Robert Andrews

DAR Ancestor #: A002709

Robert Andrews (1748 – 1804) was a Colonial/American clergyman, professor and Virginia politician.

He was one of the thirteen men, including only a handful of clergymen, to sign the agreement drawn up by eighty-nine former members of the House of Burgesses on May 27, 1774, recommending a general congress and a non-importation association.

n December 1777 he was appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy at William and Mary College. When the college was reorganized in 1779, the Law of Nature and Nations and the Fine Arts were added to his teaching portfolio. He is considered the first college professor in the nation to have fine arts included in his professorship. He was also distinguished for his mathematical talents. In 1784 he was transferred to the mathematical professorship and retained his position as professor up to 1789.

He became chaplain to the Virginia militia in 1777, serving until 1780. In 1781 he was private secretary to Governor Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Andrews was elected to the Williamsburg, Virginia Committee of Safety in 1779, and soon afterward, an alderman.

Andrews was a delegate for James City County to the Virginia Ratifying Convention of 1788, which approved the United States Constitution. He represented Williamsburg in the Virginia House of Delegates 1790–1798. In 1798, he voted against the Virginia Resolution opposing the federal Alien and Sedition Acts.

Andrews was an early Grand Master of Virginia. Member of Williamsburg Lodge No. 6.

from:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Freemasons_%28A_-_D%29
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Andrews_%28clergyman%29

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• ANDREWS, ROBERT Ancestor #: A002709
• Service: VIRGINIA Rank(s): CHAPLAIN, CIVIL SERVICE
• Birth: CIRCA 1743 CECIL CO MARYLAND
• Death: 1-1-1804 WILLIAMSBURG JAMES CITY CO VIRGINIA
• Service Source: HEITMAN, HIST REG OF OFFICERS OF THE CONT ARMY DURING THE WAR OF THE REV, 1775-1783; OFF LETTERS OF THE GOV OF VA, VOL 8, PP 68, 69; VA MAG OF HIST BIOG, 1933, VOL 41, PP 19, 20
• Service Description: 1) 2ND REGT, SECTY TO GEN NELSON, 1781