Exhibit 4.1

                    [FIRST IPSWICH BANCORP STOCK CERTIFICATE]

  NUMBER                                                                SHARES

   904

==========                                                            ==========


                              FIRST IPSWICH BANCORP
                             IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS
                     (INCORPORATED UNDER MASSACHUSETTS LAW)

                                                               CUSIP 320637 10 1
                         The First National Bank of Ipswich
                                    CANCELLED
                        53-471                        53-471
                        ------                        ------
                         113                            113
THIS CERTIFIES that ____________________________________________________________

is owner of ____________________________________________________________________

      FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK $1.00 PAR VALUE
OF FIRST IPSWICH BANCORP transferable on the books of the Corporation by the
holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this
certificate properly endorsed or assigned. This certificate and the shares
represented hereby are issued and held subject to the laws of The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts and to the Articles of Organization and By-Laws of the
Corporation, and amendments thereto, copies of which are on file with the Clerk
of the Corporation.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this certificate to be
signed by its duly authorized officers, and its seal to be hereunto affixed.

Dated _____________________________

___________________________________     ______________________________________
                          President                                  Treasurer



                              FIRST IPSWICH BANCORP

                                     Notice

      The Corporation's Articles of Organization authorize the Corporation to
issue both Common Stock and Preferred Stock. The Articles of Organization also
authorize the Corporation's Board of Directors to issue shares of the Preferred
Stock in one or more series, and to establish the number of shares to be
included in each such series and fix and determine, to the fullest extent
permitted under the Business Corporation Law of Massachusetts or successor
statutes, the designation, voting powers, preferences, and special and relative
rights and any qualifications, limitations, and restrictions of the shares of
each such series.

      The Corporation shall furnish, without charge, to each stockholder who so
requests, copies of the Articles of Organization and of all certificates, if
any, filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of State upon the establishment and
designation of one or more such series of Preferred Stock setting forth the
relative rights, powers, qualifications, and preferences of such series. Such
requests must be in writing, addressed to the Clerk of the Corporation.

      For value received, _______________________________ hereby sell, assign,
and transfer unto

________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________,

_________________________________________________________________________ shares
of the Common Stock represented by the within certificate, and do hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint

____________________________________________________________________, attorney,
to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation, with
full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated ____________________________________


                                  _______________________________________ (L.S.)

In the presence of


____________________________________    ________________________________________
                                        NOTICE: The signature to this assignment
                                        must correspond with the name as written
                                        upon the face of the certificate, in
                                        every particular, without alteration or
                                        enlargement, or any change whatever.