Our Andover Settlers

Profiles of Our Andover Ancestors and Early Settlers

John STEVENS ---- First Settler to Newbury in 1638, came on the ship "CONFIDENCE" from Southampton April 1638. He was recorded as a husbandman from Covensham, co. Oxford, England. With him were his wife Elizabeth, born 1613, his mother, Alice and his brother William, then 21 years of age, and two servants, John Lowgie, age 16, and Grace Lowgie. John removed to Andover in 1645.  1638-1642 Proprietor at Newbury, MA. Freeman 18 May 1642. Removed to Andover aft. 18 May 1642. Died 11 April 1662 at Andover, his gravestone has been enclosed in granite and placed near the old lot in the First Cemetery. On 24 June 1662, Administrator of estate granted to widow, Elizabeth. Their son Nathan, born about 1645 is said to be the first born of Andover.

Source was a private submission. Any additions or corrections welcome. The accuracy of the content of this sketch cannot be guaranteed.

George ABBOT, Sr. was married to Hannah Chandler. She was the daughter of William Chandler of Roxbury, Thomas and William Chandler were her brothers. George and Hannah's twelve children lived in Andover, marrying children of other first settlers, and the Abbot clan continued to grow and rise in prosperity. Many Abbot's of Andover are found in records of all the colonial wars. Their son John was the first deacon of the new South Church in Andover. George Sr., died in 1681, and his widow then became the third wife of Rev. Francis Dane in Andover. Hannah died in June 1711 at the age of 82. There is a monument in the South Parish church, erected in his memory. SOURCE: Historical Sketches of Andover by S.L. Bailey, p 83-84

Thomas CHANDLER: Brother of Hannah Chandler, wife of George Abbot, Sr., and Rev. Francis Dane. There were four representatives to the General Court coming from the Chandler clan. His brother William, owned an inn on the Ipswich road leading to Billerica. Many notable Chandlers in education as well as military and government representation. 

SOURCE: Historical Sketches of Andover by S.L. Bailey p 96-98

Richard BARKER: Richard Barker was on record as being in Andover in 1643, his name appearing in the first record of business in town. He lived near John Osgood on the north side of Cochichawicke. His son John, was one of the first deacons of the North Church. Many notable descendants from this Barker line were brave soldiers in the French & Indian war, Battle of Bunker Hill and in the Civil War. Some family members were farmers, while a later descendant, John Barker of MI earned his fortunes manufacturing railroad cars. 

SOURCE: Historical Sketches of Andover by S.L. Bailey p 90-91. 


William ABBOT, son of George born Andover 11/18/1657. He married Elizabeth Gray. He was a Puritan; occupation: weaver.

SOURCE: Historical Sketches of Andover and Andover Vital Records.

James ABBOT, son of WILLIAM born Andover 2/12/1694-5. Married Abigail Farnum in Jan 1714. Public Office Holder, served in the Colonial Wars.

SOURCE: Andover Vital Records and Private submission.

Daniel POORE: Married Mary Farnum in Boston on Oct. 20, 1650. They resided along the Shawhin (Shawsheen) River in North Andover. 

SOURCE: Historical Sketches of Andover by S.L. Bailey p 91

Ralph FARNUM born about 1603 Leicester, England. Married Alice before 1660 in England. Died 1/8/1692 in Andover. Emigrated on the ship "The James" age 32, wife 28 (Also on board were fellow Andover settlers John Johnson and Nicholas Holt). Occupation: Barber.

SOURCE: Private submission and ship passenger lists. Accuracy of private submissions cannot be guaranteed. Four generations of Farnums in Andover.

Ralph FARNUM born 6/1633 England. Emigrated on the ship "The James" age 2. Resided first in Ipswich, then Andover. Married Elizabeth Holt (daughter of Nicholas) 10/26/1658 in Andover. Died 1/8/1691.

SOURCE: Historical Sketches of Andover and ship passenger lists.

Nicholas HOLT, born in 1581 Romsey, England. Occupation in Eng: Tanner. Married Eliz. Short. Emigrated on "The James." from London to Boston. Lived in Newbury, Ma as a husbandman and town officer. Removed to Andover, residing in 1644. One of the Original Settlers, 6th on the list of Householders. Also on the James, was the Johnson family, who first lived in Ipswich, and later moved to Andover, along with the Holt's and Dane families. Nicholas lived to be 104 years old!

The Holt family is extremely large, and is known for its attention to education. Many descendants went to  Harvard and Dartmouth Colleges. Men in the Holt lineage were also military heroes during all the major wars of the period. Some, like Joshua Holt, esq., found their calling in the government, serving to the General Courts. 

There is large speculation as to where Nicholas Holt's homestead stood, though there is little doubt it was in North Andover. The home owned by Mr. Dean Holt, on Holt's Hill, stands a likely chance of once being a place where Nicholas lived. Parts of his immediate lineage moved into the South Parish in town, where he also likely resided. 

Transcription of a HOLT document in the possession of Stanley E. Malcolm of Marlborough, CT (Stan@Performance-Vision.com).

SOURCE : PRIVATE SUBMISSION

John LOVEJOY: Born 18 JUN 1622, probably in London, England, John Emigrated to America in 1630. The ship and port of entry are uncertain. SAVAGE mentions John coming over on the "John and Mary" with the Osgood's. Seventeenth on the list of the first settlers (23) of Andover; one of the twelve foundation members of the South Parish Congregational Church of Andover. On 1 JUL 1651, married Mary Osgood, in Ipswich. A freeman in 1673, received one of the first grants of land in Andover; fence viewer in 1669, constable in 1674; John and his three sons, John Jr., William and Christopher, took their Oath of Allegiance 11 FEB 1678. Took the Freeman's Oath in 1662 and 1669. Served in King Phillip's War (1675-76) and used the salary thus earned (1 pound, 10 shillings) to repay Andover for a loan to his family during his absence. He fought the Narragansetts as a member of Captain Joseph Gardiner's first company of Salem Militia (1675-76). Signed up 10 DEC 1675. Fought under Captain Samuel Brockelbank against Indians in Sudbury, Massachusetts. He served again in King Phillip's War on 24 JUN 1676. John’s wife, Mary Osgood, died 15 JUL 1675. He married again, 12 FEB 1676, to the widow Hannah Pritchard, in Andover. They lived in the North Parish near Wilson's Corner. John died 7 NOV 1690. Hannah died 1 AUG 1705.

SOURCE: PRIVATE SUBMISSION.

Andrew FOSTER: died in Andover in 1685, at the approximate age of 106. In his will, he mentions his wife, Ann Foster, who spent the remainder of her life in a Salem jail under suspicion of witchcraft. Foster's Pond in Andover, was named after either Andrew Sr., or son Andrew Jr., who owned estates in the southwest part of town. Some of the Fosters did originate in Ipswich, with Reginald Foster heading up the clan. Far too many prominent Fosters to count, they range from businessmen, educators, US senators and military accomplishments. Ephraim Foster, grandson of Reginald Foster, was a well respected member of Andover's community, thought not notable for military or civil work.

SOURCE: Historical Sketches of Andover by S.L. Bailey, p 99-102

Francis DANE: was the second minister in the North Parish. Married 3 times, the last being to the widow of George Abbot, Sr. He was of notable influence in town, with religious matters, educational matters and during the witchcraft era. He immigrated to America on the ship the James, in 1635, along with other prominent settlers of Andover. His family had first settled in Ipswich, MA. 

SOURCE: Historical Sketches of Andover p 112-113

John JOHNSON: Immigrated to America from London on the "JAMES" in 1635. First settled in Ipswich, later removed to Andover along with other early settlers, Holt and Dane. He and his wife Susanna brought along with them on their voyage, two young children, Thomas and Elizabeth. By the time they settled in Andover, there were 9 children. John's occupation was listed as shoemaker. He was in the MA militia, though there is no record of him service in any battles. He mustered out at the age of 50. The Johnson family was not a wealthy one, rather the children married well, mostly to children of other early Andover settlers. (Holt, Dane, Lovejoy, etc.)  Their children went on to be well respected members of town. Other Johnson immigrants arrived and settled in and founded towns such as Woburn, Haverhill and Dorchester. Other than having originated at the port in London, it has never been proven that John came from Hern Hill, Canterbury, England, or who his parents were for that matter. There is also no clear lineage showing the exact relation between John and the other Johnson's in other locales. Susanna has a recorded death in Andover on 9/12/1683, but there has never been a record found of John's death. They are both presumed to be buried in the original burial ground in North Andover, though there are no remaining stones testifying to the fact. Many of the Johnson lineage is, however, remembered in those grounds. 

SOURCE: Private submission taken from Historical Sketches of Andover, Andover Vital Records, ship passenger lists, Andover burial records

Some information was submitted by readers and other material was gathered from Historical Sketches of Andover by Sarah L. Bailey, and vital records.

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