Original owners: George Foster and Sophronia Abbot, wife of David Gray
Themes: architecture, community development

This property was purchased by Sophrona Abbott, a single woman, from Henry Osgood on June 17, 1843 for $575. The half-acre parcel was formerly part of the old South Church Parsonage lot of 6½ acres. The parsonage stood on the corner of School and Central Streets. Sophrona sold one undivided half of the house to George Foster on Aug. 16, 1845 for $1400. the deed states "...the westerly side of the dwelling house lately erected by me".... Sophroina was born Feb. 18, 1803, the daughter of Enoch and Nancy (Flint) Abbot. On Sept. 11, 1845 she married David Gray, a cordwainer. Sophronia was a well liked woman but she was extremely outspoken. She was a member of the South Church joining on the same day as David’s second wife Sarah. Sophronia was an abolitionist and left South for Free Church on September 22, 1850. She did poetry and is probably responsible for the advertising prose in the Andover Advertiser, for husband David’s shoe repair business.

#5 WEST SIDE OF HOUSE; FOSTER - HUSSEY
George Foster was an Express man, married first to Rebecca H. Abbott, daughter of Enoch & Nancy (Flint) Abbott. They had two children; R. Georgietta b. Apr. 21, 1836, who married Henry Quimby and George Whitefield Foster b. May 21, 1847. Their mother Rebecca died and George remarried Elvira Augusta Hussey b. July 7, 1830 daughter of Elijah & Rosina Hussey.
George W. became a lawyer, married in 1877 to Belle J. b. June 1854 and they had three children two survived, Mary H.. b. Dec. 1878 and Phillip W. b. July 1884. George lived in Andover for many years living at 121 SO. Main St. and then 42 High St. in 1910. He later moved to Wakefield living with his son Phillip.
This half of the property was inherited by Elvira after George died in 1888. On Elvira's death the Hussey family became heirs to her estate and the property remained with the family members until 1980.
1850 Real Estate Valuation - Sophronia Gray 1/2 dwelling house, 1/4 acre land $1120. Geroge Foster 1/2 dwelling house 5 1/4 acres land $1120.
1852 map cites George Foster. David Gray, shoe-maker, and his wife, Sophronia Abbot Gray, who wrote poetry.
1872 map - George Foster and David Gray both still tenants.

#7 EAST SIDE OF HOUSE; GRAY - KENDALL
David Gray Jr. was born in Andover on March 15, 1798. He was the son of David and Rebecca (Jenkins) Gray. He was a cobbler by trade and had his own shop next to the house. David married four times, his first wife being Emily Abbot, on April 28, 1825. Emily was born in 1805 and died on Sept. 1, 1833. They had three daughters; Emily b. Feb. 11, 1826, Rebecca b. Feb. 29, 1828 and Clarissa A. b. Aug. 26, 1833 - d. Sept. 14, 1833. Emily probably died of complications during the birth of their last daughter.

David joined the South Church by profession of faith on November 3, 1833 but withdrew membership on August 10, 1834 to form the new Evangelical Church in the North Parrish. David remarried on March 20, 1834 to Sarah Peters the daughter of Lt. Joseph & Mehitable Peters. Sarah was b. June 5, 1800 and died May 31, 1836. They had one son Henry Peters b. Feb. 7, 1836. Sarah had also been a member of South Church since November 7, 1830 but withdrew with her new husband.

David then married the widow Mrs. Maria Bailey on June 11, 1837. Maria’s maiden name was Merrill and was from Bradford b. 1815. Maria had married Myron Bailey of Andover int. May 26, 1835. No death is recorded in the Andover vital records for Myron or any children to the Baileys. David & Maria had a daughter Sarah b. Nov. 18, 1838 and a son Jesse b. May 15, 1840. Wife Maria died of consumption on Nov. 21, 1843.

David Gray now has five surviving children ranging in ages from 17 years to 3 ½ years of age. He married a fourth time on Sept. 11, 1845 to Sophroina Abbot b. Feb. 18, 1803, the daughter of Enoch and Nancy Abbot.. The resided in the double house on the east side. They owned half the house and the barn and David’s cobblers shop occupied space just east of the house. The property remained undivided until 1868 when it was petitioned off as two separate properties. David Gray died on August 20, 1870 and Sophronia died 28 years later on Dec. 6, 1898. David is interred at South Church Cemetery with all four wives.
1850 Real Estate Valuation - Sophronia Gray 1/2 dwelling house, 1/4 acre land $1120.
The west side of the house was occupied by George W. Foster

The following poems appeared in the Andover Advertiser with David Gray promoting his business. His competitor Jacob Barnard jumped in with some friendly rebuttals of his own.

Feb. 4, 1865 AA – Notice –
David Gray, on Chestnut Street, Will tap the shoes worn on your feet,
In a style both strong and neat, That will your satisfaction meet.
And in these strange, peculiar times, Will do it well for ten half dimes. - (placed Jan 24, 1865)

Feb. 18, 1865 – Special Notice
David Gray, on Chestnut Street, Will tap the shoes worn on your feet,
In a style both strong and neat, That will your satisfaction meet.
And in these strange, peculiar times, Will do it well for ten half dimes.

To the question of late, which we so often meet,
Where is David Gray’s on Chestnut Street?
We would answer to all, who may need to inquire,
You will find next to Geo. Foster, Esq.

March 4, 1865 AA– Notice
At Barnard’s Store on Main Street, Is where they do their cobbling neat,
They will no leather use but what is prime, Your boots they will tap for seven and a half dimes.
And some may ask why work is done, In other shop for less a sum,
To this we answer never did we use, Belting leather to tap boots and shoes – (placed Feb. 25, 1865)

Mar. 11, 1865 – A Card of Thanks
David Gray would express and also confess, by this simple card his grateful regard,
To the Main street Bard, for laboring so hard, to make the fact known, that in tapping of shoes, belt leather we use; for it can be shown, and most of the people are ready to own, there is nothing its equal that is on the feet worn.

Aug. 5, 1865, AA
David Gray Has on hand, At his Chestnut Street Stand,
A supply of “prime sole leather”, Which he is ready to use, In tapping of shoes.
To keep the feet dry in wet weather. His price as before,
Is five shillings and no more. When the times were peculiar and strange,
For Grant has caught Lee, And the slaves are set free,
In the times there’s a wonderful change. (Andover - July 1, 1865)

May 30, 1879 AA – Mrs. S. A. Gray has sold her shop on Chestnut Street to Rev. Dr. Gulliver, and he has removed it on to his premises. (Dr. Gulliver was the new professor of the Theological Seminary)

June 27, 1879 AA – Noticeable improvements have been made on Chestnut Street. Messrs Regan & Howard have built a nice face wall in front of the residences of Mr. Foster and Mrs. Gray, and the highway surveyor Baker has improved the sidewalks and sewerage on the street.