Andover, incorporated in 1646, was named for the town of Andover, England, which was the original home of some of its principal settlers. The author begins her narrative, the first on the town in fifty years, with a discussion of the prehistory of the Andover area, then moves on to the arrival of the early settlers (including biographical sketches and pertinent document transcriptions for them) and continues into the 19th century. The history of the town's part in the French and Indians wars as well as the Revolutionary War comprises nearly one-fifth of the book's total pages and includes rosters of officers and soldiers. Other subjects discussed at length are Andover's witchcraft problems, churches (including rosters of pastors and divinity students), public libraries, public schools (including academies and the theological seminary), and mills (the first industry on record for the town) and manufactures. Original documents are smoothly interwoven into the text. Original full name and subject index.