Themes: Architectural, Community development

This house was once the homestead of David Abbot born Mar. 11, 1764, son of Jonathan 3rd & Mary (Chandler) Abbot. David, a Yeoman, served in the Revolutionary War. He married on May 26, 1789 to Priscilla Chandler b. June 21, 1768, dau. of Nathan Jr. & Phebe (Abbot) Chandler. David & Priscilla had eleven children; Priscilla b. 6/10/1790, Mary bpt. 6/26/1791, David b. 12/23/1792, Jonathan b. 6/12/1796, Nathan 2nd b. 7/5/1799, Ezra b. 4/19/1801, Phebe b. 8/5/1803, Serna b. 7/8/1805-d. 9/20/1805, Joshua b. 9/1/1806, Serna b. 9/8/1808 and Herman b. 1/15/1814. David and Priscilla were members of South Church and Priscilla became a charter member of West Parish Church in 1826. David died intestate on June 21, 1823 at age 54 and is interred at West Parish Cemetery. The estate was administered by his son Jonathan. One third of the estate went to his widow Priscilla. Several parcels were sold off and Jonathan purchased his siblings shares of the property. Priscilla died Feb. 9, 1831 age 62.

Jonathan Abbot married on Feb. 2, 1826 to Lydia Phelps b. Nov. 10, 1804, dau. of Joshua & Mary Phelps. They had two sons; Jonathan Edward b. 1/5/1828 and David Warren b. 8/5/1828. Lydia died on July 16, 1839 age 34. Jonathan remarried to Susan Corey of Brookline, NH in June 1840. They had one son Charles Henry b. Dec. 31, 1842. Jonathan sold the family home to David Gray on May 28, 1834 for $1000. The deed states "the same on which I now reside and was the homestead place of my father David Abbot deceased". The property included 54 acre 62 rods "with buildings then standing." The deed appears to be a mortgage deed. A second deed to Gray on May 18, 1837 included three parcels; ”the house I now live in and 90 acres, 2 parcels from Wm. Foster and 16 acre pasture. Jonathan Abbot also sold three other parcels to Stephen Hardy 2nd on May 5, 1838

David Gray sells to Stephen Hardy 2nd on Nov. 17, 1838 the homestead lot of 12 acres and a 39 acre parcel across the street. The deed is recorded on Nov. 10, 1882 at the Northern Essex Registry Deeds, along with a quit claim deed from the Andover Institute of Savings who held a mortgage deed of Abbot.
Stephen Hardy 2nd - Andover Valuation Schedule of 1850 assessed: Dwelling house $350, barn & shed $200. 13 acres adjoining $325. 39 acres front of house $850. 6 acres young wood $168. 6 acre Stickney meadow, and farm stock $178. Stephen Hardy was born Oct. 1814 son of Stephen & Sarah (Bailey) Hardy. Stephen married on Sept. 7, 1844 to Mary Ann Webster b. May 20, 1810 in Windham, NH, dau. of Jeremiah & Phebe (Wardwell) Webster. Stephen & Mary had four children; twins Abby & Elizabeth b. 8/7/1845, Elbridge Gerry b. 5/19/1847.

The 1870 Census lists Stephen & Mary, Elizabeth and Gerry and Stephen’s mother Sarah Hary age 86 and Mary age 44. Stephen would later sell the farm to his son E. Gerry on Nov. 1, 1882. Gerry as he was known by married April 21, 1874 to Mary Augusta Saunders b. 6/14/1849 in Medford, MA dau. of Thomas & Mary Saunders. Children; Edith H. b. 11/11/1874, Wesley Blodgett b. 3/15/1878, Helena b. 2/8/1882, Leon Wallace b. 5/12/1892 and son stillborn 2/12/1894. E. Gerry & Mary Hardy held the property for 40 years then selling to son Leon W. Hardy on Oct. 16, 1922. Mary died Oct. 26, 1926 and Gerry died Dec. 10, 1929 age 82y 6m. They are interred at West Parish Cemetery.
Leon Wallace Hardy married on June 16, 1923 in Haverhill, MA to Agnes E. MacLeod b. Mar. 25, 1895 in Nova Scotia, Canada. They had one daughter Jean Marilyn b. Jan. 17, 1928. Leon continued the Hardy farm. Agnes died Nov. 29, 1941 and Leon died May 31, 1956. The property was inherited by daughter Jean M. Treshinsky who then sold to Mitchell & Hilda H. Peterof on July 21, 1958. The Hardy family held ownership for 120 years.

Boisuert, Edis & Diana (10 Nov 1948)