Themes: architectural, community development

74 Lowell Street

This property was once part of the Chandler- Bigsby - Abbot homestead at 88 Lowell St. Jeduthan Abbot Jr. inherited from his father and sold to his son Moody Bridges Abbot in 1837. We believe Moody B. built this second home about 1850 but did not reside here.

Jeduthan Abbot Jr. (Capt. Jeduthan, William, Nehemiah, Nehemiah, George, George) b. June 18, 1777; son of Capt. Jeduthan & Hannah (Poor) Abbot, Yeoman, lived with father at 88 Lowell St.; m. January 17, 1805 to Mary (Betsy) Bridges b. Sept.21, 1786 daughter of James III & Mary Bridges. Jeduthan and Betsy's children were William, b. May 27, 1805 and Moody Bridges b. May 24, 1808.

Moody Bridges Abbott, a Yeoman, married Dec. 8, 1830 to Hannah Varnum Noyes b. Sept. 28, 1812 d. Apr. 9, 1897, daughter of Frederick & Hannah Noyes. Moody purchased the homestead at 88 Lowell St. from his father on Mar. 8, 1837 which contained four parcels of land. It appears that Moody built the new home at 74 Lowell St. about 1849-1850. The 1850 Andover Valuation schedule lists Moody B. Abbott: Dwelling house $650, Barn and other bld. $175, New House and shed $650, 43 acres home farm $1290, 4½ acres Pigeon Hill $120, 4¾ acres Bell meadow = 52 acres $2975. Farm Stock $218. Moody and family lived at #88 Lowell. Both properties are shown as M. B. Abbott on the 1852 map of Andover.

Moody and Hannah had six children; Hannah J. b. Mar. 23, 1832-d. Jan. 20, 1833, Charles M. b. June 27, 1834, Jeduthan Varnum b. 1836, Samuel Herbert b. 1838, Hannah Jane b. Apr. 18, 1842, Sarah Maria b. Sept. 17, 1844, and Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) b. Sept. 5, 1852 (m. Richard Alfred Ward son of Anthony and Sarah D. Ward. It was Lizzie’s in-laws who would later purchase 88 Lowell St. from her brother Charles in 1874.

Moody sold the homestead and 31 acres adjoining to son Charles H. on June 18, 1859, rec. May 17, 1860. He reserved the northwest ½ of the house for life for himself and wife Hannah. Both would quit claim that tenancy on Nov. 1, 1866. The 1860 Valuation list Moody with ½ house, two barns, the new house and the Merrill house along with five parcel of land = 60½ aces. Charles owns ½ house, barn and 32 adjoining acres. The 1870 Valuation; Moody B.: house, two barns and 32 acres. Charles H. has house, barn and 31 acres.

Moody B. Abbott died on June 22, 1876 and his remaining estate went to his children. His widow Hannah V. died age 85 years on April 9, 1897. They are interred at West Parish Cemetery.

Charles sold this property with 8 acres 2 rods and 6 sq. rods to George Henry Cochran on Aug. 21, 1878 for $2000. George H. was born in 1839, son of Henry & Sophia (Hardy) Cochran. George never married and his sister Sophia Augusta Cochran lived with him for several years. Sophia inherits the property when George died on Aug. 21, 1906. Sophia remained in the home and took in boarders.

The 1920 Census has Hubert H. Mayo age 47, b. VT, wife Mary A. age 41, Archibald age 24 wife Grace C. age 24 and son Donald age 4, as renter from Sophia. Hubert and son Archibald work in the Woolen Mills. On May 18, 1923 Archibald J. Mayo and Hubert H. Mayo purchase the house. Hubert H. & Mary A. Mayo take full ownership on Feb. 1, 1934.