Andrew Drew (1792 - 1878)

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Henderson) Drew — married 17 Mar 1832 in London, England

Died 19 Dec 1878 at age 86 in Camberwell, London, England

Biography

Andrew Drew was born on 27 November 1792. He was christened on 25 December at All Hallows the Less in London^[1]

Andrew married Mary Henderson on 17 March 1832 at Saint Michael Paternoster in London^[2] They had five sons and one daughter.

Andrew Drew entered the Royal Navy 1806. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1814. He remained on active duty until 1824, when he was promoted commander for distinguished service during the Ashanti War and placed on half-pay.

In 1832, Drew formed a partnership Vice-Admiral Henry Vansittart (under whom he had served as a midshipman) to develop farmland. He moved to Upper Canada, took up land in Blandford Township, and initiated the layout of the town of Woodstock.

When the Upper Canada Rebellion broke out in 1837, he was appointed to command a naval brigade to expel William Lyon Mackenzie and his rebels from Navy Island in the Niagara River. Mackenzie'’s supporters hired a steamer, Caroline, to carry supplies to the island, and on December 29, 1837, Drew and his party seized the ship, set her on fire, and cut her adrift to burn in the river.

Drew returned to active duty with the Royal Navy and was given command of the HMS Wasp in 1842 in the West Indies. He was promoted to Post Captain in 1843.^[3]

Andrew died in Camberwell, London on 19 December, 1878^[4].

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMW3-LX7 : accessed 27 February 2016), Andrew Drew, 25 Dec 1792; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 374,338, 374,339.
2. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJP4-7X6 : accessed 27 February 2016), Andrew Drew and Mary Henderson, 17 Mar 1832; citing Saint Michael Paternoster,London,London,England, reference ; FHL microfilm 374,506, 566,144.
3. ↑ M. L. Magill, “DREW, ANDREW,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 10, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed February 27, 2016, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/drew_andrew_10E.html.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JPR-QLV : accessed 27 February 2016), Andrew Drew, 1878; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Camberwell, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

See also:

• William R. O’Byrne, "Drew, Andrew," in A Naval Biographical Dictionary: Comprising the Life and Services of Every Living Officer in Her Majesty's Navy from the Rank of Admiral of the Fleet to that of Lieutenant, inclusive. London: John Murray, 1849, accessed February 27, 2016, https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Naval_Biographical_Dictionary/Drew,_Andrew.