Who's Buried Here?

---

The following is an excerpt from The North Andover Historical Society's booklet “Second Burial Ground of the North Parish – A history told through headstones, family markers, town records, and the preservation efforts of many”.

A descendant of town founder John Stevens, Jonathan was a farmer and a currier of leather. A veteran of the Revolutionary War, he fathered 14 children. In addition to donating property for the North Parish Free School (later renamed Franklin Academy), Jonathan is the one who sold the land to the "inhabitants of the North Parish of Andover" for the purpose of laying out the Second Burying Ground. A family monument (image, left) is located at the rear of the cemetery. Smaller stones nearby note burials of other family members.

Dr. Kittredge built and lived in the mansion at 56 Academy Road, today known as Kittredge Farm. A surgeon in the Revolutionary War, he later treated patients in his home where he also boarded and trained young medical students. At the time of his death it was reported in the Essex Register newspaper that he was noted for his great success in surgery, general medical practice and particularly “in his treatment of such cases of insanity as were committed to him.” The Kittredge family tomb is located on the mound at the right, midway back in the cemetery.

Isaac Osgood and his brother Samuel, the first Postmaster of the U.S., were born in the Captain Peter Osgood House, which still stands today at 440 Osgood Street. At the time of his death in 1847 his estate was valued at $66,303.76, a value of approximately $2 million in today’s dollars. His 100-acre “home farm” was worth $10,000 alone; his businesses of “machine shop, mills, water power, together with 8 dwelling houses & 37 acres of land” were worth $30,000. In addition, he owned 75 acres of woodlots, 38 Osgood Street (which consisted of two houses, outbuildings and 20 acres of land), 186 shares of Bank Shares in nine banks, and Rail Road Stock in four lines: Boston & Maine, Boston & Worcester, Eastern and Lowell. Isaac's gravesite is unknown, his marker perhaps lost through an accident of nature.

Nathaniel’s beautiful monument is a testament to his full and productive life. Known as “Capt. Nat”, Stevens founded a textile business which continued to flourish under his sons and grandsons. He and his wife Harriet had 9 children. His house is still visible next door to the graveyard on Academy Road.

Clarissa Coburn was born in Tyngsborough, MA, and died at Dr. Kittredge’s house, down the road from where she is now buried, of “inflammation in the head.” Her father Oliver died in October 1825. The town vital records indicate as she was not from town and arrived after her father’s death. She “laboured in families,” perhaps to make money for herself or to support the family. Sadly she passed away less than six months after her father. The location of her gravesite is unknown.

Lucy Frye died in 1879 at the age of 75. Like most women of her age, she had an inconspicuous life, which perhaps passed with duties to her family. Unmarried and childless, her loving family honored her by erecting an expensive stone in her memory.

Amos was a direct descant of Edward Carleton, a founder of the town of Rowley. Born and raised here, he married Abia Towne in 1828. The youngest of their four children, Osgood Loring, was only a year old when his father drowned while working as a company agent for the Stevens family’s shipping company in Cutler, Maine. Amos’ first home, which he built, can still be seen at 44 Andover Street. His headstone is located in the rear left side, past the ironwork remnants of the Johnson family plot.

One of many veterans buried here, Joshua was the son of Colonel Samuel Johnson; both father and son fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. Joshua was also involved in the Battle at Chelsea Creek, a little-known encounter between Hog and Noodle’s Islands in what is now East Boston. Johnson was a member of Captain Thomas Poor’s Company of Andover who helped capture and destroy a schooner, an act hailed as the first capture of an enemy war vessel by the Americans. The Johnson family plot is located in the rear left, surrounded by ironwork remnants.

Cato was the son of slaves held by Reverend Samuel Phillips. After his release from service, he took the surname Freeman. He remained with the Phillips family until 1789, when he married Lydia Bristow. A steadfast member of the North Parish Church, he leased a modest property near the location that became Lawrence Airport where he lived with his wife and four (of eleven) surviving children. As part of his legacy, the area in North Andover around the corner of Osgood Street and Sutton Street was called "Cato's Corner" for years. In 1848, towards the end of his life, Cato was able to buy a house of his own which still stands today at 430 Pleasant Street. His estate was reputed to be worth $1,000. His headstone is located with other free slaves at the rear right corner, an area known then as the "Negro Quarter."

John was a fourth generation descendant of town founder John Frye of Basingstoke, England. In 1826, members of the North Parish voted him to take care of the Meetinghouse, tasks which included ringing the bell and digging graves. He was known to share tales of his work on gravesites with students of the adjacent Franklin Academy (now gone). John passed away decades after Ridgewood Cemetery was established, so his burial here is a testament to his attachment to this yard.