HISTORICAL NOTE

This collection consists of five notebooks: 1 volume of personal expenses 1848-1857; 2 volumes of expenses and notes on labor as deputy surveyor of Highway District No. 18 under his father, Daniel Abbott, Surveyor of Highways; and 2 volumes of diaries 1878-1891.

Nathan Foster Abbott (7), b. 1828, son of Daniel Abbott (6), b. 1799 and Sarah (Sally) Foster (7), whom Daniel married in 1827, was descended from George Abbott, the original settler through his son Timothy. His mother’s father was Nathan Foster (6), as descendant of Reginald Foster of Ipswich.

The book of personal expenses begins with entries of a carefree young man, studing mechanical drawing, while working for the A.C.M. Co. in Lawrence. Hw was interested in machinery and may have designed some of his own, for on November 24, 1852 he brought a second-hand lathe from the Ballardvale Manufacturing Co. In 1854 he worked for the Town of Andover under his father, Daniel, Superintendent of Highways. He kept careful account of his expenses and hours of labor, under the names of his workmen. By 1878 when his diaries begin, he seems to have settled on a farm in the Scotland District. The entries are brief, concerned with weather and farm chores.

These volumes came to the Society at different times. The highway account books, given to the Society by Mrs. G. Richard Abbott in 1959 had previously been assigned Ms 2 and Ms 4. (The first volume had been attributed to Daniel Abbott). The personal account book, also given to the Society in 1959 by Mrs. Abbott, was assigned Ms 3 and also A 974.452 Abn 2. The diary, erroneously called Daily Accounts, was given by Mrs. Abbott in 1978. It was assigned Ms 4A and also 78.379.1. The final diary volume, 1881-1891, was given to the Society in 1959 by Miss L.R. Kelsey. It had not been recognized as by Nathan Foster Abbott and was assigned the number Ms 5.

Used in compiling these notes were Charlotte Helen Abbott’s typed notes on the Foster family, the Genealogical Register of the Abbott Family, (1847), and the Andover Vital Records to 1850.

Processed by Mary F. Morgan, December 1982.