Jacob Bailey Moore

“ Seventy years ago, the whole town was a forest, inhabited only by wild beasts. From its first settlement until within a few years, the inhabitants have annually supplied themselves with sugar from their own farms; but the trees now beginning to decay, and little pains being taken in their preservation, this branch of domestic economy is almost wholly neglected.
In some parts of the town, near the Ragged Mountains, are found masses of excellent granite, which has as yet been made but little use of. There is also every indication of iron ore in the southerly part of the range. ”

“ Every profession is honorable, it well followed–and mutual encouragement it is the policy of all to give. The advantages of education need not be mentioned: all must be ready to admit its value. It is therefore one of the first duties of magistrates and private individuals, as well as of communities, to cherish schools, and provide means for the attainment of this greatest of earthly blessings by the rising generation. What if our fathers, when they fixed their homes in the wilderness, were deprived of the benefits of education? ”

“ It is not, however, becoming to complain of the manner of bestowing a gift, it the gift be valuable; and the inhabitants of Andover will long remember with delight their most distinguished benefactor. ”

“ The woods of Andover, when the proprietors of the tract first entered upon their lands, were plentifully stocked with game. Moose, deer, bears, wild-cats, &c. were every day to be seen, and the settlers were obliged to guard their flocks from their midnight incursions. Deer were very numerous, and so late as 1783, the town voted a premium of five dollars for every deer killed by the inhabitants. Beavers, otters, and other quadrupeds, were also common, and were for a few years a source of profit to the inhabitants. ”

“ Is it a reason why their posterity should be? By no means. In proportion as the light of knowledge illuminates the mind, does man become capable of happiness, and of sooner estimating the worth of that Light which is infinite and eternal. ”

“ No invidious feelings have governed the writer, and he trusts the people for whose use and amusement this history is written, will receive it as a respectful offering–as a testimonial of the writer’s best wishes for their permanent welfare. Whatever errors or imperfections they may discover, he hopes will be overlooked, and charged rather to his ignorance than his intentions. ”

“ All sects have a right to assemble at the meeting house, and at seasons of public worship it is generally occupied by one or the other. It is believed that in few places has greater harmony prevailed among the different denominations, than in Andover; and it is to be hoped this christian liberality, so creditable to the people, will always characterize them.
There are in Andover fourteen school districts, in twelve of which are well-finished school-houses. A public school has for several years been kept near the centre of the town ”

“ The fourth New-Hampshire Turnpike passes through the north western part of Andover and intersects with the Grafton turnpike near the western line. In 1763, there was but one path cut through the town near the centre, winding round the pond, and leading back to the Pemigewasset. The lines between Salisbury [3] and Andover were perambulated and marked this year by the selection of both towns; and soon after the boundaries between Andover and New-Chester were established in like manner. The roads through this town are now good, and the inhabitants are constantly improving them. ”

“ As human society springs from the wants of men, so is it strengthened and supported by charity and good feelings. Divisions, or sectional disputes, jealousies, or local rivalries, should always be discountenanced and prevented. If a town is united, it generally prospers. ”

“ Travellers passing over the stage-road through Andover, have but an imperfect view of its soil. They can indeed see little but the bleak and confused pile of the Ragged Mountains on the north, and the darkly wooded sides of the Kearsarge on the west, There are several convenient dwellings, and good farms situated on the turnpike ”

“ Andover abounds with hills and dales, being in some places rocky and barren. On the north is a range of mountains, which divides the town from New-Chester. It commences near the Pemigewasset river, and extends westwardly about ten miles to the intersection of the Grafton and fourth N. H. turnpikes. These mountains are called Ragged, from their appearance, being in all parts broken, and in many places bleak and precipitous. About two-thirds of the southern side are cleared, and afford good pasture lands. In some parts, settlements have been made, and snug farms formed some way up their sides. ”

“ The highlands, though hard of cultivation, are exceedingly fertile, and some of the best farms are situated on the hills in the westerly part of the town, and on the southerly side of the Ragged Mountains. ”

“ Jonathan Weare was the first Justice of the Peace in Andover; and it appears from the town records that at a meeting in 1779 he was selected by the inhabitants to be commissioned by the government as a civil magistrate. This was indeed a high proof of the confidence reposed in his integrity and justice.
Mr. William Blake was a native of Kensington–moved with his father, when a youth, to Exeter–thence came to Andover. He died on the 18th of March, 1812, aged 62 years. Mr. Blake was a man of acute understanding, and in all the transactions of life was exceedingly upright and honorable. ”

“ The soil of this town is in many parts very good, producing excellent wheat, rye and corn, and is in general good for orcharding, and for other fruits common in this part of the country. Experiments have frequently been made wish trees more common in a southern latitude, but none have been brought to maturity, by reason of the severity of the winters. ”

“ There are fire ponds in Andover, the largest of which is called Chance pond, situated in the easterly part of the town, the outlet of which passes through Salisbury-Village into the Pemigewasset, a little below Webster's falls. This pond is about two miles in length, differing from one half to three-fourths of a mile in width. Loon pond lies near the centre of the town, and is about one mile in length and three-fourths of a mile in width. ”

“ The inhabitants mostly husbandmen; their wives and daughters domestic manufacturers; a suitable proportion of handicraft workmen and two or three traders; a physician and a lawyer; a clergyman of good understanding, candid disposition and exemplary morals; not a metaphysical, nor a polemic, but a serious practical preacher. A school-master, who should understand his business, and teach his pupils to govern themselves. A social Library annually increasing, and under good regulations. ”

“ Provided always, that in case of an Indian war within any of the terms of year's above limited for the doing any of the said matters and things aforesaid, by the said owners to be done, the same number of years as such war shall last shall be allowed after that impediment shall be removed. ”

“ No other congregational minister was ever settled in town, and there are now comparatively few of that denomination of christians. The people are at present somewhat divided in religious sentiment. The most numerous class are undoubtedly those called Union Baptists. ”

“ The body of inhabitants are industrious farmers, raising ordinarily a surplus with which to furnish their families the "little necessaries," which common custom or inclination invites them to procure.
Andover was granted by the proprietors [4] of lands purchased of John Tufton Mason in 1746, to the following persons, viz:
Edmund Brown, William Swain, Archelaus Lakeman, John Hoyt, John Brown, Daniel Cram, Nathan Row, Amos Dwinell, Daniel Sanborn, John Sanborn, Joseph Gove, Benjamin Leavitt, Nathan Longfellow, David Norton, Walter Williams, Benjamin Swett, jun. ”

“ He is a good scholar, a charitable and industrious man. The church remained united under his ministry for more than fifteen years, when many of the members embraced different opinions, or became otherwise alienated ”

“ There are several aged people now residing in Andover, and who were among the earliest settlers.
↑ By Mr. Benjamin M. Tyler, of Andover. ↑ The timbers for the Concord Bridge, when it was first built, were procured near Chance pond. ↑ Originally called Stevens-Town, from the name of one of the grantees. ↑ The names of the original proprietors or grantors of Andover, were, Theodore Atkinson, Mark H, Wentworth, Richard Wibird, John Wentworth, George Jaffrey, Samuel Moore, Nathaniel Messerve, Thomas Packer, Thomas Wallingford, Jotham Odiorne, Joshua Pierce and John Moffat. ”