William Andrews, of Hartford

William Andrews migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 1, p. 63)

Biographical Summary:

William Andrews, freeman, Massachusetts, March 4, 1634-5; constable, Newtown, October, 1636; an original proprietor of Hartford, received thirty acres in the division of 1639—40, and his home-lot was south of the Little River, on land now included in the West Park. He was the first schoolmaster, teaching from 1643 until 1656; town clerk, 1651-1658. He died in 1659; will dated April 1; inventory August 8, 1659, £211. 14. 11. He married Abigail, mentioned in his will, and he also names "bro. George Grave." His widow married Nathaniel Bearding.

Children:

i. Abigail, died in Fairiicld, May, 1653.

ii. John, Hartford; married Mary; died June 8,1690.

iii. Thomas, of Middletown, married Abigail, daughter of John Kirby, of Middletown; died 1691.

iv. Esther,3 or Hester; married Thomas Spencer, Jr., of Suffield; died March 6, 1698.

v. Elizabeth, married May 3,1655, Edward Granniss, of Hartford,

vi. Samuel,4 born October 20, 1645; married Elizabeth, daughter of Sergeant Thomas Spencer; died in Hartford, January, 1712.

SOURCE: James Hammond Trumbull, editor, The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Volume 1 (Boston, Massachusetts: Edward L. Osgood, 1886), page 228. Retrieved: 3 May 2011 from Google Books

notes

Per Donald Lines Jacobus, the William Andrews who married Mary, who died at Cambridge, Jun. 19, 1639-40, is not the same as the Hartford Original Proprietor.

William Andrews was an early member of First Church in Hartford,Conn. His name is on the Founders Monument.

He was a freeman March 4, 1634 35; Constable of Newtown Oct. 1636; an original proprietor of Hartford, Rec'd 30 acres in division of 1639/40; his home lot was sourth of Little River on land now included in West Park. First Schoolmaster--taught from 1643-1656. Town Clerk 1651-58;

Will dated April 1, inv.Aug.8,1659. mentions second wife Abigail and names "Bro.Geo.Graves".

From: Families of Early Hartford,Connecticut by Barbour---page 9

Childrn: Samuel md. Elizabeth Spencer

Abigail d. May,1653 in Fairfield.

Christian md. John Birchard.

John md. Mary ___________ d. June 6, 1690

Elizabeth md. May 3, 1654 Edward Grannis

Thomas md. Hannah Kirby, dau. of John

Esther md. Thomas Spencer of Suffield.

Schoolmaster

Per Jacobus the William Andrews who married Abigail was probably an original settler of Hartford, Connecticut. His early lands were probably in the 1639/40 era since those of Francis Andrews were of this date, and William's lands were entered on the preceeding page.

Francis Andrews of Hartford and Fairfield and John Andrews of Farmington may have been younger half-brothers of William Andrews [TAG 35:57, 59]

Links

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mscheffle...

---------------------------

1. New England Marriages Prior to 1700: With an Updated Introduction by Gary ... By Clarence A. Torrey, Elizabeth Petty Bentley. Page 18

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William Andrews (died 1659) was the husband of Mary Savage [SIC: unproven] and Abigail Graves. Father of five including Thomas Andrews. He probably came to Hartford with Hooker's Company and was a founder of the town. Although his place of burial is not known, his name is on the Founder's Stone in the Ancient Cemetery in Hartford. His home was south of Little or Park River in land now part of Bushnell Park.

notes

From http://www.gravesfa.org/gen345.htm

An article by Donald Lines Jacobus in The American Genealogist, vol. 35, pp. 55-59 (R-100), is considered to be the definitive work on Abigail Graves and William Andrews. Jacobus states: "It is certain that William was in Hartford before 1640 when he became schoolmaster, and in fact he had a child born there in 1638. Although many of the Hartford settlers came from Cambridge, I think he was a different man from the William Andrews of Cambridge whose wife Mary died there 19 Jan. 1639/40. One reason for this conclusion is that William's wife Abigail is the proven mother of William's three sons - proven by William's will which called the children "our" children, as well as by the fact that Abigail's second husband gave them legacies, and finally by a deed of Abigail Barding which calls John, Thomas and Samuel Andrews her sons..." William Andrews "certainly married Abigail, most probably a sister of George Grave (later called Graves), Sr., of Hartford, but possibly sister of Grave's unknown first wife."

D.L. Jacobus in an American Genealogist Article entitled "Andrews Families of Western Connecticut," explains that Savage's Genealogical Dictionary has combined two William Andrews of Cambridge. One of them who died in Cambridge had a wife named Mary who died in 1639 and a second wife Reana, the other William had a wife Abigail and removed to Hartford, Connecticut where he died. The William of Hartford died 1659.[1]William who stayed in Cambridge died about 1652. William who died in Cambridge was a mariner and shop owner while William who died in Hartford was a school master and Clerk.[2]

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17096164

Birth: 1595, England
Death: 1659
Hartford Hartford County Connecticut, USA

William Andrews was the husband of Mary Savage [SIC: unproven] and Abigail Graves. Father of five including Thomas Andrews. He probably came to Hartford with Hooker's Company and was a founder of the town. Although his place of burial is not known, his name is on the Founder's Stone in the Ancient Cemetery in Hartford. His home was south of Little or Park River in land now part of Bushnell Park.

Occupations: Constable in Newton, MA 1636 First School Master in Hartford, CT 1643-1656 Town Clerk 1651-1658

Family links:

Spouse:

 Abigail Andrews Barding (____ - 1682)*

Children:

 Samuel Andrews (1645 - 1712)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Ancient Burying Ground Hartford Hartford County Connecticut, USA

Created by: With Love, Gen Gal Record added: Dec 20, 2006 Find A Grave Memorial# 17096164

http://haygenealogy.com/hay/sources/gregory/andrews-tree.html

William Andrews (~1595 Kingnorth, Kent, England-8/3/1659 CT) married (1) Mary Savage (~1600-11/18/1639 MA) and (2) Abigail Unknown (Graves?)

Generation 1 begins with the immigrant, William Andrews and his wife Mary Savage. William's name is on the Founders Monument for Hartford,CT, along with Francis Andrews, assumed to be a brother, and Thomas Spencer and William Spencer. Mary, wife of William Andrews, died in Braintree, Mass., 18th November, 1639 -- p.12 William Andrews' will, dated April 1, 1659 in Hartford, CT: -- p.13 "I, William Andrews, being sick and weak, but of perfect memory do in this my last will and Testament, give and bequeath to Abigail, my wife, my house, barn, and home lot, as it is enjoyed between my son, Edward Branniss, and me; also I do give and bequeath unto the said Abigail, my wife, all my meadow and swamp lying in the south meadow, and that lyeth in the place called Hockanum, and all my uplands also, during the time of her natural life; also I give to the said Abigail, my wife, two cows and one yearling calf; also I give unto her 4 yds. of kersey, and 3 doz. buttons, and silk, and all of her movable goods, during the time she liveth unmarried. If the said Abigail, my wife, shall see cause to alter her condition by marrying another man, then my will s, tht such of the movables as she can conveniently spare, shall be disposed of among the children as she shall advise with the overseers of this my Will. Also my will is, to give unto my son John one working steer. Also my Will is that Abigail, my wife, shall dispose of my land, Meadow, Swamp, Housing and home lt, among the children, to every one of them some, as she shall think fit, with the advise and consent of the overseers of this my Will. I do hereby make Abigail, my wife, sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, and do also instruct my loving friend, Edward Stebbins, and my brother, George Grave, to assist my wife, and to see this my Wll executed and performed. Dated 1st April, 1659, in presence of Edward Stebbins, George Grave, Wit. Signed William Andrews. The inventory was taken 3d August, 1659 by John Barnard, Edward Stebbins, George Grave. Amt., £211 12s 11d At a Particular Court held 4th March, 1651, Mr. Andrews was confirmed Recorder of the town of Hartford. His first wife had died at Braintree, Mass., when 2d he married this Abigail, to whom he gave in his Will as above. After his death (the precise date being unknown) she distributed the estate to the children then surviving, and she married Nathaniel Bearding, who lived on Lord's Hill, and who died about 1674. The sons were John Andrews, Thomas Andrews, Samuel Andrews, born 20th October, 1645; son-in-law, Thomas Spencer, Jr., husband of their daughter Esther. ... [Note: some genealogists contend that William did not first marry Mary Savage who died in MA -- more research is needed to confirm.]

William Andrews was the husband of Mary Savage and Abigail Graves. Father of five including Thomas Andrews. He probably came to Hartford with Hooker's Company and was a founder of the town. Although his place of burial is not known his name is on the Founder's Stone in the Ancient Cemetery in Hartford. His home was south of Little or Park River in land now part of Bushnell Park.

Occupations: Constable in Newton, MA 1636 First School Master in Hartford, CT 1643-1656 Town Clerk 1651-1658

Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree. Categories: Puritan Great Migration | Founders of Hartford | Hartford, Connecticut | Honoring the Grands, Biography Builders. The Puritan Great Migration. 	William Andrews migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1620-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project

This profile is the profile of William Andrews "of Hartford" , parents unknown. His only known wife was Abigail.

The William Andrews "of Cambridge" who had a wife named Mary, who died in 1639/40, is profile William Andrews-749. Contents

   1 Often mistaken relationships

   2 Biographical Timeline

       2.1 Children

   3 Sources

   4 Acknowledgments

Often mistaken relationships

Find A Grave Memorial# 17096164 has synopsis that says he was husband of Mary Savage. Abigail was his wife and mother of all his children.

FROM Savages Genealogical Dictionary. "WILLIAM, Hartford, one of the early sett. came to H. from Cambridge, first sch.master, and soon town clk. had w. Mary wh. d. at C. 19 Jan. 1640, and sec. w. Abigail, wh. m. Nathaniel Barding; and he d. betw. 1655 and 1663, leav. ch. John; Elizabeth wh. m. 3 May 1655, Edward Grannis; Thomas; and Samuel, the youngest, one acco. says b. 20, but ano. acco. makes him bapt. 19 Oct. 1645. His d. Abigail d. May 1653."[1]

Savage and Frank Andrews[2] both claim that he had a first wife Mary.

D.L. Jacobus points out in his 1959 article on "William Andrews of Hartford" that this is instead two distinct men.[3]

   When William died his wife was Abigail. In his will he refers to "our sons" John, Thomas and Samuel. Abigail's second husband also gave them legacies, and Abigail in a deed calls them her sons. Thomas, son of William, by Hartford town record, was born 4 May 1638, but Mary the wife of William of Cambridge didn't die until 19 Jan 1640 in Cambridge.[3] 

Francis Andrews of Hartford and Fairfield and John Andrews of Farmington may have been younger half-brothers of William Andrews.[3]

Christian Andrews who married John Birchard, son of Thomas Birchard, was not a daughter of this William (as claimed in Families of Early Hartford by Barbour), but was daughter of widow Catherine Andrews.[4] Biographical Timeline

1595-1600: Born in England[2] 1607 or earlier, based on marriage date.:[4] Jacobus points out that Winthrop calls him "senex" in 1658. This would imply that he was 65, at least, and having children in his 50's, so may have been born about 1593.[3] An unsourced birthplace of Rotley, Warwickshire, England, has been suggested by Ancestry, Millenium Files and Yates Publishing U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. Another suggested but unsourced birth place is Kingsnorth, Kent, England, but at this time his place of birth & parents are unknown

1634 - Migration first to Cambridge, Massachusetts, then Hartford, Connecticut.[4]

4 Mar 1634/5 Freeman[4][5]

1634, 1635 Granted land in Cambridge.[4]

23 November 1635 Selectman and Constable in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[4]

14 July 1636 - It has been suggested he arrived in Hartford after a two week journey, with Rev. Dr. Thomas Hooker, from Newtown. William is on the founders monument.[2]

25 Sept 1637 - Samuel Shepard bought Andrews' house and land.[4]

3 Jan 1639/40 - William owned land in Hartford beginning with this first grant in 1639. Eventually he owned eleven parcels: "one acre and one rood 'on which his dwelling house now standeth with other outhouses, yards & gardens'; two acres of upland; eighteen acres and two roods of upland (annotated 'four acres of this sold to J: Ensigne"): two roods and twenty-­five perches in the Little Meadow; eight acres in the South Meadow, four acres, three roods and twenty perches of 'meadow lying in Hockanum"; six acres of swamp in the Great Swamp; six acres and three roods of 'swamp lying in Hockanum'; one acre and one rood of 'Indian Ground lying in the South Meadow which he had of John Crow' (annotated 'March 7th 1657,' presumably indicating the date of purchase); '[o]ne parcel of upland (which he had of Mr. Thomas Wells, magistrate) containing 40 acres ... and is in exchange for all his upland on the east side of the Great River ; and 'one parcel of upland which he received of the town containing thirteen acres' "[4]

Frank Andrews claims that he was the first town clerk in 1639, but the records say it was John Steel,[6] unless there be some other record.

Because of his early arrival in Hartford, he is considered a founder of that town and his name is inscribed on the Founders Monument.

1640 First school master in Hartford,[2][3] In 1643, 1648, 1650, 1655 and probably other years Hartford School Master.[4]

5 March 1644/5 Juryman in Connecticut [CCCR 1:122][4]

8 April 1645 Earmark of "Wil[ia]m Andrewes' was recorded at Hartford[7][6]

12 Jan 1651/2 Chosen town recorder[4][6]

Died in 1659. 1 April 1659 Will dated. "I William Andrews, being sick and weak, but of perfect memory, do in this my last Will & Testament give and bequeath to Abigail, my wife, my house, barn and house lott as it is Inclosed between my son Edward Grannis and mee; allsoe I doe give & Bequeath to Abigail, my wife, all my Meadow and Swamp lieinge in the South Meadow and that lieth in the place called Hockanum, and all my Upland Ground elsewhere, during the time of her natural life; allsoe, I give to the sd, Abigail 2 Cowes, on yearling Calf; also I five to Abigail, my wife, fower yars of Kersey with 3 dozen of Buttons and silke, and all other of my Moveable Goods, during the time she livieth unmarried. If she marry (again), then My Will is, that such of the Moveables as she can conveniently spare shall be disposed of amonge our children as she seeth meet, with the advice of the Overseers. My Will is, to give to my son John one working steer; alsoe, that Abigail, my wife, shall dispose of my Land, Meadow, Swamp, Howsing and Homelott amonge our Children, to every one of them some, as she shall think fitt with the advice and Consent of the Overseers. I doe make Abigail, my wife, Executrix and I do entreat my friend Edward Stebbing and my brother George Grave to assist and to see this my will executed & performed"[8]

Inventory taken 3 Aug 1659. £211. 14s. 11d.[2][4][8]

William Andrews was married to Abigail. William referred to George Graves as brother. So either, Abigail was George's sister, or William could have been the brother of George's unknown wife. After William's death Abigail married Nathaniel Barding / Berding / Bearding (-1674).[3] She died 26 March 1682/3, the date of her estate's inventory, or perhaps earlier.[4][3] Children

   John Andrews b. say 1632; died 6 June 1690;[3] m. (1) Lilly & (2) Mary #1[4]

   Abigail Andrews b. say 1634, bur. Fairfield May 1653, called daughter of William of Hartford.[3][4]

   Elizabeth Andrews, b. say 1636; married 3 May 1655, Hartford, Edward Grannis.[9][3][4]. Her marriage record calls her of Farmington, daughter of William of Hartford. Edward Grannis later moved to New Haven and married 1662 Hannah Wakefield. He died 10 Dec 1719.[3]

       Child: Joseph Grannis b. Hartford 31 Mar 1656, must have died young.[3] 

   Thomas, born 4 May 1638, in Hartford[9]; settled in Middletown; died 1690/91; married Hannah Kirby.[3][4]

   Esther Andrews, born Sept 1641 in Hartford[9]; married Thomas Spencer Jr. by 1655; died 6 March 1697/8, in Suffield, Connecticut.[3][4]

   Samuel, was born 20 Oct 1645, at Hartford[9]; died between 1 Jan 1711/2 and 29 Jan 1711/2; married Elizabeth Spencer, daughter of Thomas of Hartford.[3][4]

    ? William Andrews, ? probably died young.[2] Only mentioned in the F.H. Andrews Genealogy, but left no descendants anyway.[2] 

Sources

   ↑ Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692. Vol. I-IV. Boston, MA, USA: 1860-1862.

   ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Andrews, Frank Herbert, 1858-1938. William Andrews of Hartford, Conn. And His Descendants In the Direct Line to Asa Andrews of Hartland, Conn. And Hartford, Ohio. Washington Ill.: Tazewell County Reporter, 1938. at Hathi trust

   ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 Jacobus, Donald Lines. "Andrews Families of Western Connecticut." the American Genealogist 35:55.

   ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 Great Migration 1634-1635, A-B. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume 1, A-B, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999. pp 63-67

   ↑ Andrews, H.F. (arranger). List of Freemen Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1630 to 1691. Exira, Iowa: Exira Printing, 1906.

   ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society (The Connecticut Historical Society and the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, Hartford 1860-1928). Vol. 6 Hartford Town Votes Vol. 1 1635-1716 Steel as town clerk p. 4, recorder p 97, earmark p. 336

   ↑ Anderson cites [HaTR 336] Hartford Town Votes.

   ↑ 8.0 8.1 Manwaring, Charles William. A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records. Volume 1. p. 92 Hartford District 1635-1700. Hartford, Conn., R.S. Peck & Co., Printers, 1904.

   ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Hartford. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.

See also:

   [http://www.gravesfa.org/gen345.htm "ABIGAIL GRAVES, POSSIBLE SISTER OF GEORGE GRAVES"

   Colonial Ancestors, Edward H. Little, C.A.L.S, editor, digital copy at familysearch.org

   Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633 (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1995) p 46: "There is much confusion in Savage, Pope, and elsewhere about the early William Andrewses of New England. Three of them appear as freemen in Massachusetts Bay: on 4 March 1633/4, 4 March 1634/5. and 13 May 1640. The second of these bears the title "Mr.' and comes at the head of a long list of Cambridge men on that date, so he would be the William Andrews who first appeared in Cambridge records on I December 1634 when he received a grant of land in the Westend Field; he would then be the William Andrews who sold his land on 25 September 1637, and later appeared in Hartford, as a schoolteacher [CaTR 10; CaBOP 11]."

   Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635 (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1999) Page: v A-B, pp 63-7 Data: Text: ORIGIN: Unknown MIGRATION: 1634 FIRST RESIDENCE: Cambridge REMOVES: Hartford 1637 OCCUPATION: Schoolmaster at Hartford, 1643, 1648, 1650, 1655 (and probably other years) [HaTR 65, 87,94, 108]. 

Acknowledgments

30 August 2014 20:30: J. Wesley Cleveland imported the data for William Andrews-5015 from Cleveland Family Tree Clean3.ged

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Family

William Andrews married by about 1632, Abigail ____. She may have been sister of George Graves of Hartford. This was William's only marriage.

They had six children: John, Abigail, Elizabeth Grannis, Thomas, Esther Spencer, & Samuel.

She married (2) Nathaniel Barding, & died 26 Mar 1682/3 (unless this is the date the inventory was taken, in which case she probably died somewhat earlier).

source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project

Biography

17SOURCES0DISCUSSIONS

http://hylbom.com/family/maternal-lines/maternal-a-to-cr/andrews-8000/

http://www.surnameguide.com/andrews/william_andrews_genealogy.htm

William Andrews. William and Mary Andrews were the emigrant ancestors of the Andrews line. But little is known as to William Andrews' early life and nothing whatever is known with reference to his wife Mary. There were several William Andrews in the Colonies during the early days of the Puritans and it is often difficult to distinguish between them. About all that is known of his early life is contained in the following statements from Pope's Pioneers of Massachusetts, and it is certain that this does not all apply to our William Andrews. This book states that "Godly parents prought him up until be was 17 years of age." That he was apprenticed at Ipswich, England, and came first to Charlestown and that in his absence his wife moved to Cambridge, "which pleased him." He was made Freeman March 4, 1634-5, and that he lived in Cambridge and sold all his house and lands and rights n Cambridge Sept. 25, 1637. That his wife died in 1640. The book contains other statements but they evidently apply to another William Andrews who came to Cambridge a few years after our William Andrews went to Hartford and the writer of the book confused the two William Andrews. This second William Andrews was a mariner. The History of Massachusetts 1630 to 1877 also states that ancestor William Andrews was a mariner, but also confuses him with his follower at Cambridge.

Ancestor Wm. Andrews first appeared at Cambridge, so far as reliable records go, Dec. 1, 1634. But he was probably there some time before then. He soon took a prominent plan in the affairs of the town. His ability to do this was owing perhaps to his superior education. He was afterwards a school teacher and was no doubt well educated for those times. He wrote an excellent hand, as is indicated by the old Hartford Records, written by him when town clerk and county recorder. His home lot in Cambridge, then called Newtown, was on the northeast corner of Dunster and Winthrop streets and occupied about one-fourth of the block, surrounded by Dunster, Winthrop, Mt. Auburn and Holyoke streets. Dec. 1, 1634, William Andrews was granted five acres in the West Field. This Field was about one mile northwest of the settlement. Aug. 20, 1635, all the meadow land, undivided, belonging to Cambridge, was ordered measured and divided to every man, according to his several proportions. In this division, William received two and one-half acres. On Feb. 8, 1635-36, William owned two houses in the town. It may be that one of these was for Francis Andrews, who seemed to be a younger brother of William, but Francis was then not married.

On March 4, 1635, William was made Freeman in Boston, the county seat, together with Thomas Scott, Thomas and Timothy Stanley, Samuel Greenhill and William Pantry, all men intimately associated with William Andrews.

William also was chosen one of the nine townsmen or selectmen for the town for one year on Nov. 23, 1635, at a general meeting of the town. He was also, at the same meeting, chosen constable for the year following. The constables during those years, at least until 1666, were always townsmen.

Oct. 27, 1636, according to the books of record of Mass. Bay Colony, Newtown presented a book of their records under the hand of William Andrews, constable, John Benjamin and William Spencer.

He attended a meeting of selectmen on the 7th of Dec., 1635. At this meeting it was ordered that a bridge be built on the town side of the river, down to a low water mark, and a ladder on the other side. Apparently this was a swampy place, called a "ship marsh," on the town side of the Charles river, which they bridged so as to reach the ferry, over the river; while on the other side the banks were high and a ladder was needed. There were but five of the nine selectmen present at this meeting, so they ordered that whosoever appears not within half an hour after the ringing of the bell shall pay for the first offense six pence, and for the second day twelve pence, and double it every day, unless he has a just excuse such as may give satisfaction to the rest of the company. The following meetings were much better attended. On Jan. 4, 1635-36, William attended the meeting and seven other selectmen were present. They granted some lots in the pine swamp field to several persons, two acres being granted to James Hosmer, "provided he buy a house in the town or else to return again to the town." On the 8th of February, 1635-36, all the selectmen were present. Various orders were entered in reference to land. It was ordered that whosoever hath or hereafter shall have any ground lying in the bounds of the town and shall desire to let or sell the same, he shall not let or sell the same to anyone who is an inhabitant of the town, or will be within twelve months thereafter upon the forfeiture of all such land unto the town. (Apparently they were seeking to get new comers.) That there shall be one acre railed in with double rail, for dry cattle to lie in at night. A list was made showing 38 persons having 78 houses in the town, many persons having more than one. William Andrews had two, with a population of about 600 persons, including servants and slaves.

At the meeting of March, 1635-36, the selectmen agreed with Richard Rice to keep 100 cows for three months, and to have ten pounds after the ships come in, or in June, also to have three men to help him the first 14 days, and one man the next seven days. He to fetch the cows into the town every morning out of the common, half an hour after the sun is up, at the furthermost and to bring them into the barn half an hour before the sun goeth down; and to pay three pence a cow every night he leaveth out any.

The meeting of June 6, 1636, was probably the last attended by the selectmen William Andrews, Thomas Hosmer, Andrew Warner and Clement Chaplin, as it is supposed that they all went to Hartford about that time, and none of these were reelected the following November. This exodus to Hartford seemed to disorganize the government, as there were no more meetings of the council until Oct. 3, 1636. At this meeting on June 6, 1636, it was agreed with Mr. Andrews, that his man keep the calves for 13 shillings a week, "so long as we think good, only we are to provide him a man for the present, if he should require it of us." From this it would seem that Mr. Andrews was contemplating leaving for Hartford, but expected to retain at least a part of his land and a hired man.

Just when William Andrews went from Cambridge to Hartford is not known but probably it was in the summer of 1636, and it may be that he went with the Hooker company in early June.

It is said that his wife Mary died at Braintree Jan. 29, 1640 (new style). The records show the death there of Mary, the wife of Mr. William Andrews 19 (11) 1639, that is the 19th day of the 11th month, 1639, which would be Feb. 29, 1640, new style. There was another William Andrews whose wife died about that time apparently and in that neighborhood, and who went to Cambridge about 1640, and it is very likely she was the one who died about then, as ancestor William's wife was alive in May, 1638, and married his second wife Abigail Graves, apparently before 1641. There is also a record of William's wife dying in Cambridge Feb. 29, 1639. This was probably our ancestor. She may have returned to her father's home.

His second wife was Abigail Graves, a sister of George Graves, who lived within a block of William at Hartford, probably lived with her brother before her marriage. They did not come from Cambridge but probably came direct from Hertford, England.

William Andrews' home lot in Hartford, presumably granted to him when he first came to Hartford, was the northeast corner lot on what was then called the road from the mill to the south meadow and the highway on the bank of the river at the crossing of the road from the mill to the country. These roads are now called respectively Elm street and Trinity street. This lot, however, was in what is now the West Park and was on the south bank of the little river, just at the west end of the island. The house was located in the southwest corner of the lot, just at the street corner.

He was first town clerk in 1639. In the land division in the same year he drew 30 acres of land. In 1640 he was awarded 10 pounds sterling, for teaching school. At a particular court held March 4, 1651, he was confirmed recorder for the Town of Hartford.

William first appeared in Hartford, according to the records, as one of the proprietors in the division of land Jan. 13, 1640 (new style), when he was awarded 30 acres. Jan. 24, 1640, his name appears among those specified by order of the townsmen as "the names of such inhabitants as have rights in undivided lands," and a year later, March 13, 1641, he received 33 acres in the distribution of the east side of the river in Hocazi.m (now East Hartford). This land was all bought finally from the Indian tribe of Suchlago.

William was the schoolmaster of Hartford, also sometimes called the letter writer. Dec. 16, 1642, it was ordered that 30 pounds a year shall be settled upon the school by the town forever, and at a meeting in April, 1643, it was ordered that Mr. Andrews should teach the children in the school one year next ensuing from the 25th of March, 1643 (0. S.), and that he shall have for his pains 16 pounds, and therefore the townsmen shall go and enquire who will engage himself to send their children and all that do, shall pay for one quarter at the least and for more if they do send them after. And Mr. Andrews shall keep account between the children's schooling and himself and send notes at the time of payment and demand it. And if his wages doth not so come in then the townsmen must collect and pay it. (A pound was worth at that time about $3.00.)

This order contains the germ of the free public schools, which bore fruit April 23, 1674, when a free public school was established. Apparently Mr. Andrews continued to teach until shortly before his death in 1659. In March 1649, he was granted by the town 10 pounds for the year which began Sept., 1648, which paid him until the 25th of December, 1648.

Nov. 29, 1650, it was ordered that Mr. Andrews shall attend to keep the school for this present year and to have 10 pounds paid him by the town, beside that which he is to have from the parents of the children. His year began on the 29th of September, last. Jan. 17, 1656, the town granted him 10 pounds for schooling for the year 1655, and 10 pounds for the year 1656, when it is out. As Wm. Pitkin was made schoolmaster after William Andrews' death, it is probable that the latter died "in the harness," as it were.

It is probable that the school was kept in the house of Mr. Andrews or in the church or some other building, as on Feb. 11, 1649, the townsmen agreed that 40 pounds shall be paid to the townsmen to the end that a suitable building be built for such purpose, not to be devoted to any other use or employment. There seems to have been some trouble in regard to it as there was no house built during the lifetime of Mr. Andrews.

Mr. Andrews was also town recorder, being appointed at a meeting of the town Jan. 22, 1652, and he acted as such until 1658. He is said to have been an accomplished clerk and scholar, as the records which are yet preserved, in his exact and beautiful penmanship sufficiently indicate.

He died in 1659. His will dated April 1, 1659. Inventory taken Aug. 3, 1659. Amount 211£, 14s, 11d. His second wife was Abigail Graves, aunt of George Graves of Hartford. After his death she married Nathaniel Barding, who lived on Lord's Hill, and who died about 1674.

Connecticut History State Library, Vol. XII, page 369.

Thomas Andrews of England had sons John, Samuel, Nathaniel, Elinor and Alice in New England.

Will of Margaret Harrison of Battersea, England, March 1, 1641, was witnessed by Richard Andrews and Thomas Andrews was executor.

Will of William Andrews of Hartford. Dated April 1, 1659.

I, William Andrews, being sick and weak, but of perfect memory, do in this, my last will and testament, give and bequeath to Abigail my wife, my home barn and home lot, as it is enjoyed between my son Edward Grannis, and me; also I do give and bequeath unto the said Abigail, my wife, all my meadow land, that lyeth in the place called Hockamum, and all my uplands, also during the term of her natural life. Also I give to the said Abigail, my wife, two cows and one yearling calf. Also give unto her, 4 yards of kersey, and 3 dozen buttons and silk and all of her movable goods, during the time she liveth unmarried. If the said Abigail, my wife, shall see cause to alter her condition by marrying another man, then my will is that such of the movables as she can conveniently spare, shall be disposed of among the children as she shall see fit, with the advice of the overseers of this my will. Also my will is to give unto my son, John, one working steer, also my will is, that Abigail my wife, shall dispose of my land, a meadow and swamp, housing and home lot, among the children, to every one of them, some, as she shall think fit, with the advice and consent of the overseers of this my will. I do hereby make Abigail, my wife, sole executrix, of this my will and testament, and also do instruct my loving friend Edward Stebbins, and my brother George Graves, to assist my wife, and to see that this my will, executed and performed.-Signed, William Andrews. Dated April 1, 1659. Edward Stebbins, George Graves, witnesses.

In the court records of Hartford county there is no record with reference to any of William Andrews' sons, except the statement that John of Farmington was made Freeman May 18, 1658. Apparently the records are not complete in reference to Freemen. Thomas and Samuel Andrews were both made Freemen but the court records do not show it. However, the list of all Freemen in 1669 are preserved, and they are among the number.

Children:

• William Andrews, probably died young. Nothing further known. American Magazine of Genealogy, 1930.
• Elizabeth Andrews was married to Edward Grannis, May 3, 1654. She was probably born in 1636 or 1637, and perhaps some years earlier. She was no doubt a daughter of William Andrews by his first wife Mary. When she married Grannis she was living at Farmington, apparently permanently, as she was called Elizabeth Andrews of Farmington, daughter of William. There was no other Andrews at Farmington then but the members of John's family, and so far as I know, Elizabeth had no other relatives or intimate friends there. After her marriage she went to Hartford, and she and her husband lived with the family of William Andrews. At that time John of Farmington had five children, the oldest but 8 years old, and they were coming every two years. John's wife must have been badly in need of some assistance, especially as they were apparently attending church in Hartford, and they couldn't take all the babies there. Therefore I believe it to be fair to assume that Elizabeth was living there with her brother John's family. Also three years before Elizabeth was married John's son Joseph was born, and he was the baby of the family until about a month before Elizabeth was married, when Rachel was Elizabeth was married May 3, 1654, and on March 31, 1656, she had a son born and she named him Joseph.
• Thomas Andrews.
• John Andrews.
• Samuel Andrews.
• Esther Andrews, born Sept., 1641. Married Thomas Spencer, Jr., 1658. Died March 6, 1698.
• Abigail Andrews born Died at Hartford May, 1655.

Links

• http://www.gravesfa.org/gen345.htm
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17096164/william-andrews

According to Dr. Jack T. Spencer (R-1), "Abigail Graves had a most interesting family history in Hartford, CT. She was first married to a William Andrews who died at Hartford in 1659."

"After the death of her first husband, Abigail Graves Andrews married Nathaniel Barding (Bearding, Berden) of Hartford. A daughter, Sarah Barding (Berden), was born to this second marriage. Sarah married Thomas1 Spencer, one of the founding fathers of Hartford. A son of Thomas1 Spencer, Thomas2 Spencer, married Esther Andrews. In short, we have a case where Thomas2 Spencer married the daughter of his grandmother from an earlier marriage (to William Andrews)."

The inventory of the estate of William Andrews was taken by Edward Stebbing, George Grave, and John Barnard. The will, dated 1 April 1659, was witnessed by Edward Stebbing and George Grave, and stated, "I doe make Abigail, my wife, Executrix, and I doe Intreat my friend Edward Stebbinge and my Brother George Grave to assist and to see this my Will performed."

The inventory of the estate of Nathaniel Berding was taken by Paul Peck, George Grave, and Caleb Stanly. The will, dated 7 Jan. 1673, was witnessed by George Grave and Thomas Olcott.

There is obviously a close relationship between George Grave(s) and Abigail Graves, almost certainly Abigail is either his sister or his daughter. Since George was born about 1600 and Abigail may not have been born until as late as 1620 (based on the date of her first marriage), she could be his daughter. However, based on the fact that Abigail is not mentioned in the will or estate settlement of George Graves and that the will of William Andrews calls him "brother" (probably meaning brother-in-law), it is almost certain that Abigail and George were sister and brother.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jul 2 2016, 22:15:32 UTC
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Andrews-1045