28 Rocky Hill Road
Site of History 🛈The Site of History tag is given to properties that were lost before this building survey was undertaken.

Architectural Description: 

NRIND NRMRA
Style: Federal
Other features: 5-bay facade with end chimneys; Federal doorways on front and sides; broad, 5-bay side elevations; 6/6 windows. Once used as two family with each east and west side door and main entrance with front entry shared.

Historical Narrative: 

Themes: Architectural, Community development
Last owner: Bruner, Harold & Mary

Historical significance: (1976) - Remarkably intact although neglected structure. Three distinguished doorways and broad proportions highlight the design.
Imposing original setting, facing south.

The Russell Homestead was lost to development in 1984 but the site holds a lineage of Russell family history as early settlers to Andover. When the school districts were established in 1795 this area was not named the Russell District but the Scotland District from the Russell family country of origin.

Robert Russell was born in Scotland in 1630 and married in Andover on July 6, 1659 to Mary Marshall b. 1641. Robert was a Yeoman and owned most of the land around Rocky Hill and to the east. Robert & Mary had eight children: Mary b. Jan. 4, 1661, Thomas b. Dec. 16, 1663, James b. Sept. 16, 1667, Joseph b. Apr. 1, 1671, Benjamin b. June 12, 1677, Hannah b. June 28, 1679, John b. Oct. 14, 1682 and Elizabeth b. July 16, 1687. Robert Russel died on Dec. 13, 1710 and is the first burial of record in the South Parish Cemetery. His widow Mary was the 15th member of the new South Parish Church on Oct. 17, 1711. Mary died on Jan. 14, 1717. In 1718 a Court Judge appointed a committee to divide Robert’s estate. Sons James and John appear to have received a half share of the farm. We know Joseph held abutting land. James Russell, wife Priscilla Osgood, died on March 7, 1717 and his two sons James b. 1710 & Thomas b. 1714, later receive their share from Uncle John on Jan. 21, 1744. James sold his ½ share to his brother Thomas in July 1748 for 2300 pounds old tender, for my homestead with 90 acres and 4a Pine Meadow.
The deeds were recorded on Oct. 30, 1765.

Thomas Russell b. June 18, 1714, Husbandman, married on April 15, 1742 to Abigail Ballard b. 17 Aug. 1718 dau. of Uriah & Elizabeth (Mansur) Ballard. They had six children; Uriah b. May 14, 1743, Elizabeth b. Jan, 24, 1745, Thomas b. Feb. 12, 1747, James b. May 7, 1749 - d. Jul 22, 1749, Abigail b. May 7, 1750, and Priscilla b. Aug. 2, 1753. Sadly Thomas died on Apr. 23, 1753 nearly 39 year old. He did however leave a will. Abigail was left with five young children. Uriah just ten years old at the time would later take charge of the farm.

Uriah Russell married on Aug. 15, 1771 to Lydia Abbot b. Mar. 7, 1745 dau. of Barachias & Hannah Abbott. They had eight children: Uriah bpt. Sept. 19, 1773, Hannah b. Sept. 10, 1775, twins James & Thomas bpt. Nov. 2, 1778, Lydia bpt. Sept. 15, 1782, Joel bpt. Aug. 31, 1783, Lydia b. Dec. 5, 1785 and Phebe b. Jan. 29, 1786.

On March 1, 1787 Uriah, wife Lydia and mother Abigail signed off on a loan of 210 pds 1s 2p with Widow Sarah Appleton of Boston. Abigail died on July 15, 1802. The loan was paid off in 1803 for $961.66. The farm was in three parcels; the Homestead with 80 acres, the barn on 20 acres and the 40 acre “Old Fields” parcel. Uriah Russell died on Nov. 19, 1822 at age 80 years. Widow Lydia sells to son Joel on May 26, 1824 for $300 the 94 acre homestead. Lydia died on July 11, 1829 at age 84.

Joel Russell b. 1783, Yeoman, married on Apr. 2, 1805 to Sally Curtis b. 1778. Joel & Sally had 13 children; Uriah b. 1805-d. 1830, Sally b. 1806, Joel b. 1808, Ammon b. 1810, Levi b. 1812, Israel Curtis b. 1814, Elizabeth b. 1815, Phebe b. 1818, Samuel b. 1820, Henry Warren b. 1820-d. 1828, James b. 1822, Amos b. 1824, and Uriah b. 1831. Sally died on Feb. 6, 1852. Joel took several loans out on the farm on different parcels which were then assigned to other lenders. The 1850 Andover Valuation list Joel Russell; Dwell house $500, barn $200, 44 acres $922. And Farm Stock $155.

On July 30, 1856 Joel sells the east half of the homestead and ½ lot with it, to his son Ammon for $1150 which included ½ of the barn and pasture, ½ the corm barn, use of the well, etc. Ammon Alban Russell born Aug. 10, 1810 was a house carpenter, married Abigail Spear b. Dec. 13, 1813 in Boston, dau. of John & Lucy (Bemis) Spear. They had two children; Lucy Ann b. 1839 and Henry Alban b. May 22, 1852.
In 1860 Joel and Ammon are each assessed ½ of the house and barn. Joel retains 32 acres and Ammon 12 acres connected to the homestead.

Joel Russell died July 22, 1871. Joel’s other loans on the west ½ of the homestead are complicated to sort out but in April 1872 John C. Hovey and wife Martha had purchased the west half.

The 1880 Census lists Ammon 79 and Abigail 65 living with son Henry A. & Ida R. (Gould )Russell, with their dau. Nellie b. Jan. 28, 1876 age 4 on the east side. The west side is John Hovey age 44 farmer, wife Martha M. 47, son James H. age 4, step son Frank R. Hatch 25 a farm laborer. Sam Hamlin, shoemaker 30, with wife Phebe M. 26 and son Harvey E. age 1 board with Hovey.

On August 16, 1892 Henry A. & Ida Russell sell their east half of the homestead to Betsy Cheever, wife of Benjamin. On Dec 24, 1896 Maria S. Brainerd, wife of Albert W. purchased the homestead from Hovey and Cheever.

Fred S. Howe purchased the property on June 1899 and then sold to Alice Towne of North Andover in August 1899. The Towne family held the homestead for 44 years. In the 1920 Valuation Alice is assessed $1400 for house, $200 barn, $50 henhouse with 4 3/8 acres remaining $300. Alice moved to Glen Falls NY and her family later sold the house to Harold T. Bruner on Aug. 16, 1943. Harold placed the property in both his and wife Elvira T. names in 1949. Elvira died on Aug. 11, 1966. Harold later remarried to Mary Florence with the deed in both names in 1976. In 1979 Harold had plans drawn to sub-divide the property creating Bruner Lane to the south east of the old homestead. Sadly Harold died on Dec. 10, 1980. His widow Mary sold the property to George C. Long on Nov. 23, 1982. The old Russell Homestead was later razed and two homes now occupy the former site.

Bibliography/References: 

28 Rocky Hill Road – The Russell Homestead
Map plan #8158 – 1982 – Geo. C. Long –sub-division
Map plan #8284 – Aug. 6, 1979 – Harold & Mary Bruner – sub-divide
Andover Valuation Schedules, 1850, 1860, 1870
Andover Directories
Ancestry.com Russell Family Genealogy
US and State Census 1850, 1855, 1865, 1870, 1880
Andover Vital Records
South Parish Cemetery burial records.

Owners:
Robert Russell, wife Mary – b. 1630 in Scotland d. Dec. 13, 1710
Robert Russell estate, Mary d. Jan. 14, 1715-16 – Court division 1718
James and John Russell sons heirs – 1718 Court division
James Russell estate, d. Mar. 7, 1716-17, John Russell –
James Russell & Thomas Russell – Jan. 21, 1744 rec. 11/30/1765 – b. 124 leaf 49 & 50
Thomas Russell, wife Abigail B. – Nov. 3, 1748 rec. Oct. 30, 1765 – b. 124 leaf 50
Thomas Russell estate, Wid. Abigail – Apr. 23, 1753 -
Uriah Russell, wife Lydia
Uriah, Lydia & Abigail Russell to Sarah Appleton – Mar. 1, 1787 – b. 147 leaf 97 mtg. loan
Uriah Russell from Appleton – Sept. 28, 1803 – b. 173 leaf 41 -
Uriah Russell estate, d. Nov. 19, 1822 wid. Lydia
Joel Russell – May 26, 1824 – b. 245 leaf 240 & 241 - $300
Joel Russell, wife Polly – July 9, 1856 – b.536 leaf 165
Ammon Russell, wife Abigail - July 9, 1856 – b.536 leaf 165 – east ½ house
Henry J. Gray – Apr. 24, 1867 – b. 722 leaf 173 – west ½ of house
William Jenkins, (Mary) – Feb. 3, 1858 – b. 565 leaf 114 mtg loan $600
William Jenkins, (Mary) – Apr. 9, 1875 – b. 34p. 34 – east ½ house mtg. loan
George F. Mason, wife Sarah – Apr. 26, 1875 – b. 34 p. 418 - $775
Henry A. & Ida R. Russell – Sept. 26, 1876 – b.43 p. 50 - $425 east ½ house
Betsy J. Cheever, wife of Benj. –Aug. 16, 1892 – b. 120 p. 240 east ½ house
Joel Russell & John Chandler – May 2, 1867 – b. 725 leaf 58 – west ½ house - $872.36
John C. Hovey, wife Martha M. – Apr. 10, 1872 – b. 14 p. 264 – west ½ house $550
Betsy J. Cheever, wife of Benj. - – Apr. 10, 1872 – b. 14 p. 264 – east ½ house & barn
Maria S. Brainerd, wife of Albert W. – Dec. 24, 1896 – b. 152 p. 195 & 196
Fred S. Howe – June 26, 1899 – b. 170 p. 528
Alice Towne – Aug. 4, 1899 – b. 171 p. 454 (b. 141 deed error)
Lester N. & Marion C. Towne – Sept. 28, 1942 – b. 653 p. 573
Harold T. Bruner – Aug. 16, 1943 – b. 659 p. 122
Harold T. & Elvira T Bruner- May 17, 1949 – b. 723 p. 117
Elvira T Bruner estate, Harold T. Bruner heir – Aug. 11, 1966 - Probate
Harold T. & Mary Florence Bruner – Oct. 16, 1976 – b. 1294 p. 111
Harold T. Bruner estate, heir Mary Florence Bruner – Dec. 12, 1980 – Probate
George C. & Janet L. Long – Nov. 23, 1982 – b. 1622 p. 104
Alberay Corporation (Timothy DeCroteau) – Nov. 7, 1983 – b. 1756 p. 296
Scot & Carol August – Dec. 17, 1984 – b. 1905 p. 249
August Family Trust – Apr. 17, 1998 – b. 5200 p. 199
Kevin T Jih & Shiowfeng G. Lin – Sept. 8, 2010 – b. 12260 p. 105
E. J. Realty Trust, S. G. Lin Trustee – Nov. 5, 2010 - b. 12268 p. 84

Inventory Data:

StreetRocky Hill Rd
PlaceScotland District
Historic DistrictNot Applicable
Historic NameRussell Farm - Uriah Russell Homestead
Present UseNew residence 1984
Original Useresidence farmhouse
Construction Date1780 - 1820
SourceECRDS, ENRDL, style-njs
Architectural StyleOther
Foundationstone & granite
Wall/Trimclapboards/wood
Roofasphalt - gable
Outbuildings / Secondary Structuresnone 1976, former barn and hen house 1920
Major Alterationsnone in 1976
Conditionrazed
Move Detailsno
Demolished?Yes
Demolition DetailsDismantled: 1983
Acreage1.02 acres; approx. frontage: 50'
Settingestimated distance of building from road: 35'
Map and parcel63-10
Recorded byW. Frontiero, James Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered26 Feb 1980, 3/2014, 1/14/2018

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