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.