26 Bancroft Road

Architectural Description: 

Federal Cape Style home -
Basement head-room 5 ft.

Historical Narrative: 

Themes: architectural, community development

This home is referenced in a deed of John Adams to Timothy Flag, and adjoining parcel, as the "Berry" house, so called. John Adams was the Principal of Phillips Academy (1810-1833) and owned many parcels of land between Bancroft Rd. and Salem St. Adams also owned the "Berry" house which sat on about 3/4 acres of land. This was income property for Adams. John Adams sold the homestead for $400. to George Trull, a carpenter, on April 3, 1830. The deed was recorded on Sept. 24, 1832. Trull moved to Woburn, MA and sold to Benjamin Cutter, for $375 on Nov. 14, 1836. Trull reserved "a boiler in the Kitchen and also between dwelling house and corner of Clements land a free passageway of 16' wide to land conveyed to Capt. T. Flagg." Benjamin Cutter then sold the homestead parcel to Thaddeus P. Allen, cordwainer of South Reading for $475 the following day.

Thaddeus would later sell the homestead lot to his mother-in law Widow Timnah Evans for $300. on April 30, 1839. Thaddeus was born in 1798 in Reading, son of Robert & Ann Allen of Maine. He married Timanh Evans b. 1802 in Wakefield, daughter of Timnah Evans. Thaddeus and Timnah had two children; Rebecca L. b. 1837 and Timothy F. b. 1842.

Thaddeus P. Allen purchased 3 acres 37 rods of land from Leonard Wheeler on June 30, 1849. The 1850 Andover Valuation schedule lists Thaddeus P. Allen; Dwelling house & Barn $650, 6 1/2 acres and Adjoining buildings $500. Thaddeus lists his occupation in the 1850 census as "Watchman". With the death of his wife's mother, Timnah inherits the homestead. In the 1860 Census, Thad is a farmer, daughter Rebecca age 22, a shoe binder, and Timothy F. 17 a farm laborer.

Rebecca L. Allen later purchased the homestead and one acre lot from her mother for $1500. on Feb. 3, 1872. The deed states the late Timnah E. Evans, alluding to her mothers maiden name. Thaddeus P. Allen died on July 2, 1876 age 78 y 1m 27 d. of heart disease. In the 1880 census we find Rebecca age 46, keep house, her mother Timnah age 77 at home and a Jenny G. Andrews age 1, listed as a boarder.

Rebecca married on Nov. 7, 1882 at age 48 to Frederick S. White of Wilmington, MA age 49, son of Lorenzo and Louisa White. Frederick was a Teamster. Rebecca held on to the property for 36 years. Rebecca was living in North Wilmington. MA when she sold the property to Jennie G. Couch, wife of Albert P. on Dec. 12, 1908.

map 1830 house with no name
map 1886 Mrs. R.L. White
map 1906 R. White

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Land Court plan #16725-A - Dec. 1937 - Ctf #2343
Land Court plan #16725 - Nov. 25, 1945 - Ctf. #3078 - sub-div.

Owners;
John Adams - 1830
George Trull, wife Delphina - Apr. 3, 1830 rec. 9/24/1832 - b. 266 leaf 133 $400
Benjamin Cutter - Nov. 14, 1836 - b. 285 leaf 240 - $375 3/4 A & house
Thaddeus P. Allen - Nov. 15, 1836 - b. 295 leaf 241 - $475 3/4 A & house
Timnah Evens, widow - April 30, 1839 - b. 313 leaf 3 - $300. 3/4 a & house
Thaddeus P. Allen - June 30, 1849 - b. 414 leaf 163 Wheeler lot 3A 37 rods
Thaddeus P. & Timnah E. Allen - June 30, 1849 - b. 414 leaf 162 mtg T of P.A.
Rebecca L. Allen - Feb. 3, 1872 - b. 12, p. 560 - 1 acre homestead lot
Rebecca L. (Allen) White, wife of Frederick S. - Sept. 18, 1883 - b. 73 p. 412 mtg.
Jennie G. Couch, wife of Albert P. - Mar. 28, 1908 - b. 258 p. 492 1 acre homestead lot
Sylvester Carter - Dec. 12, 1908 - b. 268 p. 243 - 4.5 acre lot
Albert P. Couch estate, Joseph L. Burns Extr. - Nov. 8, 1937 - Probate
Albert P. Couch estate, Jan. 14, 1938 - b. 613 p. 449 Notice
Albert P. Couch estate, Jan. 14, 1938 - b. 613 p. 599 - disposal - two parcels
Land Court Decree - Mar. 9, 1938 - Doc. #16725 - Certificate #2343
Dorothy Whittaker Stewart, wife of John - Mar. 10, 1938 - Ctf. #2344
Jane W. Potter, wife of Stanley - Oct. 7, 1963 - Ctf. #5448
Margaret C. Murphy - Dec. 3, 1973 - Ctf. #7060
Margaret C. Murphy & Daniel J. Murphy III - Dec. 3, 1973 - Ctf. #7061
Margaret C. Murphy & Daniel J. Murphy III - Sept. 26, 1977 - Ctf. #7808
Margaret C. Murphy & Daniel J. Murphy III - Sept. 26, 1977 - Ctf. #7809
Peter & Susan M. Willis - Aug. 26, 1981 - Ctf. #8811
Susan M. Willis - July 26, 1995 - Ctf. #12248
Edward N. Krapels & Sarah A. Emerson - July 19, 2005 - Ctf. 15249

Inventory Data:

StreetBancroft Rd
PlacePhillips District
Historic DistrictNot Applicable
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1790
SourceECRDS, ENRDL, style-njs
Architectural StyleFederal
Foundationstone/granite
Wall/Trimclapboards/wood
Roofasphalt - gable
Outbuildings / Secondary Structuresmodern garage
Major Alterationsnew kitchen 1970
Conditionexcellent
Acreage1.1 acres approximate frontage 862 ft.
Settingresidential
Map and parcel58-25
MHC NumberANV.65
Recorded byStack/Mofford, James S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered1975-77, 5/17/2016

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