4 Morton Street

Architectural Description: 

NRDIS NRMRA
Federal/Greek Revival
White picket fence.

Historical Narrative: 

Themes: Architectural, community development, education.

This property was once owned by James Locke and part of his estate at 111 Main St. Locke sold this parcel which also included the lot at 23 School St. to William Flagg for $320 on May 4, 1832. Flagg then sold to Merrill Pettengill for $350 on June 7, 1832. Pettingill sold to Benjamin Turner, a carpenter, for $350 on Nov. 15, 1832. Turner was formerly from Boston, prior to moving to Andover. The deed references the lot as near Abbot Academy at the corner of High and Green Streets. High St. is School and Green was Morton St. before the names were changed.

Benjamin Turner built the home in 1833 and took a mortgage of $1000 from the Trustees of Phillips Academy on December 4, 1833 “with the buildings and appurtenances.” This was William and his wife, Charlotte H. home. The Andover Vital Statistics list the following children of William: Lucy b. Apr. 1832 – d. Jan. 1, 1833, Leprelate Hamilton bpt. Feb. 16, 1834, William b. Nov. 1836 – d. Aug. 11, 1838 22m, Newton Lambert bpt. Jan. 1, 1837, Abraham b. Dec. 1837 – d. Aug. 11, 1838, Charles Herbert, bpt. Nov. 24, 1839, son b. Feb. 10, 1843 d. Feb. 12, 1843.
William then built the brick house on the corner of School & Morton St on the lot between 1833-1840. Benjamin sells a portion of the property with brick dwelling house to Widow Lucy Porter for $3000 on Mar. 30, 1840. Turner reserves the use of a right-of-way along the east side boundary of the two properties. Turner would use his home property to secure a mortgage of $700 from David Hidden, a house-wright, in Aug. 1840. Turner had financial setbacks and was moving when he sold the property on July 29, 1841 to Paschal Abbot, Manufacturer, and Thomas C. Foster, Gentleman for $5. Abbott & Foster then sold to John Gregory of Charlestown, MA on Nov. 16, 1841.

John Gregory was the father-in law of Eastman Sanborn and sold him the house, "which he now occupied" on June 5, 1847. Eastman was assigned David Hidden's mortgage to Ben Turner for $742.82 on Nov. 23, 1843. James H. Cochran sold a portion of this property to Eastman Sanborn on Aug. 31, 1844.The 1850 Andover Valuation of Eastman Sanborn's property is 1/2 acre of land and dwelling house $1500. and personal estate of $200. in money.

Eastman Sanborn was b. on May 30, 1800 in Sanbornton, NH, son of Ebenezer & Martha (Heath) Sanborn. Eastman Sanborn married on May 26, 1837 to Mary Call Lawrence Gregory b. Feb. 27, 1808 in Charlestown, MA. dau. of John & Sarah (Call) Gregory. Eastman was a dentist/surgeon, who was a student of medicine with Dr. Mowe of Lowell, MA. Eastman & Mary moved to Andover in 1843 where they had four children; Helen Clara Martha b. Sept. 27, 1839 - d. July 14, 1840., Francis Gregory b. Jan. 18, 1838, Emma Mary Eastman. b. Mar. 6, 1841 and Catherine H. Adelaide b. Sept. 17, 1848. Eastman became a member of the Plymouth, Masons in 1825 and transferred to St. Mathew's Andover lodge on April 8, 1844. His practice continued until his death on Dec. 10, 1859 of Consumption. His widow Mary died on July 22, 1883 at age 76. They are interred in the family lot at Christ Church Cemetery, Andover.

Andover Advertiser - Advertisements - Feb. 19, 1853 - Dr. Eastman Sanborn - Green St.
June 22, 1855 - Dr. Sanborn’s - Dental Infirmary – near the Theological Seminary. - Green St.
Nov. 15, 1855 - Sanborn’s Infirmary in Green Street
April 2, 1859 – Dr. G.A.W. Vinall – Main St. first south of Green St. advert lists prices for dental work
Dec. 10, 1859 – Dr. Eastman Sanborn – dentist dies on Dec.8th, 59 years old (Green Street)
Feb. 4, 1860 – To Let – The rooms occupied by the late Dr. Sanborn, as an office; a good situation for a dressmaker or Millinery, or for two theological students. Inquire on the premises.
Oct. 12, 1861 – Dr. H. W. Bacon – Dentistry – Have taken the late Dr. Sanborn’s office on Green Street.
Dr. H. W. Bacon – Dentistry – office on Green Street (Oct. 21, 1861)

Eastman's estate went to his daughters Charlotte H. Adelaide Sanborn & Emma M. E. Sanborn. Son Francis G. became a State Etymologist and Naturalist. Francis died of heart failure in Providence, RI on June 4, 1884. Emma & Francis were temporary members of first class at Punchard Free School of 1859. Emma then graduated Abbot Academy. She graduated from Boston University School of Medicine in 1876 in Homeopathy and opened her practice in her father's former office. Emma got her Master's degree in 1894. The American Medical Directory lists Emma's practice in Andover in 1905; Care and Advancement of Imbecile Boys from Four to Ten years of age. Established 15 years. (1890). The infirmary had six beds. He sister Adelaide, a music teacher, deeds the property to Emma on Mar. 20, 1894. The 1901 Andover Directory cites Emma M. F. Sanborn, physician, as resident. Emma died on May 14, 1914. Adelaide died in 1926.

Emma M. E. Sanborn wills her estate to Boston University who later sold the property to the Trustees of Abbot Academy on Apr. 26, 1927 for $5000. Abbot Academy used the house as faculty housing and dormitory space. With the merger of Abbot and Phillips Academies in 1972 the property was transferred to the Trustees of Phillips Academy on June 30, 1972.

The Academy held the property six years then sold to George A. & Grace H. Neilson on Aug. 30, 1978. The Neilson family sold the property back to the Trustees of Phillips Academy on July 1, 1986. They remain the current owners of record in 2015.

Andover Superintendent of Schools, Henry C. Sanborn lived here 1928-1930's ? (moved from Locke Street)

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Correct contact, Juliette Kellogg -- P.A. archivist

4 Morton St.
James Locke – 1839
William P. Flagg – May 4, 1839 – b. 266 leaf 50 - $320 lot
Merrill Pettengill – June 7, 1832 – b. 266 leaf 49 - $350 lot
Benjamin Turner – Nov. 15, 1832 rec. Dec. 13, 1833 – b. 274 leaf 170 - $350 lot
David Hidden – Aug. 10, 1840, rec. Oct. 17, 1840 – b. 321 leaf 64 - $700 mtg.

Benjamin Turner – Apr. 23, 1841 – b. 326 leaf 125 – his dwelling house
Paschal Abbot & Thomas C. Foster – July 29, 1841 – b. 326 leaf 125 – his dwelling house
John Gregory – Nov. 16, 1841 – b. 328 leaf 88
Eastman Sanborn – June 5, 1847, rec. July 2 – B. 385 leaf 8 – Turner house
Eastman Sanborn – Nov. 23, 1843 - b. 385 leaf 6 - $742.82 Hidden mtg. assigned
Eastman Sanborn - Aug. 31, 1844 - b. 385 leaf 7 - $200 – 40½ rods – 2nd parcel
Eastman Sanborn estate - died Feb. 14, 1860 - Probate
C. H. Adelaide Sanborn & Emma M. E. Sanborn, heirs - daughters
Emma M. E. Sanborn - Mar. 20, 1894 - b. 131 p. 191
Emma M. E. Sanborn estate, Boston University, by probate will - Apr. 25, 1927
Trustees of Abbot Academy - Apr. 26, 1927 - b. 531 - $5000.
Trustees of Phillips Academy - June 30, 1972 - b. 1222 p. 85 (see p. 87 Para. 8)
George A. & Grace H. Neilson - Aug. 30, 1978 - b. 1349 p. 626
Trustees of Phillips Academy - July 1, 1986 - b. 2232 p. 1

Second parcel -
Trustees of Ministerial Fund of South Parish
James H. Cockran – Sept. 12, 1844 – b. 385 leaf 6 – portion $200 40½ rods – 2nd parcel
Eastman Sanborn - Aug. 31, 1844 - b. 385 leaf 7 - $200 – 40½ rods – 2nd parcel

Inventory Data:

StreetMorton St
PlaceAndover Center
Historic DistrictAcademy Hill NRH District
Historic NameTurner - Sanborn - Goggin House -
Present Usefaculty residence
Original Useresidence - dentist office
Construction Dateearly 19th century
SourceERDS, ENRDL, AHS file, njs, style
Architectural StyleGreek Revival
Architect/BuilderDavid Hidden ?
Foundationstone/granite/brick
Wall/Trimclapboards/vinyl covered
Roofasphalt - gable
Outbuildings / Secondary Structuresmodern garage
Major Alterationsgarage 1963
Conditiongood
Acreage17,675 sq. ft.;approx. frontage 110'
SettingResidential/Educational
Map and parcel40-9
MHC NumberANV.376
Recorded byStack/Mofford, James Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered1975-77, 4/9/2015

Images: 

Map: