upload image

James Andrews (abt. 1626 - 1704) Expanded Biography

Privacy Level: Open (White)
Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Profile manager: Bertram Sluys private message [send private message]
This page has been accessed 218 times.

James Andrews (abt.1626-1704) Elisha Andrews (-bef.1702)

Contents

The Family

Children:

  1. Elisha - 1660, married Elinor Brackett before 1698
  2. Josyah / Joshuah - 1660, died 1691 (maybe 1690, at the attack of Falmouth?)
  3. Samuel - 1647, possibly killed while fighting in King Philips War around 1675.
  4. James - born 1650, died around 1676, married Sarah Mitton (died without children before 1675); married 2 unknown. Children: Jemimah (1676).
  5. Rebecca - born 1655 Saco, married Jonathan Adams
  6. Dorcas - born 1663 Falmouth, married Ebenezer Davenport
  7. Jane - born Jan 7 1664, married Andrew Alger & Robert Davis

Good records to identify family members are very scarce in Maine. Some communities didn't have churches, therefore didn't keep vital records. Other communities were burned or otherwise destroyed around 1676 and again around 1690, once again destroying most records in their churches. Therefore the only records we can rely on for most communities in Maine are from petitions, deeds, wills and the like. James Andrews' will in 1704 lists only one son, Elisha, and three daughters and their husbands. The other sons' names come from a document listing James Senior, James Junior and Samuell Andrews sent out to fight in 1675 in King Philip's War, a petition asking not to grant some land to James' sons Elisha and Joshuah in 1688 and Elisha and Josyah Andrews asking for a grant of land to build a saw mill on in 1688. There are also a description of James Jr. and a few scattered records of James Jr.'s daughter Jemima. I have otherwise not found record of these 3 extra sons who would have died long before James' will was confirmed in 1704.

James' wife' name Dorcas is apparently only known from a gravestone that might no longer exist. While it's reported at Find a Grave at Granary Burying Ground in Boston, there is no picture of it and only a partial inscription: "wife of James, 69 years." It may actually say "60 years" instead - there is argument over that.[1]Find a Grave lists her name as Susan Dorcas Mitton. Others call her Sarah Mitton. In a deposition in the 1730, a man named James Ross said that he knew James Andross of Falmouth well and also his son and that his wife was Sarah the daughter of Michael Mitton.[2]However, it is now thought that James Ross meant that Sarah Mitton married James' son James. We do not find Dorcas listed anywhere as Michael Mitton's daughter. Michael's children Nathaniel (with no children), Anne, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah (with no children) and Martha are mentioned in a land document in 1731 listing Mary inherited it. Michael's wife Elizabeth had only 2 living daughters (Elizabeth and Martha) when she died in 1682; Dorcas died in 1696.[3]A few deeds seem to suggest James may have been related to the Mittons. In 1657 James received a grant of land from George Cleeves, father to Michael's wife, and next to James' land Cleeves also granted his granddaughter Ann Mitton land.[4]They are sometimes mentioned together because of their land being next door to each other. However, Cleeves is known to have granted land to several people who weren't related to him, and the grant mentions no family connection to James. There was also an island, later called Andrews, Fort or Bangs Island, that somewhere around 1667 went from belonging to Michael Mitton to James Andrews. Some say it was a dowry for James when he married one of Michael Mitton's daughters. But we have no proof of this since the exchange doesn't appear in any records anyplace.[5]

One tall tale of Andrews' Island before his acquiring it is worth telling. Michael Mitton, the owner, said he was in his canoe by the island fowling one day when a Triton (or merman) appeared, taking hold of the sides of the canoe. Mitton chopped one hand off with a hatchet, and the Triton sank beneath the waves leaving a trail of purple blood.[6]

Early Years

It is said that James Androwes was born in St James Garlickhithe, London on March 5 1624 to Samuell Androwes and Jane, but he doesn't appear in ship records with his family. He may have been missed, or he may have been born in Saco in the new world around 1635. His gravestone, giving his age at death on May 5 1704 as 79 years 5 months, suggesting the first option.[7]Some say his first wife was Sarah the daughter of Michael Mitton, but others say that was his son. In any case his first wife is normally given as Dorcas. It seems that whatever records of the Falmouth church (if there was one) were destroyed along with the town in 1690, taking proof of James' first wife with it. James Andrews married 2 Margaret Halse on Aug 6 1696 in Boston.[8]

James Andrews lived in New Casco, part of Falmouth and Portsmouth, Maine. His son Elisha also settled there. He lived there with his mother Jane MacWorth on the east side of the Presumpscot River. When he fled Falmouth in 1690 he settled and stayed in Boston, where he died in 1704. After the war ended in 1698, some settlers returned, and a new fort was built - this one on James Andrews' old farm land. The previous fort, Fort Loyal, had stood in Old Casco.[9]James inherited from his step-father Arthur MacWorth a large farm on the bay, to the east of the point in 1674. James also owned Bangs Island before 1675 (also called Andrews Island and Fort Island), but we don't know how he got it.[10]

James Andrews belonged to the Church of England, as did most other people in the area. The nearest church building was on Richmond's Island; it appears that the ministers of the area were mostly itinerant.[11]

In May 1657 James Andrews received a grant of 100 acres at the upper end of the marsh, on the Fore River, near Capisic from George Cleeves. Next to him Ann Mitton, George's grand-daughter, also received some land.[12]

There are several documents from Falmouth and Casco that have James Andrew's signature on them. He also wrote some letters and petitions. He was one of the few men that didn't have a signature mark by his name. Everyone who couldn't read or write had their own signature mark. James apparently didn't need one: he could read and write.

On June 8 1658 James Andrews and Jane MacWorth were among many signers of a petition asking whether it was lawful or not for Robert Jordan, who had recently been trying to buy as much land as possible and cut down trees to build and operate a saw mill, to do this. Several men were contesting this. At this point Andrews seems to be on the side of Jordan.[13]

In 1668 James Andrews and Jane MacWorth widow were among several petitioners to the governor about 3 men who had been causing trouble and threatening townspeople who had now petitioned the governor to give them voting rights. These petitioners asked him to reject it.[14]

In 1669 James Andrews was one of 8 freemen sending a letter to the officials in Boston asking whether it was lawful for men who weren't freemen to vote for county officers, complaining that some people were claiming land by pretense of patent or Indian deeds, pushing them out of their land, and warning that some of those not freemen would try to get rid of the existing government if they could vote.[15]

King Phllip's War

King Philip's War was named after Metacom, a Wampanoag chief who had also taken the English name Philip. In 1675 the people under him started attacking towns across New England in revenge for various acts the colonists did. Maine in particular was ransacked, 400 settlers dying. In 1676 all the settlers in Falmouth and Casco Bay fled the area. James went to Boston. The war ended in April 1678 with the treaty of Casco Bay, allowing the settlers to return, acknowledging Wabenaki triumph, and each family paying them a peck of corn every year as tribute,

In 1675 James Andrews Senior, James Andrews Junior and Samuell Andrews were among 17 men who departed the garrison at Falmouth to fight in King Philip's War. On October 6 (probably the date they departed), Searjeant Major Richard Walden left a notice in Falmouth that since they had fewer men to protect them no one was to go out of Falmouth, even by ship, for any reason.[16]

On Oct 21 1675 James Andrews Senior of Falmouth gave or sold one barrel of powder "by estimation one hundred weight to Daniel Wakley and Thomas Hues." A few days later James Andrews of Casco petitioned the governor that George Munjoy and Leif Ingerson with others from the committee demanded a barrel of powder that he had purchased for the defense of his own family and neighbors from him. He refused to deliver it, so Munjoy had held him prisoner until he delivered it to him. This left James' house "utterly destitute of Powder" so they couldn't defend themselves from the "violence of the Barbarous Enimy." The council gave him twenty pounds of his powder back.[17]

On Aug 11 1676 the Indians attacked Falmouth. They killed a number of people, Several people had been hiding in Munjoy's garrison: they fled to James Andrew's island where he had built a garrison. This island, at the mouth of the harbor, was called Portland Island when James bought it; it was later known as Andrews Island and also Fort Island because of the event described here. While separated from the mainland and held protection from arrows, it was also within musket range of the coast. Soon after he arrived, the minister wrote a letter asking for help. They then built a new building for protection. That night they sneaked into town and rescued some gunpowder; the next day more people joined them.[18]

On Aug 20 1676 the Council in Boston sent a letter to Mr. Munjoy to order him to give "fifteen hundred of bread" on board a ship that was meant as provisions for the soldiers to the people staying on Mr. Andrews' island instead as they were in distress. Apparently this was just one set of provisions that were delivered to them by ship.[19]It seems this group stayed a few months on the island in a state of siege, holding out against the Indians. It is likely that eventually they were given the opportunity to leave the island for Boston by ship.[20]

Between the Wars

In 1729 John Deal of Salem gave a testimony in which he said there were ruins of a mill that had been built on the Mussel Cove Stream. This apparently was built by James Andrews, senior, possibly for the use of his son James whose house was in full view of the mill.[21]

In 1683 Capt. Edward Ting and Mr. James Andrews were given permission to lay out 1000 acres of land in Falmouth for Richard Wharton.[22]

On July 19 1684 James Andrews was one of 5 men who were witnesses to a deed between Richard Wharton and the Sagamore tribe with their leader Worumbo under the Pejepscot patent.[23]

In 1687 Abraham Adams of Boston, cooper, and William Rogers of Casco Bay petitioned the governor Edmund Andros on behalf of their wives, daughters of Mr. Arthur Mackworth of Casco Bay, deceased. They lay claim to 500 acres of meadow Mackworth Island, now owned by John Peticone. James Andrews had petitioned for a patent of 120 acres, and his sons Elisha and Joshua had petitioned for another 150 acres of John Petcone's 500 acres. This would utterly ruin their wives. So they ask that he set aside Elisha's and Joshua's petition.[24]On April 14 1688 James Andrews petitioned governor Edmund Andros for land that hadn't been used in thirty-five years and to his knowledge there were no claims to the land: 14 acres of marsh and 41 acres of upland attached to it.[25] In July 1688 Abraham Adams and William Rogers petitioned again, this time for the land James Andrews had petitioned for. "If Obtained will be very p'judiciall to them."[26]

James' and Elisha's Involvement in King William's War

King William's War (1688 - 1697) was mostly fought in Europe as the Nine Years War. In North America it was New England against New France and the Wabanaki Confederacy. This was mostly about treaties and agreements from King Philip's War that weren't adhered to. Also, Indians were playing England and France against each other, making them think they were allies of the other country. In August 1689 the Wabenaki destroyed the fort at Pemaquid, and Falmouth became the frontier area for New England. On Sept 21 1689 Major Benjamin Church led a raid defending Falmouth, then took his soldiers back to Boston leaving Falmouth undefended. In May 1690 500 French and Indian troops attacked the Falmouth settlement, slaughtering 200 settlers and taking another 100 captive. James and his family must have fled to Boston before this. Falmouth was uninhabited until 1714.

In April 1689 Col. Edward Tyng, Capt. Joshua Scottow, Lt. Vines Ellacott, Mr. James Andrews and Mr. John Jones petitioned on behalf of the inhabitants of the eastern parts of Maine, on hearing the awful news of what had happened at Pemiquid, asked for more forces to defend them. The soldiers from their area returning home to defend it would be best.[27] On April 26 1689 James Andrews was one of 14 men who signed a letter saying their captain George Lockhart "carried and behaved himself decently", not letting anyone go to their farms to plow and sow unless at least 8 others went with them for defense from Indian attack, and that there were some officers had communication with the French and Indians but not Lockhart.[28]

James' son Elisha Andrews was made a Lieutenant for this war. Several letters he wrote give a feel for what conditions were like.

On May 19 1689 Elisha Andrews sent a letter saying last Thursday the soldiers at Pegipscott and Fort Ann garrisons returned to Boston and he was left at Saccadehock garrison with 9 other men while their enemies were burning houses on the western side of the river and killing the cattle. He was sick and not able to attack them. Elisha asked either to be drawn off or to be sent more relief. His men were leaving in 10 days if no relief came. The day before Lieutenant John Payne went from New Towne Garrison to see the river and rescue a boat. Some Indians had shot at him.[29]

On June 10 1689 Elisha Andrews wrote the governor from Sachadehock Garriston saying he received the letter of May 25 about taking care of his relief and so he stayed at that garrison with his men. Seven of his men rebelled against him and are on board George Hiskett's ship in the harbor. So he had only 3 men, weak, not knowing when the enemy will come.[30]On June 15 George Heskett "master of the sloop" sent the governor a letter saying he had 7 men come on board asking to go to Boston which he refused until they had been freely discharged by their commander Elisha Andrews. Elisha came with Francis Lowd and declared them free. George's son John Heskett was at Zackady Hock with Elisha Andrews and said Andrews promised them provisions and gave them pork and bread, saying he intended "not to be long after them". It seems he felt he had no power to stop them. He went to the ship and told George Heskett "shewed his ffree consent thereunto by proffring to pay their passages." As they left next morning both Andrews and Heskell gave each other gun salute.[31]

On Nov 13 1689 Lieutenant Elisha Andrews was one of 100 soldiers from Saco, Falmouth and Scarborough who stayed in their towns to defend them from the Abenaki Indians and French and to watch for enemy tracks to report during King William's War. Elisha was one of 60 soldiers in Falmouth; another 15 were in the fort.[32]

On Sept 20 1690 a letter was sent from Portsmouth by Robert Pike reporting how his army arrived in Wells. One thing he says is that some soldiers should remain there under Lieut. Andrews "under whose conduct (thay say) thayr so very happy and quiet..."[33] On Oct 11 50 soldiers are requested to remain with Lt. Elisha Andrews.[34]On Nov 6 "for the encouragement of Lt Elisha Andrews" or anyone in the court's favor, it was written that they receive 12 pounds for any enemy killed or captured alive and 8 shillings for every English captive they recover.[35]On Nov 7 another writing released all of the men in service in Wells other than 14 men Lt. Andrews may choose to remain with him.[36]

Living in Boston

King William's War ended in Sept 1697 with the treaty of Ryswyk. The former inhabitants of Falmouth could now return and claim their property. Apparently James wasn't interested in that. His property went to the family of his oldest son, James Junior. Apparently his daughter Jemima was the only family member surviving. She was married now, to Benjamin Snelling. We don't know when James Junior died, but at latest it would have been during the latest war. However, James Andrews is called senior only once - in 1676. After that he's only referred to as James Andrews. This would make it more likely James Junior died around 1676, during King Philip's War, when Jemima was an infant.

On Jan 4 1698 James Andrews gave his grand-daughter Jemima Snelling land in Falmouth as a gift. This was 130 acres of upland and 4 acres of marsh in Casco at Mussel Brook.[37]Her husband Benjamin kept it for her.

On May 17 1698 John Rouse bought 200 acres in Casco Bay and 41 acres near Presumpscott Falls and 14 acres of marshland, also Fort Island and Ram Island from James Andrews and Margaret. Rouse sold the land to Joseph Hubbard in 1712. Hubbard also bought land on Sandy Cove Beach which included James' dwelling house and a marsh, all deeded to James by his mother Jane Macworth.[38]

Sources

  1. Find a Grave as found at [1]
  2. Twenty Six Great Migration Colonists to New England as found at [2]
  3. Narkive, Possible Correction to Dunkle, "The Andrews-Cogswell-Page Bible", Genealogist 3[1982] as found at [3]
  4. The History of Portland, from 1632 to 1864: With a Notice of Previous ... By William Willis as found at [4]
  5. An Historical Sketch, Guide Book, and Prospectus of Cushing's Island, Casco ...By William Mitchell Sargent as found at [5]
  6. An Historical Sketch, Guide Book, and Prospectus of Cushing's Island, Casco ...By William Mitchell Sargent as found at [6]
  7. find a grave as found at [7]
  8. A volume of records relating to the early history of Boston containing Boston marriages from 1700 by Boston (Mass.). Registry Dept as found at [8]
  9. The History of Portland, from 1632 to 1864: With a Notice of Previous ... By William Willis as found at [9]
  10. The History of Portland, from 1632 to 1864: With a Notice of Previous ... By William Willis as found at [10]
  11. An Historical Sketch, Guide Book, and Prospectus of Cushing's Island, Casco ... By William Mitchell Sargent as found at [11]
  12. The History of Portland, from 1632 to 1864: With a Notice of Previous ... By William Willis as found at [12]
  13. Collections of the Maine historical society by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1831 as found at [13]
  14. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume IV, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [14]
  15. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume IV, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [15]
  16. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume IV, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [16]
  17. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume VI, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [17]
  18. The History of Portland, from 1632 to 1864: With a Notice of Previous ... By William Willis as found at [18]
  19. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume VI, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [19]
  20. An Historical Sketch, Guide Book, and Prospectus of Cushing's Island, Casco ... By William Mitchell Sargent as found at [20]
  21. The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Volumes 5-6 edited by Stephen Marion Watson as found at [21]
  22. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume IV, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [22]
  23. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume VII, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [23]
  24. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume VI, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [24]
  25. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume VI, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [25]
  26. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume VI, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [26]
  27. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume VI, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [27]
  28. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume VI, the Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [28]
  29. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume V, The Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [29]
  30. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume V, The Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [30]
  31. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume V, The Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [31]
  32. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume V, The Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [32]
  33. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume V, The Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [33]
  34. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume V, The Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [34]
  35. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume V, The Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [35]
  36. Documentary history of the state of Maine, Volume V, The Baxter Manuscripts by Maine Historical Society Publication date 1869-1916 as found at [36]
  37. York Deeds, Volume 12, Issue 2 By York County (Me.). Register of Deeds as found at [37] and The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Volumes 5-6 edited by Stephen Marion Watson as found at [38]
  38. The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Volumes 5-6 edited by Stephen Marion Watson as found at [39]




Collaboration
  • Login to edit this profile and add images.
  • Private Messages: Send a private message to the Profile Manager. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
  • Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages specifically directed to those editing this profile. Limit 20 per day.)


Comments: 1

Leave a message for others who see this profile.
There are no comments yet.
Login to post a comment.
see TAG 3 45-95 for family bible records
posted by David Flanagan