Original Owner: Isaac Blunt

This property was the site of the former Isaac Blunt house that was razed in late 2003 for the sub-division and development of the former farm by the North Andover Realty Corporation. A review of the historic property was done by the Andover Preservation Commission in 2003 with a Demolition Delay imposed on the house. The property structures were photographed in October 2003. The house was late razed for the new home now on the site.

The property was owned by Isaac Blunt who lived in the Blunt Tavern at 20 Salem Street razed in 1930. Capt. Isaac Blunt Jr. born Sept. 26, 1766 in Andover, MA, only son of Isaac & Mary. Isaac married Dec. 13, 1791 to Lois Phelps b. May 24, 1767 dau. pf Joshua & Lois (Ballard) Phelps. Isaac & Lois had eight children; Polly b. 12/25/1792, Isaac b. 11/25/1795, Samuel Phelps b. 5/19/1796, Hannah b. 11/11/1798, Anna b. 3/1/1801, Eliza b. 7/17/1803, Joshua b. 2/1/1806 and John K. bpt. 11/20/1808. Isaac held the old Training Field on the corner of Main and Salem Streets, where Fuller Memorial Bell Tower now stands. He gave it to the Town who then gave it to Phillips Academy as a park. Isaac died on Oct. 17, 1833 age 67 years. and wife Lois P. Blunt died here on Feb. 10, 1849 from fever of a broken limb. She was 82 years of age.

Isaac & Lois Blunts' son Samuel Phelps Blunt acquired the property on Nov. 28, 1834. Samuel P. was born in May 19, 1796 and married to Persis Bodwell b. 1795. Their children; Samuel W. P. b. 1820, Henry Augustus b. 1824, Isaac Octavius b. 3/21/1826, Angilina L. b. 1/16/1830 - d. 12/14/1832, Charles C. b. 9/7/1832 - d. 1/2/1833 and Joshua Mikah b. 9/27/1837.

Persis died on March 18, 1866 and Samuel P. Blunt died on Feb. 10, 1868. The Blunt heirs then inherit the property and sell to Mabel E. Sellers on May 17, 1897.

Mabel Evelyn (Josselyn) Sellers was born in Lawrence, MA on June 28, 1871 daughter of William & Mary C. (Thompson) Josselyn. Mabel married at age 15 to William T. Sellers b. March 1860, also in Lawrence, son of Thomas D. & Mary A. Sellers. Mabel and William had 10 children; Mabel A, b. 1886, Mary V. b. 1888, Bessie J. b. 1891, Willa T. b. 1893, Evelyn B. b. 1895 - d. 1895, William W. b. 1897, Ruth R. b. 1901, Hilda I., b. 1903 - d. 1908, Grace A. b. 1905 and Eunice P. b. 1907.

Husband William is not listed in the 1910 census and Mable E. Josselyn remarries on July 27, 1910 to Arthur F. Pallister, carpenter, son ofFred J. & Annie (Stinson) Pallister. In 1920 Mabel is a widow, and sharing the home with her are children; Mabel A. Miller, and her children Evelyn R. 10 & Marshall W. A. Miller 13 months, Bessie J. 28, William W. 22, Ruth R. 18, Grace 15, Praise E. 12.

Mabel E. Sellers estate, Heirs - May 23, 1916 - b. 365 p. 48 Probate #134679
Sellers Farm Realty Trust, Wm. W. & James R. Sellers, Trs - Apr. 23, 2002
1856 Map: shows R. Coburn, S.P. Blunt and H. Jaquith located here
1872 Map: H. F. Jacquith
Mrs. Bessie Sellers bought from Major Blunt, about 1890 and sisters (?) Grace Myatt and Ruth Hooper lived here until about 1965. Her relative, Ruth Sellers was resident, 1943-45

A structure indicated on property as early as 1755 according to deeds; Mrs. Mabel Josselyn Sellers purchased the property in 1896. Her daughters, Grace Myatt and Ruth Hooper, have lived here since 1965. --corrections by James Sellers, 1981

Themes: architectural; community development