Person:Samuel Osgood (1)

Gravestone reads "Stop passengers as you pass by, As you are now so once was I; As I am now so you must be, Prepare for death and follow me."

Samuel Osgood was one of a committee of 5 (Capt John Farnum, Mr. Nehemiah Abbot, Capt Asa Foster, and Samuel Holt) appointed on May 17, 1773, to prepare the instructions to Andover's representative in the Massachusetts General Court in response to a letter from the Committee of Correspondence of Boston. Their response read:

"Sir: We cannot but be possessed with thoughts pregnant with the deepest sorrow, when on every side we behold the most bold invasions made upon our civil rights: Resentment against the daring invader, and distress of kind for the wound liberty has already received, ... Therefore, we advise you, Sir, to oppose, not with an indifferent coolness, but with an unremitting resentment everything that threatens the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of our liberties ... ." 

p.23, Harris, Edward Moseley, Andover in the American Revolution, (Walsworth Publishing Company, Marceline, MO 1976)

He was one of a committee of 5 (Samuel Phillips, Esq., Capt Asa Foster, Joshua Holt, and Dr. Joseph Osgood) appointed on February 3, 1774, to respond to another letter from the Boston Committee of Correspondence regarding the arrival of tea in East India Ships with instructions that none of the tea could be unloaded unless the duty was paid. Andover decided to forward the "Resolves" from Philadelphia as expressive of their own sentiments and delivered a copy to the Boston Committee. Those "Resolves" stated: "1stly: Resolved: that the disposal of their own property is the inherent right of Freemen; that there can be no property in that which another can, of right, take from us without our consent; that the claim of Parliament to tax America, is, in other words, a claim of right to lay contribution on us at pleasure. ... 3rdly; That the express purpose for which the tax is levied on Americans, namely for the purpose of Government, the administration of justice, and the defense of his Majesty's Dominions in America, has a direct tendency to render Assemblies useless and to introduce Arbitrary Government and slavery. 4thly; That a virtuous and steady opposition to this ministerial plan of Governing America is absolutely necessary to preserve even the shadow of Liberty and is a duty which every Freeman owes to his country, himself, and his posterity. ..." p. 25, Harris, Edward Moseley, Andover in the American Revolution, (Walsworth Publishing Company, Marceline, MO 1976)

Samuel Osgood was appointed to a "Committee to Promote Circumspection" to take into account "the depressing Difficulties (by virtue of the "intolerable" Acts) to which this province has already been reduced and others that are impending over it" and to propose a form of covenant concerning non-importation to be subscribed to by the people of Andover. The Covenant was an important step toward the break with Great Britain. Committee members were Mr. Moody Bridges, Messrs. Samuel Phillips, Jr., Samuel Osgood, Capt John Farnum, Mr. Joshua Holt, Capt. Asa Foster, Messers. Asa Abbot, Nehemiah Abbot, Lt. Henry Abbot, Deacon Joseph Abbot, Capt. Samuel Johnson, Ens. Josiah Blanchard, Ens John Barker, Col. George Abbot, Col. James Frye, Lt. Nathan Chandler, Mr. Benjamin Poor, Capt. Isaac Osgood, Dr. Joseph Osgood, Mr. David Abbot, Lt. John Ingalls, Mr. Barrachius Abbot, Ens. Stephen Holt, Mr. John Abbot 4th, Sgt. John Abbot, Mr. William Foster, Mr. Ebeneezer Poor, Deacon John Dane, and Messrs. Benjamin Farnum and Samuel Frye p. 27, Harris, Edward Moseley, Andover in the American Revolution, (Walsworth Publishing Company, Marceline, MO 1976 Minutes of Town Meetings, microfilm records, frame 5244, Memorial Hall Library Collection.

1. ↑ Samuel Wardwell of Andover Marjorie Wardwell Otten.

   Samuel Wardwell of Andover
   Marjorie Wardwell Otten

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Andover, Massachusetts Vital Records.