Know your roots. Let’s take a backward glance into our family history with James Andrews.
Just because you are raised in a particular location, never assume that your ancestors were too!
Our ancestors come from all walks of life. For me, well I was raised in the South. But the case with this ancestor is much different.
The Andrews family had immigrated from England and established in Massachusetts for several generations.
So the Andrews family has a lot of history in Colonial America. Possibly the oldest family name of the immigrants.
James ANDREWS was born 19 MAR 1721 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, British Colonial America.
The son of William Andrews and Elizabeth Curtis Andrews. His story would not be complete without a little history of the area in which he was born. History tells us that many families who came to America started in Massachusetts.
What was Springfield like in 1721?
By 1721, Springfield was a diverse community, with settlers of English, Scottish, Irish, and Dutch descent, among others. The town was primarily agricultural, with residents engaged in farming, livestock rearing, and trade. The Connecticut River, which flowed through the town, provided a vital transportation route for goods and people.
Trade played a significant role in Springfield’s economy.
The town’s location along the Connecticut River allowed for easy access to markets in Boston and other nearby towns. Residents traded goods such as agricultural products, lumber, and furs. Springfield also had a small but growing manufacturing sector, with artisans producing goods like textiles, pottery, and iron tools.
Religion played a central role in the lives of Springfield’s residents.
The town had several churches, including Congregational, Baptist, and Anglican congregations. Education was highly valued, and a small school provided basic instruction to children. Social gatherings, such as town meetings and community events, provided opportunities for residents to come together, share news, and discuss important matters.
James marries and starts a family
James married Sarah Burnham on September 2, 1745, in Essex, Massachusetts. He fathered ten children, but only 3 girls and one son, are mentioned in his will.
This could mean that the children had already established their own homesteads. More research needed.
Records show that James and his family had moved southward to North Carolina by 1760.
In 1760, North Carolina was a diverse and growing colony located in the southeastern region of what is now the United States. It was a time of change and development, with a mix of different ethnicities, cultures, and social classes shaping the landscape of the colony.
North Carolina in 1760
North Carolina’s population in 1760 was around 150,000 people, with a majority being of European descent. English settlers were the largest group, followed by Scots-Irish, Germans, and smaller numbers of French, Swiss, and African slaves. Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Catawba, and Tuscarora, also inhabited the region.
Agriculture was the backbone of North Carolina’s economy. Farmers cultivated crops such as tobacco, corn, wheat, and indigo.
Small-scale farmers, known as yeomen, played a significant role in the economy. Trade and commerce were growing, with ports like Wilmington and Edenton serving as important centers for shipping goods.
North Carolina – a Royal Colony
North Carolina was a royal colony, governed by a governor appointed by the British Crown. The colony had a representative assembly, known as the General Assembly, which included elected officials from various counties. Religion played a significant role in society, with Anglicanism being the established church, but there was also religious diversity, including Quakers, Presbyterians, and Baptists.
In conclusion of a backward glance into our family history with James Andrews, we find his untimely death.
James Andrews died on October 13, 1760, in Rowan, North Carolina, at the young age of 39. A widow and several very young children were left behind, but the lineage continues.
To find out more about this ancestor go to James Andrews on Ancestry.com
GENEALOGY DISCLOSURE:
Although I’ve been involove in research for many years and have helped with several family history books, I do not consider myself a Genealogy expert. I am also not a professional genealogist, so, whatever you find here is probably worth about the same as what you’re paying for it.
On another note, while this site was created to help others with their family search, we do invite family historians to use it (even Northerners) if you find it helpful.
Afterall, our ancestors are from all walks of life… not just the South.
*NOTE: Remember, this section of the website is for the purpose of sharing information that I have found.
It is NOT to be thought of or used as a TRUE RESOURCE due to some descrepancies that I also found.
As with many Family History and Local History Books…You should verify the info before accepting it as a fact.
Discover where you came from. Get to know who you are! Know your roots! [Link to Ancestry.com]
Don’t forget to track your dead! You might not be able to visit each cemetery or graveyard personally, but Findagrave.com is a great source of information.
Another tip…Don’t forget to organize your information and add it to FamilySearch.org. This allows you to carry your info wherever you go.
Now, go have some fun and enjoy yourself, because family history really is fun, exciting, detective work.
And it can be filled with great blessings too!