Architectural Description:
NRDIS NRMRA
Historical Narrative:
Owner: Trustees of Phillips Academy - turned over to Samuel Farrar, who bequeathed back, boarding house for students after 1864, under direction of Mrs. Serena T. Abbot, (Sarah F.) niece of Squire Farrar.
Themes: Architectural, Commerce, Community development and Education.
While waiting for house to be built, Samuel Farrar boarded with Ezra Abbot on Central St. The house was originally on the corner at 142 Main and Phillips Streets, now the site of archaeology building. In July1881 the house was moved further along Phillips St. to make room for Professor Churchill's home (large, pretentious and in the "latest" Queen Anne style). Andover Advertiser AA July 22, 1881, Friday - A. M. Ellis, building mover of Malden, is engaged in removing the “Farrar house to Phillips Street.
Samuel Farrar was born Dec. 13, 1773, in Lincoln, MA son of Samuel & Mercy (Hoar) Farrar. Samuel graduated from Harvard in 1797 and was a tutor there in 1800. Samuel became a lawyer and was one of the chief founders of the Andover Theological Seminary. Samuel married on Oct. 30, 1814, in Andover to the widow Phebe (Edwards) Hooker. Phebe Edwards was born Nov. 4, 1768, in Elizabethtown, NJ, daughter of Hon. Timothy & Rhoda (Ogdon) Edwards of Stockbridge, MA. Phebe was first married to Rev. Asahel Hooker b. 8/29/1762 in Woodbury, CT who died 4/19/1813. Phebe & Asahel had four children: Timothy Edwards, Edward William, Mary Ann and Sarah Elizabeth Hooker. Phebe Farrar died on Jan 22, 1848, age 79 years and is interred in Chapel Cemetery, Phillips Academy.
Squire Farrar was one of Andover's leading citizens, and a local character whose life was so methodical and habits so punctual that clocks were said to be set when he commenced family prayers or passed on his daily stroll to Indian Ridge. Farrar was the first president of Andover National Bank, 1826-1856 and a director, 1826-1857. He was treasurer of Board of Trustees for Phillips Academy and Andover Theological Seminary, also the first librarian of the Seminary and an Abbot Academy Trustee. As Phillips Academy treasurer, he was provided with a place to live and from 1811 until his death in 1864, this was his home.
Madame Phoebe Foxcroft Phillips, wife of Judge Samuel Phillips, also stayed here and died in this house in 1812. Another resident was the famous first missionary Adoniram Judson sent out by the American Board of Foreign Missions, based at Andover Theo. Seminary. Charles W. Hayward was another boarder in1880.
In Jacob Chickering's accounts, (North Andover Historical Soc.) is an updated receipt: "Arthur Bean Revised Esq. Farrar's Olde Barn 28 x 35' at $150 to take to Methuen."
Squire Farrar sold his property to the Trustees of Phillis Academy on Jan. 1, 1864 for $3000. The deed came with a life tenancy for Samuel. He died on May 13, 1864 and bequeathed house to the Trustees of Phillips Academy and his niece Sarah (French) Abbott and widow of Rev. Sereno Abbott.
Sarah was born on May 25, 1820 in Hampton Falls, NH dau. of Rev. Jonathan & Rebecca (Farrar) French. Her mother was Samuel's sister. Rev. Abbot was born in Andover in 1805, son of Asa Abbott. He was the pastor of the Line Church in Seabrook and Hampton Falls, NH from 1836 until his death in May 1855. Sereno & Sarah had seven children: George, Adelaide, Annie, Albert F., Mary F., Harriett E. and John Alden.
Sarah F. Abbott came to live with her Uncle Samuel Andover in 1858 with her seven children and managed boarding students at the Academy and Seminary. Her daughter Adelaide died here in 1860. Sarah remained in this home until it was moved in 1881.
The 1880 Census lists Sarah F. Abbott age 60, Jonathan French 74, brother, Lucy A. French 54, sister and Agnes Hayes 21, servant. Also listed are nine boarders, 4 Theology students and 5 students at Phillips Academy. Sarah purchased the Upton house at 132 Main Street. Sarah continued to board students until 1904. That year at age 83 she attended the World’s Fair in St. Louis. Sarah died on April 28, 1905, age 84y 11m 3d. She is interred in the Farrar lot at the Chapel Cemetery in Phillips Academy.
Charles Warren Hayward purchased the home at #25 Phillips St, (Hayward House), next door to the Farrar House on May 16, 1879, and rented it to “E. Lawrence Barnard, lately residing in Melrose, for three years.” Charles was a student at Phillips Academy, English Dept. in 1862. He married Elizabeth Downing on Dec. 15, 1867. Charles and Eliza had two children: Frederick Downing b. 1870 and Helen “Nellie” C. b. 1874. The 1880 Census reveals that Charles is running a boarding house on Phillips St. for 32 boys & men, ages 15 to 32 years of age, attending the Academy and Seminary. There are also 3 servants. The 1885 Directory also lists Charles W. on Phillips St running a boarding house.
The Farrar House continues to serve as faculty housing and for boarding students.
A list of former tenants from Andover Directories:
Andover Directories - 21 Phillips St. - Tenants
1880 – 1885 - Charles W. Hayward, wife Elizabeth – boarding house
1899 – Edward S, Ricker & Mrs. – Student’s boarding house
1904 – W.Y Durand & Mrs. Sarah – Instructor PA
1908 – W.Y. Durand & Mrs. – Instructor PA
Mrs. Ella E. Steel & Eloise Steel
Mary Callahan – housemaid
1910 – 1926 Horace M. Poynter, Mrs. Elsie, Instructor, PA (census b. 1870 KY wife b. IL 1875)
Robina Patterson servant 1910
Margaret Cleary, servant 1913
1928 – 1946 - Roy E. Spencer, wife Marie J.– Inst. PA
1947 – 1959 Roger W. Higgins & wife Jessie P. - Teacher PA
1955 – Higgins & Edmond E. Hammond 32, Virginia H. – Inst. PA
1959 – 1980 Frederick S. Allis Jr. history department, former president of the Andover Historical Society. Laura R. Allis1937, Adm. Asst.
1972 – Jean E. Raynard 1942, Teacher, Claudia A. Raynard 1943
1980 – 2006 Nathaniel B. Smith 1935 teacher, Scott B. 1963
Nathaniel B. Smith 1942, Priscilla Bonney- Smith 1943
1995 – Smiths, & James C. Bellizia 1976 Student, Phillips K. Bellizia 1973 Student.
2000 – 2001 – James C. Bellizia
2006 – 2020 - Randy Peffer 1948, Jacqueline B. 1961, Jacob R.
Bibliography/References:
Andover Historical Society files
Andover National Bank:1826-1946: Historical Blotters Commemorating 300th Anniversary, Town of Andover and 120th Anniv. of Andover National Bank. March 1946
Business History of Andover: Anniversary Souvenir No. of Andover Townsman, 250 Anniversary, 1896
Andover Primer: Phillips Academy and Its History, 1778-1923. Andover Press
Phillips Academy Bulletin, July 1915
Fuess, Clande: An Old New England School: A history of Phillips Academy, Houghton Mifflin, 1917.
Historical Sketch Covering 120 years of Andover Nat. Bank, 1826-1946
Andover Townsman: 1946
Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography 1600-1889
Youth from Every Quarter – Frederick S. Allis, Jr. 1978
Phillips Academy, Illustrated History of the Property.. Robert A. Domingue 1990
Owners:
Trustees of Phillips Academy
Isaac Chandler -
Samuel Farrar – May 2, 1815 - b. 205 leaf 233 - $900 – 7½ acres (175 Main St. & Phillips St.)
Trustees of Phillips Academy – Jan. 1, 1864 – b. 660 leaf 184 $3000 life tenancy
Inventory Data:
Street | Phillips St |
Place | Andover Center |
Historic District | Academy Hill NRH District |
Historic Name | Farrar, Samuel House |
Present Use | faculty residence |
Original Use | residence |
Construction Date | c. 1810 |
Source | style njs |
Architectural Style | Federal |
Architect/Builder | period of David Hidden |
Foundation | stone |
Wall/Trim | clapboards |
Roof | gable and hip |
Outbuildings / Secondary Structures | original barn removed by Chickering |
Major Alterations | side porch added |
Condition | good |
Moved? | Yes |
Move Details | 1881 |
Acreage | less than one acre; 16,000 sq. ft., 120 ft frontage |
Setting | residential |
Map and parcel | 56-7D |
MHC Number | ANV.430 |
Recorded by | Stack/Mofford, James Batchelder |
Organization | Andover Preservation Commission |
Date entered | 1975-77, 3/2014, 6/10/2025 |