Present owner: Phillips Academy (5 Jul 1932)
Original owners: Fitz William Rogers & Samuel L. Lyford
Themes: Architectural, Community development, Education

Named “Coy House” by Phillips Academy , the south side (left) of the house was once the home Edward Gustin Coy, instructor of Greek at the academy. Edward G. Coy was born in Ithaca, NY on August 23, 1844. He married Helen Eliza Marsh b. Mar. 11, 1851 in South Africa. They had three children born in Andover: Mary Dexter. b. Jan 18, 1875, Sherman Lockwood b. Aug. 26, 1879 and Edward Harris “Ted” b. May 24, 1888 Edward later moved to Salisbury, CT to teach at Hotchkiss School. He died in New Haven, CT on May 26, 1904.

Historical significance:
This land once belonged to Rev. Amos Blanchard, son of Amos Blanchard, and extended from Morton St. on the north, School St. to the west and southward up the hill to the Hitchins’ property (“America House”). Blanchard sold the parcel to Fitz William Rogers and Samuel L. Lyford on Dec. 17, 1849 for $800. Fitz was a Cabinet maker and Samuel a Housewright who then built the duplex home at #141-#143 Main St. When completed Fitz Rogers was deeded the north side unit and Sam Lyford held the south side unit. #141 -143 Main The house has the distinction of being “the first paint colored house on the street”. Lyford became insolvent in 1852 and Fitz took possession of his unit on March 29, 1852 and assumed his mortgage.
Fitz would sell his holdings to his father-in-law Philip Coombs of Newburyport, a merchant. Fitz also owned the house next door at 135-137 Main St. which is where he lived with his family. That house was the former Seminary Commons and was moved down to the corner lot by Rogers and converted in to duplex. It was previously stated that the Coy House was moved and was the ATS Commons but that was misconstrued due to the fact that both houses shared the same property lot and were owned by Fitz Rogers.

Philip Coombs bought both sides of the house, $2800 for the south unit and $25 for Fitz’s north unit which also included the Rogers house. Coombs died in 1856 and the property was inherited by both families. The Andover holdings were sold to George Rogers of Boston for $3000 on Nov. 17, 1856. George then sold the property to Mary (Coombs) Rogers on Aug. 8, 1864. Mary sold off the south unit #143 to Mary M. Davis on Aug. 1, 1864. Mary Rogers died of consumption the following month on Sept. 29, 1864 at age 57. Her children inherited the properties that remained their homestead at 135-137 and the north side unit #141.
North side on right # 141
The Rogers heirs sold the north unit #141 to George H. & Sarah H. Poor on Dec. 8, 1866 $2500. At this point the two properties were separated. Poor occupied the Unit four years then son to Professor John Wesley & Mary J. Churchill on Aug. 19, 1870. Churchill was one of a group of seminary professors in 1880's who represented the new liberalism [along with Egbert Smyth, Wm. J. Tucker, George Harris and Edward Hincks]. They were accused and tried on charges of heresy from conservative element at Andover Theological Seminary. The dispute over religious orthodoxy became a cause celebre and focused wide attention in Andover. Churchill built a new home in 1882 at 172 Main St. on the site of the Peabody Museum. It was moved to 195 Main St.
Mrs. Grace M. Whitmore purchased the 141 Main on Dec. 18, 1886.
(later owned by Mrs. Whitemore and Mr. Tracy, 1900)

South side on left #143
The south unit was sold by Mary C. Rogers to Mary M. Davis of North Andover on Aug. 1, 1864 for $2500. Mary Marble (Farnum) Davis was born b. July 16, 1803 in Andover, dau. of Jedediah & Susan Farnham. Mary used this as income property. She died on April 30, 1866 and this property went to nephew John E. Farnham on May 7, 1866.

John Edwin Farnham was born Dec. 21, 1826 in Andover, son of Edwin & Harriet Almira Farnum. John was a bookkeeper. John married Martha Jane Clemens b. Nov. 2, 1834 Tyngsboro, dau. of Robert & Olive Clemens. John & Martha had five children: Martha Francis “Fanny” b. Jan. 29, 1855, Susan Lavinia b. 1857, Mary Gertrude b. May 9, 1858-d. Oct. 13, 1865, Morris D. b. 1861 and Nellie Davis b. Mar. 15, 1862.
By 1880 the Farnham’s were living in Philadelphia. The property remained with the family until sold to Isabel H. Batchelder on Aug. 27, 1906. William H. Tracy was the next owner on Sept. 27, 1912 – 1930. Not until Oct. 17, 1930 were the two properties united again being purchased by one person George W. Moulton of Newburyport MA. Moulton then sold the combined properties to Henry S. Hooper, an agent for Phillips Academy who transferred ownership to the Trustees of Phillips Academy on June 27, 1932.

Professor Coy" 1882 Map - Resided on the south side and Prof. Churchill on the north. (Farnham taxed for 1/2 house, 'Real Estate Valuation', 1900)
Andover Townsman, 1890: " W. S. Jenkins having addition of two windows put on house occupied by Professor E. G. Coy - Hardy and Cole to do job."