Themes: Architectural and Community Development
Pleasant Street was accepted in 1902 AT - Andover Townsman

George Boutwell [Jonathan,] b. March 12, 1798 in Wilmington, Middlesex County, MA son of Jonathan Thomas & Jemima (Hardy) Boutwell, married May 20, 1827 in Newton, MA to Fanny Hyde b. April 15, 1803 in Newton. George was living in Andover at the time of his marriage. They lived in the West Parish of Andover. George’s first farm was at 23 Pleasant St. at the corner of Boutwell Rd. in 1850. George and Fanny had seven children: Lucy Frances b. July 23, 1828 m. Artemas Wiswall, George Jr. b. Feb. 3, 1831 - d. June 1905 m. Sarah Jane Robinson, Edward Hyde b. Dec. 22, 1832 - d. Aug. 13, 1876 m. Ellen M., Parthenia Pelham b. Sept. 23, 1835 m. Edward Francis Holt, Samuel Hyde b. March 25, 1838 - d. Oct. 8, 1919 m. Alice Jane Trull, Louisa Wilder b. Feb. 2, 1840 d. 1919 m. James Griswold Merrill, Mary King b. Apr. 11, 1846 -d. Nov. 5, 1925 unmarried.

In 1852 George purchased the Hyde place at 410 High Plain Rd. The Andover Valuation of 1860 lists the farm at 115 acres, containing a dwelling house valued at $1800, barn & shed $700, old barn $300, 45 acres adjoining the new building, 33a pasture, 9a adjoining the old barn, 10a Robertson land, 8a Abbott lot, 4a Farnham Lot and 6a meadow. The total valuation of the farm was $7116 with an additional farm stock value of $521.

George Boutwell died on July 17, 1861 and his farm was divided between his three sons, George Boutwell Jr., Edward Hyde Boutwell and Samuel Hyde Boutwell. George Jr. and his wife Sarah Jane (Robinson) Boutwell lived at 408 High Plain Road and Samuel H. built a home at 9 Pleasant St.

Edward Hyde Boutwell [Jonathan, George] b. Dec. 22, 1832 Andover, MA, son of George & Fanny (Hyde) Boutwell. Edward married Ellen M. They had four children: Edward W. b. April 1862, Nellie E. b. 1865, Clifton F. b. 1870 - d. 1871 and Adela M. b. 1872. Sadly Ellen died on Jan. 2, 1876 age 40 and Edward H. died seven months later on Aug. 13, 1876 at age 43, leaving three children, ages 14, 11 and 4. Uncle Samuel H. Boutwell living at 9 Pleasant St. was made their guardian. In the 1880 census Aunt Mary King Boutwell was keeping house and looking after her nephew and two nieces.

On May 12, 1888 son Edward W. Boutwell, now 26 year old, is deeded seven parcels of farm land including the house lot. Edward pays his sisters, Nellie and Adela both $1400 for their portion of their parent's estate. Lots; #1. is the 9 acre house lot, #2. is 10A Robinson lot, #3. 11 1/4 a Doctor pasture, #4. John Hardy lot of 3a 37 rods, #5. River lot 28 acres, #6. 1/9th portion of a 3 acre pasture, and #7 1/6 part of 6 acre Fish Book parcel. Edward married in 1888 to Lilla Frances Chase b. 1860 - d. 1929. Edward & Lilla had three children: Clifton Chase b. Jan. 26, 1891 - d. Sept. 3,1892, Earnest b. 1869 and Bernice Patterson b. May 23, 1897 - d. 1984.

Lilla F. died on Jan. 18, 1929. Edward remarried to Ida F. Edward died on Dec. 22, 1932. His will included a life tenancy for his widow Ida. Ida later remarried to a Mr. Bancroft. When daughter Bernice P. Parsons, now wife of Philip Parsons, sold the property to Lester F. & Frances W. Dixon in Jan. 1942, Ida Bancroft was included in the deed. Ida was lived in Tyngsboro, MA at the time but her live estate continued though the Dixon ownership. Ida guit climed when the Dixons sold the propperty to Donald & Ellen Kearns in July 1958. Most of the Boutwell family are interred at West Parish Garden Cemetery.

The property was sold in Aug. 2003 to Andover developer Michael Ristuccia. The parcel was divided into two house lots. The ell attached to the north end of the house, was beyond restoration and was razed. It may have been the first George Boutwell home and converted to a shed when the new farmhouse was constructed. Ristuccia built the new ell in the same location and completely restored and up-dated the house. He was awarded a Preservation Award from the Andover Preservation Commission in May 2004 for his efforts.