129 Elm Street

Architectural Description: 

Simple Queen Anne period home, asymmetrical facade, gable returns, two over one pane double hung windows. Gable attic pointed window a Gothic revival detail

Historical Narrative: 

William S. Lawson was born in Brechin, Scotland in April 1825. He married there to Jane R. Allen b. Dec. 14, 1823. They had three children in Scotland; Ann L. b. Nov. 1846, Susan b. 1848, and Edwin L. b. Dec. 4, 1850 in Dundee. They immigrated to America in 1851 and settled in Andover. Four more children were born in Andover, Albert b. Sept. 1853 – d. Dec. 10, 1860, Clara b. Dec. 1855 – d. Oct. 5, 1858, Edith L. b. Dec. 1857, William A. b. Mar. 1862 d. June 23, 1873.

William began a day laborer, then employed at Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co., Andover’s flax mill as a Flax dresser. William became an Overseer in the Twisting Mill by 1885.

William purchased a one acre lot of land on the corner of Elm & Pine Streets for $250 from Plato Eames on July 5, 1879.
Andover Advertiser October 24, 1879 - Regan and Howard are putting in the foundation for the houses of W.S. Lawson, L. H. Eames and William Wood. Jones of South Lawrence furnishes the under-pining.
A.A. Dec. 12, 1879 Report on building..... W.S. Lawsons's new house on Elm street has been nearly completed by Hardy & Cole.
The house was completed as it was occupied by the Lawson's in the 1880 Federal census. William is listed as Foreman of the Twisting Flax mill. Also listed is his wife Jane R. age 54, a daughter Edith 22, working in the Tyer Rubber Co. and a grand-daughter Agnes Musket age 5.

Jane Lawson died in 1897 and was interred at West Parish Cemetery in the Lawson family lot, sec. 2 grave 133. Daughter Edith L. had married a Mr. Pierce and had one son Clarence G. Pierce, b. March 1885 in Andover. William deeded the property over to Edith on April 6, 1907. They then sold on Oct. 20, 1911 to Martha L. Caldwell of Beverly, MA.

William Sharpe Lawson – Andover Townsman June 19, 1914 p. 5 Obit
William Lawson, and old resident of Andover, died last week in Gorham, Maine, where he has resided lately.
He was born in Brechin, Scotland, ninety years ago. When young Mr. Lawson come to this country and was employed overseer at the Smith & Dove plant for many years. He was of a retiring disposition of the highest integrity, just and fearless, widely read, only the highest authors being his choice, also a deep lover of Nature. About three years ago he sold his property at the corner of Elm and Pine streets and went to live in Portland with his daughter Mrs. Edith Pierce, by whom he is survived, by two other children Mrs. Ann L. Musket of Methuen and Edwin L. Lawson of Boston, and five grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held last week Wednesday, burial being in the family lot in the West cemetery.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex Country Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Plan #2718 - lot A sub-divided - Aug. 1953 - Fred P. & Eliz. A. Fitzgerald

Owners;
Plato Eames - 1879 - land
William S. Lawson, (wife Jane) - July 5, 1879 - b. 58 p. 419 - $250 lot
Edith L. (Lawson) Pierce - Apr. 6, 1907 - b. 244 p. 408
Martha L. Caldwell - Oct. 20, 1911 - b. 310 p. 599
Martha L. Caldwell estate, Walter J. Harding Adm. - 1917
Helen F. Loeschner - May 3, 1917 - b. 376 p. 428 - transfer
William Caldwell - May 3, 1917 - b. 376 p. 429
William Caldwell estate, Hiram Earl Richardson, Extr. - Probate - July 2, 1931
Winthrop B. & Beatrice C. Frye - July 6, 1931 - b. 559 p. 505
Frederick P. & Elizabeth A. Fitzgerald - Nov. 4, 1952 - b. 768 p. 600
Edward P. & Natalie P. Stokham - June 22, 1961 - b. 938 p. 347
Natalie P. Stokham - Dec. 10, 1970 - b. 1171 p. 625
Ernest M. Preisig - Mar. 31, 1980 - b. 1427 p. 218
Jan J. Wittenber & S. Kay Jarvis - Feb. 22, 1984 - b. 1780 p.198
Jose A. "Joseph" & Roseann Camilo - Jan. 8, 1998 - b. 4936 p. 304
Roseann Camilo - Aug. 10, 2010 - b. 12146 p. 99
Michael T. & Lakshmi K. Cox - Aug. 31, 2016 - b. 14774 p. 196

Inventory Data:

StreetElm St
PlaceAndover Center District
Historic DistrictNot Applicable
Historic NameWilliam S. & Jane R. Lawson House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1879 - 1880
SourceECRDS, ENRDL, style-njs
Architectural StyleQueen Anne
Architect/BuilderHardy & Cole builders
Foundationstone/granite/brick
Wall/Trimcedar shingles/wood
Roofasphalt - gable
Major Alterationsrear additions
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.578 acre
Settingresidential
Map and parcel21-142
Recorded byJames S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date enteredAug. 12, 2017

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