stearns Cummings (1822-1895), a Mt. Holyoke graduate, and her husband, Rev. Seneca Cummings, became missionaries in China. They returned to America and, after her husband's death, Abigail remained here until her death. Their son, John W. Cummings, used the house as a summer residence in the early 20th century. In 1917, the house was purchased by Miss Mary Hopkins, a buyer for Jordan Marsh & Co. in Boston, who used it as a summer residence.
On this day - March 3, 1898
William Jurian Kaula diary - no entry
On this day - March 3, 1909
James Roger diary entry
3rd (Wednesday)
Frost, slippery roads wind E to NE, cloudy. David went for grain and took barrel of apples to Mr. Robbins, and fixed harness in afternoon. I swept Church and little room. Papers filled with account of the shooting of a French-Canadian at Temple the butler of General Miller by Rev. Mr. Eastman one of the posse who turned out to apprehend him yesterday afternoon.
Nice house. Is there map of these numbered homes. James writes about George Marcotte, butler of General Miller who in a drunken rage started shooting items in the house and ordered everyone out of the house. Miller went out the front door and back in the back door, called for help on the phone. The telephone operator (before the days of 911 operators) was able to alert other town residents. Rev. Eastman asked Marcotte to drop his gun, when he didn't Eastman shot him in the forehead. No charges were filed.