Rev. Elisha Andrews

Narrative:

     Rev. Elisha Andrews was born on 29 Sep 1768 in Middletown, Connecticut.¹ He moved to Vermont about 1780 with his parents.⁷ Having been taught surveying as well as traditional subjects by his father, a teacher and surveyor, he left home at the age of 16 or 17 and moved to Galway, Saratoga Co., New York. Living with a aunt there, he worked several years as a teacher and as a surveyor. During this time he underwent a religous conversion, and entered the Baptist ministry.⁸
     Elisha married Wealthy Ann Lathrop, daughter of Thomas Lathrop and Wealthy Ann Cobb, on 9 Jan 1792.^4,5
     Elisha was ordained as pastor of the church in Fairfax, Vermont, in 1793 in 1793 in Fairfax, Vermont.⁹ He and Wealthy moved to Hopkinton, New Hampshire, in the winter of 1795-96.¹⁰ After a year or so, they moved to Nottingham West, later known as Hudson, New Hampshire.¹⁰ (See map.)
     Early in 1800, he accepted the pastoral charge of the Baptist Church in Templeton, Massachusetts. For 14 years he traveled regularly to preach in Holden, some 20 miles away, at Barre, 12 or 14 miles, and Athol,10 or 12 miles, until additional churches were established in the surrounding towns.¹⁰
     Elisha appeared on the 1800 Federal Census of Royalston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, with a household consisting of three males under age 10, one age 26 to 45 (himself), one female under 10, one age 16 to 26, one age 26 to 45 (wife Wealthy Ann.)¹¹
     Elisha appeared on the 1810 Federal Census of Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, with a household consisting of one male under age 10, two age 10 to 16, one age 16 to 26, one age 26 to 45 (himself), two females under 10, one age 16 to 26, one age 26 to 45 (wife Wealthy Ann and another.)¹²
     As the War of 1812 broke out he took an anti-war stand, siding with the Federalists, which was opposed by leading members of his church. He resigned his charge on 17 Mar 1813, but remained in the area and preached in the churches for two years until a replacement pastor was appointed.¹³
     In Feb 1816 the family moved to Hinsdale, New Hampshire, where Elisha served the local congregation for several years. He then took several appointments from the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society to travel to the region west of Lake Champlain in the state of New York to serve as a missionary. In his later years he preached from time to time at various churches in the areas he had served, including at Hinsdale.¹⁴
     Elisha appeared on the 1820 Federal Census of Hinsdale, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, with a household consisting of one white male under age, one age 10 to 16, one age 16 to 26, one over 45 (himself), and one white female age 10 to 16, one age 16 to 26, and one over age 45 (wife Wealthy Ann.)¹⁵
     Elisha appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Hinsdale, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, with a household consisting of one male age 20 to 30, and one age 60 to 70 (himself), one female age 50 to 60 (wife Wealthy Ann.)¹⁶
     Elisha died on 3 Feb 1840 in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, at age 71.⁶