After exploring up the coast of New England in 1614, Capt. John Smith wrote a description of “Angoam” praising its agricultural potential, noting that its hills and groves of trees “make this an excellent habitation being a good and safe harbor.” Some independent adventurers were lured to settle there, because after the arrival of the Winthrop Fleet in 1630, the governor wrote that “a warrant shall presently be sent to Aggawam to command those that are planted there to come away.” Which they apparently did.1
But in 1633, Giv. Winthrop responded to a rumor that Jesuits planned to establish a mission among the Agawan Indians by ordering that “To guard against the intrusion to the French and their religion, John Winthrop Junior, and twelve others, are empowered to settle Agawam.” The gen. Court in Newtown recorded on Aug. 5, 1634 that, “It is ordered that Aggawam shall be called Ipswitch.” and the new settlement was officially incorporated.1
Colonists become farmers, fishermen, shipbuilders and traders. The tidal Ipswich River provided water power for mills, and salt marshes supplied hay for livestock. A cottage industry in lace-making developed. But in 1687, Ipswich residents, led by the Reverend John Wise, protested a tax imposed by the governor, Sir Edmund Andros. As Englishmen, they argued, taxation without representation was unacceptable. Citizens were jailed, but then Andros was recalled to England in 1689, and the new British sovereigns, William III and Mary II, issued colonists another charter. The rebellion is the reason the town calls itself the "Birthplace of American Independence".2
John Leigh of Agawam [Ipswich] Massachusetts, 1634-1671: and his descendants of the name of Lee by William Lee (1841-1893)
For more information, see https://historicipswich.org/