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JOHN DREW (1676–1742/5), son of John Drew and Hannah Churchill

SARAH DELANO (d. aft. 1754), daughter of Thomas Delano and Rebecca Alden

John Drew, the son of John and Hannah Drew, was born on 29 August 1676 in Plymouth, Plymouth County.1 He died between 17 April 1742 and 10 July 1745. He married Sarah Delano by perhaps 1701 in Halifax, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.2

Sarah Delano, the daughter of Thomas Delano and Rebecca Alden, was born in 1676 in Plymouth.3

John Drew, Sr. joined the church in Middleborough on 2 December 1716; his wife Sarah joined on 15 October 1721.4

John Drew, Jr. of Middleborough and others squabbled with John Smith of Middleborough and others about laying out a way. In March 1721/2 John Drew was presented to the court at Plymouth for "abusive Carriage to John Smith Sr. of Middleborough ... sometime Since August last past in Middleborough by throwing Stones and using threatening Speeches." John Drew pleaded that he was provoked by being stopped from coming along. He was admonished and the case was dismissed. At the same court John Drew and others petitioned for a way to be laid out and a committee was appointed for that purpose. However, at the June 1722 court, John Smith and others of Middleborough objected to this. On September 1722 the court ordered agents in Middleborough to show cause why the town should not purchase and lay out such a way.5

In December 1728 Robert Carver and James Cooke, mariners of Kingston, sued John Drew, shipwright of Middleborough, for 300 pounds damages for not building a sloop. John argued that he had lived up to their contract and the jury found for him. The decision was appealed, but there is no further record. At the same court, John sued James Cooke for debt.5

John Drew, Sr. and Sarah Drew were dismissed from the church in Middleborough to the church in Halifax in 1734.4

In March 1736/7 Abiel Leach sued John Drew, Sr., shipwright of Halifax, for debt of 17 pounds and nine shillings.5

John Drew, Sr. of Halifax, suffering from "many bodily infirmities," made his will on 17 April 1742. He left bequests to his wife Sarah, his sons John and Thomas, his daughters Elizabeth Drew, Jemimah Read and Mary Bennett, and various grandchildren. His will was proved on 10 July 1745; inventory of 405 pounds was presented on 12 December 1745 and Sarah swore to it on 15 May 1746.6

In May 1754 Sarah is referred to as a widow of Halifax.5

Children of John Drew and Sarah Delano: Order uncertain

i. John Drew was born about 1704. He died after 14 June 1672. He married Susanna Bennett.

ii. Thomas Drew was born about 1706 in Middleborough. He died on 14 June 1770 in Halifax.7,8 He married Abigail Harris on 16 August 1739 in Bridgewater.8 Abigail was born about 1720 in Bridgewater and died on 9 September 1789.8 She was the daughter of Samuel Harris.9 Thomas and Abigail are buried in the Tomson Cemetery in Halifax.7

In May 1754 Thomas was referred to as a shipwright of Halifax.5

iii. Elizabeth Drew

Elizabeth joined the Middleborough church on 27 April 1729. She was dismissed to the church in Halifax in 1734.4

In his will, Elizabeth's father left everything that he left to his widow during her lifetime to Elizabeth after her mother's death. He admonished his wife Sarah to "give her motherly care during the time she remains unmarried."6

iv. Jemima Drew, the daughter of John Drew and Sarah Delano, married Peter Reed on 12 May 1735 in Kingston.9,10

Jemima Drew was baptized at the First Church in Middleborough on 29 October 1721.12

v. Mary Drew married Isaac Bennett on 24 August 1732 in Middleborough.11

vi. Abigail Drew, the daughter of Sarah Drew, was born in 1721.4 She was baptized on 29 October 1721 in the First Church in Middleborough.12 She died before 17 April 1742. She is possibly the Abigail Drew who died on 26 May 1726 and is buried in the Cemetery at the Green in Middleborough.7

Endnotes:

1. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-GMJX : 12 March 2021), John Drew in entry for John Drew, 29 Aug 1676; citing Birth, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934186.

2. "New England Marriages to 1700," digitized books, AmericanAncestors (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/i/21174/475/426884142), originally published as: Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015), vol. 1, 475.

3. General Society of Mayflower Descendants Membership Applications, 1620-1920, online database,  AmericanAncestors (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2731/i/59468/3122-co3/74210614), application 3122, p. 3.

4. Zachariah Eddy, First Church in Middleborough, Massachusetts (Boston: C.C.P. Moody, 1854), 83–84, 86.

5. "Plymouth County, MA: Plymouth Court Records, 1686–1859," database with images, AmericanAncestors, vol. 2: 21, 23, 25; vol. 3: 35; vol. 5: 109; vol. 6: 32.

6. Alden Geneaology (New York: Alden Kindred of New York City and Vicinity, 1935), 132.

7. FindaGrave. "Thomas Drew" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48159302/thomas-drew), inscription: "In memory of Mr. Thomas Drew who dec. June y. 14th 1770 in his 64th year." "Abigail Harris Drew" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48159478/abigail-drew) "Abigail Drew" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142692101/abigail-drew)

8. General Society of Mayflower Descendants Membership Applications (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2731/rd/59468/3121-co1/1429632381), application 3121, p. 3.

9. Esther Littleford Woodsworth-Barnes, "The Alden Family: Where did These Aldens Go?" Mayflower Quarterly 45 (1979): 88–91, specifically 89–90.

10. "Kingston, Mass., Records," Genealogical Advertiser 2 (1899): 119–26, specifically 125.

11. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001" (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRSL-W7S?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DM-FM6%3A353350201%2C353383001%2C353393001 : 15 March 2021), Plymouth > Middleborough > Births, marriages, deaths, town records 1674-1747 > image 111.

12. "Church Records, 1707–1821," images, "Middleboro, Mass. First Church," webpage, Congretional Library & Archives (https://www.congregationallibrary.org/nehh/series1/MiddleboroMAFirst4970), 13.

Image from "Plymouth County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1686–1881," database with images, AmericanAncestors, case 6700.

Last revised: 22-Dec-2023