Themes: Architectural, Community development

Moses Bailey – Nathan Bailey - Moses Bailey Abbott - Homestead

A 21 ¼ acre portion of this property was purchased by Moses Bailey [Bayley in deed] on July 20, 1768 from Ralph Holbrook of Andover and Samuel Aspinwall of Brookline. Another deed reference from a Nathan Boyle dated Nov. 11, 1735 (b. 74 leaf 77 not found) states, was also a portion of the first two parcels contained in the 75 acre parcel that contained the homestead.

Moses Bailey was born Jan. 16, 1743 in Bradford, MA, son of Nathan & Mary (Palmer) Bailey. Moses married on June 29, 1766 to Elizabeth Moore (Mooar)b. Mar. 8, 1748 in Andover, daughter of Timothy & Elizabeth (Abbott) Moore. Moses & Elizabeth had 12 children: Moses Jr. b. Oct. 20, 1766, Elizabeth b. July 6, 1768, Joshua b. Aug. 14, 1770, Sarah “Sally” b. Nov. 1, 1772, Nathan b. Feb. 2, 1775 – d. Nov. 2, 1776, Nathan B. b. Feb. 4, 1778, Hannah b. May 3, 1779, Rebecca b. Apr. 10, 1781, John Mooar b. July 10, 1784 and Timothy b. Oct. 18, 1786. Rhoda b. May 7, 1789.

Moses Bailey was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. His wife Elizabeth died on Mar. 16, 1818 age 70. By this time their son Nathan b. 1778, married to Elizabeth “Betsy” Abbott on Dec. 23, 1802 was widowed himself. Betsey died on Oct. 24, 1817 age 37 as did their daughter Elizabeth b. 1805 d. 1817 age 12 years. Nathan had two surviving children, Mary Palmer b. June 24, 1810 and son Nathan Jr. b. Apr. 28, 1816. Nathan remarried on Jan. 4, 1819 to Chloe Poor, b. May 14, 1779 in Andover, daughter of John & Chloe (Lovejoy) Poor. Nathan & Chloe would have one daughter Elizabeth “Eliza” b. May 23, 1820.

Moses Bailey died at age 98 on March 14, 1842 and was interred at West Parish Cemetery next to his first wife and daughter. Nathan had purchased seven parcels of land from his father and others. In the 1850 Andover Valuation schedule the farm is now 150 acres; house $600, Barn & other building $200.,74 acre home farm, $1628, 30 acre pasture & meadow $510, 20 acre Tower wood lot, $1800, 10 acre Home wood lot $800, 8 acre Brook meadow, $150, 8 acre Wood Poor lot $200, Farm stock and carriage $344 and $1000 in money. Nathan’s son Nathan Jr. married Permelia b. 1824 and worked the farm with his father. Sadly he died on Jan. 8, 1854 at age 37. In the 1860 Census on Nathan, Chloe and Eliza are listed in the home. Nathan died on Jan. 11, 1862 at age 84 years 11 months.

Nathan’s daughter Mary Palmer b. 1810, married William Seymour Abbott b. 1805 – d. 1869 and had three children; William W. b. 1835 – d. 1901, Mary Jane b. 1837 – d. 1901 and Moses Bailey Abbott b. Dec. 5, 1841. The children would become the heirs to the Nathan Bailey farm after the death of their mother Mary. J. on Sept. 7, 1876.

Moses Bailey Abbott, a veteran of the Civil War, married on Nov. 26, 1867 to Susan Emma Dowling b. July 31, 1848 in Andover, dau. of Nathaniel & Ann Dowding. He purchased the 1/3 shares of the farm from his siblings on Dec. 31, 1884. Moses B. & Susan E. had two daughters; Eva Eliza b. Dec. 9, 1869 and Lilla Anna. Moses B. died of pneumonia on Dec. 30, 1891. His widow Susan would sell the farm for $4000 to James H. Brundrett and Frederick W. Brundrett a year later with the provision that she and her daughters could remain in the house until March 1, 1893.

Note: 10 Nov 1986 inquiry for NR
October 1988 photo - Barbara Thibault