Themes: architectural, community development

This home is referenced in a deed of John Adams to Timothy Flag, and adjoining parcel, as the "Berry" house, so called. John Adams was the Principal of Phillips Academy (1810-1833) and owned many parcels of land between Bancroft Rd. and Salem St. Adams also owned the "Berry" house which sat on about 3/4 acres of land. This was income property for Adams. John Adams sold the homestead for $400. to George Trull, a carpenter, on April 3, 1830. The deed was recorded on Sept. 24, 1832. Trull moved to Woburn, MA and sold to Benjamin Cutter, for $375 on Nov. 14, 1836. Trull reserved "a boiler in the Kitchen and also between dwelling house and corner of Clements land a free passageway of 16' wide to land conveyed to Capt. T. Flagg." Benjamin Cutter then sold the homestead parcel to Thaddeus P. Allen, cordwainer of South Reading for $475 the following day.

Thaddeus would later sell the homestead lot to his mother-in law Widow Timnah Evans for $300. on April 30, 1839. Thaddeus was born in 1798 in Reading, son of Robert & Ann Allen of Maine. He married Timanh Evans b. 1802 in Wakefield, daughter of Timnah Evans. Thaddeus and Timnah had two children; Rebecca L. b. 1837 and Timothy F. b. 1842.

Thaddeus P. Allen purchased 3 acres 37 rods of land from Leonard Wheeler on June 30, 1849. The 1850 Andover Valuation schedule lists Thaddeus P. Allen; Dwelling house & Barn $650, 6 1/2 acres and Adjoining buildings $500. Thaddeus lists his occupation in the 1850 census as "Watchman". With the death of his wife's mother, Timnah inherits the homestead. In the 1860 Census, Thad is a farmer, daughter Rebecca age 22, a shoe binder, and Timothy F. 17 a farm laborer.

Rebecca L. Allen later purchased the homestead and one acre lot from her mother for $1500. on Feb. 3, 1872. The deed states the late Timnah E. Evans, alluding to her mothers maiden name. Thaddeus P. Allen died on July 2, 1876 age 78 y 1m 27 d. of heart disease. In the 1880 census we find Rebecca age 46, keep house, her mother Timnah age 77 at home and a Jenny G. Andrews age 1, listed as a boarder.

Rebecca married on Nov. 7, 1882 at age 48 to Frederick S. White of Wilmington, MA age 49, son of Lorenzo and Louisa White. Frederick was a Teamster. Rebecca held on to the property for 36 years. Rebecca was living in North Wilmington. MA when she sold the property to Jennie G. Couch, wife of Albert P. on Dec. 12, 1908.

map 1830 house with no name
map 1886 Mrs. R.L. White
map 1906 R. White