HISTORY OF ANDOVER, MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- PLEASE do NOT link directly to this text file if you offer a web site about Andover NH. Link instead to my web page at http://www.nh.searchroots.com/MerrimackCo/merrimack.html#Andover ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== Andover New Hampshire was incorporated in 1779. According to the "Topographical and Historical Sketch of the Town of Andover" published in 1822 by Jacob B. Moore, Andover was originally called New Breton "in honor of those brave men who achieved the capture of Cape Breton in 1745." Most of the original grantees were out of this expedition. The regimental surgeon, Dr. Anthony Emery, was a college friend of John Phillips, founder of the Phillips Andover Academy in Massachuetts, which was completed in 1779. The town was incorporated as Andover in that same year. Andover, New Hampshire's first private school, as referenced in John R. Eastman's "History of Andover, NH 1751-1906," was started in 1822 and closed in 1828; another was started in 1848 and became Proctor Academy. East Andover Village was the original center of the town of Andover prior to the partitioning off, in 1828, of a portion on the east side of the village to form part of Franklin. SOURCE: History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties, New Hampshire; Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1885. =========================== ---SEE THIS LINK FOR ENTIRE DOCUMENT, the info below is only a RECAP----- http://archive.org/stream/historyofmerrima00inhurd#page/328/mode/2up ========================== page 329 The town of Andover (NH) is bounded by the towns of Hill on the north, Franklin on the east, Salisbury on the south and Wilmot on the west. The Northern Railroad traverses about thirteen miles of the town and four stations are located within its limits: East Andover, Andover Centre, Potter Place, and West Andover. Cilleyville is a small village supported by its water-power. Andover has a population of twel hundred and four, mainly engaged in farming [1885]....Its manufactures consist of two hosiery mills and a hame manufactory. Description of Natural Attractions, page 339 i.e. scenery of Kearsarge and Ragged Mountain; Blackwater River, Elbo Pond (Echo Lake), Adder and Cole Ponds. Bradley Pond, Highland Lake, Halcyon Island, Names mentioned: "Harrison M. Busiel is making hosiery... Baker & Carr, firm established in 1860 by Robert C. Carr and Joseph Baker to produce hames; Daniel Downes at Potter Place a retail grain trade. Page 328 Chapter I -- RECAP Describes the early history of the town, originally part of the John Tufton Mason grant, who finally sold his claim to what is now Andover to: Theodore Atkinson, Mark Hunking Wentworth, Richard Wibird, John Wentworth, George Jaffrey, Samuel Moore, Nathaniel Meserve, Thomas Wallingford, Jotham Osborne, Joshua Pierce, John Moffatt and Thomas Packer, and others. [entire list shown in page 328] Originally called New Breton, the meeting to choose officers was held June 21, 1773 at the house of Joseph Fellows. [biographies given in the document], but after this we held each year at the meeting-house. The town was incorporated June 25, 1779 at which time the town took the present name of Andover. The first town meeting after the incorporation was held July 13, 1779 and the following were elected the first town officers: Moderator, Samuel Blake, Clerk, Jonathan Weare; Selectmen, Joseph Philbrick, Samuel Blake and Jabez Morrill; Assessors, Peter Weare and Joseph Chandler; Highway Surveyors, Robert Wise and Joseph Chandler; Highway Surveyors, Robert Wise, John Row, Joseph Philbrick and Joseph Fellows. Page 331 shows Representatives of the town from 1796-1885; also Town clerks from 1779-1885, History of several churches and preachers in the town. Page 332 describes the schools of Andover NH, including Proctor Academy which originated in 1848. page 337 describes physicians of the town including biographies of Dr. Silas Barnard (son of Francis Barnard), Dr. Jacob M. Moore and his sons Henry E. Moore and Jacob B. Moore. Dr. Silas Merrill, Dr. James M. Buzzell, Dr. Tilton Elkins, Dr. J. Allen Tibbetts, Dr. John P. Elkins, Dr. Nelson P. Clark, Dr. Henry A. Weymouth. page 338 Lawyers described here include: John H. Slack (1847), Samuel Butterfield (1829), Wolcot Hamlin (1852), John M. Shirley (1855), John P. Carr Jr. (1867), Frank Kimball (1869), Clarence E. Carr (1879), George W. Stone (1882), Frank W. Proctor (1876). page 338 Centennial Anniversary of Andover NH on June 25, 1879 description page 338 Secret organizations ie Kearsarge Lodge No 81 F. and A Masons, Highland Lake Grange, (end)