Generation 1

ROBERT ANDREWS (d. 1668) of Boxford and Topsfield

Parents: Unknown

Robert Andrews died on 29 May 1668 in Topsfield. [Ref][Ref][Ref] He married Grace Unknown. [Ref] Grace was born about 1614. She died on 25 Dec 1702 [Ref][Ref] or perhaps 25 Dec 1700 - 01 in Boxford. [Ref] She signed her will on 4 Sep 1669; it was proved on 4 Jan 1702/3. [Ref] Both Robert and Grace are buried in Topsfield. [Ref]

Robert was a carpenter. [Ref]

Robert had land in Topsfield, which borders Rowley, as early as 1654. [Ref] He settled in Boxford about 1656 with his wife and six children. [Ref] He purchased 200 acres from John Lambert of Rowley, lying on the west side of Pye Brook, and built a house there. [Ref] He bought several other tracts of land in Rowley Village (the original name of Boxford) and Topsfield; he bought land on Fish Brook from Zaccheus Gould. [Ref] He took the oath of allegiance as Goodman Andrews on 6 May 1658. [Ref][Ref] He was in Rowley in 1661. [Ref] He is on a Rowley tax list from before 25 Jan 1664. [Ref] His house was somehow destroyed before 1668 and he built a new one. [Ref] He was of Rowley Village when he wrote his will on 16 May 1668. [Ref] In his will, he asks to be buried at Topsfield. [Ref] At the time of his death he had 25 acres of corn planted. [Ref] His will was proved on 2 (5) 1668. [Ref][Ref says 1 (5)] Inventory was taken by Francis Peabody and Isaac Cummings 2; Edman Towne and Robert's widow Grace attested on 1 (5) 1668. [Ref]

Nathaniel and Thomas Leonard, Joseph, Daniel and Benjamin Bixbee andRobert's sons Robert and Thomas Andrews were all presented at the 1 May 1672 court in Ipswich for breach of peace and some for swearing. [Ref]

At the Jun 1674 court in Salem, Grace, age 60, and her son Robert testified in Hannah Downings case against the Nathaniel, Samuel and Thomas Leonard. Hannah, who lived with the Leonards, testified that the Leonards' sons were abusive to her. The Leonard sons' friends complained that Hannah behaved inappropriately -- sitting up late with boys and walking in the woods at night. Grace testified that Elizabeth Boungkier came to her house to stay with her daughter Sarah and the Leonards came and annoyed them all night. Robert, age 25, said that he was at the iron works in Rowley Village [later Boxford] and he and others went into the pond. Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Leonard sat by the side of the pond and the Leonards came out of the water naked and ran races. [Ref]

Widow Andrews is on a 1680 list of inhabitants of Boxford. [Ref]

Robert signed his will on 16 May 1668; it was proved on 1 (5) 1668. [Ref] The will reflects concern for his wife and an apparent worry that his sons Thomas and Robert might make trouble. He left his eldest son Thomas Andrews the house he lived in -- although he was to shingle it -- and nine acres of land that he bought from Zacheus Gould. However, during her lifetime his "well beloved wife" was to have the kitchen, hall, kitchen chamber, half the cellar, the new field, eight acres and half the orchard. If this was not enough to sustain her then his sons Thomas and Andrew were to give her three more acres for her lifetime, without hindrance or molestation on the part of Thomas. After his wife's death, Thomas was to have the land, orchard and rooms. All of Robert's carpenter tools were to be for the use of his wife and sons Thomas and Robert. Robert also left his son Robert eight acres from Piebrook and his sons Thomas and Robart were "not [to] wrong one another in wood". Thomas was to pay Robert's three youngest daughters, Rebecca, Sarah and Ruth twenty pounds each when they reached age 20. If one were to die, the other two were to receive her share. He was also to pay Robert's daughter Mary, the wife of Isaac Cummings five pounds. Robert's son Robert was to pay Robert's daughters Elizabeth, the wife Samuel Symonds, and Hannah Peabody each five pounds. Robert left his son John his "seller Lott" and meadow, but the meadow was for the use of Robert's wife and son Thomas until John was 21. Then it was to be returned to him without any "further trouble". John was to pay Robert's seven grandchildren 20 shillings each when they reached the age of 14. Robert left his son Joseph the land in Topsfield that he bought from John Wilds, Sr. He left his will all of his cattle and moveable goods and half the barn and "Lintos"; Thomas was to have the other half and his brother Robert was instructed to provide hay for their mother. Robert's wife was his sole executrix. [Ref]

Note: Robert should not be confused with the Robert Andrews who was a freeman in Ipswich on 6 May 1635 and who had a wife Elizabeth and children John, Thomas and Alice.

Children of Robert Andrews:

1. Mary Andrews was born about 1640. She died between 1692 and 1712. She married Isaac Cummings.
2. Hannah Andrews was born about 1642. [Ref] She died on 4 Dec 1702 in Malden. [Ref][Ref] She married Capt. John Peabody [Ref], son of Francis Peabody, on 23 Nov 1665. [Ref][Ref recorded in Boxford and also Rowley and Topsfield] In his will, her father refers to her as "Hanah Pebody". [Ref] She and John had 11 children. [Ref]
3. Elizabeth Andrews was born about 1643. She died on 17 Mar 1725 in Boxford. She married Samuel Symonds.
4. Sgt. Thomas Andrews was born about 1645. He died in 1718. He married first Martha, the widow of Obadiah Antrum of Ipswich after 16 May 1668 [Ref], when he is referred to as unmarried in his father's will. He married second Mary Belcher. He married third Rebecca Unknown.
   His father calls him his oldest son in his will; he was to have his father's homestead and the land bought from Zaccheus Gould. [Ref] He was a freeman on 22 Mar 1689/90. [Ref] He was a selectman of Boxford in 1688, 1691 and 1696. [Ref]
5. Capt. John Andrews was born about 1648. [Ref] He married Sarah Dickinson on 18 Apr 1683 in Boxford. [Ref] Sarah was the daughter of James and Rebecca Dickenson of Rowley. [Ref]
   He was under 21 when his father made his will. He was to have the "Seller Lott". [Ref] He was a selectman of Boxford in 1687, 1692, 1695, 1698-9, 1702, 1709, 1712-3, and 1717. [Ref]
6. Robert Andrews was born about 1651 [Ref], or a bit earlier if his deposition that he was 25 in 1674 is correct. He was unmarried when his father made his will; his father left him 160 acres of land, extending from Pie Brook to Clay Pits, Falls Meadow and Fishing Brook Meadow. [Ref] In his will of 6 Dec 1675, Robert mentions his brother-in-law Samuel Symonds and his brothers John and Joseph. [Ref] Robert Andrews of Topsfield was killed in King Philip's War on 10 or 16 Dec 1675. [Ref] He died in the storming of Fort Narragansett. [Ref says on 19 Dec]
7. Rebecca Andrews was born about 1654. [Ref] She married Samuel Marble [Ref] on 26 Nov 1675 in Andover. [Ref] She was unmarried and under 21 when her father made his will. [Ref]
8. Capt. Joseph Andrews was born on 18 Sep 1657 in Topsfield. He married first Sarah Perley. He married second Mary Dickenson.
9. Sarah Andrews was born about 1658. [Ref] She died on 27 Sep 1714 and is buried in the old cemetery in the East Parish. [Ref] She was unmarried and under 21 when her father made his will. [Ref] She married Daniel Wood about 1674. [Ref]
10. Ruth Andrews born on 27 May 1664 in Topsfield. [Ref] She married Edward, the son of Edward Phelps and Elizabeth Adams on 9 Mar 1682 in Andover. [Ref] She was unmarried and under 21 when her father made his will. [Ref]

Generation 2

MARY ANDREWS (c. 1640 - 1692/1712)

Parents: Robert Andrews and Grace Unknown [Ref, p. 6]

Mary Andrews was born about 1640. [Ref] She died between 1692 and 1712. [Ref, p. 7] She married Isaac Cummings on 27 Nov 1659 [Ref, p. 23][Ref, p. 6] in Topsfield. [Ref][Ref] Mary (Isaac Cumming's wife) was the 14th female member of the church in Topsfield. [Ref]

In his will, her father refers to her as "Mary the wife of Isack Comins". [Ref]

When her husband testified against Elizabeth How in her witchcraft trial, Mary corroborated his testimony. [Ref, p. 7]

ELIZABETH ANDREWS (abt 1640 - 1725)

Parents: Robert Andrews and Grace Unknown

Elizabeth Andrews was born about 1643. [Ref][Ref] Elizabeth Symonds, the daughter of Robert Andrews and widow of Samuel Symonds, died on 17 Mar 1725 in Boxford. [Ref][Ref] She married Samuel Symonds on 14 (2) 1662 [Ref] in Salem. [Ref, also recorded in Boxford]

In his will her father refers to her as "Elizabeth the wife of Samuel Symons". [Ref]

SGT. THOMAS ANDREWS (abt 1645 - 1718) of Boxford

Parents: Robert Andrews and Grace Unknown

Sgt. Thomas Andrews was born about 1645. [Ref][Ref] He died in 1718. [Ref] He married first Martha, the widow of Obadiah Antrum of Ipswich, on 22 Jun 1670 in Topsfield. [Ref][Ref][Ref says she is Martha (Baker) Antrum] Perley [Ref] says that he is the Thomas who married Mary Belcher on 9 Feb 1681 in Ipswich. [Ref] He married third Rebecca Unknown. [Ref] She died on 1 Apr 1724. [Ref]
His father calls him his oldest son in his will; he was to have his father's homestead and the land bought from Zaccheus Gould. [Ref] He was a freeman on 22 Mar 1689/90. [Ref] He was a selectman of Boxford in 1688, 1691 and 1696. [Ref]

In Mar 1695 John Perley, Thomas Perley, Samuel Symonds, Thomas Andrews and John Peabody were on a committee to meet with people from Topsfield and settle the boundary line between the two towns. [Ref]

On 3 Oct 1716 Thomas conveyed his farm to his son Thomas, in consideration of his supporting him. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Andrews and the widow Martha Antrum:

1. Elizabeth Andrews was born on 16 Jan 1671/2. [Ref] She married William Wilson of Ipswich on 19 Apr 1693.
2. Martha Andrews was born on 25 Dec 1673. [Ref] She married John Fifield before 1716. [Ref] They lived in Kingstown in 1750. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Andrews and an unknown wife:

1. Sarah Andrews probably married Lieut. Joseph Swett of Hampton on 20 Nov 1701. [Ref]
2. Ruth Andrews married Timothy Foster on 29 Mar 1715. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Andrews and Rebecca Unknown:

1. Son Andrews was stillborn on May 23 [168-?] in Boxford. [Ref][Others interpret this to be a son named "Lilburn" who was perhaps born in 1687 or 1688.]
2. Robert Andrews died on 16 May 16[8- ?] in Boxford. [Ref]
3. Rebecca Andrews was born on 14 Apr 1686 in Boxford. [Ref] She died on 16 May 16[8- ?] in Boxford. [Ref]
4. Unknown son Andrews was born in Oct, perhaps 1687 or 1688 in Boxford. [Ref]
5. Patience Andrews was born on 29 Mar 1689 in Boxford. She married John Andrews.
6. Esther Andrews was born on 16 Feb in perhaps 1694 or 1695 in Boxford. [Ref][Ref, her first name is missing] She married John Bixby of Boxford on 8 May 1722. [Ref]
7. Capt. Thomas Andrews was born on 18 Dec in perhaps 1696 in Boxford. [Ref] He was living on 10 Dec 1746; administration was granted on his estate on 1 Jun 1747. [Ref] He married Ruth Bixby on 1 Mar 1721/2. [Ref] He was a husbandman. [Ref]
8. Hannah Andrews died on 24 Apr [1702-4?] in Boxford. [Ref]

CAPT. JOSEPH ANDREWS (abt 1657 - 1731/2) of Boxfield, Topsfield and Salem Village (Rowley)

Parents: Robert Andrews and Grace Unknown

Joseph Andrews was born on 18 Sep 1657 [Ref] in Topsfield. [Ref][Ref] He died between 13 Apr 1731, when he signed his will, and 4 Sep 1732, when it was proved. [Ref] He married first Sarah Perley on 1 Feb 1681 in Topsfield. [Ref][Ref] She died on 15 Jan 1693/4 in Boxford. [Ref][Ref] He married second Mary Dickenson of Rowley on 29 Mar 1694 [Ref] in Rowley. [Ref says 13 or 29 Mar][Ref says 30 Mar 1696] She died on 25 Feb 1700/1 or perhaps 1701/2 in Boxford. [Ref] He married third the widow Abigail (Grafton) Walker [Ref does not mention second wife Mary] on 2 Nov 1704. [Ref] She was the daughter of John Grafton. [Ref] He was unmarried when his father made his will; he was to have land in Topsfield bought from John Wilde's son. [Ref] Joseph was the ancestor of John Albion Andrews, Governor of Massachusetts during the Civil War. [Ref] He was a freeman on 22 Mar 1689/90. [Ref] He was a selectman of Boxford in 1689, 1697, 1700 and 1704. [Ref]

Joseph was a house carpenter. [Ref]

The Boxford records for Joseph and Sarah's children are damaged or incomplete. In addition to Joseph, there is a son born on 13 Sep, perhaps 1687 or 1688 and a daughter born perhaps on 1 or 16 Jul 1690 or 1691.

He left his homestead to his sons Nathaniel and Jonathan. [Ref]

Children of Joseph Andrews and Sarah Perley:

1. Sarah Andrews [Ref] was born on 20 Aug 1683 in Topsfield. She married Paul Averill on 27 Mar 1706. [Ref]
2. Joseph Andrews was born on 13 Mar 1686 in Boxford. [Ref] He died on 22 Apr 1756. [Ref] He married Hephzibah Porter of Salem on 7 Jun 1711. [Ref] She died on 12 Apr 1756. [Ref] He lived in Boxford until 1718, when he returned to Topsfield. [Ref]
3. John Andrews was born on 16 Sep 1688 in Topsfield. He married Patience Andrews.
4. Hepzibah Andrews [Ref] was baptised on 5 Jul 1691 in Topsfield. [Ref] She died in 1753 in Ipswich. [Ref] She married Abraham How of Ipswich after 31 Jan 1712 (int.). [Ref]

Children of Joseph Andrews and Mary Dickenson

1. Lydia Andrews was born on 3 Sep 1697 in Boxford. [Ref] She married William Webster on 24 May 1722. [Ref]
2. Mary Andrews was born on 19 Apr 1[699?] in Boxford. [Ref] She married Samuel Creesy of Rowley on 7 Oct 1725. [Ref]

Children of Joseph Andrews and Abigail Grafton

1. Nathaniel Andrews was born on 10 Aug 1705. [Ref]
2. Jonathan Andrews was born on 12 Aug 1708. [Ref] He was a mariner and lived in Salem. [Ref] He signed his will on 8 Nov 1734, when he was about to go on a voyage; it was proved on 8 Jul 1737. [Ref]

In addition, a son Robert Andrews was living in 1718. [Ref]

Generation 3

PATIENCE ANDREWS (b. 1689)

Parents: Sgt. Thomas Andrews and Rebecca Unknown

Patience Andrews is said to have been born on 29 Mar 1689 in Boxford. She may be the unknown daughter of Thomas whose birth is recorded on 29 Mar in Boxford. [Ref] She married John Andrews.

JOHN ANDREWS (1688 - 1741/5)

Parents: Capt. Joseph Andrews and Sarah Perley

John Andrews was born on 16 Sep 1688 in Topsfield. He died between 2 Apr 1741, when he wrote his will, and 25 Mar 1745, when it was proved. [Ref] He married Patience Andrews on 9 Jul 1713 in Boxford. [Ref]

John was a farmer and lived in Boxford. [Ref]

Children of John Andrews and Patience Andrews:

1. Hannah Andrews was born on 28 Apr 1715 in Boxford. [Ref] She married Moses Foster of Arundel, York country on 10 Mar 1736 in Ipswich. [Ref]
2. Thomas Andrews was born on 4 Sep 1717 in Boxford. [Ref] He married Margaret Bradstreet of Topsfield on 27 Nov 1739 in Topsfield. [Ref]
3. Mary Andrews was born on 25 Mar 1720 in Boxford. [Ref]
4. Nathaniel Andrews was born on 24 Apr 1722 in Boxford. [Ref]
5. Mary Andrews 2 was born on 26 Apr 1725 in Boxford. She died in 1771. She married Elisha Cummings.
6. Abigail Andrews was born on 29 Nov 1727 in Boxford. [Ref]

Generation 4

MARY ANDREWS 2 (1725 - 1771)

Parents: John Andrews and Patience Andrews [Ref]

Mary Andrews was born on 26 Apr 1725 in Boxford. [Ref] She died in Jul 1771. She married Elisha Cummings on 22 Nov 1744 [Ref][Ref][Ref, p. 82] in Topsfield. [Ref]

The article in the Essex Antiquarian [Ref] says that Mary (the daughter who married Elisha Cummings) was born on 25 Mar 1720 (and baptised in Feb 1719/20!). Another daughter Marcy is said to have been born on 26 Apr 1725 and to have probably died young. [Ref]

References

Church Records

Dunnell, H. G., comp., "List of Members of the Old Church, Topsfield," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 16, 1862, 213 - 215.

Court Records

Dow, George Francis, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Essex Institute, 1911.

Family Genealogies

Bower, Richard LeBaron, "The Mother of Christopher Helme," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 98, 1944, 11.

Burnham, Samuel, "John Albion Andrews," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 23, 1869, 1-12.

Cummins, Albert Oren, Cummings Genealogy: Isaac Cummings, 1601-1677, of Ipswich in 1638 and some of his descendants, Montpelier, A.O. Cummins, 1904.

Editors, "Descendants of Robert Andrews of Rowley Village (Boxford)," Essex Antiquarian 3, 1899, 113-119.

Mooar, George, The Cummings Memorial : A genealogical history of the descendants of Isaac Cummings, an early settler of Topsfield, Massachusetts, New York: B.F. Cummings, 1903.

Plummer, John, "Isaac Cummings of Essex County, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 145, 1991, 145.

Local Histories

Perley, Sidney, The History of Boxford, Essex County, Massachusetts : from the earliest settlement known to the present time, a period of about two hundred and thirty years. Boxford, Mass.: The author, 1880.

Public Records

Bodge, George, "Soldiers in King Philip's War," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 39, 1885, 178.

Coffin, Joshua, "Early Settlers of Essex and Old Norfolk," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 6, 1852, 205-208, 243-254, 339-346; 7, 1853, 83 - , 357 -; 7, 1853, p. 357 - 360; 8, 1854, p. 49 - 54.

Paige, Lucius R. "List of Freemen, " New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3, 1849, 93.

Stickney, Matthew A., "Ancient Tax List of the Town of Rowley," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 15, 1861, 253.

Vital Records

Boltwood, Lucius Manlins, trans., "Marriages in the Town of Andover," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3, 1849, 65-68.

Dow, George Francis, comp., Vital records of Topsfield, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, Topsfield, Topsfield Historical Society, 1903.

No author, Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850. Online Database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2007.

No author, Vital records of Boxford, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849, Topsfield, Mass.: Topsfield Historical Society, 1905.

Wills

Herrick, Linda Smith, trans., Will of Robert Andrews of Boxford, Essex County Gen Web website, http://essexcountyma.net/Wills/AndrewsRobert.html.

No Author, "Will of Richard Haffeeld," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3, 1849, 156.

No author, "Will of Robert Andrews," Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol. 13, leaf 67.