Heard House Museum

John Heard (1744-1834) was a prominent Ipswich resident. He was a typical merchant with large dealings in the West Indies and China. As well as a distillery, he owned a controlling interest in the Ipswich Mills, and during the Revolution, he had interests in many privateers, and he also equipped and owned the privateer brig John.

The family dwelling was built by John Heard in 1795 and was lived in by his descendants until its purchase in 1936 by the Ipswich Historical Society. The house mingles Western and Asian cultures in an atmosphere of the China trade years. Treasures from the trade include: chests,tea-wood cabinets, chairs and tables, a beautifully gilded Buddha, an elaborate lacquered Japanese cabinet. The museum includes Chippendale and Heppelwhite furniture, china, quilts, tools, costumes and toys.