THE NEW ENGLAND BRANCHES
JOHN LOVEJOY1
1 - JOHN LOVEJOY1 (E-20)of Andover, son of ROWLAND (E-14), was the first Lovejoy to settle America. Born 18 JUN 1622, probably in London, England, John Emigrated to America in 1630. It has never been determined exactly what date John arrived. The ship and port of entry are also uncertain. Common belief is that he arrived in the "Arabella" on 11 APR 1630, on a ship in a convoy carrying 800 men. He landed at either Newbury or Salem, Massachusetts and removed to Andover before 1644.
At his arrival in 1630, John Lovejoy would have been only eight years old. He may have been under the care of, or indentured to, Christopher Osgood or Andrew Fowler. Whereas John does not show up in records again until 1644, he probably was with some family for those fourteen years. I believe he may have been indentured to Christopher Osgood, as he married the daughter, Mary. This was a common practice and was especially used to shorten the term of the indenture period. SAVAGE mentions John coming over on the "John and Mary" with the Osgoods.
Andover was officially settled 6 MAY 1646, by a W. Woodbridge. A list of the first settlers of Andover consists of twenty-three names, John Lovejoy's name is seventeenth on the list. He was one of the twelve foundation members of the South Parish Congregational Church of Andover. On 1 JUL 1651, he married Mary Osgood, in Ipswich.
John was a free man in 1673, and received one of the first grants of land in Andover; his property was beside Andrew Foster's on the road leading from Ipswich through Andover to Billerica, probably Boston Road.
John held a variety of occupations, not uncommon for the time, including fence viewer in 1669, constable in 1674 and, with his sons, had an iron works on the Shawshin River, supposedly near the site of the Marland Mills.
John and his three sons, John Jr., William and Christopher, took their Oath of Allegiance 11 FEB 1678. A pond in Andover bears the name of John's son William’s black servant, Pompey Lovejoy. A favorite swimming hole of the servant, Pomp’s Pond, can still be found in Andover, though it has deteriorated badly. A Pompey Lovejoy and family appears as late as 1790 in the census as still residing in Andover.
John took the Freeman's Oath in 1662 and 1669. He was involved in town affairs and committees, setting an example of industry, loyalty and community involvement for centuries of Lovejoys to proudly emulate.
Lovejoys have displayed courage and loyalty to country on many battlefields since John's example during the Indian Wars. The line traced herein will exemplify such patriotism. John fought Indians when he was over the age of fifty, along the northern shores of the colony.
John served in King Phillip's War (1675-76) and used the salary thus earned (1 pound, 10 shillings) to repay Andover for a loan to his family during his absence. He fought the Narragansetts as a member of Captain Joseph Gardiner's first company of Salem Militia (1675-76). He signed up 10 DEC 1675.
John also fought under Captain Samuel Brockelbank against Indians in Sudbury, Massachusetts. He served again in King Phillip's War on 24 JUN 1676, and again received wages of 1 pound, 10 shillings. The Society of Colonial Wars has his records on file.
John’s wife, Mary Osgood, d. 15 JUL 1675. He waited more than a year before he married again, 12 FEB 1676, to the widow Hannah Pritchard, in Andover. They lived in the North Parish near Wilson's Corner. She outlived John until 1 AUG 1705, when she died in Andover of cancer of the throat.
John d. 7 NOV 1690. His six page will left Hannah an abundant provision, the will was probated 31 MAR 1691. It claimed portion had already been given to the eldest son, William; and named sons, Christopher, Nathaniel, Joseph and Ebenezer, and daughters Sarah Johnson, Ann Blancher, Abigail and Deborah. It referred to son Benjamin (died year before) for whom certain lands had been intended, and to grandson John Lovejoy. He desired his brother (in-law) Thomas Osgood and sons William and Joseph, to have charge of his son, Ebenezer, and his granddaughter, Frances.
John 1 acquired a seven-acre house lot in Andover, and left an estate of over 200 acres in the town. His estate was worth 328 pounds, including house and land worth over 260 pounds. His son William was the only one who received his inheritance by deed while the father was still alive. All the other sons received control of their lands as an inheritance.
Children
2 - MARY2, b. 11 APR 1652; d. 18 JUN 1677 in Andover; m. Joseph Wilson, a cooper, 4 JUL 1670 in Andover; had three children. He remarried to Sarah Lord 24 APR 1678 in Andover and had four children by her. (After Joseph died, Sarah (Lord) Wilson spent a long stretch in prison for witchcraft (1692); she saved her life by confession.
3 - SARAH2, b. 11 APR 1654; d. 22 FEB 1702 in Andover; m. Sergeant William Johnson 23 MAY 1678 in Andover. They had nine children.
4 - JOHN2, b. 9 FEB 1655; m. Naomi Hoyt 23 MAR 1678; d. 14 JUL 1680 in Andover. His children left Andover to Windham County, Connecticut.
5 - WILLIAM2, b. 21 APR 1656 or 1657; m. Mary Farnum 29 NOV 1680; d. 9 JUL 1748.
6 -ANN2, b. 21 DEC 1659; d. 29 FEB 1724 in Andover; m. John Blanchard 26 MAY 1685 in Andover. They had seven children. He married widow Hannah Wyman 1 FEB 1725. She's buried near first wife, dying before him.
7 - CHRISTOPHER2, b. 1 MAR 1661/2; m. Sarah Russe 26 MAY 1685; d. 17 MAR 1736/7 in Andover.
8 - JOSEPH2, b. 8 FEB 1662/3;,m. Sarah Pritchard (dtr. of William & Hannah) his stepsister (see John1 and 2nd wife Hannah); d. 5 JUN 1737 in Andover.
9 - BENJAMIN2, b. 4 DEC 1664; d. 1689 as a soldier at Permaquid, Maine, in Indian War.
10 - NATHANIEL2, b. 29 MAY 1667; d. 7 MAR 1752 in Andover; m. Dorothy Hoyt 21 MAR 1694, dtr. John Hoyt & Mary Barnes (niece of brother John2 and wife Naomi). Bought up a lot of his brothers' estates as they migrated.
11 - ABIGAIL2, b. 20 AUG 1669; d. 2 MAY 1747 in Andover; m. Deacon Nehemiah Abbott (Rep. to Gen. Ct. 1717-1721, 1726 and later) 9 APR 1690 in Andover. They had seven children.
12 - DEBORAH2, b. 4 NOV 1671; m. John Bailey of Bradford 1732.
13 - EBENEZER2, b. 22 JAN 1673; m. Mary Foster (dtr. of Andrew) 1 JUL 1693; d. 15 MAY 1760 in Andover. Ebenezer’s line is the last one to remain in Andover.
According to Charlotte Helen Abbott, the South Parish Church of Andover had a large Lovejoy membership from the families of Christopher 2, Nathaniel 2, William 2, Joseph 2, and Ebenezer 2, totaling at one time, sixty members. She also says that at least a dozen men from these families volunteered to serve in the Revolution in 1776.
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