Themes: Architectural, Community development

This property, numbered Lot #28 on plan of land of John Marland and Jonathan (John) Howe Jr. dated 1847 as recorded by Registry of Deeds, Salem, MA. Marland & Howe of the Marland Mill in Ballardvale auctioned off the building lots on Wednesday, July 28, 1847. The auctioneers were Loring, Abbot and Porter of Boston.

This lot, #28, was purchased at that auction by Lawrence Whittaker for $142.90. in July 1847 and recorded deed on August, 4, 1847. Lawrence was born in 1823 in England, son of James and Mary Whittaker. Lawrence came to the US and worked in the Ballardvale Mills. He married on Dec. 12, 1844 in Andover to Catherine Palmer of Bradford, MA. b. 1817. Lawrence & Catherine had the house built. They had four children: Catherine A. b.Aug. 2, 1845 - d. 1861 age 14, James Lawrence, b. Aug. 4, 1846 - d. 1885 age 39, Ella Maria b. 1850 and Mary Frances b. 1852 - d. 1866.

The 1850 Andover Valuation schedule in West Parish lists Lawrence Whittaker's property; Dwelling house & house lot $500. Whittaker took a loan from Jeremiah Goldsmith for $250 on May 23, 1854, using his property as collateral. (b. 497 leaf 247). With the death of Jeremiah Goldsmith, Lawrence Whittaker paid off the remaining loan of 261.37 on June 6, 1865 . (b. 684 leaf 149). Lawrence was an overseer in the Marland Mill and later the J. P. Bradlee's Mill, in the finishing room.

His wife Catherine died in 1873. Daughter Ella married John W. Cochrane and inherited the property after her father died at 76 years 5months of General paralysis on July 27, 1899. They family are interred at Spring Grove Cemetery.