The colonial town that survived witch trials, revolution, and industrial shifts
In short: From a 1642 settlement bought with a coat and six pounds, Andover, Massachusetts, has transformed from a frontier plantation into a wealthy corporate hub. Its history is a complex tapestry of religious upheaval, revolutionary fervor, and the rise and fall of industrial utopias.
The foundations of Andover were laid in 1642 by settlers from Newbury and Ipswich, who purchased the land known as Cochichawick from the Massachusett people. The transaction, involving the Sagamore Cutshamache, was notably unique: the land was exchanged for six pounds of currency and a single coat, with a vital provision that the indigenous people could continue to harvest alewives from the local river.
The town's religious and political landscape was often fractured. During the 1692 Salem witch trials, the community faced intense scrutiny as over 40 residents were accused of making covenants with the Devil. This era saw the execution of residents like Martha Carrier and Samuel Wardwell. Later, internal disputes over the location of meeting houses led to the 1709 division of the town into North and South parishes, a split that eventually became permanent in 1855 when North Andover was formally established as a separate political unit.
Industrialization brought both prosperity and radical social experiments. In 1919, the American Woolen Company began constructing Frye Village, a 'model industrial community' designed as an industrial utopia. While it featured amenities like tennis courts and a golf course, the village's prominence faded as synthetic fibers replaced wool and the company closed its mills in 1953. Today, the town remains a significant economic center, hosting multinational corporations and maintaining a high median household income of approximately $118,324.
Beyond its industrial past, Andover's legacy is shaped by notable figures and institutions. The town is home to the prestigious Phillips Academy, founded in 1778, and was a site of abolitionist activity via the Underground Railroad. It also holds a place in American political history, having been the site of a high-profile trial for David Brown under the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1799.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Andover, Massachusetts
- Also: Andover | Historic Town, Colonial History, Revolutionary War | Britannica
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