Andover Massachusetts Genealogy

Biographical Sketch of Gardner Abbott

Abbott, Gardner; attorney; born, Cincinnati, O., Dec. 11, 1878; son of Willard and Caroline Powers Younglove Abbott; educated Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.; Yale University, A. B.; Columbia Law School, LL. B.; married, Cleveland, Oct. 16, 1912, Lois A. Allen; member Cleveland Board of Health, 1912; Troop A, 1st Sergt.; entered the office of Blandin, Rice and Ginn, 1905; started business for himself in 1909; vice pres. Bates Valve Bag Co.; pres. Abbott Realty Co.; sec’y Babies’ Dispensary and Hospital and Cleveland Music School Settlement; member Andover P. A. E.; Alpha Delta Phi; Wolf’s Head; Columbia Phi Delta Phi; director Union … Read more

Biography of William C. Noon

William C. Noon was born in Leicester, England, in 1835. At the age of nine years he came with his parents to America, settling in Andover, Massachusetts, where his father found employment at his trade in a woolen mill. He received the benefits of a common school education until thirteen years old when he began to work in a woolen mill at Andover. He was employed for several years thereafter in similar mills at Lawrence and Worcester, Massachusetts, and for some three or four years in the State of Maine. During this period he acquired a very thorough knowledge of … Read more

Ancestors of John Richardson Bronson of Attleboro, MA

JOHN RICHARDSON BRONSON, M. D., who for over half a century was one of the best known practitioners of medicine in southern Massachusetts and part of Rhode Island, and who for upward of fifty years was a resident of Attleboro, was a native of Connecticut, born in the town of Middlebury, New Haven county, June 5, 1829, son of Garry and Maria (Richardson) Bronson.

The Bronson family was early planted in the New World. John Bronson (early of record as Brownson and Brunson) was early at Hartford. He is believed, though not certainly known, to have been one of the company who came in 1636 with Mr. Hooker, of whose church he was a member. He was a soldier in the Pequot battle of 1637. He is not named among the proprietors of Hartford in the land division of 1639; but is mentioned in the same year in the list of settlers, who by the “towne’s courtesie” had liberty “to fetch woods and keepe swine or cowes on the common.” His house lot was in the “soldiers’ field,” so called, in the north part of the old village of Hartford, on the “Neck Road” (supposed to have been given for service in the Pequot war), where he lived in 1640. He moved, about 1641 to Tunxis (Farmington) He was deputy from Farmington in May, 1651, and at several subsequent sessions, and the “constable of Farmington” in 1652. He was one of the seven pillars at the organization of the Farmington Church in 1652. His name is on the list of freemen of Farmington in 1669. He died Nov. 28, 1680.

Biography of Marvin Whitman Ray

MARVIN WHITMAN RAY, a member of the Durkee & Ray Corporation, of which he was one of the founders and is also the treasurer, holds a prominent position in the mercantile life of his community. He is also actively interested in all movements for the progress and general welfare of the section, and his service in civic, fraternal and other organizations has earned for him the esteem of all who come in touch with him. He is a member of an old American family, being the representative in the sixth generation in direct lineal descent of the original pioneer who … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Archer Roberts Simpson

ARCHER ROBERTS SIMPSON – A lawyer, well established in Springfield, Massachusetts, and prominent in social and other circles, Archer Roberts Simpson was born in Dover, New Hampshire, May 6, 1885. He was graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, in 1907, entered Yale University, and was graduated from that institution in 1911, and then went to the Law School of George Washington University, from which he was graduated in 1915. He has now practiced law for ten years and is senior member of the firm of Simpson, Clason & Callahan. Mr. Simpson was a member of the Springfield City Council for … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Levi A. Johnson

Johnson, Levi A.; real estate and fire insurance; born, Cleveland, Sept. 1, 1873; son of Philander L. and Sarah M. Clarke Johnson; educated, Cleveland public schools, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University; married, Cleveland, Oct. 24, 1911, Margaret Taylor Dodge; one son, Levi Clarke Johnson; sec’y and treas. The Johnson Realty Co.; director The Wood & Spencer Co.; member Chamber of Commerce. Cleveland Real Estate Board, Delta Psi Fraternity of Yale University; member Union, and Country Clubs; his grandfather, Levi Johnson, came to Cleveland, March 10, 1809; he built the first steamboat that sailed from Cleveland, built … Read more

Free Massachusetts Vital Records

Vital Records of Bellingham Massachusetts to 1850

This is a collection of free vital records books, most of them known by “Tan Books” for Massachusetts towns. Generally, these records go up to 1849/1850 at which, the genealogist can use the census records to assist in identifying the family connections further. They’re called “tan books” because they were bound by tan cloth. Included with this article is an account of why and how these manuscripts were published along with links to all 205 Massachusetts vital records pdfs which can be freely read or downloaded.

The ancestry of Joshua Dow of Avon, Maine

The ancestry and posterity of Joshua Dow of Avon, Maine traces from John Dow and Johan Coop of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. The first descendant in America, Henry Dow, came from England to America in 1637 with his wife, four children, and a maid. He first settled at Watertown, Massachusetts before relocating to Hampton, New Hampshire. He wrote his surname variously as Dow, Dow and Doue. One of the first Dow to settle in Avon, was Joshua, son of John and Betsey (Strout) Dow, who moved from Portland to Avon soon after his brother and sister, and settled before 1828 near Mt. Blue and Mt. Blue Pond.

Surnames: Briggs, Bryon, Crockett, Davenport, Dickey, Doue, Dow, Dowe, Dresser, Dunham, Esty, Hall, Harnden, Harradon, Hinkley, Kinney, Kittredge, Ladd, McLaughlin, Mitchell, Orberton, Pettingell, Richardson, Ross, Sampson, Sedgeley, Stinchfield, Vining, Walton, Webber, and Worthley.

Biographical Sketch of Ralph D. Mitchell

Mitchell, Ralph D.; lake transportation; born. Marine City, Mich., Dec. 5, 1878; son of John and Mary Rowell Mitchell; educated, University School, 1902-1908, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., 1908-1909, Yale University; married, Hillsboro, 0.; June 20, 1907, Helen Boyd; one son and two daughters; since 1902, engaged in vessel business on the lakes with his father; vice pres. Cleveland. Steamship Co.; pres. Gathwick Steamship Co.; sec’y Miller Ore Co., and Winston Coal Co.; director Sedalia Coal & Mining Co., and Edward Mnfg. Co.; member Union, Tavern, and Euclid Clubs, and Chamber of Commerce.

Abbot Family of New England

A genealogical dictionary of the first settlers of New England vol 1

Arthur Abbot, Marblehead Perhaps removed to Ipswich, joined Winthrop 1634, in the settlement of that town, was living in 1671, and probably died before 1679. We know of issue, only Philip, whose descendants have tradition that he came from Totness in County Devon, where he left good estate of which for several years after migration the income was enjoyed by him. Arthur Abbot, Ipswich Perhaps son of the preceding in 1671 made freeman then called Jr. and, in 1674, 35 years old; by wife Elizabeth who died 17 Feb. 1738, aged 90, had Elizabeth born 6 June 1686, and probably … Read more

Biography of George W. Holt, Jr.

Jonathan Holt, a soldier of the revolution, was the father of Josiah Holt, a native of Hampton, Conn. who during his active life followed the trade of a machinist. He married Mary Prior, who became the mother of a large family, the eldest son, William L., being well-known as a successful manufacturer, and a man of much mechanical skill, both in New England and in the South, to which section he subsequently removed. Another son, George W. Holt, the father of the subject of this biography, was born March 16th, 1816, in Plainfield, Conn., and in 1831 removed to Slatersville, … Read more

Donald, James Cleveland – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon James Cleveland Donald, 75, of Acton, Mass., a former Baker City resident, died April 11, 2004. He was a third-generation citizen of Baker County. His father, James Donald, was a member of the Baker City law firm, Nichols, Hallock, Donald, Banta, which is now Silven, Schmeits and Vaughan. James attended Baker schools until he was 16 when he transferred to Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass. He kept close to his classmates at Baker High School and attended every reunion of the Class of 1946. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service during his college vacations. He was … Read more

Biography of Cyrus O. Brown

Cyrus O. Brown, formerly a well-known schoolmaster and now a prosperous farmer of Epsom, was born in Kensington, N.H., August 15, 1834, son of Abel and Ruth (Fellows) Brown. On the paternal side he is a lineal descendant of John Brown, who, born in England in 1589, is said to have been of Scotch origin. It is believed that this ancestor was reared in a seaport town, as he was a ship-carpenter by trade. It is recorded that he was concerned in the building of many vessels for the king. He emigrated to New England, and became one of the … Read more

Biography of Hon. Isaac Ingalls Stevens

HON. ISAAC INGALLS STEVENS. – Governor Stevens was born at Andover, Massachusetts, March 18, 1818. He graduated from West Point in the class of 1839, of which he stood at the head, and immediately thereafter was commissioned second lieutenant of engineers. In 1840 he was promoted to a first lieutenancy. In the war with Mexico (1846-1848) he served on the staff of General Scott and for gallant and meritorious services at Contreras, Churubusco and Chapultepec earned the brevet rank of major. He was severely wounded in the capture of the City of Mexico from the effect of which he suffered … Read more

Early Records and Notes of the Brown Family

This is not a compiled genealogy, but rather, a compilation of notes, facts, and genealogies concerning the various early Brown families of the towns of Andover, Ipswich, Hamilton, Reading, Boston-Tewksbury, Cambridge, Charlestown, Chelmsford, Gloucester, Hampton NH, Haverhill, Salem, Watertown, Rowley, Sudbury, and Salisbury. Charlotte Helen Abbott compiled a series of volumes on early families of New England called the “Abbott Genealogies.” This is volume 7 of the series.

Biographical Sketch of Ames, Frank M.

Ames, Frank M., son of Oakes and Eveline (Gilmore) Ames, was born in North Easton, Bristol County, August 14, 1833. He was educated at Leicester and Andover academies. Upon leaving school he entered into the employ of the well-known firm of Oliver Ames & Sons, where he remained several years, and became practically acquainted not only with the mechanical part of manufacturing shovels, but also with the details of an extensive business. In 1858 he removed to Canton to take control of the business of the Kinsley Iron & Machine Company. At the present time he is one of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert H. York

York, Robert H.; mnfr.; born, Michigan, Oct. 29, 1866; son of Barney H. and Julia Harkness York; educated, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.; married, Cleveland, Oct. 3, 1892; Clara Gordon; issue, three children; pres. The Berkshire Mnfg. Co.; member Union, Tavern, Euclid, Country, Mayfield, Country, and Roadside Clubs, Cleveland; Manhattan, N. Y.

Biography of William Leavitt Bennett

William Leavitt Bennett, a prominent resident of Andover, was born in the town of Loudon, this State, January 16, 1837. His grandfather, Jeremiah Bennett, formerly of Kingston, accompanied Clough, journeyed from there to Loudon, carrying his luggage and implements on a hand-barrow. Having chosen a tract of timbered land favorably situated, he felled a few trees, and built a log hut. He had been a reed-maker by trade; but, after coming to Loudon, he devoted himself to clearing his land and to tilling the soil. He gradually placed it under cultivation; and, when he died, at the ripe age of … Read more

Biography of Alford Jonathan Harwi

Alford Jonathan Harwi was one of the great merchants of Kansas. Beginning as an obscure hardware dealer in Atchison he built up a busines which now stands as a monument to his energy and foresight, the A. J. Harwi Hardware Company being one of the leading wholesale concerns of the Missouri Valley. Life extended to him only the opportunities which it extends to every one. It was his own personal character, his enterprise, and a vigorous and resourceful mind which enabled him to seize and develop possibilities into realities of a large and imposing character. While he would be mentioned … Read more

Parker Genealogy of Bluehill, Maine

Peter Parker, Sr., came from Andover, Mass., to Blue Hill Maine in 1765. He was a brother of Col. Nathan and Robert Parker, and was born at Andover Jan. 8, 1741; married Phebe Marble June 5, 1766. She was born July 29, 1744; died Oct. 1, 1805. He died October 24, 1822, aged eighty-one years, ten months and twenty-three days. Their children were as follows: Phebe, Serena, Peter, Hannah, Susannah, Marble, Mary, Isaac and Joanna.