As the interest in the early descendants of George¹ Abbott of Rowley largely centres at Andover, Mass... the following historical fact in connection with that town, which have been taken from the Andover Townsman¹, 1888, are given.

The first settlement of the town, as is well known, was in the "North Parish," which was incorporated as a separate town in 1855.  The original town was incorporated as Andover in 1646.  It had previously been called Cochich-a-wicke, and as such had been "sold to Mr. John Woodbridge in behalf of y^e inhabitants" by "Cutshumache Sagamore of y^e Massachusetts' Indians, for the sum of £6 and a Coat."  Settlements were begun however as early as 1641 or 1642.  Probably the earliest list of Andover settlers is that found on one side of a leaf preserved in an old volume, with other well worn and mutilated relics of some previous book of town records.  It bears no date, but the other papers preserved with it are dated in the latter quarter of the seventeenth century.

As at Rowley, Mass., the early settlers probably did not, at first, own land in severalty.  In due time, however, lots of land were assigned to them.  The following list of these settlers, showing the quantity of land granted to each, is found on the reverse side of the "leaf preserved in an old volume," before mentioned.²

Mr Bradstreet 2. ac. of a howse lott onely
George Abbott Junr 2. ac. of a howse lott also
Henry Ingalls 7. ac. and one halfe of meadow more or meadow & upland to a 5. ac. lott wh hee bought of Tho: Chandler wh makes his accomodation (besydes what hee bought of Goodma holt) a full 5. acre lott.

The first tax list in Andover of which there is any known record is dated Sept., 1679, and has been copied below from the first assesors' book.  It is of special interest, as it shows in which part of the town the early families lived.  The rates in pounds, shillings, and pence indicate the relative pecuniary standing of each settler.

Att a meeting of the Selectmen of Andover the 3 day of September in the year 1679 we have made this following Collection as followes being a single countye rate and a half.

 

John Loujoy Jun william ballard Jun moses baggett John Russ Jun Joseph Ballard william Blunt Samuell Wardwell William loujoy georg Abbot Ju Edward whittington hugh stone Samuell frye henerye holt georg Abbot Sr william Chandler Abraham Foster	3 4 6 4 5 4 2 5 3 3 5 5 4 10 8 7	— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —	2 9 8 9 9 9 9 5 6 3 6 8 8 5 6 5	_____	Andrew foster Ju Nickolise holt Sr Robert gray Samuell preston James holt nicholise nichols John Preston William ballard Sen Robert Russell henerye Saulter John Abbot Stephen Johnson Benjamin Frye John ayrs Zakariah Ayrs nicholise holt Junr	5 7 3 3 3 4 3 7 4 2 6 3 5 3 3 4	— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —	2 0 2 8 11 2 5 11 8 6 0 11 3 0 10 0
				sum totall is		13—2—1
					Richard Barker William Chandler Christopher Osgood John Barker (Selectmen.)

The "sum totall" given follows the record, but the items foot up £13:2:10.

It will be seen from the foregoing that George² Abbott, Jr., was one of the most financially properous of that day in North Andover.  Of the thirty-nine taxpayers there, only five paid a larger tax than he.

According to the ancient records of the town up to and including 1700, there were 951 births, 169 marriages, and 186 deaths.  The births are distributed among the famlies as follows:  Abbot or Abbott, 78; Osgood, 61; Farnum, 141; Chandler, 41; Holt, 38; Stevens, 36; Lovejoh, 36; Ballard, 29; etc.  It is evident, however, that the records were not complete in the earlier years.  In 1698 a band of forty or more hostile Indians made an attack on Andover, killed five of its inhamitants, burned several houses and bars, and destroyed the town records.

ABBOTT, George III & Elizabeth BALLARD

BALLARD, Joseph & Elizabeth PHELPS & Rebecca (REA) HORNE
BALLARD, William of Andover & Grace __?__

DANE, Francis & Elizabeth INGOLLS

FAULKNER, Edmund & Dorothy RAYMOND
FAULKNER, Francis & Abigail DANE
FAULKNER, John & Sarah ABBOTT

HOLT, Henry & Sarah BALLARD
HOLT, Nicholas & Eliz. SHORT & Hannah BRADSTREET & Martha (_?_) PRESTON

LOVEJOY, William & Ms. __?__