THE ANDROSS FAMILY

Dr. Bildad Andross, one of the earliest practicing physicians in this place, was here as early as 1777, when, May 29th, the town voted to send him and Benjamin Baldwin to Windsor, to take measures for the organization of a new State. His wife. Mary S., was an aunt of Dr. Arad Stebbins, who succeeded Andross in medical practice here.

Dr. Andross and wife were members of the Congregational church, under the pastoral care of Rev. Gardner Kellogg, and held in high estimation. Their residence was on the Lower Plain, North of the road which now leads to Piermont bridge, and near Connecticut River.

They had four daughters and two sons, namely :

1 Naomi Andross, who married Edward Sawyer, of Piermont, N. H. Joseph Sawyer, Esq., a man of honorable distinction in that place, was one of their sons. 

2 Lucy Andross married Colonel Webb, of Lunenburg, Vt., and settled there.

3 Cynthia Andross married Thomas Richards, of Piermont, N. H.

4 Mary Andross married Seth Ford, also of Piermont.  They removed to Fairfax, Vt., where he died in the course of a few years, when she returned, with her children, to Bradford, and passed the remainder of her days. She died March 15, 1813, of "spotted fever," a malignant disease fearfully prevalent and mortal in this town at that time. During the same month in which she died, and within a few days of each other, the following named per-sons, near relatives to her, were swept away : Mrs. Abigail Cheney, daughter of Colonel John Barron, died March the 9th, and her husband March the 10th, and were both buried in the same grave. Mrs. Ford, as has been said, on the 15th, a child of hers on the same day ; also, Colonel John Barron, and his son-in-law, Captain John Andross, within a few hours of each other.  For the four last named there was one and the same funeral service, at the time of their burial.

5 Levi Stebbins Andross, eldest son of the Doctor, married Prudence Spafford, of Fairfax, Vt. They remained in Bradford, and had three daughters and two sons, namely.

Prudence S., their eldest daughter, married Clement Chase, of Cornish, N. H., a relative of Chief Justice Chase.  They had one son and one daughter.  Naomi, the, next daughter, married William Barker, of Bradford, a harness maker, and had three sons and one daughter. And Mary Andross married David Tilton, also of this town.

Bradstreet Andross, son of Levi S., remained in Bradford, and married Mary Kimball, of the same place. In his early manhood he was for several years, in the summer seasons, occupied in rafting lumber down the Connecticut River. One. day, towards evening, the company, having made fast their raft of lumber to the shore at Greenfield, Mass., had just left it to go to their accustomed house of entertainment for the night, when they heard a heavy splash in the water. " What is that? "says one"; but all kept along. " I will see," says Andross; and, running quickly back to the raft, he saw a boy helplessly sinking in the deep water. He instantly plunged in after him, and, being a strong swimmer, seized him as he rose and rescued him from death. The parents of the boy and himself were deeply affected by this noble deed, and during life never ceased to remember it with fervent gratitude. That boy, now a gentleman resident in New York, has repeatedly visited the family of Mr. Andross, even since his decease, in grateful remembrance of his saving him when in such peril; and on one of those occasions presented to Mrs. Andross a splendid goblet, of solid silver, lined with gold, bearing the inscription, " A tribute of gratitude from John Munn, rescued from drowning by Bradstreet Andross, A. D. 1816."

Mr. B. Andross and wife had a family of five sons and three daughters, all natives of Bradford, namely :

1 Stebbins Andross, born October 1,1813; married Keziah Libbey, of Maine. They had three sons, Leonard, Charles and William: and two daughters. Adaline, a very estimable and capable young lady, perished in the flames at the burning of Charlestown depot, near Boston, being unable to escape from an upper room where she had an office as book-keeper. Her sister Ellen married Rev. Mr. LeBarron, a Methodist minister, and went with him into the State of New York. Mr. S. Andross for several years had charge of the Railroad depot at Bradford, but finally removed to New York

2 Harriet K. Andross, born September 24, 1816; married John K. Horner, of Fairlee, and had two daughters, one of whom, Mary Helen, married Edgar Rowell, of Bradford. Her sister Harriet has long been a member of the family of Esq. Preston, of Bradford. The parents have both deceased.

3 Charles L. Andross, born August 4, 1818, married Harriet Clark, daughter of Samuel Clark, formerly of this town. He lost an arm by the accidental discharge of a cannon, while celebrating the 4th of July. 

4 Mary S., born September 14, 1820 ; died at the age of twenty-two.

5 Dudley K. Andross, born September 12, 1823, generally styled Colonel Andross, having passed through many perils, is still. at this writing a well-known resident of Bradford. With permission, the following incidents of his life are given: He was the first man from this town to visit California, where he labored for two years, in the gold mines, " with pretty good success." When, in April, 1861, our company of Bradford Guards volunteered for three months into the service of our Government, for the suppression of the Rebellion, D. K. Andross was their chosen Captain. They were stationed for a short while at Newport News, Va., and took part in the battle of Big Bethel, June the 10th, in which the Union force was repulsed. At the expiration of their term of service this company were honorably discharged.  Captain Andross enlisted again, this time into the 9th Vermont Regiment, under command of Colonel Stannard, in which he was raised to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  This regiment was stationed for a time at Washington; then sent to Winchester, Va., and were occupied in building fortifications in the Shenandoah Valley, till ordered to fall back on Harper's Ferry, where they were engaged in the unfortunate battle of September 15,1862, in which the Union forces were overpowered, and 11,500 men were taken prisoners. These prisoners were sent first to Annapolis, Md., but finally, on parole, to Chicago, where, by Federal authority, they were set to guard 3,500 Rebel prisoners waiting there, like themselves, for an amicable exchange. While thus occupied at Chicago, our friend Andross was for his soldierly conduct honored with the commission of Colonel, and so continued during his service in the war. In April, 1863, he and his fellow prisoners were duly exchanged, and permitted to engage anew in active warfare; when he was ordered again into Virginia, to exchange the Rebel prisoners then under his charge, which was, after considerable delay, effected, at City Point, below Richmond.

At Suffolk, Va., Colonel Andross and his soldiers were besieged for twenty-three days, but were able to make good their defense. After a patriotic and honorable service, this time of about two years, he resigned and returned home ; since which he has taken interest in town affairs, and served as one of the selectmen during the years 1867-8-9.

6 E. Porter Andross, a brother of the Colonel, born December 25, 1825, married Sarah Whitcomb.   They reside in. Piermont, N. H. Have several sons and daughters. Two of the sons have gone to California. Mr. E. P.  Andross served in the 15th New Hampshire Regiment, for nine months of the late war, and was in the battle of Port Hudson.

7 Helen L. died in her infancy.

8 Moses C. Andross, the youngest member of the family, born January 26, 1836, went to California, and was for some time engaged there in the business of mining. Being a man of ability, moral integrity, and influence, he has been much occupied in public affairs, having served as United States Assistant Assessor in that State for six years, and as Senator in the State Legislature for four years. He married there a worthy Scotch lady, and has two sons.

Mr. Bradstreet Andross died at Bradford, Nov. 27, 1838, in his fifty-fourth year.

Mr. Bildad Andross, a brother of Bradstreet, and son of Levi S., married Lettice Glover, of Topshain, and settled in Bradford. While turning over a large flat-bottomed boat which he, with others, was building, it fell on him and killed him. He and his wife had a family of six sons and five daughters, of whom only five at this date (1874) are known to be living.

William Glover Andross, the eldest son, by occupation a farmer, still remains in Bradford, with his good wife?  whose maiden name was Salome Baker, in their nice brick cottage, pleasantly situated. Fond of reading, as well as of work, he has long been occupied in seeking from his books .and from his fields the appropriate fruits of both intellectual and manual diligence-a commendable course for any farmer or other laboring man to pursue, provided the one thing needful be not neglected.  The eldest sister, Martha, a pious maiden lady, has her home with this brother and his wife. 

Elbridge F. Andross, unmarried, also resides in Bradford.

Prudence married Jason Horner, and is settled in Fairlee.

George married Nancy Kennedy, and lives in Wisconsin.

Two sons died in childhood.

Oramel died a young man.

Susan died unmarried.

Mary married a Mr. Scofield, of Rhode Island, and died there.   She died leaving three sons. 

Caroline married Thomas Ladd, of Corinth, and there died, in 1873.

Captain John Andross, the second son of Dr. Bildad Andross, first married Mary Russell, of Piermont. They had one son, John. After the early decease of his first wife, Captain Andross married Rebecca, daughter of Col.  John Barron, he being thirty and she fifteen years of age at the time of their marriage. Their home was on the Lower Plain. They had six sons and two daughters, namely:

John Barron and DeForrest, who died young.

3 Thomas Russell, of whom more presently. 

4 William, who married Susan Child, of Derby, sister of Daniel Child, Esq., the husband of Lydia Maria Child, the well-known authoress.

5 Mills married Eliza Peabody, a cousin of George Peabody, so distinguished for financial success and great liberality. He went to New Orleans, got involved in the troubles of Mexico, under the dominion of Santa Anna, was taken prisoner, and with twenty-nine others was massacred there, far from home and friends. His widow married Noah Newell, of this town. They removed to Janesville, Wisconsin, where they reside, in pleasant circumstances, blessed with a highly respectable family. 

6 Noble Andross, having done good service for his country in the late war, returned again to this his native place.

7 Mehitable, a worthy young woman, died unmarried.

8 Mary R. married Mills O. Barber, then of Lowell, Mass., October 16, 1832, by occupation a harness maker, who has for more than forty years been a much respected citizen of Bradford, and has for several years officiated as a Justice of the Peace. Mr. and Mrs. Barber have been for more than thirty years highly esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal church in this place. They have had a family of two sons and four daughters, of whom Mary B. and Charles Henry died in childhood, and Mills DePorrest at the age of nineteen years. Ellen Rebecca married Daniel W. Watson, of Boston; Mary S. has remained with her parents; and Martha Jane married M.  Schuyler Smith, of Hartford, Vt.

3 Captain Russell Andross, above named, married Martha Case, of Piermont, N. H. He had a good farm and pleasant home in Bradford, in the neighborhood where his parents had lived before him. Captain R. Andross and wife were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and citizens of good influence. Their family of three daughters and two sons having grown up and gone away to new homes, the parents disposed of their place in Bradford, and removed to Lawrence, Mass., where (in 1874) they are pleasantly settled. Of their children let the following brief notices suffice.  The eldest daughter, Martha Jane, married D. W. C.  Farrington.   They have one son, Willis, now a young man ; and a very eligible home in Lowell, Mass. Mr. F.  was for some time with General Butler at New Orleans, during the late war, in the capacity of auctioneer. Since his return he has become the first successful manufacturer of Bunting in this country, and has invented a process by which the stars and stripes of the American flag are produced in a single piece, without seams, being in-wrought. He has now the pleasure of seeing his flags made in Lowell waving over our National Capitol, instead of those made in England, as was the case until recently.  Sarah M. Andross married John H. Richards, a son of Rev. John Richards. He having been successful in business, built a nice brick house directly opposite to the residence of her parents, in Bradford, where he for some time lived, but finally sold it to John B. Peckett, Esq., and removed to Lawrence, Mass. They have one son, Wm. R. Richards.

Mary Andross married F. H. Marshall. They have three children.

George R. Andross married Emeline Taplin, of Corinth Vt.   He has a nice residence in this village ; is engaged in the mercantile business, and Mrs. Andross keeps a milliner's establishment.

John Barron, the youngest member of this family, has his residence in Boston, and his business in connection with a mercantile house there.

Captain John Andross, the grandfather of these children of Captain T. R. Andross, died, as has already been said, in March, 1813. His widow, Rebecca (Barron) Andross, united with the Congregational church here in 1817, and lived thenceforth in accordance with her profession. In 1820 she was married with Amos Fisk, a worthy man, of Middlesex, Vt., who came and made his home with her, here. On the 22nd of March, 1847, at the age of seventy, she came to the close of her useful course on earth, and peacefully passed away, by Divine grace beautifully sustained and comforted. May her children emulate her virtues, and in due time meet her, as she hoped they would, where all are holy and happy.  Biographie Index

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