HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ANDOVER

      ANDOVER is an irregularly outlined township of about 18,000 acres, lying in the southwestern part of the county, in north lat. 42° 17' and long. 3° 43' east from Washington, [As the whole county is in north latitude and the longitude is reckoned from Washington, the terms "north" and "east " will hereafter be omitted.] bounded north by Ludlow, east by Chester, south by Londonderry and Windham, in Windham county, and west by Weston. The latter town was formerly included within the limits of Andover, from which it was separated by an act passed October 26, 1799. Andover owes its existence to the following circumstances: 

      On the 29th of December, 1760, soon after the conquest of Canada had been completed, a number of the inhabitants of Lebanon and other towns in Connecticut decided to petition the governor of New Hampshire for a grant of land on the west bank of Connecticut river. Having assembled on the 12th of June, 1761, and obtained the names of those who wished to engage in the project, they chose a clerk, and a committee to regulate their mode of procedure. At a meeting held on the 7th of September following, they selected two men "to repair to that part of the country," in which they wished to obtain a grant of land, and instructed them, in case they should find a situation which they deemed acceptable, to make their wishes known to Governor WENTWORTH. A location having been selected, a charter was issued by New Hampshire, on the 13th of October, granting the township of Andover to Nathaniel HOUSE and his associates. 

      Judging it prudent "to consider what might further be needful to be done to maintain good order and submission” in their changed circumstances, the proprietors met on the 29th of April, 1765. After some discussion they decided to acquaint the governor of New York with the state of their circumstances, and ask for his "approbation and protection." In the memorial which they sent to Lieut.-Gov. COLDEN, dated at Lebanon, Conn., May 6, 1765, in addition to the facts which have already been detailed, they stated that they had expended in improvements more than $462.00, that they had "vendued and sold" several of the rights of negligent proprietors, and had inserted the names of new proprietors in the place of some of those whose names were to be found in the original charter from New Hampshire. "Therefore," they said, "if it be consistent with your pleasure to encourage us, his Majesty's Liege subjects, in the settlement of so wilderness a land as that is, and grant us also your Protection, as there are many more under the like circumstances, it may much enlarge the Province, and his Majesty's English settlements." "And we cannot but Rejoice," they continued, "when we so fully persuade ourselves that your Excellency's highest ambition is to strengthen and enlarge all our late acquisitions by Regular and Industrious Inhabitants; and when once you shall please to make your Pleasure known to us, we shall with all Readiness Comply therewith; and if it be your Pleasure to ratify to us those Lands we once supposed stood fair for us to settle, we shall undoubtedly soon (as some other Towns have Done) Make considerable Improvements thereon. But, notwithstanding our earnest wishes, we do Heartily and Freely submit the same to your Wisdom and Prudence." For a long time this petition remained unnoticed, and although the Council of New York, on the 15th of June, 1772, recommended the issuing of a confirmatory grant of this and several other townships, whenever "his Majesty's Instructions" should allow of such a course, yet the patent was never conferred, and the lands of Andover have always been held under the New Hampshire charter.

      The surface of the township is very uneven, while the soil and timber does not materially differ from that of the other towns lying along the eastern side of the Green Mountains. Before the division of the town there extended through its center, from north to south, a ridge of rugged highlands, formed by two mountains, Terrible and Markham. This ridge caused the division of the township into Weston and Andover, and now forma the dividing line between them, causing communication between the two towns to be exceedingly difficult. The territory is abundantly watered by numerous brooks, though there are no streams of importance, the head waters of Williams river, in the southern part of the town, being the principal water course.

      The rocks entering into the geological structure of the town are principally of the talcose schist and gneiss formations, the former underlying the eastern and the latter the western portion of the territory. Two small beds of saccharoid azoic limestone are found, one in the northern and one in the southern part. A bed of steatite also exists in the eastern part of the town. Traces of gold have been discovered in the eastern part of the territory, other than which no minerals are known to have been found.

      In 1880, Andover had a population of 564, and in 1882 was divided into eight school districts and contained seven common schools, employing two male and eleven female teachers, to whorl was paid an aggregate salary of $684.90. There were 133 pupils attending common schools, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31st, was $739.76, with H. J. PARKER, superintendent.

      Mr. WARNER became the leading spirit in public affairs, and one of the most prominent men of the town. He was born in Hartford county, Conn., December 25, 1748 (old style), and married Abigail MARKHAM, of Enfield, ,Conn., November 30, 1769, by whom he reared a family of nine children.

      In 1779, he was chosen proprietor's clerk, and town clerk in 1780, holding the latter position, with the exception of two years, until 1809. He also held the offices of selectman, town treasurer, justice of the peace, and represented his townsmen in the legislature of 1792, '93, '95, '96, 1800 and 1810.

      The men who figured most prominently in public affairs during Mr. WARNER's time seem to have been Frederick ROGERS, John SIMONS, John SIMONS, Jr., Eli PEASE, Samuel BURTON, Samuel BROWN, Thomas ADAMS and perhaps some others. The town was organized in March, 1780, when Moses WARNER was chosen clerk; Frederick ROGERS, constable; and James KEYES, Frederick ROGERS and John SIMONS, selectmen. The first justices of the peace were John SIMONS and Moses WARNER, in 1781. John SIMONS was the first representative, in 1781.

      The first road in the town was laid out in 1780, passing from Chester line to Landgrove, on an average of about one hundred rods north of the present traveled road, striking Andover on a farm owned by a Mr. KENDALL. The next road was not laid out until April 29, 1795. The first religious society organized was the Baptist, in 1803, with Samuel MANNING deacon. In 1806 Joel MANNING was ordained its pastor, a position he continued to hold for a long term of years. The first school taught was in a dwelling that stood on what is now known as the ABBOTT lot. The first school-house is believed to have been built on Howard hill, although one was built on East hill about the same time. The first church was built on East hill, by the Baptist society. It had no stoves nor other facilities for warming, yet it is claimed the people seldom failed to attend church, and in the coldest weather would sit patiently through the long service, though chilled with the cold. The first frame house was built by Moses WARNER; the first grist-mill by John SIMONS, on West river; the next grist-mill was built by Stephen DUDLEY, on the South Branch; the first saw-mill was built by Moses ROWELL, on a brook: near the center of the town; ROWELL was also the first blacksmith; the first cloth dressing and fulling mill was built by Ebenezer CUMMINGS  the first tannery by Ebenezer FARNSWORTH ; the first store was kept by Jacob SHELDON, on the farm now occupied by Orrin HUTCHINS; the first tavern was kept by Frederick ROGERS; the first physician was Chauncey CHANDLER; Hart BALCH was the first shoemaker, Abner FELT the first mail-carrier, and the first postmasters were Samuel NICHOLS, at Andover, and Edward L. SIMONS at Simonsville.

      Samuel PETTINGILL, one of the early settlers of the town, was born at Andover, Mass., about 1760, and settled here in 1790. He died in 1843, leaving a family of seven children, two having died a few years previous. Only one of the children, Benjamin, is now living, though numerous descendants reside in Andover and vicinity.

      Benjamin BALDWIN was born here in 1793, married Martha MANNING, in 1819, and reared three children, two of whom, Maria and Fernando C., now occupy the old homestead. Their mother was a sister of Rev. Joel MANNING, the first settled Baptist minister in the town.

      Joshua JAQUITH came to Andover about 1787, and located upon the farm now occupied by his grandson, Alden JAQUITH. Alden is the son of Joshua, Jr., who was born here in 1794. He has held most of the town offices, and is now a justice of the peace.

      Simon HEALD, from New Hampshire, came to Andover at an early (late, making the first settlement upon the farm now owned by his grandson, James H. HEALD. Reuben HEALD, father of James H., was born on the old homestead in 1806, married Catherine O’CONNOR, and reared two children, Sarah E. and James H. The latter married Betsy J. HESSELTON, daughter of one of the early settlers, and has no children living. He has held the office of selectman, etc., several years.

      Among the pleasant rural residences of Andover, is that of Platt T. MARSH, on road 32, represented in this engraving. Mr. MARSH is one of the prominent farmers and fruit-growers of the town.

      Jacob BAILEY was born here in 1793, and died in 1881. He married Lucy PUFFER, and reared five children, three of whom are now living. One son, Horace, now occupies the original Esquire SIMON's farm.

      Abner GUTTERSON was born in Milford, N. H., in 1768, and came to Andover at an early date, locating upon the farm now occupied by Charles M. GUTTERSON. Abner married Phebe BARKER, by whom he had three children. Alden, the father of Charles M., was born on the old farm in 1802. Charles M. married Rose E. LOVEJOY, a direct descendant of the PUFFER family, one of the oldest in the town. Her grandmother is yet living at the age of ninety-three years.

      Sampson WALKER, grandfather of Isaac, settled here in 1800, upon the farm now in the possession of the fourth generation. He had two sons, Pierce and Nathaniel. Jesse WALKER also settled here in 1800. He had two sons, Isaac and Jesse, the latter of whom now resides in Wisconsin.

      David BATCHELDER, born May 5, 1761, came to this town in 1796, and located upon the farm now occupied by his son David. He had a family of seven children, three of whom, David, Sally and Nabby are living. Edmund A. BATCHELDER, son of David, Jr., now owns and occupies the original Samuel CLARK farm. Mr. CLARK was one of the early settlers and boarded with David BATCHELDER while clearing his farm. He held many or the town offices and taught school a number of terms.

      Phineas CARLTON came to Andover about 1803, and located upon a farm near Peaseville. He married a Miss PEABODY by whom he had four children, two of whom are now living. Phineas, Jr., married Miranda S. GUTTERSON, and reared a family of four children, three of whom, Diana M., Sidney P., and Leon B., are living.

      Joseph STICKNEY was born in Massachusetts in 1762, and came to this town in 1806. He served the town as constable and treasurer several years, and also held other offices. He married Anna HOSMER, by whom he had four children, Lucy, Eliza, George W. and Joseph H. The latter resides in Wisconsin, and George W. occupies the old homestead.

      Nathan BOYNTON was born in Sharon, N. H., in 1785, and settled in this town about 1827. He reared a family of twelve children, six are now living, of whom Orland and Clarissa reside on the old homestead.

      Cyrus KNIGHT, a native of Massachusetts, came to Andover in 1814. He had a family of six children, Daniel T., Annie B., John C. F., Hiram E., Thomas A., and Victoria A. Daniel T. married a Miss WAITE in 1853, and has had a family of nine children. He now occupies the E. O. CARLTON place.

      Nathan DERBY was born in Ashburnham, Mass., in 1793, came to Andover in 1821, and died here in 188o. His son, Leland B., was born here in 1840, and now resides off road 13.

      Benjamin TAYLOR was born here December 22. 1813, married Celia RICE, of Chester, in 1816, reared a family of six children, and died July 14, 1881.

      Baliss CHASE was born in 1806, and came to this town in 1833. He married Sarah HOWARD, by whom he reared six children, David, Albert, Hollis, Elizabeth, Clement and Sard.

      John F. OSBORN came here in 1837. He married Martha ROSS, by whom he had three children, Cornelius A., Viola N. and Freeland E.

      Henry B. STANNARD came to Andover in 1839. He has been postmaster twenty-one years, and justice of the peace, town auditor, etc.

      Frederick A. WAY, the present representative of the town, was born in New Hampshire in 1820, and has lived in Andover about twenty years, during which time he has held most of the town offices.

      Isaiah LOVEJOY came here in 1848, and now occupies the old PUFFER homestead. He has served his townsmen as representative two years, selectman eight years and in other town offices.

      William F. FELTT came to Windsor county in 1828, and settled in Andover upon the farm he now occupies, in 1852.

      Many sons and daughters of the good little town of Andover have left their mark in the world, among which may be mentioned Alvin ADAMS, the founder of Adam's Express Co., and William S. BALCH, the eminent Universalist minister. Others also deserve notice, but space forbids; we will say, however, that the town has had no less than six native collegiates, seven native clergymen, six native lawyers and is the mother of about a dozen physicians. A fair showing for a district of its size.

      It is not probable that the town took any part in the war of the Revolution, for during that period it had but few settlers, and they had a hard struggle to live and support their families. Quite a number of Revolutionary soldiers settled here after the war, however, viz.: Solomon HOWARD, David HAZELTINE, Jonas ADAMS, Levi ADAMS, Hart BALCH, Andrew BRADFORD, Samson WALKER, William KNIGHT, Peter ADAMS, Peter PUTNAM, Jonathan CRAM, Joseph STICKNEY, Joseph ABBOTT, Ebenezer FARNSWORTH, Benjamin PIERCE, David BURTON, David KEYES and Luther ADAMS.

      When the call for volunteers came in the war of 1812, the town voted to pay its soldiers $5.00 each at the start, for pocket money, and to raise their wages to $10.00 per month. The following are the names of those who enlisted: Sylvanus L. MARSH, Adolphus HOWARD, Cyrus BAILEY, Andrew BRADFORD, Joseph CRAM, John ABBOTT, Joel ABBOTT, Jerry ADAMS, Joseph HOWARD, Mortis HOWARD, Antipas HOWARD, Joseph BULLARD, James BURTON, David BRADFORD, Samuel DUTTON, John TYRELL, Hart BALCH, Caleb CRAM, Ebenezer FARNSWORTH, William KIMBALL, Ira HALE, Sybrian C. TAYLOR, William FELTT, Samuel PETTINGILL and James PETTINGILL. Then, too, when the war cloud of 1861-'64 cast its shadow over the town, Andover showed the good, Old patriotic blood these men had bequeathed their descendents. Not a whit behind her fellow towns in finances, patriotism and excellent soldiers, the good town rejoices in a work well done.

Gazetteer of Towns
Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windsor County, Vt., For 1883-84
Compiled and Published By Hamilton Child,
Syracuse, N. Y. Printed January, 1884.
Page 72-80.

Transcribed by Karima Allison ~ 2004