This parcel  lies between the original Ingersoll house at 1 Wharf Lane and John J. Rollins (#10). 1 Wharf Lane was originally #2, hence “4-8” is used to describe the area between that house and #10.

This land is part of the parcel described in the 1 Wharf Lane page  up until Zebulon Ingersoll’s death in 1828. In deeds after that date it is often referred to as the lands that “Major Zebulon Ingersoll died seized of”.

Between 1830 and 1836 this land changed hands from the heirs of Zebulon to John Rollins (257,152), as described on the John Rollins (#10) page. At the end of that period Rollins sold it to John Johnson (304,52). At that time we know only that there were “buildings” on the land. An 1850 map shows two buildings near the lane on this land.

John Johnson also owned the original Zebulon Ingersoll house at that point because he bought it from the heirs of John Ingersoll (612,270).

In 1860 Johnson sold the Ingersoll house and about 25 feet behind the house, including a slice of the northern edge of this land to his granddaughter Abigail McQuesten (also 612, 270). He died the following year in 1861. Daniel McQuesten, Johnson’s son in law, handled the estate, which consolidated the land behind the Ingersoll house that was left to two other granddaughters residing in Bangor, Maine (Fanny Whittier and Dolly Leavitt) to belong only to Dudley and Dolly Leavitt.(626/276), for $300.

In 1863  the Leavitts sold the land to Dean Morse for $400 (674/121). At this point there was a “dwelling house” and barn on the land, and Wharf Lane was referred to as ‘the road to Steam Boat Wharf”. The house referred to here could be the house that appears in several photographs just behind the Ingersoll house, ie the house that the Sweeneys demolished later (see below).

1865 Census:
Dean Morse (45) Shoecutter
Mary L. Morse (18) Shoe Sticher
John F. Rowell (9)

In 1864 Dean and Martha Morse acquired a mortgage from George Elliott for $300 for the same property.

A tiny plot within this parcel, only 200 square feet, was sold in 1877 for $50 by Mary Colby, daughter of Dean Morse, and Martha Morse, his widow, to Edward Little (989/83). Edward Little then immediately sold it to Samuel Colby. This plot was located on the southern edge of the parcel, on the lane, bordering land belonging to George Cooper (#10). Could a house have been located there?

By 1892 a map shows Hannah Norse residing at this location, and two distinct buildings. It shows M. Thompson in the Ingersoll house.

In 1901 Mary Colby, daughter of Dean Morse, sold the parcel to Frank Davis for $200. (1636,326) but this appears to be a mortgage. In 1910 she sold the land to Alice Trussell of Lynn, together with ‘all right of way to the river”. (2043,91)

Trussell had also bought the Ingersoll house at this time (2043, 90). The house and this land were thus briefly united. But not for long: Trussell sold the house separately and sold this parcel to Fanny Hewson in 1911 in a deed transfer of Alice F. Trussell to Fanny A. Hewson (2057/185) of Boxford.

In 1926, RE Gardner, guardian of Fanny Hewson, “an insane person”, conveyed the premises to Charles Tuck (2700, 392).

Charles and Marion Tuck sold the parcel to Frank and Myrtle Sweeney in 1931 (2889, 431). The Sweeneys also bought the Ingersoll house, so the house and land were united once more, as they are today. There was a house at the north edge of this land at that time, just behind the Ingersoll house. The Sweeney’s had it destroyed and made it into a sunken garden. There appears to be no evidence remaining of other buildings and houses or barns on this land. When the Sweeneys owned the land, there was only a shed at the southern end of the parcel, near #10, where the current driveway and barn/garage are located.

1855 Census (next to Rufus K. Knowles on census)
Lydia L. Fowler (38)
Martha J. Chase (25)
Henry H. Chase (4)
Charles F. Chase (3)
John F. Fowler (16)

1855 Census (next to Fowler)
Luke Jackson (56)  Barber
Susan Jackson (39) Connecticut
Johanna Murphy (11) Ireland

1870 Census
Dean Morse (50) shoe cutter
Martha J. Morse (44) keeps house
Mary L. Colby (22) no employment
Samuel Colby (24) works in shoe factory
Ida Colby (4) at home
Jenny Colby (1) at home
John Bosnell (14) attends school