Andover Town

Andover Town

None are so apt to build and plant for future centuries, as those neble-spirited men who have received their heritages from foregone ages. - WASHINGTON IRVING.

By Sarah Loring Bailey

WHEN this book was announced with the title 'Sketches of Old Andover," the intention of the writer was simply to make a collection of sketches of the romance and poetry of Old Andover history. But, subsequently, by request of friends, the task was undertaken of arranging these in chronological order in the form of a continuous history. This necessitated changes, - in fact, an almost entire alteration of the original plan, - and was attended with unforeseen difficulties and delays. The great amount of material for history, the time and expense required for its collection, to say nothing of the labor of arranging it in a readable form and obtaining means for its publication, have been among the causes of delay. And even now oniy a portion of the history has been covered, although the size of the book exceeds the expectation of the writer. Yet, for many reasons it has been thought best not to make further change, either reduction or addition, but to present what has been accomplished. 'The work, therefore, is offered to the public not without a sense of its deficiencies and inadequacy, yet in the hope that it may be not wholly devoid of interest and value. If the histories written by antiquaries and scholars, with ample facilities and abundant means, are found to contain errors, it will hardly be a matter of surprise that my sketches should prove faulty. But as no one else for fifty years has undertaken to search the ancient records for a connected history of the town, I venture to make the contribution, in the hope that it will at least awaken interest and stimulate research. Public spirited citizens and the towns themselves (North Andover and Andover) could hardly make a better appropriation of money than to found and endow an Old Andover Historical and Genealogical Society, which would possess means and influence to prosecute the work of historical research and collection. That such work may be done in the future and a complete and accurate history made of the town in all its departiv LEDGE) DONT ments of activity, none would more cordially desire or gladly aid in accomplishing than the writer of these " Historical Sketches of Andover."

I desire to thank the various librarians of historical and genealogical societies and the custodians of records and archives, who have courteously rendered me assistance. To mention their names would be less to honor them than to adorn these pages.

To the scholars and literary critics who took pains to examine the manuscript and who gave the influence of their opinion in the prospectus, I am under great obligation, which to repeat their names here would be to heighten.

To the subscribers, whose generous gifts have secured the publication and illustration of the book, I am deeply indebted, especially to the gentlemen who in addition to their large subscription assumed the chief part of the pecuniary responsibility.

To the scientific scholar who kindly prepared the geological introduction, not only the writer but the readers of these Sketches owe gratitude. His name is so well known that it does not need mention to friends of Andover, who will readily recognize the initials at the close of the chapter.

It is unnecessary to rehearse here the names of authors and the works consulted in the preparation of the book, yet thanks are due to the families and individuals who have intrusted me with valuable private papers.

In regard to one or two points in the book a word may be added. Some repetitions of statement occur in regard to persons and events in the several chapters, for the reason that the subjectmatter is arranged topically rather than in the form of annals, and each chapter is intended to be sufficiently comprehensive to be in a measure independent of the other chapters. Many eminent names of Andover do not appear in these pages because the Sketches do not cover the departments of enterprise in which they were active, or the events in which they bore a conspicuous part.

Some additional matter, and emendations and corrections, will be found in the Appendix. Following this are the names of the subscribers who secured the publication.

- e - __ - _ Porrralr OF Mr. SIMON BRADSTREET . : : . Frontispiece. . GEOLOGICAL PLATES. : ; - To face page xvii . FACSIMILE OF DEED OF nemo SUTTON . A 2 i ae EARLY HOME OF Maj.-GEN. IsAAc I. STEVENS, THE ANCIENT MANSION House oF Mr. Moopy BRIDGES . : : : 26 STEVENS HALL AND JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL * , : "0 7 20) . EaRty Home oF Rev. Davip Oscoop, D. D., WHERE JAMES OTIS WAS KILLED BY LIGHTNING . : : 86 ANCIENT HOMESTEAD OF THE ABBOTS, prs AND Genes ARS : : : : é ; : : - . OO . THE BRADSTREET House < : 132 CHAPLAIN FRYE'S ELM AND THE Hosen OF Con. Janes FRYE 132 THE HoME OF Dr. THOMAS KITTREDGE . : : : i. Sy) THE PHILLIPS MANSE AT NORTH ANDOVER . : : - 157 THE HOME oF COL. SAMUEL JOHNSON : : : 5 208 THE HoME OF Maj. SAMUEL OsGooD . é : ; , 293 MANSION HOUSE OF JUDGE PHILLIPS . - : . . - 401 ABBOT'S TAVERN, WHERE GENERAL WASHINGTON BREAKFASTED 401 OLD SOUTH PARSONAGE ; = , - : ; , ; 443 ABBOY ACADEMY . ¢ < ; 5 5 : : - 443 MEMORIAL HALL . : : : : ; : ; : : 28 PUNCHARD FREE SCHOOL : : : 5 : S25 PHILLIPS ACADEMY, THE "' CLASSIC Hau" ° : : : 535 PHILLIPS ACADEMY, THE PRESENT BUILDING . : . 2 535 THE PHILLIPS FAMILY, FOUNDERS OF INSTITUTIONS : 3 558 THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ; ; : - : : . 568

Page

Rock Records. - Places where the Oldest Rocks appear and their Character. - Andover during the Middle Periods of Geologic Time. - Abundance and Plainness of the later Geological Record. - Places where Marks of the Glacial Epoch appear in the Rocks. - Remarkable Elevations of the Glacial Period. - Character of the Series of Hills extending from Wood Hill to the Hills around Great Pond. - Origin of their Scientific Name ' Lenticular" Hills. - Explanation of the Manner in which they were formed. - Remarkable Ridges of the Glacial Period. - Character and Extent of Ridges illustrated in the Plates. - Origin of the Scientific Name '' Kames." - Characteristics, Height, Slope, and Composition of the Ridges. - Description of Indian Ridge by President Edward Hitchcock. - Explorations and Descriptions of the Ridges made by Rev. G. F. Wright. - Discoveries of Parallel Systems. - Difference of Opinion as to the Manner in which Kames were formed. - Most probable Theory. - Formation of the Ponds in Andover. - Possibility that Andover Ponds, Peat Bogs, and Kettle Holes may afford aid in determining the Antiquity of Man . : : : 5 : : : ; ; XXIV

Chapter Memorials Of The Early Settlers

Scantiness of Relics. - First Mention of the Vicinity of Andover. - First Action with Reference to Settlement. - Letters of Mr. Ward and Mr. Woodbridge. - First Record of a Resident, Richard Barker. - First recorded Deed of Land, Mr. Bradstreet to Richard Sutton. - First Description. - Incorporation. - Name. - Mother Town in England. - List of first Freeholders. - Memorials of first Freeholders. - Mr. Simon Bradstreet, and his Draft of a Deed from Richard Sutton to George Abbot. - John Osgood, the first Representative to the General Court. - His Will and Inventory, Descendants, Burial-place. - John Stevens. - The Inventory of his Estate, his Descendants. - The Early Plantation. - Purchase from the Indians. - Roger's Reservation. - Laying out of the Village. -

House-lot Rights. - Common Lands. - Dwelling-places of first Settlers. - Proprietors. - Mode of Taxation. - Town Meeting. - Action respecting Land Grants, Places of Abode, Roving Animals, Flocks and Herds. - Lawsuits and Troubles from Trespass of Domestic Animals. - Herdsmen and their Assistants. - Depredations of Wild Beasts. - Hunting. - Den Rock, Wolf Pit Meadow, and other suggestive Local Names. - Negro Slavery. - Hired Servants. - Apprentices. - Daylaborers. - Facilities for Communication with other Towns. - Roads. - Boats on the Merrimack River. - Vessels built at Andover. - Ferries. - Town Boundaries. - Land of Nod. - Mason's Claim. - Town Grants of Land. - Highways and Taverns. - Social Life. - Weddings. - Dress. - Sumptuary Laws. - Account in " The Magnalia" of the first Murder, a Wife by her Husband. - Memorials of Freeholders, continued. - Edmond Faulkner. - George Abbot, Senr. - John Frye. - Benjamin Woodbridge. - Richard Barker. - Daniel Poor. - Nicholas Holt. - Thomas Chandler. - John Lovejoy. - Andrew _ Foster, and other Fosters, Early Settlers in Andover. - William Ballard. - Joseph Parker. - Nathan Parker. - Robert Barnard. - Andrew Allen. - Other Names. - List of Citizens who took Oath of Allegiance in 1678. - Memoranda of Early Settlers, continued. - George Abbot of Rowley. - Daniel Bixby. - William Blunt. - John Bridges. - John Carlton. - Francis Dane. - The Farnums. - Robert Gray. - John Gutterson. - Henry Ingalls. - Thomas

Whittington. - Walter Wright. - List of Tax-payers, 1692. - Memoranda of Early Settlers, continued. - John Aslebe. - Samuel Blanchard. - Henry Bodwell. - Pascoe Chubb. - Thomas Carrier. - Joseph Emery. - Edward Farrington. - Abraham Graves. - Moses Hagget. - Abraham Mooar. - Andrew Peters. - Robert Swan. - Allen Toothaker. - Moses Tyler. - Robert Eimes. - The Bradstreet House. - The Citizens in Town Meeting. - Conduct in Town Meeting. - Times of Town Meetings. - Tax Collection. - Action in Respect to the Revolution of 1689. - List of Civil Officers in the First Fifty Years. - List of Town Officers and Description of some Offices and their Duties. - Reception of Newcomers. - Emigration. - Occupations of Citizens. - Mills. - Fisheries. - Distillery. - Stores and Trade. - Agriculture. - Lists of Names of Principal Families settled in the Second Fifty Years. - Memorials of Noted Families. - Phillips. - Kittredge. - Adams. -- Peabody . . I-162

Chapters Ihl The Part Of Andover In The Early Indian Wars

Aboriginal Inhabitants. - Treatment of the Natives. - Village of " Praying Indians" on the Merrimack. - Subjection of the Indians. - Military Organization at Andover. - List of Officers of Militia in the First Century. - Military Resources of the Colony described by E. R., 1676. - First Alarms of Hostile Indians at Andover. - Narraganset Soldiers from Andover. - Rumors and Alarms in the Spring of 1675. - Measures for Defence. - Garrisons, Stockades, ete. - Attack on Andover in April, 1676.

- Panic in the Town. - Garrisons. - Soldiers Killed in the Kennebec Expedition. - Capt. Dudley Bradstreet's Measures for Defence. - A Lull in Hostilities. - Renewal of Fighting. - Change in the Militia of Essex County. - Measures for Defence of Frontier Towns. - Travellers Slain. - Second Attack on Andover, and Murder of Captain Chubb. - Contemporary Accounts. - Peace by the Treaty of Ryswick. - Queen Anne's War. - Military Defences at Andover. - Scouting. - Stock of Ammunition. - Snow-shoe Men, - Capt. Benjamin Stevens's Expedition to Winnipiseogee. - The Romantic Story of Chaplain Frye. - 163-193