Edmund Faulkner

Edmond Faulkner (1412), the high-born father of Francis Faulkner, received 200 pounds in 1662 as a bequest from his brother "Francis Fawconer of Kingscleare Hants, gent." By that time, Edmond had already settled in Andover, MA, where he was licensed to sell wine in 1648. He may have assisted Mr. Woodbridge in buying the land on which Andover was built, paying 6 pounds and a coat for it to Cutshamache, who was called the sagamore (chief) of Massachusetts. In truth, not only was Cutshamache not the supreme Indian ruler of Massachusetts, he didn't even have enough authority to sell Andover. On April 19, 1676, Indians attacked the town, burning Edmond's house, leaving some settlers dead and taking others prisoner. Many attacks followed. Numerous settlers lost their lives in the the last assault on Andover on March 5, 1698, including Hanna, Edmond's daughter.

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ACTON was one of the first towns to respond to the midnight alarm. It affords no more fitting place to-day from which to tell its story than the old Faulkner residence, where glowed the watchfires of patriotism long before the Revolution.

     The recurring attacks by the Indians necessitated the erection of houses for safety, to which the scattered settlers might flee.

     The ancient home of the Faulkner family at South Acton is one of those garrisons, or strong houses, of the territory originally included in Old Concord.

     The first of the Faulkner name in this country was Edmond, who came to Salem, and thence to Andover, which latter place he bought of an Indian chief for twenty gallons of rum and a red coat.

     The records of Andover show him to have been the leader in founding the church there in 1645. He was then a selectman, and was town clerk in 1674-5.

     During King Philip's war, in 1676, his house was burned, and his cattle were killed. The mar-

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riage of Edmond Faulkner with Miss Dorothy Robinson, Feb. 4, 1647, was the first recorded in Andover, the ceremony being performed by John Winthrop. The first born of this marriage, Francis, married Abigail, daughter of Rev. Francis Dane of that town. She was one of the unfortunates of two centuries ago who were accused of witchcraft. She was tried, and condemned to death, but escaped the gallows.