Themes: Architectural, Community development

52 Salem St.- Rice – Richardson House. Circa 1812

The property was owned by David Cummings, wife Hannah (Ames), when he sold this two acre lot to David Rice on March 3, 1810 for $230. David purchased a second 75 sq. rod parcel for $60 adjoining his lot on Mar. 22, 1811. David was a carpenter, joined the South Church on Oct. 23, 1808. He married on March 5, 1812 to Elizabeth Gidings. They had one son Edward b. Nov. 26, 1812. David and Elizabeth took a $300 loan from the Trustees of Phillips Academy on Sept. 17, 1814 and the deeds stated “2a 75 rods with building thereon standing”. It is possible that David may have built this house. Elizabeth died shortly after (no record in AVR) and David remarried on Nov. 22, 1817 to Maria Gerran of Newburyport. Their union produced five children; daughter_______ b. Sept. 14, 1818, Eliza Ann b. Dec. 1820, Mary Livingston b. Nov. 11, 1822 – d. Oct. 4, 1825, David bpt. June 25, 1826 and William Albert b. July 26, 1828. David Rice sold the property after 25 years of ownership

Nathan Hadlock, wife Anne E. of Derring, NH purchased the property on July 21, 1835 from Rice for $1300. Nathan Hadlock was born April 28, 1783 Derring, NH, son of Levi & Eliz. (Gould) Hadlock. He married in Newburyport, MA to Ann Call on June 11, 1817 and had one son Levi born 1820. Maine directories and Census list Nathan as a farmer. Andover tax records for 1836 list $29.60 with suggests a business. Nathan owned for nine years, moved to Bangor, ME and sold the house to Samuel S. Richardson on June 8, 1844 for $1700.

Samuel Stillman Richardson was born May 25, 1815 in Reading, MA, son of Silas & Sarah “Sally” Richardson. Samuel was a Cordwainer and shoe manufacturer and married May 21, 1840, Rhoda Ann Abbot b. Apr. 11, 1817, dau. of Enoch and Nancy (Flint) Abbot. Sam & Rhoda had three children; Alvan b. June 4, 1843 – d. Sept. 3, 1843, Sarah F. b. Oct. 5, 1845 – d. 1869, Ellen Phillippi b. Dec. 31, 1847 – May 5, 1923.

The 1850 Andover Valuation list; Sam. S. Richardson; 2½ acres, dwelling house and barn $2000. Small house $300 = $2300. His brother Silas; Dwelling house, Shop and 2½ acres $1500.

Samuel entered into an Indenture contract with his father Silas and mother Sally family on Sept. 8, 1849. Sam leased the house to his parents for one cent a year during their natural life and a promise to pay the rent and taxes and any other assessments. The 1860 Census has both families in the house: Silas 74 shoemaker, Sally 72, and dau. Elizabeth Eustis 40 dressmaker – Samuel 45, Rhoda 43, Sarah F. 14, Ellen P. age 12. His brother Silas Jr. also a shoemaker lived close by on Salem St. Silas Sr. died on Nov. 14, 1865 and Sally on May 25, 1866.

Samuel sells the home to his brother Silas Richardson Jr. also a shoemaker, for $700 on Aug. 1, 1868 and included the house lot, now #54 Salem St. Silas Jr. was born on Jan 16, 1830 in Boston, married June 5, 1856 at Free Church to Charlotte Hill b. Dec. 30, 1834, dau. of William & Phebe (Mooar) Hill. They did not have issue. Silas joined the Army during the Civil War in June 1861, served in Co. H. MA 1st Heavy Artillery Reg. mustered out on July 8, 1864 at rank of Corporal. The 1870 Census lists Silas in Reading, MA and Samuel & Rhoda still the house on Salem St. with dau. Ellen age 22 and a Typesetter.

Silas Jr. died on June 27, 1874 in Reading. His widow Charlotte Richardson sold the property to Rhoda E. Braddock on Feb. 14, 1873. Charlotte died on Sept. 13, 1897 and is interred with Silas Jr. at South Church Cemetery.

Rhoda Braddock was b. 1811 in Maine, daughter of John & Mary Braddock. Rhoda, a single woman, appears to have rented the main house and boarded students from the Academy and Seminary. The 1880 census lists Rhoda B. age 70 keeping house, Herbert Stebbins 23 student at ATS and his mother Betsey Stebbins age 61. Samuel Richardson 65 shoemaker, Rhoda 63 and Ellen P. 31 a Compositor, appear to be renting from Braddock. Rhoda Braddock died on June 30, 1881 at the age of 70 years 4m. She is interred in a single grave at Spring Grove Cemetery. Rhoda's estate went to her heirs; Carrie B. Hart, Henry C. Hart and Harry G. Hart, all of East Orange, NJ.
The Hart heirs then sold the property on Sept. 20, 1881 to former owner Samuel Stillman Richardson. His wife Rhoda Ann Richardson died on Aug. 15, 1883. Samuel also known as Stillman Richardson re-married on Sept. 29, 1886 at the Baptist Church in Methuen to Martha M. Hill, born Mar. 14, 1827, dau. of Wm. & Phebe (Mooar) Hill and the sister of Charlotte, wife of Silas Richardson Jr. brother of Samuel. Samuel died on Jan 15, 1896. Martha then sold the property to Samuel’s only surviving child Ellen P. Richardson for $700 on June 9, 1896. Ellen P. Richardson was listed in the 1880 census as a Compositor. She held the property for a year then selling to Sarah I. Cannon of Lawrence, MA. Ellen P. Richardson died on May 5, 1923.

AT June 18, 1897 – The Richardson house on Salem Street has been purchased by G.C. Cannon of Lawrence who will occupy the house. Mr. Cannon will also erect a new house on the land. The Cannons took out a $5500 mortgage on the property and may have included the construction of their new house at #54.
AT July 16, 1897 - G. C. Cannon’s new house on Salem Street is being constructed by contractor Stevens. The plans are from the office of architect Ashton of Lawrence.
AT July 20, 1897 - Work on the frame of C.C. Cannon’s new house on Salem Street was completed this week.

Sarah Idealia (Alexander) Cannon was the wife of Gordon Clark Cannon. She was born April 10, 1858 in So. Dedham, MA. Her husband Gordon established Cannon's Commercial College in Lawrence, MA, located in the Bay State Building at 804 Essex Street. The school catered to secretarial occupations teaching penmanship, stenography and typing. The Cannons took out a $5500 mortgage on the property.
Gordon C. & Sarah Cannon had two sons Gordon Roderick b. Jan. 23, 1883 and Carl Winfred b. April 12, 1885 both born in Lawrence. They attended Phillips Academy and later taught penmanship at the college. Gordon Clark Cannon died on Dec. 6, 1916.

Son Carl W. then took over the family business. Carl married on June 27, 1911 to Bessie Agnes Monk b. Nov. 21, 1883 in St. Paul, MN, daughter of Frederick E. & Elizabeth C. (Barrie) Monk. Bessie was a student at the college and later is listed as Principal of the stenography department.
Sarah Idelia Cannon died Dec. 1, 1923. Her two sons were the heirs of the property. The Property was sub-divided in May 1929 plan #756. Oldest son Gordon R. had married Helen E. Bailey and got the house at #54. Carl W. and wife Bessie was deeded the house and property at #52 on June 10, 1929

Carl & Bessie Cannon then sold to Dorothy M. L. Murray on June 10, 1929 and moved to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1929. Dorothy Maitland Lee (Griggs) Murray was the widow of Francis King “Bay” Murray, an instructor at Phillips Academy who died on April 2, 1929 at age 34. They had resided at 23 Salem St. and had four children, Mary Lindley b. 1922 NY, Carol Lee b. Dec. 17, 1923 NY, Nancy West b. Feb. 19, 1924 CA, and Douglas Maitland b. Feb. 8, 1928 Boston. Dorothy owned for 15 years then selling to Franklin T. & Virginia A. Bigelow on June 20, 1944.
Additional owners include;
Donald & Victoria MacDonald - Dec. 27, 1950 - 1977
Peter C. & Carol L. Ommundson - Jan 19, 1977 - 2000
Martin A. & Paula A. Sinozich - Nov. 15, 2000 - 2003
Mark S. & Julie A. Kuzio - July 11, 2003 –