Thomas Andrews (abt. 1663 - 1731)

Born about 1663 in Leighton, Bedfordshire, England

Husband of Elizabeth Jane (Thomas) Andrews — married 1688 in Henrico County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 21 Apr 1731 at about age 68 in Bristol Parish, Henrico, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Robert Andrews [send private message], Rhitt Garrett [send private message], and Lyn Sullivan [send private message]

Biography

He arrived in the Colony of Virginia on January 27, 1685 aboard the ship RICHARD and ELIZABETH, commanded by Captain Williams.

Thomas was about 21 years old when he embarked to come to the colonies ^[1] Recorded are three depositions presented in Court in a law suit of Bridgett X. Lugrove vs. Major Thomas Chamberlain for release from Indenture as a servant to said Major Thomas Chamberlain. Deponent stated that she came in the same ship with other servants under a four year indenture, but had been held bound for seven years and asked for her release. She could not produce her copy of the Indenture which had been given to Major Chamberlain, or to others, and which was now lost. Thomas Chamberlain, and the others testifying for him, disclaimed any knowledge of such an Indenture.

Thomas Andrews, aged 28 years or thereabouts, depseth that he came to the Colony in the ship Richard & Elizabeth, Captain Williams, commander, about seven years since, and that Bridgett Lugrove came in the same ship as well as the rest of the servants. He said that they had Indentures for four years, as did he, but that he never saw the Indenture of Bridgette. ^[2][3]

^[4] Made a deposition stating that 8 immigrants for the payment of their passage had signed to be servants in a household for 4 years rather than 7. At that time they had served seven years already and had not been released from their indenture by Major Thomas Chamberlain. "Thomas Andrews, aged 28 years or thereabouts, Deposeth - That he, the deponent, came to the Colony in the "Richard & Elizabeth", Captain Williams, Commander, about seven years since, and that Bridgett Lugrove came in the same ship as well as the rest of the servants. He said that they had Indentures for four years, but that he never saw the Indenture of the said Bridgett.

To all ye whereas ye now know ye that by the said officer Nicholson, Esq., Governor, ye do with the divine consent of the Counsel of the State accordingly give and grant unto Thomas Andrews a tract of land containing 394 acres lying and being in the County of Henrico County Virginia on the north side of the Appomattocks River. Beginning at a forked hickory belonging to the land of William Taylor, thence up the river, west 32 poles to a corner hickory. Thence leaving the river and running north 236 poles to a corner black oak. Thence NE and by N 38 poles to a corner white oak. Thence east, half south 60 poles to a corner black oak. Thence southeast by east three-fourths east, 54 poles to a corner black oak. Thence east by south 236 poles to a corner pine. Thence northeast by east, one-fourth east, 51 poles to a corner black oak, to a corner Spanish oak. Thence along this line to Timothy Harris. Southeast south, southeast 56 poles to a corner black oak. Thence on the line of William Taylor, northwest half west 32 poles to a corner white oak. Thence west by north, one-fourth north, 514 poles, and south 236 poles to the place it began, including the aforesaid 394 acres of land the said land being due unto the said Thomas Andrews by and for the transportation of eight persons into this colony whose names are to be in the record mentioned under this patent. To have and to hold or to be held by, yielding and paying the recording given under my hand and the seal of the colony this 20th day of October Anno yy Dom 1704. Signed: F.F. Nicholson. Persons transported: John Griffin, Dianna Collins, Eliz Kendal, Judith Baker, Eliz Young, Sara Rawlingson, Sarah Collins, Mary Rupkin

In 1720, the Bristol Parish Vestry Records contain the following entry:

”Bristoll P’ish-ss: At A Vestry held at the Chappell Xbr 7th 1720 …

Tho. Andrews being Anciant & Craysey & not Able to Work is Acquitted from paying P’ish Levies.”^[5]

(The following Will transcription courtesy of Sue Gill )

Henrico Co. Deeds and Wills 1725-1737, No. 2, Part 1

In the name of God, Amen this 21 day April 1731. I, Thomas Andrews Senior of Bristol Parish in Henrico County being weak in body but of sound mind and perfect memory thanks be unto God, do make and ordain this my Last will and Testament in manner and form following.

Imprimis: I bequeath my Soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Andrews one hundred acres of Land more or less where he now liveth, beginning at a corner pine from there to (a black oak corner?) (and to the Road?) to him the said Thomas his Heirs and assigns forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son Richard Andrews one hundred acres of Land more or less where he now liveth beginning at a corner that was formerly Wm. Garrat's line, then to a corner black oak by the Road to him the said Richard his Heirs and assigns forever.

Item: I give to my son Benjamin Andrews one cow and calf to be paid by my Executor.

Item: I give to my daughter, Donivant one shilling.

Item: I give to my daughter Anne Granger one shilling.

Item: I give to daughter Ame one shilling.

Item: I give to my son William Andrews one shilling.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son John the plantation where I now live with the goods and chattels belonging to the same to him the said John Andrews his Heirs and assigns forever. And I do hereby will make ordain constitute and appoint my said son John Andrews my full whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.

source: Thos. Andrews

Thomas Bott

Allick Moore

Edward Moore

Children named in Will

1. Thomas Andrews (abt.1690-1754)
2. Richard Andrews (1697-1752)
3. Benjamin Andrews (1699-1799)
4. Donivant Andrews (1695-1745)
5. Anne Granger (1703-)
6. Ame Andrews (abt.1705-abt.1762)
7. William Andrews Sr (abt.1693-1772)
8. John Andrews (1700-1773)

Thomas Andrews was born 29 March 1663, Bristol, England, and wrote his will on 21 April 1731, it was proved 6 May 1731, Bristol Parish, Henrico County, Virginia.^[6]

Thomas Immigrated to America on 27 January 1685, on the ship "Richard and Elizabeth". He was "28 years or therabouts, Deposeth-that he, the deponent, came to the colony in the ship Richard and Elizabeth, Capt Williams, commander, about seven years since, and that Bridgett Lugrove came in the same ship as well as the rest of the servants. He said that they had Indentures for four years, as did this deponent, but that he never saw the Indenture of the said Bridgette" signed Thomas Andrews Teste: H. Randolph Cl. Cur.^[7]

Thomas married on 27 July 1688, Henrico, Virginia, Elizabeth Thomas.

1704, Henrico County, Virginia, land grant of 396 acres for paying the passage for eight people.^[8]

Research Notes

Different parents are given for him: 1) Thomas Andrews and Hester Young, 2) William Andrews (1630-1663) and Mary Fowler (1645-) FAG

A baptismal record for Thomas Andrews dated 29 March 1663 of Great Cheverell, Wiltshire, England, has parents Thomas Andrews and Dorothy.^[9] Thomas of Great Cheverell died in 1700 and named his son Thomas executor of his Will. They were therefore both still in England in 1700 and neither can be the man who emigrated. For this reason, the parents Thomas Andrews and Dorothy Elliott have been detached.

There is nothing in the American records to indicate his origins in England and the name is very common. One line of research might be to investigate the origins of the 8 people he transported for land bounty in 1704 as listed in the information in the bio.

A number of family trees have William Andrews as his father based on the “James David Andrews” letter of 1928. This letter contains inaccuracies. For example, it suggests Thomas had just two sons named William and John, but in fact he had at least five sons who were named in his Will. The writer cannot have personally known any of the people mentioned, who were living nearly two hundred years earlier than the letter’s date. It contains no primary sources. For these reasons, the letter cannot be considered a reliable source.^[10] It should be noted that Thomas Andrews arrived in Virginia as an indentured servant. As such, he is highly unlikely to be related to the Lancelot Andrews, whose family appear in various visitations and are of the upper classes.

Searches have been carried out for the ship Richard and Elizabeth mentioned in the depositions, and for both Thomas Andrews and Thomas Chamberlain in the Bristol indentured servants / masters registers, but so far nothing has been forthcoming.

Sources

1. ↑ according to Hernico County Colonial Records, 1 Dec. 1691, Colonial Records, Book 5, Page 263.
2. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=70977599
3. ↑ "Carol's House"
4. ↑ Henrico Co Colonial Records Deacon 1 1691, Book 5, p. 263,
5. ↑ / image “The vestry book and register of Bristol Parish, Virginia, 1720 -1789” page 2
6. ↑ Volume 3, Deeds, Wills, 1727-1737, Henrico County.
7. ↑ Hernico County Colonial Records, 1 Dec. 1691, Colonial Records, Book 5, Page 263.
8. ↑ Virginia Land Grants, Patent Book 8, page 635 or (Patents) 9, Page 625, 1704)
9. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ND1B-DX8 : 20 September 2020), Thomas Andrews, 1663.
10. ↑ image of letter hosted on the Findagrave website

• Volume 3, Deeds, Wills, 1727-1737, Henrico County.
• Hernico County Colonial Records, 1 Dec. 1691, Colonial Records, Book 5, Page 263.
• Virginia Land Grants, Patent Book 8, page 635 or (Patents) 9, Page 625, 1704)
• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ND1B-DX8 : 20 September 2020), Thomas Andrews, 1663.
• Andrews (Bob) Family Records Author: Bob L. Andrews Publication: 1999 Note: #NS381441 Note: #NS381442 Repository: Note: #NS381443 Call Number: Media: Letter
• Title: IGI British Isles, v3.06 - 5.0 Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Publication: FamilySearch(tm), (c) 1999-2005 by Intellectual Reserve Inc.
• From collected notes. Garrett-4589 17:26, 7 February 2016 (EST)
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70977599 : accessed 13 April 2021), memorial page for Thomas Andrews (29 Mar 1663–21 Apr 1731), Find A Grave: Memorial #70977599, citing Thomas Andrews 396 Acre Plantation on the Appomatt, Henrico, Henrico County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by B&JAndrews1945 (contributor 47525492) . Large Bio with sources

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Lawrence 'Larry' Chesebro' for creating WikiTree profile Andrews-3560 through the import of LarryChesebro'Andrews.ged on Aug 23, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Lawrence 'Larry' and others.