Andrew Lester (abt. 1620 - 1669)

Born about 1620 in England

Husband of Barbara (Unknown) Lester — married 1641 in Gloucester, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Joane (Willey) Lester — married 2 Mar 1655 in New London, Connecticut Colony

Husband of Hannah (Brooks) Willey — married 1661 (to 1669) in New London, New London, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died 7 Jun 1669 at about age 49 in New London, New London, Connecticut Colony

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Biography

Andrew Lester was born in England, and he is likely to have been born in England close to the border with Wales, based on his association with The Blinman Party (see that page for details). He was probably born about 1620, based on his marriage in 1641, which is his first record in New England. It is possible that he arrived with the Rev. Richard Blinman party that came initially to Green's Harbor (later Marshfield), Plymouth Colony in 1640, given his early appearance in Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony with that group, and to his continued association with Blinman until the Reverend returned to England in 1659. However, Andrew was not listed with Blinman and five other men of his party who were made freemen on 2 March 1640/1^[1], possibly because he was not yet of age, or possibly because he was not yet part of the group.

Rev. Blinman soon stirred up theological controversy in Green's Harbor and decided to leave, receiving permission to resettle his group in Cape Ann, soon named Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony. See The Blinman Party for details.

Andrew married, first, Barbara (Unknown) in 1641, in Gloucester.^[2] The marriage year is estimated from the birth of their first child on 16 April 1642. Andrew and Barbara had children, all born in Gloucester:^[3]

1. Daniel, born 16 April 1642, married Hannah Fox, daughter of Thomas Fox on 11 Aug 1669.^[4]

2. Andrew, Jr., born 26 Dec 1644, married Sarah? Clark, daughter of Nicolas, then Lydia Bailey.

3. Mary, born 26 Dec 1647, married Samuel Fox on 31 Mar 1675

4. Anna, born 21 Mar 1650/1, married Nathaniel Millett on 3 May 1670

Andrew was made freeman on 10 May 1643.^[5]

Andrew had a house lot and a planters lot in Gloucester. On 26 February 1648/9 Andrew was licensed to keep a house of entertainment and to sell alcoholic beverages. In 1651 Andrew sold all of his Gloucester property and followed Rev. Blinman to Connecticut Colony.^[6][7]

In 1650/1 Rev. Blinman decided to remove to Pequot, later named New London, New London, Connecticut Colony. Land was granted to Blinman and his followers there, and Andrew occupied lot #4^[7], possibly indicating his status within the group. See The Cape Ann Company for details.

In April 1651 Andrew and three other Cape Ann members, Mr. Denison, Hugh Caulkins, and John Elderkin, sought a piece of marshland along Alewife cove. They planned to drain the swamp and were allowed to have all the land "Now under water forever."^[7]

Andrew's wife Barbara died in New London on 2 February 1653/4, the first recorded death of a white woman there.^[8][9]

In about 1655 Andrew married, second, Joanna (Willey) Hempstead, widow of Robert.^[2] Joanna is assumed to have been the daughter of Isaac Willey. She died without issue in 1659.^[7]

In 1658 the Rev. Richard Blinman decided to return to England. One of his last records in New London was the sale of land to Andrew on 12 July 1659. Rev. Blinman was replaced by Rev. Gershom Bulkley of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, son of Rev. Peter Bulkley, founding minister of Concord.

In about 1660 Hannah (Brooks) Fox, recent widow of Thomas, followed Rev. Bulkley from Concord to New London, bringing her children with her. Andrew married Hannah in 1661, based on the birth of their first child together on 4 July 1662.^[2][8]

Andrew and Hannah had children, all born in New London:^[8]

5. Timothy, born 4 July 1662; no further records

6. Joseph, born 15 June 1664, m. Katherine _____ by 1695, when their son Joseph was born in New London

7. Benjamin, born ca 1666, married Ann Stedman, daughter of Thomas.

Andrew's son Daniel married Hannah's daughter Hannah in 1668^[2][8], and Hannah's son Samuel married Andrew's daughter Mary in 1675.^[10][8] (The New London town marriage record on p.116 incorrectly identifies Mary's father as "Daniel Jr.").

Andrew served as the town constable and collector in 1668.^[7]

Andrew Lester died on 7 June 1669, in New London (New London County court records 2:4).^[7] Sometime after his death "Widow Lester from the church at Concord" was admitted to the church of Rev. Simon Bradstreet.^[9] Hannah married, as her third husband, Isaac Willey, who was probably the father of Andrew's second wife. Isaac died in about 1685. Hannah, "Widow Anna Willey, sometime wife to Andrew Lester, Sen., deceased" died in 1692.^[9]

Research Notes

Andrew Lester is speculated to have originated in Cheshire, England, as several other Blinman members were from there. See the Research Notes for The Blinman Party. His constant association with Rev. Blinman for over 17 years strongly suggests that he was a member of the original group. If his birth year is estimated correctly, it explains why he was not made freemen in 1640 in Green's Harbor. His marriage to Barbara so shortly after the removal to Gloucester suggests that she was also one of one of the original Blinman party members, possibly someone's daughter or relative.

The parent profiles connected to Andrew as of February 2024 are certainly incorrect, as those persons were located in a different part of England from where Andrew most probably originated. They should be disconnected, especially since they go back several generations, compounding the error for the trees of Andrew's descendants. A search on FamilySearch and FindMyPast records for Cheshire did not produce any results. Note that the range of surname spellings to look for range from Lester to Leicester to Leyster to Lister. Francis Lester and Jane (Bywell) Lester have been removed as parents of Andrew Lester for lack of documentation.

Sources

1. ↑ State of Massachusetts, Records of the colony of New Plymouth in New England, v.2 p.8 InternetArchive
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} New England Marriages to 1700. Torrey, v.2 p.942 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. NEHGS member site
   • Text: "LESTER, Andrew1 (-1669) & 1/wf Barbara ____ (-1653/[4]); by 1642; Gloucester/New London {New London Hist. 286; Gen Mag. 2:282, 284; Lester 11, 20; Harvey 594; Scott (1919) 206; Booth (1910) 233}";
   • Text: "LESTER, Andrew1 (-1669) & 2/wf Joanna [WILLEY?] [HEMPSTEAD], w Robert; ?ca Jun 1655, ?aft Jun 1655; New London, CT {New London Hist. 273, 287, 310; Winthrop-Babcock 255; Lester 11, 20; Converse (1905) 770; Scott (1919) 206; Booth (1910) 232}";
   • Text: "LESTER, Andrew1 (-1669) & 3/wf Ann/Anna/Hannah (?BROOKS) [FOX] (-1692), w Thomas, m/3 Isaac WILLEY? 1670/72?; ca 1661; New London, CT {Snow-Estes 2:283; Reg. 58:52, 53; Brooks (1927) 9; Bullard Anc. 266; Gen Mag. 2:284; New London Hist. 287, 310; Winthrop-Babcock 537; Lester 11, 20; Booth (1910) 233; Harvey 594; Brooks 9; Fax Fam. News 4:24; Fox (ms) 2; Willey 1}"
   • Text: "LESTER, Daniel (1642-1717) & Hannah FOX; 1 Oct 1668, 11 Aug 1669; New London, CT {New London VR 116, 189; Lester 20-1; New Haven Gen. Mag. 1957; Fox Fam. News 3:9; Reg. 50:485}"
3. ↑ Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850; Gloucester, v.1 p.429 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). NEHGS member site
4. ↑ The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Records, New London, pp. 189- 192 in transcription, citing Vol. 1, pp. 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 19 in original
5. ↑ Andrew, H. Franklin, compiler; List of freemen, Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1630 to 1691...; (1906); InternetArchive
6. ↑ Babson, John James, History of the town of Gloucester, Cape Anne, including the town of Rockport, (1860) p.112 InternetArchive
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5} Avery, Rev. John, History of the Town of Ledyard 1650-1900. Norwich: Noyes & Davis, 1901. pp.142- InternetArchive
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630-1870 New London, pp.116, 189-192, (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928. NEHGS member site
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Caulkins, Francis Manwaring, History of New London, Connecticut, from the first survey of the coast in 1612 to 1860, (1895), pp.67-68, p.193, pp.286-7 p.67; p.193; p.286; p.310; InternetArchive
10. ↑ New England Marriages to 1700. Torrey, v.1 p.573 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. NEHGS member site
    • Text: "FOX, Samuel (1651-1727) & 1/wf Mary LESTER (1647-); 30 Mar 1675/6, 1676?, 31 Mar 1675; New London, CT {New London VR 116; New London Hist. 370; Fox Fam. News 3:12; Sv.; Brewster 18}"

• Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3F54-LXW : accessed 23 December 2018), entry for Andrew LESTER, cites sources; "NicholasJMeyler1959" file (2:2:2:MM64-YTK)
• https://gw.geneanet.org/jlebaylechazare?lang=en&pz=maximilien&nz=vanderperre&ocz=0&p=andrew&n=lester&oc=2
• https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/154663509/person/352045156118/media/da187261-dae4-42e1-b669-0b424bbbc4b1?destTreeId=169191150&destPersonId=202193334225&_phsrc=myN8924&_phstart=default