Andros family papers

Collection

Identifier: MRBC-MS-00049

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Andros family Papers consists of the following series:

I. Thomas Andros documents

The Thomas Andros documents contain information on the education of Thomas Andros, his years as pastor of the First Congregational Church in Berkley, Mass., including one holograph sermon and information on his service in the U.S. Revolutionary War.

II. R.S.S. Andros documents

The R.S.S. Andros documents contain information on his career in the Custom House, Boston, poetry he wrote and some letters.

III. Foster documents

The Foster documents deal with Charles Foster’s time in the Consulate at Calcutta, India.

IV. Joseph Locke documents

The Locke documents include family letters, a journal of a Locke family trip from Boston to Philadelphia, Penn. and onward to Saratoga, N.Y. and return to Boston and other related items.

V. Miscellaneous documents

The miscellaneous documents contain a variety of items including signed documents related to the U.S. Revolutionary War.

VI. Oversize

Dates of Materials

Creation: 1779 - 1923

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for use without restriction beyond the standard terms and conditions of Smith College Special Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

To the extent that they own copyright, the donors have assigned the copyright of these works to Smith College; however, copyright in other items in this collection may be held by their respective creators. For reproductions of materials that are governed by fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. For instances which may regard materials in the collection not created by members of the Andros family, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold materials' copyrights and obtaining approval from them. Researchers do not need anything further from Smith College Special Collections to move forward with their use.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Andros was born in Norwich Connecticut, May 1, 1759. He served in the Revolutionary War and was in the Battles of Long Island and While Plains and, under General John Sullivan, was engaged in the conflict at Butt’s Hill. In 1781 he enlisted as a privateer aboard a private armed vessel, but was captured by the British and placed aboard the Jersey, a prison ship, in the New York Harbor. Eventually he was able to escape and, in later life, wrote about this experience. Other accounts were also written.

After the escape from the prison ship Jersey and recovery from the ordeal, he prepared for the ministry under the direction of Joel Benedict of Plainfield, Connecticut. In 1788 he was “called” to the ministry at the Congregational Church in Berkley, Massachusetts and served there for forty-six years. In addition to the book on his imprisonment, he wrote numerous religious texts (see bibliography below). After his resignation as pastor of the Berkley church in 1834, he represented the town of Berkley in the Massachusetts Legislature for two terms. He died October 6, 1846.

Andros married Abigail Cutler (1783-1798) in Plainfield, Connecticut on May 18, 1784. They had nine children. After Abigail’s death he married Sophia Sanford on Feb. 7, 1799 and had eight children with her. Sophia died Feb 13, 1843.

Richard Salter Storrs Andros (known as R. S. S. Andros) was the son of Thomas Andros and Sophia Sanford. He was born Oct. 27, 1817 in Berkley, Massachuesetts. He wrote poetry, edited a number of newspapers and served as a government official. He was the editor of the codification of the revenue laws for custom’s houses. On May 22, 1845 he married Sybil Blanding Allyer (born Sep. 6, 1823 in Rehoboth, Mass., died Mar. 13, 1899 in Norton, Mass.) in New York City. They had three daughters: Isabel Wall (Nov. 5, 1846), Sophie Morton (Aug. 27, 1848) and Elizabeth Yonge (June 12, 1852. He died Aug. 3, 1868 in Berkley.

Little information is available on Charles Foster beyond what is found in these documents. He was appointed Vice and Deputy Consul General of the United States at Calcutta, India on June 8, 1887 and was made Consul General at Calcutta, India on Sep. 30, 1885. He was married to Elizabeth Andros, the daughter of R. S. S. and Sybil Andros. They had at least four children: Richard A. Foster, Elizabeth Andros Foster, Goodwin L. Foster and Sybil F. Millin.

A bibliography of the work of Thomas Andros is available in this downloadable document: Thomas Andros bibliography.

Extent

2.313 linear feet (2 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection documents the life of Thomas Andros, who served in the Revolutionary War and later became a pastor and served in the Massachusetts Legislature; his wives Aabigail Cutler and Sophia Sanford, and Richard Salter Storrs (R.S.S.) Andross, son of Thomas and Sophia wrote poetry, edited a number of newspaper and served as a government official. In addition to miscellaneous documents of the period, the collection also contains information related to Charles Foster, who married Elizabeth Andros, dauhter of R.S.S. Andros.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Andros Family Papers were given to Smith College in 1953 by Richard Andros Foster (Nov. 18, 1887-Jan. 1968) and in 1970 by his wife, Rebecca Foster (July 22, 1901-Feb. 1984). The gift from Richard Foster came through his sister, Elizabeth Andros Foster (d. July 14, 1968) who was Professor of Spanish at Smith College (1916-1953). Richard and Elizabeth Foster were the children of Charles Foster and Elizabeth Andros (b. 1852). Elizabeth Andros was the daughter of R. S. S. Andros and Sybil Blanding Allyer.