47 Central Street

Architectural Description: 

NRDIS NRMRA
Style: Georgian
Other features: Exceptionally fine corner pilasters; hip roof; brick piers

There were architectural similarities to the Academy former "Mansion House" and to the houses of Timothy Flagg & Abraham Gould on South Main Street. Also to their common influence, the Craigie - Longfellow House at Cambridge.

Historical Narrative: 

Original owner: Samuel Abbot, retired Boston merchant
Themes: Architectural, Community development, Education
Andover Preservation Award (June 1990)

Historical significance:
The property was purchased on April 9, 1776, by Samuel Abbot of Boston, a merchant and importer. Abbot bought for 106 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence from Deacon Daniel Poor (a Tanner), nine acres with a Colonial "dwelling house and barn", part of the homestead land formerly of the Joseph Abbot. The deed "excluding the small house built by Thomas Holt & others now standing on the premises."

Abbot retired from his Boston business when the British took possession of it. Samuel Abbot was born on Feb. 25, 1731-2, son of Capt. George Abbot 3rd and Mary (Phillips) Abbot. Samuel came here because his mother was a sister of Rev. Samuel Phillips. Samuel became a founder (1808) and benefactor of the Andover Theological Seminary and supporter of South Church. Samuel married Sarah Kneeland, a widow and mother of John Kneeland, who became his step-father's legal representative. June 5, 1792, the frame was raised on his new house, built from a design of an English manor house, brought to him by Thomas Houghton, (later a partner of Samuel Phillips in paper manufacturing in Andover). The old buildings bought from Poor in 1776 were incorporated as the kitchen, barn, and woodshed in the new mansion house. By November 1793, Samuel Abbot, Esquire had moved in. Abbot acquired a second parcel of land for 200 pounds of 2 3/4 acres from Daniel Poor on Dec. 1, 1794. It came with a right of way to use his new "lane and 3 rods over a bridge in sd. lane as occasion my require with horses & C to sd. premises."

Abijah Fuller, a local carpenter, redrew plans for 7 shillings; carpenters were Thomas Osgood and Stephen Cummings.; masons were William Russ and Jonathan Fiske; Ezekiah Wardwell did interior, as well as exterior decoration. Two fireplace mantles from Paris.

Samuel Abbot died on April 30, 1812 at age 80y 2m 5d and is interred in South Church cemetery. The Trustees of Phillips Academy administered his estate. They later sold the property for $5000. to Rev. Mark Newman, wife Abigail, on April 29, 1818. He was third principal of Phillips Academy and exchanged his 210 South Main St. house with trustees for this home. Newman owned for 30 years.

Newman sold house to Prof. Simon Greenleaf, Esq., Dean of Harvard Law School, wife Hannah, for $5,000. on July 15, 1848. Greenleaf acquired a second parcel of land on Mar. 13, 1849 for $1000. Greenleaf held just two years then sold for $7,750 to Rev. Jeremiah S. Young, wife Mary B., manufacturer and retired first treasurer of Pacific Mills, Lawrence. Mr. Young bought on May 18, 1850. The 1850 Andover Valuation lists Jeremiah Young property: Dwelling house, barn and other buildings $4500. 5 3/4 acres of land adjoining $300. Personal estate $1000. money. They too owned just two years, then selling on Dec. 9, 1852, to Samuel Lawrence for $8500. Lawrence was agent of Bay State Woolen Company.

A large central window on South side of attic was added then. Probably lattice work on roof at this time.
May 21, 1853 – Andover Advertiser - "Samuel Lawrence, Esq. has much improved the estate of which he has lately become the owner. The fine old Mansion, built by Samuel Abbot, Esq., of grateful memory, was esteemed the best in town, at that time, and in its new garniture of paint and polish, is “as good as new”, and makes a beautiful appearance."

Lawrence became insolvent in 1859 and the property was assigned to Charles D. Head & John Lowell of Boston on April 27, 1859. The Assignees then sold to Elijah Upton of South Danvers for $8,000. on June 18, 1859. The property was now 14 acres. Upton sold to Hiram & Mary W. French in 1871.
Dr. Mary Harris, sister of seminary professor, had her office here in the 1880s (rear room, 1st floor on North side).
In Sept. 1888 widow Mary French sold to George W. & Helen (Smith) Coburn.

George W. Coburn was b. Oct. 10, 1829, in Ipswich, MA. He married in 1859 to Helen Gavin Smith, a daughter of John Smith of the Smith and Dove Manufacturing Co. Coburn contracted architects Hartwell and Richardson of Boston to make extensive alterations. It was then, 1888 -1889, that the large veranda on the North and Northwest was added, as well as the portico at the main entryway and the terrace at the East front. The kitchen, sheds, and barn from the original Poor structure at the site were removed and replaced with a new kitchen ell. George Coburn died on Apr. 3, 1890, at age 59 and Helen inherited the property. The Coburns owned a home in Boston and used Andover as their summer residence.

On Dec. 10, 1905, Helen (Smith) Coburn died at her home in Boston and was interred in the Smith family lot at West Parish Cemetery. She willed the property to her nephew, George F. Smith, son of Joseph Warren & Frances S. (Donald) Smith. George Smith deeded it to his mother, Frances "Fannie S." Smith in April 1906 and it was then known as "Glenesk". Fannie Smith deeded the property to her daughter Mary Byers Smith in Dec. 1926. Mary then began renovations to the house at #57 Central by disconnecting it from the home at #59 Central and moving it north onto the present lot.

Mary Smith then sold the property at #47 along with 8.58 acres to Mitchell & Margaret W. Johnson on July 30, 1927. The Johnsons, who made minor renovations held the property until 1956 when they sold to developer C. Lincoln Giles.

Giles divided the property and sold off the mansion house lot to John J. & Nancy (Barnard) McArdle Jr. on April 9, 1956. Giles then developed Old South Lane converting the former carriage house into a single family home at #8 Old South Lane.

Dr. John & Nancy McArdle lived in the home until selling to their son John J. McArdle on Apr. 9, 1985. John continues to reside here in 2014.

Lucie and Lee Hancock were also residents in the house but did not own.
1884: attached barn, 1906: carriage house, 1926 atlas: carriage house

This home was once thought to be the house where the staff, traveling with President Franklin Peirce, stayed when he was visiting his in-laws across the street at 48 Central St. Recent research however has disproved that claim. You can read more about that research on the History Buzz blog, hosted by the Andover Center for History and Culture.
https://historybuzz.substack.com/p/mystery-mondays-the-summer-white
https://historybuzz.substack.com/p/mystery-mondays-the-pierce-family
https://historybuzz.substack.com/p/mystery-mondays-president-benjamin

Bibliography/References: 

Andover Historical Society files.
*Bailey, Sarah L.: "Historical Sketches of Andover"; Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1889, pg. 456 - 457
*Baker Library, Harvard University: Documents on construction of house
*Goldsmith Bessie: "Historical Houses of Andover, Mass." 1946
*Jobe, Brock: "Samuel Abbot House of Andover, Mass."; architectural study for Boston University, 1975 at Andover Historical Society
*Thomas, Milton H., editor: "Elias Boudinet's Journey to Boston in 1809", Princeton University, 1955, pg. 69
*Woods, Rev. Leonard: "History of the Andover Theological Seminary", Boston, James Osgood, 1885
*Sermon delivered May 3, 1812 at funeral of Samuel Abbot, Boston, Armstrong, 1812
Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA

Owners;
Joseph Abbot -
Joseph Abbot estate -
Deacon Daniel Poor -
Samuel Abbot - April 9, 1776 - b. 141 leaf 149 - 9 acres w/house & barn
Samuel Abbot - Dec. 1, 1794 - b. 159 leaf 12 - 2 3/4 acres
Samuel Abbot estate, died April 1812, - Trustees of Phillips Academy
Trustees of Phillips Academy Administrators - 1812 - 1818
Rev. Mark Newman - Apr. 29, 1818 - b.. 216 leaf 229 - $5000
Rev. Mark Newman, wife Abigail, - July 30, 1818 - b. 216 leaf 228 - 1 acre 133 rds.
Prof. Simon Greenleaf, wife Hannah, - July 15, 1848 - b. 400 leaf 120 - house 6 acres - $5000
Prof. Simon Greenleaf, Mar. 13, 1849 - b. 409 leaf 2
Rev. Jeremiah S. Young, wife Mary B., May 18, 1850 - b. 429 leaf 161 - $7750
Samuel Lawrence, wife Alison - Dec. 9, 1852 - b. 470 leaf 163 - $8500
Charles D. Head & John Lowell of Boston, Assignees - Apr. 27, 1859 - b. 589 leaf 266
Elijah W. Upton - June 18, 1859 - b. 589 leaf 267 - $8000.
Hiram W. & Mary E. (Wilder) French - June 15, 1871 - b. 9 p. 581 - Lawrence, deeds
Hiram W. French estate, died 1879 heir Mary French - 1879 - 1888 by will probate
George W. & Helen (Smith) Coburn - Sept. 18, 1888 - b. 97 p. 558
George W. Coburn estate, died Apr. 3, 1890, Helen Smith Coburn will - 1890 - 1905
Helen S. Coburn estate, heir George R. Smith by will - Dec. 28, 1905
Francis "Fannie S." (Donald) Smith - April 26, 1906 - b.231 p. 577
Esther Byers Smith - Dec. 29, 1926 - b. 533 p. 391 and July 21, 1927 b. 534 p. 97
Mitchell & Margaret W. Johnson. - July 30, 1927 - b. 534 p. 98
C. Lincoln Giles - Jan. 17, 1956 - b. 827 p. 378
Dr. John J. & Nancy B. McArdle Jr. - Mar. 9, 1956 - b. 830 p. 32
John J. McArdle 3rd - Apr. 9, 1985 - b. 1952 p. 23

Inventory Data:

StreetCentral St
PlaceAndover Center
Historic DistrictCentral Street NRH District
Historic NameSamuel Abbot - Rev. Mark Newman House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1792 - 1793
SourceB. Goldsmith - Historical Houses
Architectural StyleGeorgian
Architect/BuilderCarpenters: Thomas Osgood, Stephen Cummings, Abijah Fuller; Decorator: Ezekiah Wardwell; Masons: William Russ, Jonathan Fisks
Foundationstone/granite
Wall/Trimclapboards/wood
Roofcedar shingle - hip
Major Alterationsadded attic window (1853) verandas added (1889) by Hartwell & Richardson for Coburn family
Conditionexcellent
Acreageless than one acre; Lot size: 32,853 sq. ft.; Approx. frontage: Central Street - 174'; South Lane - 180'
Settingresidential
Map and parcel55-147
MHC NumberANV.111
Recorded byStack/Mofford, James Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered1975-1977, 4/2014

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