Andover Biography - Benjamin H. Punchard

Benjamin H. Punchard was born in Salem at the turn of the 19th century. He became a successful businessman. At the age of 28 he moved to Andover and married Martha Marland, daughter of industrialist Abraham Marland of Marland Mills. Punchard, who was never healthy, died in 1850.

Punchard had a private trust created at the time of his death. The purpose was to build a public high school (as mandated by Horace Mann, head of education in Massachusetts). The trust was $50,000 at the time of his death plus an additional $20,000 at the time of his wife's death. That would be the equivalent of 1.7 million dollars in 2006. Punchard High School opened in 1856. In 1957, the Andover School Committee left his name off the newly constructed building (it is not known why).

See

• "Andover's greatest forgotten man," Andover Townsman, January 5, 2006, p.28.

--Kim 11:44, July 22, 2013 (EDT)

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