Merrifield House
Also known as: Rosebank
Why it's listed
Rosebank, at 7 Woods Lane in Ipswich, is a 2½-story end-gable house with an off-center chimney, built around 1792 for Francis Merrifield, Jr., who bought the lot that year. It is nearly square in plan, with three bays on each elevation. Inside are notable Federal features, including a small beaded summer beam and a mantel. Merrifield had thirteen children, which may explain the many rambling additions, and a large cooking fireplace and oven upstairs also hint at a big household. The house is regarded as a significant example of a Federal period dwelling enlarged over time to suit changing needs. Merrifield was a veteran of the French and Indian War and served as a lieutenant in Captain Nathaniel Wade's company in the Revolution, fighting at Bunker Hill. He was also a deacon of the South Church. The property keeps its location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, linking it to Ipswich's early development.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a significant example of a Federal period house expanded over the years to meet changing needs, with excellent Federal features. It also retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and is tied to Ipswich's early development through Francis Merrifield, a Revolutionary War veteran and church deacon.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80000469, listed September 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 7 Woods Lane, Ipswich |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | September 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000469 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Francis Merrifield, Jr. (built the dwelling) |
| Architectural style | Third Period (Federal) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as residential use, both original and present. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.67729, -70.83065 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80000469.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6820112
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.