Present owner: Reilly, James & Mary (24 Aug 1976)
Themes: Architectural, Community development

The intersection of Rocky Hill Rd. at South Main St. and Rattle Snake Rd. was known as Carter’s Corner for more than a century and slowly slipped from use after WWII. The farm at the corner was owned by the Carter family from 1819 to 1954. The early house stood west of South Main near the intersection of Boston and Rattlesnake Hill Roads.

The property was once owned by Samuel A. Goldsmith and sold on April 20, 1819 to Jonathan Carter of Wilmington & Asa G. Sheldon of Reading for $2265. The property contained two parcels, a 15a lot along the north side of Rock Hill Rd. and 135 acres with dwelling house and barn. Asa Sheldon sold his half of the property to Joseph Gowing Jr. in Aug. 1820 for $1250 which included the west half of the house. That deed later passed to Rufus Caldwell in 1839 and he acquired the entire house in October 1864.

Jonathan Carter of Wilmington, MA b. July 31, 1757 - d. Aug. 8, 1822. Jonathan married Lydia Gowing b. Nov. 28, 1762 daughter of John & Lydia (Rich) Gowing also of Wilmington. They had eight children, seven boys and one daughter. Son Richard Carter, a twin to Rich, was b. July 7, 1791 in Wilmington. He married on Dec. 13, 1814 to Abigail Buck b. 1796.

Richard acquired the east half of the house after his father died in 1822. Richard and Abigail had eleven children; Gilbert b. 1815 d. Mar. 17, 1827 - (blind), Hannah R. b. 1818 d. Dec. 17, 1846, Justin b. Apr. 27, 1820 - d. Dec. 10,1892, Edwin b. Jan 29, 1821 - d. Feb. 3, 1823, Richard Brooks Jr. b. Jan 29, 1822 - Aug. 26, 1875, Abigail "Abby" Buck b. June 9, 1824 - d. Apr. 26, 1875 (blind), Sophia Blanchard b. July 12, 1826 - d. Oct. 11, 1888 (blind), Edward b. Oct. 29, 1829 - d. Aug. 30, 1881 (blind), Henry Jaques b. May 31, 1833 - d. Jul 10, 1839,William Rich b. Jul. 15, 1836 - d. Jul 15, 1896, Emily C. b. Aug. 6, 1838 - d. Sept. 4, 1935 and Albert Alonzo b. Oct. 12, 1840 - d. Aug. 22, 1866 (blind).

Richard, a farmer, died on Aug. 30, 1845 at 54. Abigail was left to provide for her family. What was extraordinary about the Carters is that five of the children were blind, Gilbert, Abby, Sophia, Edward, and Albert Alonzo. Youngest daughter Emily wrote, at the request of the Perkins Institution of the Blind, a "Brief Account of Some of the Chief Events in the Lives of Abby, Sophia, Edward, and Alonzo Carter." (Copy in Historical Soc. Files)

Oldest surviving son Justin Carter, now 25, purchased from his brother Richard B. his share of the farm on Jan. 21, 1846. Justin would marry on Sept. 10, 1846 to Mary Rebecca Manning b. May 30, 1819 in Tewksbury, MA daughter of Samuel & Nancy (Symonds) Manning.

The 1850 Andover Valuation Schedule lists: Justin Carter ½ Dwelling house $300, ½ barn $100. 85 acres land $1700. Farm stock $296. Rufus Caldwell is listed for the other half. $300, barn $250, 75 acres $1664. In 1860 Justin Carter lists Dwelling house $1075, barn $300, 38 acre farm land $1031, Old Farm ½ Dwelling house $300 and 85 acres of land $1881. Farm stock $293. This suggests a new home has been built and is most likely 4 Rocky Hill Rd. on the 15 acre parcel.

Justin & Mary R. had five children; Mary Sophia b. Feb. 16, 1848 –d. Oct. 13, 1852, Justin Jr. b. Aug. 11, 1851, Susan Rebecca b. Jan. 20, 1854, Harriett Eliza b. Feb. 9, 1856 and William Henry b. Nov. 3, 1862?.
Justin would provide his new family, his mother and six siblings. Mother Abigail died on Jan. 7, 1863. The Carter siblings then sold the east half of the house and property to Rufus Caldwell for $550 on Oct. 7, 1864. His four blind siblings and sister Emily would purchase a house at 153 Main St. and did well providing for themselves teaching music and sewing.

Justin & Mary’s daughters Susan & Harriett became teachers. Susan taught at the Scotland District School, (On NE corner of So. Main & Wildwood Rd.), from 1881- 85. Harriett E. married in 1882. Sons Justin Jr. and William Henry worked the farm with their father Justin who died Dec. 10, 1892. William H. would continue the farm with his brother Justin Jr. who did not marry and died Feb. 8, 1911.
William Henry Carter married June 5, 1894 at West Parish Church to Emma J. Thayer b. Oct. 1873, dau. of Samuel &Lucy (Stiles) Thayer. William & Emma had five children: Harriett Manning b. Dec. 24, 1898, Marion Thayer b. Sept. 21, 1901, William Henry b. Feb. 7, 1904, Evelyn Rebecca b. Aug. 21, 1907 and Irma Adelaide b. Mar. 14, 1913. William & Emma would live out their days in the Carter home. Emma died July 17, 1927 and William H. April 9, 1936.

Daughter Harriett Manning Carter b. Dec. 24, 1898, married Charles Black Sparks b. Sept. 25, 1895 in Andover, son of William & Betsy (Napier) Sparks. Charles was a mechanic and work in a garage in Lawrence. They lived with William & Emma. Harriet & Charles had three children: Jane Thayer b. Sept. 26, 1928, William Carter b. June 29, 1932 and Betsy Napier b. 1937. All three graduated from Punchard High School, Jane in 1948, William 1950 and Betsy in 1954. Perhaps the Sparks waited until Betsy graduated as they sold the home on June 19, 1954 to James Henry & Mary Malloy Hart. The larger portion of the property was sold off to developer William F. D’Anolfo on Apr. 7, 1954.

The current owners of record are James F. & Mary E. Reilly who purchased the home on June 8, 1973 now 45 years in 2018.

See 153 Main St. for more Carter family history.