Background
Samuel Andrew was born on January 29, 1656 in Cambridge, Massachussets, United States, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (White) Andrew.
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Samuel Andrew
Edit ProfileEducation
He graduated from Harvard in 1675.
Career
The General Court of Massachusetts, May 24, 1682, ordered that fifty pounds be paid to him and John Cotton for their pains and diligence in carrying on the president's work after the death of Mr. Oakes.
On November 18, 1685, he was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church in Milford, Connecticut The town made him a grant of land, and his salary was £100 a year, paid in provisions, with twelve pounds for firewood. In 1710 it was raised to £150.
During his fifty-three years' pastorate at Milford he became one of the most prominent and influential ministers in the Connecticut colony. Preeminently a scholar, he seldom went out of his study, leaving all pastoral work to his deacons.
He was one of the twelve ministers who, with four laymen, constituted the Saybrook Synod, which met September 9, 1708, and formulated the famous Saybrook Platform. According to President Thomas Clap, "The Design of founding a College in the Colony of Connecticut was first concerted by the Ministers; among which the Rev. Mr. Pierpont of New Haven, Mr. Andrew of Milford, and Mr. Russel of Branford were the most forward and active. "
He was one of the ministers who met in Russel's parsonage at Branford about the 16th of October, 1701, and founded the college by promising, according to tradition, to give to it a number of books; and was one of its charter trustees.
Upon the death of its first rector, Abraham Pierson, in 1707, he was made rector pro tempore and continued to act in that capacity until his son-in-law, Timothy Cutler, was elected rector twelve years later. The site of the college had not been finally determined, and Andrew taught the senior class in the parsonage at Milford and supervised the instruction of the other classes, which was carried on by tutors at Saybrook.
He served as rector, against his inclination, in order to save the college from being abandoned as a result of controversy among the trustees.
The Yale University library contains two manuscripts by him: one a letter to Tutor Samuel Johnson, dated July 23, 1717, printed in F. B. Dexter's Documentary History of Yale University (1916), and the other a small volume of his sermons preached in Milford, 1691-1692, written in shorthand which has not been deciphered.
Achievements
Personality
Andrew was noted for singular acuteness of mind, and his counsel was highly valued.
He was a good teacher, but was somewhat lacking in energy and administrative ability, and displayed little leadership.
Connections
In Milford, he married Abigail Treat, daughter of Robert Treat, from 1689 to 1698 governor of Connecticut. She died on December 25, 1727. His secon wife was Abigail Beach.
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Born
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Died
January 24, 1738 (aged 81) -
Resting place
Milford Cemetery, Milford, Connecticut, United States -
Nationality
American -
Religion
Congregational