The Anderson Genealogy

Our Anderson ancestors were a Scots-Irish family that emigrated from County Londonderry, Ireland, to New Hampshire in 1718 during the "exodus" led by the Rev. James MacGregor, Presbyterian minister of Aghadowey in that County. Their surname, which is equivalent to "MacAndrew" or the Gaelic patronymic "mac Ainnrias," signifies descent from a Scottish man named Andrew, which historically has been one of the most popular Christian names in Scotland on account of St. Andrew the Apostle being the patron saint of the Picts and Scots. Unfortunately it is unknown whether our Andersons were ultimately of a Lowland or a Highland origin. Most of the following account of our Anderson family is derived from the research of Evangeline Linn Halleck, found in her book Descendants of George Linn (1941), pages 4-15, with her research being modestly augmented with some research of my own.

Four Generations of the Anderson Family:

1. JOHN ANDERSON, parentage and ancestry unknown, was born in the latter 1600s probably in Ulster, Ireland. John was a Scots-Irish Presbyterian and very probably lived in or near Aghadowey, County Londonderry, Ireland (Gaelic Achadh Dubhthaigh, "Duffy's field"). He is thought to have come to New England from Ulster, Ireland, in or after 1718 -- perhaps in the very company of Rev. James MacGregor, minister of the Presbyterian church at Aghadowey, who landed with his flock at Boston, Massachusetts on 4 Aug. 1718. If John did not come with Rev. MacGregor, he probably then would have arrived in the years immediately following, though it is also possible that John never came to America to join his family but instead died in Ireland.

What is known for certain is that in the months leading up to Rev. MacGregor's "exodus" from Aghadowey to New Hampshire, John Anderson was one of the Scots-Irish inhabitants of Ulster who signed the Shute Petition on 26 March 1718, signing his name as “Jahon Andrson." The Shute Petition was sent to Samuel Shute, Governor of New England, by a group of 319 Ulster Scots, seeking permission to settle in New England -- and many of the Petition's signers, or their family names, including those surnamed Anderson, subsequently appear in the town of Nutfield (renamed Londonderry in 1722) in New Hampshire, which was founded on 11 April 1719 by the families who came with Rev. MacGregor. The incipit of the Shute Petition reads as follows:

"To His Excellency the Right Honourable Collonel Samuel Suitte Governour of New England:

"We whose names are underwritten, Inhabitants of ye North of Ireland, Doe in our own names, and in the names of many others our Neighbours, Gentleman, Ministers, Farmers and Tradesmen Commissionate and appoint our trust and well beloved Friend, the Reverend Mr. William Boyd of Macasky to His Excellency the Right Honorable Collonel Samuel Suitte Governour of New England, and to assure His Excellency of our sincere and hearty Inclination to Transport our selves to that very excellent and renowned Plantation upon our obtaining from his Excellency suitable incouragement. And further to act and our hands this 26th day of March, Annoq. Dom. 1718."

Among the ships that carried Ulster Scots families to New England in 1718 were the William and Mary, the Maccallum, the William and Elizabeth, the Mary and Elizabeth, and the Robert and William. The ships sailed from the ports of Coleraine and Londonderry and brought almost a thousand people, who arrived in Boston in the late summer and early autumn of that year. The immigrants split into two groups, one of them heading north to Casco Bay, Maine, but both groups soon ended up reuniting in New Hampshire in the spring of 1719.

Among those who came with Rev. MacGregor was ALAN ANDERSON (whose name also appears as "Allan" and "Allen" in early records). In fact, it was Alan or Allen Anderson, who very probably was a son of John Anderson of the Shute Petition, who led the first expedition of his fellow Aghadowey immigrants up country to New Hampshire. Allen Anderson and his brothers Daniel, James, John, and William, and their sister Martha Moore, were among the founding settlers of Nutfield (Londonderry), New Hampshire in 1719. Further information about Allen and his brothers, who were born most probably in the 1680s and 1690s, and about the early settlement of Londonderry, New Hampshire, is presented under the next generation of this account of the Anderson family.

The following siblings were probably children of John Anderson of County Londonderry, Ireland. Their dates of birth and order of birth are unknown, so they are listed in the order in which they are mentioned in Allen Anderson's 1755 will:

     -- ALLEN ANDERSON, married Mary (NN)
     -- DANIEL ANDERSON, had three sons and a daughter.
     -- JAMES ANDERSON, had five sons and three daughters.
     -- MARTHA ANDERSON, married (NN) MOORE, had three sons and two daughters.
     2. JOHN ANDERSON
     -- WILLIAM ANDERSON, had a son.

2. JOHN ANDERSON, probable son of John Anderson of the 1718 Shute Petition. His wife was named MARY, and they had at least three sons and two daughters. They were among the first settlers of the town of Londonderry, New Hampshire (originally called Nutfield), in the spring of 1719. Following is the account of the founding of Nutfield from “Manchester Historical Associations Collections and Early Records of Londonderry, Windham and Derry, New Hampshire, 1719-1762," Vol. I, page I --

"The first planting of the Town of Nutfield was April 11-1719. James MacGregor, Minister, and his flock arrived in Boston August ye 4th 1718. They presented a petition to the General Court of the 'Mass. Bay' (colony) Oct. 1718, for a tract of land for a township in some of the unappropriated lands and the court granted their desire. Among others of the people of Ireland came Alan Anderson, came up from Cascobay (Casco Bay, Maine) to Haverel (Haverhill) in order to setel at Nutfield about the begining of Apriel 1719, and these people including Alan Anderson -- for the forwarding their said plantation presented a call to the Rev. Mr. MacGregor to be their minister. For his salery and maintance, beside lands they obledged them selves in their Call to pay him yearly and every year twenty shillings out of every lott in the said town for themselves and oathers that shall take up lots in the said town. Accordingly the said Mr. MacGregor preached with them on the twelfth Day apriel Anno Dom-1719. The first families that arrived in Nutfield planted themselves in the Moneth of Apriel 1719, on either side of a small Brook Runing westward into Beaver River and may be called West Runing Brook. They obtained a deed to their land from Colonel John Wheelwright on Wells dated 1729, ten miles square, unto and down the river Merimack. Province of Newhamsher entred & Recorded in the eleventh book of the said Records p. 138-139, this 24th of Oct 1719."

Further information on the settlement of Nutfield/Londonderry is found in “Manchester Historical Associations Collections and Early Records of Londonderry, Windham and Derry, New Hampshire, 1719-1762," Vol. 2. In the Introduction of Vol. 2, it says:

"Within twelve months after the arrival of the first sixteen families, the population of Nutfield, afterward the incorporated township of Londonderry, numbered several hundred -- and simultaneously the allotments of homesteads were made to the 'Proprietors' under the charter to the number of 124 1/2 shares, exclusive of large awards in land given to particularly influential persons who had assisted the emigrants in securing a grant of land."

Page 42 of Vol. 2 adds, "Each [homestead] had one hundred and twenty acres, also a town lot, and an out lot of sixty acres."

Page 47 of Vol. 2 states, "No price was paid for the land it being a free grant by the King thru Gov. Shute, to these, his loyal subjects of the old country, many who helped in the defense and siege of Londonderry [1689] , in Ireland, an event which contributed so directly and powerfully to the establishment of his throne." It is because many of these colonists were in Londonderry during the 105-day siege that they chose to give that name to Nutfield three years after the town's founding. Indeed, Rev. James MacGregor himself, yet a boy in 1689, is said to have heralded the arrival of William of Orange's forces by climbing to the top of the Londonderry's cathedral to fire a cannon. As proud Scots and ardent Presbyterians, the flock of Rev. MacGregor held no truck either with the established Anglican Church of Ireland nor with the native Catholic Irish among whom they had chosen to settle. It was the experience of social intolerance from the Church of Ireland, animosity from the native Irish, and economic hardship that led them to leave Ireland and seek a new start in the New World.

For these reasons, these Ulster Scots (or Scots-Irish) especially resented being called "Irish" despite their having come from Ireland and most of them having been born there. That point is illustrated by this excerpt from page 68 of Vol. 2 of “Manchester Historical Associations Collections and Early Records of Londonderry, Windham and Derry, New Hampshire, 1719-1762" --

"Although they came to this land from Ireland, where their ancestors had a century before planted themselves, yet they retained unmixed the national Scotch character, nothing sooner offended them than to be called 'Irish'. Their antipathy to this appellation had its origin in the hostility existing in Ireland between the Celtic race (the Native Irish) and the English and Scotch colonists. . . . Mr. Belknap quotes from a letter of Rev. James MacGregor written to Governor Shute, 'We are surprised to hear ourselves termed "Irish" people when we so frequently ventured our all, for the British Crown and liberties, against the Irish Papists.'"

Most of what we know of the genealogical relationships of our Anderson family during this period is dependent on what we can learn from the will of John Anderson's brother Allen, which Allen prepared on 11 Sept. 1755 (preserved in the New Hampshire State Papers, Vol. 35, page 340). Following is a nearly complete transcript of Allen Anderson's will (in which the context shows that Allen uses the word 'Cossen' -- cousin -- undoubtedly to mean "nephew" or "niece," for in those days "cousin" had a broader range of meaning than it has today):

"In the name of God Amen this eleven day of september in ye year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty five I Allen Anderson of Londonderry in the province of newhampshire in new Englan yeman being sick of body . . . .

"Item I give and bequith one hundred pounds old tener to be Levied out of my personal Estate to be put into the hands of James Clark James Reid James Nesmith Robert Clark and there assosites the use of it, to go to relieve the poor as they shal see need and to any other good use but the principle not to be disposed of

"Item I give and bequeth to my beloved wiff mary Anderson the use of my dwelling hous and farm during her naturel liff and the third of it at her oun despossing at hir death to hir and hir hairs and asigens forever with all my houshold goods I give and bequith to Cossen Allen Moor my hors Colt and to my Cossen James Anderson of Londonderry aforesaid my two brindler steers three years old past

"I give and bequith to mary Paul my old servant a haffer two years old past and to Elesabeth Cumings if she serve out hir time faithfully a heffer three years old when hir time is out.

"Ittem I give and bequith to my Cossen Allen Hopkins my forth devision drawen but not recorded to my Right.

"Ittem I give and bequith to my brother Daniel Children to witt James Joseph samuel Anderson and Martha Anderson there sister one hundred ninty five old tenor to be payed out of my Esteate at my wiffs desease if they pay the debt due to the Esteate of Elias Dickey but if they do not then pay that debt then they shal have no more but five shillings each

"Ittem I give and bequith to my Brother James Anderson my wearing Close

"Ittem I given and bequith to Cozzens his sons and daughter to witt samuel Robert James Thomas and David Anderson and Jean tagert Agness Miller margret nesmith ther sisters the one third of all my Esteate both real and personal Excepting what is befor bequithed to them in Equal shairs to them and there hairs or asigens forever

"Ittem I give and bequith to my sister Martha moor's Cheldrin George moor Allen moor william moor Jean Criste and Elesabeth moor one third of all of my Esteate Ether real or personal Excepting whate is befor bequathed to them and there hairs or asigens forever

"Ittem I give and bequith the other third of my Esteate Ether real or personal to my brother John's Childrin and my brother william son Thomas Anderson the one half of it to said Thomas Anderson and the other half to my brother John Anderson Children viz Thomas John Anderson and Esbal Hall ther sister to them and there hairs and asigens forever Exepting what is before bequithed and I make and ordain Capt mosses Barnet and John wear Gentilmen to be the Executors . . . .

"Allen X Anderson his mark

"Witnesses Robert Boyes, James Doack, James Cohran

"Proved 20 Nov. 1755"

The will of Allen Anderson's widow Mary, dated 4 July 1760, is also available (in New Hampshire State Papers, Vol. 37:1 – Probate Records). Here is a nearly complete transcript of Mary Anderson's will, in which she left the bulk of her estate to the James Cochran who had witnessed Allen's will:

"In the name of God amen I Mary Anderson of Londonderry within the province of newhampshire in newengland being sick and indisposed . . . .

"Itam James Cochran to have all my Estate Reall and personal Encluding all debts dew Me and to Redeem the mortgage that is on My Estate and paying the following Summes (viz) to Every one of my Sisters Eighty pounds old tennr and to my Sisters that are dead the like Sum to their families also to Alan Hopkins and Diana Cochran one hundred and fifty pounds old tenner Each

"Itam to Diana Cochran two beds and all the cloaths belonging to Said beds also four good peuter platters and Six plates also a warming pan and a Ovell table and Six Chairs.

"Itam I leave to Mary hopkins a bed and a bolster and pillows

"Itam I leave to the Rev. Mr. Davidson Mr. flavils Works

"Itam I leave to Elizabeth hopkins a calf

"My will is that My bodey Cloaths be devided amongst my Sisters according as I derected

"Itam My will is that Mathew thornton Esqr and John Nesmith be Exacrs of this my last will and testment, In witnes whereof I hearunto Set my hand and Seall this fourth day of July 1760 an din the thirty third year of his Majtes Reign

"Mary Anderson X her mark

"Witnesses Samuel Steel, Nathaniel Aiken, William Cunningham

"Proved 7 Oct. 1760"

John Nesmith, one of Mary Anderson's executors, was no doubt related to Mary (Anderson) Nesmith, a daughter of Allen Anderson's brother James who is mentioned in Allen's will. Most likely John Nesmith was either Mary (Anderson) Nesmith's husband, or else a brother of the James Nesmith named in Allen Anderson's will, with James Nesmith perhaps being the husband of Mary (Anderson) Nesmith. In addition, the “Alan Hopkins " named in the will of Allen's widow Mary is the same as “my Cossen Allen Hopkins" previously named in Allen Anderson's will. As a nephew of Allen Anderson, Allen Hopkins was either the son of a sister of Allen Anderson, or else the son of a sister of Allen Anderson's widow Mary. As for the Mary Hopkins and Elizabeth Hopkins mentioned in the will of Allen Anderson's widow Mary, they were probably sister of Allen/Alan Hopkins.

But most significant for our knowledge of our Anderson lineage is the reference in Allen Anderson's will to “my brother John Anderson Children viz Thomas John Anderson and Esbal Hall ther sister," which provides us with the names of three of the children of John Anderson and his wife Mary. From other records, we know that John and Mary had at least five children (and probably more than that. THOMAS is recorded as being born 15 Sept. 1722 in Londonderry, New Hampshire, a son of John and Mary Anderson. The old Londonderry records all show the birth of twins, WILLIAM, born 9 Sept. 1725 in Londonderry, son of John and Mary, and MARY, born 11 Sept. 1725 in Londonderry, daughter of John and Mary. We also know that John and Mary had a son also named JOHN (our ancestor), whose gravestone indicates that he was born circa 1728, confirmed by an old Anderson Family Bible which says he was born in 1728. The last known child in the family of John and Mary Anderson was ISABEL (i.e. the “Esbal Hall" of Allen Anderson's will), who lived in Colrain, Massachusetts, and whose marriage on 1 Nov. 1744 to George Hall of Deerfield is recorded in “Buckland, Colrain & Montague Public Vital Records," page 50. Isabel and George lived in Kingston (today called Palmer), Massachusetts.

The following documents and notices of John and Mary Anderson are found in “Manchester Historical Association Collections and Early Records of Londonderry, Windham and Derry, New Hampshire, 1719-1762," Vols. 1 and 2, as compiled by Evangeline Linn Halleck in her book, “Descendants of George Linn" (1941), pages 9-10 --

"Vol. 2 Pp 60: Nutfield, 1720, 'Laid out to John Anderson a Lott of land in the above said town – containing sixty acres bounded as followeth; - Begining at a stake and stons at the most southerly corner from thence runing a due north east line three hundred and twenty rhod unto a stake and ston Joyning on Jams lasleys from thence runing North West thirty rhod unto a stake & stons from thence runing south east three hundred and twenty rhod untio a stake & stones Joyning all the way upon James Blaires Lott, from thence running a due south east line unto the bounds first mentioned, buting upon Joseph Simonds lott to gather with an interest in the Common or undevided land within said Township equall to other Lotts in said Town.' 'Recorded this 16th of Jan 1721/2.'"

"Vol. 1 Pp 42: On the schedule of the names of the Proprietors of Londonderry, 21 June 1721, appears the name of John Anderson. 1 share."

"Vol. 1 Pp 38: 'for fens vewers, John Anderson, 26 March 1722."

"Vol. 1 Pp 385: John Anderson's name is among those who took the 'Provincial Oath of Allegence to His Majesty King George 2nd, Londonderry 7ber, 9th 1727.' Also Allan, David and another John Anderson." (i.e., 9 Sept. 1727)

"Vol. 1 Pp 52: Voted for survayer, 5 March 1724."

"Vol. 1 Pp 383: Petition for Bills of Credit by people of Nutfield, 18 April 1721, asking government for loan to build a meeting house. Among signers, John Anderson. . . . 4 April 1738, his name appears on a committee as follows: 'Meeting & voted that there shall be but one publick schoolmaster for the ensueing year and said master shall be ordered by a committee to go from one quarter of the town to another as said committee shall order from time to time and voted that the schoolmaster shall be ordered by a committee to Keepschool at seven particular places or Houses in this town for the ensuing year (viz) two months in the South Range two mounths in the Doble range, town months in the Backe range or near James Gillmors in the paik, two months in the English range, two months in the Aiken's Range, one mounth in the most conviniant place in the Paik for them that has had but little benefite of the schools hitherto, on emonth in Cannady (in the most conviniant place for them that has had but little benefite hitherto whis is to be desided by lot where it shall begine by said comtee and voted for a Commtee to order the schoolmaster to the particular Quarters or schoolhouses in this town for this ensuing year, their names is . . .' - and among them is John Anderson."

"Vol. 1 Pp 228: John Anderson signed his name on a protest & deshent against the first five articles on a town warrant, 6 Oct. 1739 protested."

"Vol. 1 Pp 246: John Anderson elected as surveyor, 5 March 1741/2."

"Vol. 1 Pp 258: Recorded this 3d of Nobr 1755, An acct of the severall Proprietors that have a property in the meeting House the number of seats or pews & the prise or salary sett upon it by the Commtee appointed by the town for that end, among others Jon Anderson - 118 sallary - 1-10-00" (one pound ten shillings)

Halleck on pages 10-11 of her book also lists four Anderson land deeds pertaining to John and Mary Anderson. The first is dated 26 Dec. 1724 ("John & wife Mary of Londonderry etc., to Bolton Alexander"). The second and third are dated to 1732/3 and 1742 and mention “John & wife Mary of Londonderry." The fourth is dated 22 Nov. 1757 and mentions “John (by Atty) of Colraine et all to Mary Wid. Of Allen of L. in land and bldgs. in Londonderry."

The known children of John and Mary Anderson, all born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, were:

     -- THOMAS ANDERSON, born 15 Sept. 1722.
     -- WILLIAM ANDERSON, born 9 Sept. 1725.
     -- MARY ANDERSON, born 11 Sept. 1725.
     3. JOHN ANDERSON, born 1728.
     -- ISABEL ANDERSON, married George Hall.

3. JOHN ANDERSON, son of John and Mary Anderson, born 1728 in Londonderry, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, died at age 52 on 22 Dec. 1780 in Shelburne, Franklin County, Massachusetts, buried in Hill Cemetery, Shelburne, Massachusetts. In Jan. 1755 in Colrain, Massachusetss, John married MARGARET (STEWART) KATELY, born 4 Oct. 1731 in Londonderry, New Hampshire, died 30 Dec. 1830 in Shelburne, Massachusetts, daughter of Charles and Mary (Eayres) Stewart, and widow of John Kately by whom Margaret had had a daughter Hannah and a son John. John Anderson's stepson John Kately and wife Mary are later seen as witnesses to a sale of land by John Anderson's son-in-law John Linn on 21 Aug. 1794, as well as a Greenfield, Massachusetts, deed dated 3 May 1802.

In her Linn Genealogy, page 11, Evangeline Linn Halleck said John's date of birth in 1728 is "as given in a family bible in possession of a descendant." I do not know the current whereabouts of that Anderson Bible, though. John spent the early part of his life in New Hampshire, and is mentioned several times old Londonderry records found in “Manchester Historical Association Collections and Early Records of Londonderry, Windham and Derry, New Hampshire, 1719-1762," Vol. 1:

"Vol. 1 Pp 273: Londonderry, 5 March 1745/5 'Voted for survayers for the westerly side of Baver (Beaver) Brook, John Anderson Jnr.'"

"Vol. 1 Pp 283: 5 March 1747/8 Chosen to inspect into the Cilling of Deere for the insuing yeare – John Anderson Jnr."

"Vol. 1 Pp 290: 6 March 1748/9 'Voted for town constables for the ensueing year David Anderson and John Anderson Jnr.'"

"Vol. 1 Pp 13-14: As given from Londonderry, under Muster Rolls in His Majesties service, under Capt. Barr & Capt. Todd (Rogers Rangers) Muster roll of Capt. Samuel Barr . . . among the names, John Anderson 'enlisted the men the 16th of May began our march the 20th May and discharged them the 30th of said month, signed Sam'l Barr Capt., dated 1746'."

John and Margaret had seven daughters and four sons, whose births are recorded in the Vital Records of Buckland, Colrain, & Montague, as well as the Vital Records of Shelburne. The first eight of their children were born in Colrain, the last three in Shelburne. The dates of birth for the three youngest children, Samuel, Martha, and Sarah, are partial or absent in the records, but in his copy of Evangeline Linn Halleck's book, “Descendants of George Linn," page 15, the late Clyde R. A'Neals penciled in the years of birth 1771 and 1773 for Martha and Sarah. I do not know where he found those years, but I know he did extended research on our mutual Linn, Anderson, and Stewart ancestors, and therefore I provisionally accept those dates in my account of this family. B Frank Severance's Genealogy and Biography of the Descendants of Walter Stewart of Scotland, page 21, also lists the children of John and Margaret Anderson, but omits their son Samuel.

Here is a full transcription of John Anderson's will and probate (filed in the Probate Office at Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Case 4 No. 56):

"In the Name of god Amen; the first Day of Decr One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty; of John Anderson of Shelburne in the County of Hampshire and State of the Massachusetts Bay in New England; yeoman, Being very Sick and weak in Body But of Perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto god; therefore Calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body, knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament, that is to Say Principally and first of all; I give and recommend my Soul into the hand of god that gave it, and my Body I Recommend to the earth to be Buried at the Discretion of my dear wife and my Executor hereaftor named; nothing Doubting but at the general Reserection I Shall Recieve the Same again by the mighty power of god; and as Touching Such worldly estate wherewith it has Pleased god to Bless me in This Life, I give and Dispose of the Same in the Following manner and form.

"Imprimis: I will give and Bequeath unto my dear and Loving wife the One third (that is to Say) a good Comfortable Room in the house wherein I do now Dwell together with one third part of my Real estate together with all My household furniture, together with one Cow and her Calf and Six Sheep note that the one third of my Real estate is to Return to and become my two well beloved Sons James and David Anderson at my Wife's Decease, to Them and their heirs forever.

"Item I also give and Bequeath unto my two well beloved Sons James Anderson and David Anderson the other two thirds of my Real estate together with all my cattle Sheep and horses excepting what is above named; And Likewise all my farming utensils and wearing apparel, they Paying to each of my Children hereinafter named, namely unto my well Beloved Daughter Mary Anderson the full and just value of a Cow and her Calf; as Likewise to my well beloved Daughter Rebekah Linn the full and just value of a Cow; as Likewise to each of my other Daughters Hereafter named; viz. to Lydia anderson, Elizabeth Anderson, Margaret Anderson, Martha Anderson and Sarah Anderson and each of them to the just value of a Cow; as Likewise I order my executors hereafter Named to give to my wellbeloved Son Jonathan Anderson one hundred pounds to be paid by my executors hereafter named, equal to what it was Seven years ago, he living with his two brothers James anderson and David Anderson till he is twenty one years of age, and if he Should Leave them before that time they are to pay him fifty pounds note that my three youngest Daughters is to be brought up on my estate free of Charge until they are able to work for that Living; viz. Margaret Anderson Martha Anderson and Sarah Anderson. Item all of my other personal estate I do hereby will give and Bequeath the Same unto My two eldest Sons above named to wit James anderson and David Anderson to their heirs and assigns forever; and I do Hereby Constitute make Appoint and ordain my wellbeloved wife; Margaret Anderson and my eldest Son James Anderson my Sole executors to this my Last Will and testament; and I do hereby Utterly Disallow Revoke and Disannul all and every other former Testaments wills Legacies and Bequeaths; and Executors by me in Any wise made or namd; before willd and Bequeathed.

"Ratifying and Confirming this and no other, to be my Last Will and Testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the Day and year above written.

"John Anderson his mark

"Signed Sealed Published and Pronounced and Declared by the Said John Anderson as his Last Will and testament in the Presence of us the Subscribers x John Stewart x Robert Wilson Archibald Lawson

"Probated at Northampton Sixth Day of Feby Anno Domi 1781 at which time John Stewart and Robert Wilson two of the Subscribing Witnesses to the same appeared and made oath that they saw John Anderson the Testator sign and Seal Publish and Declare the same to be his last Will and Testament that he was of Sound mind and memory when he did it. That they signed in his Presence and in the presence of each other.

"The Executors Bond was for $1,000.

"Signed Margaret Anderson her mark, James Anderson, John Stewart Robert Wilson"

John's widow Margaret Anderson was appointed guardian for her younger children Jonathan, Margaret, Martha, and Sarah, who was minors still under the age of 14 at the time of their father's death. The probate documents identify them as “children and heirs of John Anderson, Late of Shelburne in the County of Hampshire."

The epitaph of John Anderson's gravestone in Hill Cemetery, Shelburne, Massachusetts, reads:

A photograph of the gravestone of John Anderson in Hill Cemetery, Shelburne, Massachusetts, shared with the kind and gracious permission of the photographer Dee Brochu.

After John's death, his widow Margaret remarried in 1785 to LIEUT. JAMES STEWART JR. of Colrain, Massachusetts, born 11 Nov. 1729 in Colrain, Massachusetts, died 14 Aug. 1809 in Colrain, son of “Old Father James" Stewart of Colrain by his wife Jane (Clark) Stewart. Margaret was James Jr.'s second wife. No children were born of their marriage, though. She is buried next to her third husband in Chandler Hill Cemetery, Colrain, Massachusetts, rather than being buried with her first husband John Kately or second husband John Anderson.

A photograph of the gravestone of Margaret (Stewart) (Kately) (Anderson) Stewart in Chandler Hill Cemetery, Colrain, Massachusetts, taken 11 June 2001 by Mary (Stewart) Clickner, descendant of Margaret's third husband Lieut. James Stewart Jr. of Colrain by James' first wife. Margaret's gravestone was placed well after her death, which took place in Shelburne on 30 Dec. 1830 per Lois McClellan Patrie's "History of Colrain, Massachusetts" (1974).

Of Margaret's third husband James, her uncle Joseph Stewart of White Creek, New York, stated in a letter to his son dated 28 Aug. 1818: "You may remember young James, who married at last Margaret Anderson your cousin. That descent was from White Rose, for he himself belonged to Black Hall. He had a catalogue of the house of Stewart for many hundred years, but son Alx carried it away with him to Pennsylvania." (Genealogy and Biography of the Descendants of Walter Stewart of Scotland, B. Frank Severance, pages 22, 33). Joseph's obscure remark about Margaret's descent from “White Rose" evidently means Margaret was descended from the Royal Stewarts. Joseph's information that “young James" Stewart of Colrain belonged to “Black Hall" has been confirmed by a y-DNA test taken in 2023 by a male-line descendant of Lieut. James Stewart Jr., which has established beyond all doubt that James Jr. and his father James Sr. were scions of the Stewarts of Blackhall, Ardgowan, and Auchingoun in Renfrewshire, a family was founded by their ancestor Sir John Stewart, 1st of Blackhall, Ardgowan, and Auchingoun, an illegitimate son of Robert III, King of Scots.

The children of John and Margaret (Stewart) (Kately) Anderson were:

     -- MARY ANDERSON, born 20 Oct. 1755 in Colrain, Massachusetts, married Matthew Barber.
     -- JAMES ANDERSON, born 3 Oct. 1757 in Colrain, Massachusetts, married Mercy or Marcy Stebbins, ancestors of the Merrill family.
     4. REBECCA ANDERSON (“Babra"), born 3 Sept. 1759 in Colrain, Massachusetts.
     -- DAVID ANDERSON, born 10 April 1760 in Colrain, Massachusetts, married 1st Olive Winter, married 2nd Mercy Childs.
     -- LYDIA ANDERSON, born 15 May 1765 in Colrain, Massachusetts.
     -- ELIZABETH ANDERSON, born 15 Jan. 1765 in Colrain, Massachusetts.
     -- JONATHAN ANDERSON, born 17 March 1767 in Colrain, Massachusetts.
     -- MARGARET ANDERSON, born 16 May 1769 in Colrain, Massachusetts, married Jonas Torrey.
     -- SAMUEL ANDERSON, born 1770 in Shelburne, Massachusetts, died 1777.
     -- MARTHA ANDERSON, born 1771 in Shelburne, Massachusetts.
     -- SARAH ANDERSON, born 1773 in Shelburne, Massachusetts.

4. REBECCA ANDERSON ("Babra"), daughter of John and Margaret (Stewart) (Kately) Anderson, born 3 Sept. 1759 in Colrain, Massachusetts, died 20 Dec. 1834 in Windsor, Kennebec County, Maine, buried by her husband in South Windsor Cemetery (Resthaven Cemetery), Windsor, Maine. On 13 May 1779 in Shelburne, Massachusetts, Rebecca married JOHN LINN, son of George Linn, born 17 Aug. 1754 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, died 28 April 1834 in Windsor (then called Malta), Kennebec County, Maine, buried in South Windsor Cemetery (Resthaven Cemetery). Rebecca and John had three daughters and eight sons. Their marriage is found in Shelburne Vital Statistics, and the minister who married them, Rev. Hubbard, also made a record of their marriage -- in the record, Rebecca's name is mentioned under her nickname "Babra."

In the 1 Dec. 1780 will of her father John Anderson, he bequeathed “to my well beloved Daughter Rebekah Linn the full and just value of a Cow.”

In the 1 April 1818 Revolutionary War pension file of her husband John is a schedule of their property: "One old mare $10.00; 1 yoke of Oxen $30.00, 2 Yearling Heifers $12.00, 10 Sheep $15.00, 2 Swine $6.00, Household stuff $5.00, Farm Utensils $5.00, Owes about $40.00. No debts due him. Income of property not over $15.00 a year. Has been unable to labor for six years past on account of bad rupture. My family residing with me consists of myself, my wife Rebecca, aged 62 years, able to labor very little having always been weakly, and a grandson by the name of Joseph Linn, aged seven years."

Evangeline Linn Halleck's biography of John Linn includes a list of 10 deeds of sale for land in Franklin County, Massachusetts, dated during years from 1784 to 1803. One of those deeds, obtained by Halleck from the Register of Deeds Office at the Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield, Massachusetts, with the aid of Mrs. Lucy Cutler Kellogg, is abstracted as follows:

”Vol. 17, pages 599. John Linn of Colrain sells to Charles Handy of Colrain for $800 land in Bernardston Gore, part of Lot No. 80 and 81 excepting nine acres of the east end of said lot that is deed to Capt. Matthew Clark; and also a part of Lot 80, the North east corner which contains 52 acres by estimation. 2 Feb. 1803. John Linn and Seal. Rebeckah Linn her mark. Witnesses John McGee, Thomas Rogers, James Stewart. Acknowledged 2 April 1803 before John Long, J.P.”

The James Stewart who witnessed this deed was the step-father of Rebecca, for James Stewart Jr. (a younger scion of the Stewarts of Blackhall, Ardgowan, and Auchingowan in Renfrewshire, Scotland) was the third husband of Margaret (Stewart) (Kately) (Anderson) Stewart of Colrain and Shelburne, Massachusetts, who descended from the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.

In 1803, John Linn and his family removed from Colrain, Massachusetts, to settle in Kennebec County, Maine, as mentioned in the 1892 Illustrated History of Kennebec County, Maine, page 1174:

"John Lynn was a revolutionary soldier. He settled in 1803 on the farm now owned by Charles Merrill. He was born in Boston in August, 1754, and died April 28, 1834. His wife, Rebecca Anderson, died the same year. They brought eleven children to Windsor."

Rebecca’s husband John died at the home of his youngest child, George Russell Linn, while Rebecca died at the home of her daughter Sarah Chadwick. Later both George and Sarah and their families left Maine and settled in Lee Center, Illinois, along with their brothers James and David (though David later moved on to Iowa).

The gravestones of John Linn and his wife Rebecca (Anderson) Linn in Resthaven Cemetery (South Windsor Cemetery), Windsor, Maine, as generously shared on Find-A-Grave.

The children of Rebecca and John Linn, who were all born in Colrain, Massachusetts, were:

     -- MARY POLLY LINN, born 7 Oct. 1780, married Nehemiah Ward.
     -- JOHN LINN, born 29 Aug. 1781, married 1st Nancy Hilton, married 2nd Ada Randall.
     -- GEORGE LINN, born 22 May 1783, died 5 Aug. 1785.
     -- JOSEPH LINN, born 25 Nov. 1784, md. 1st Sarah Kennedy, md. 2nd Abigail Chadwick, md. 3rd Esther Fletcher.
     -- DAVID LINN, born 20 Sept. 1786, married 1st Mary Ann Meigs, married 2nd his first cousin Betsey Russell.
     -- NATHANIEL LINN, born 20 Aug. 1788, married Abigail Grover Wight.
     -- JAMES LINN, born 19 Nov. 1790, married Betsey Pierce.
     -- NANCY LINN, born 26 Oct. 1792, married 1st Jabez Meigs, married 2nd Jacob Jewell.
     -- CYRUS LINN, born 25 Oct. 1795, married Susan Smith.
     -- SARAH LINN ("Sally"), born 29 Sept. 1798, married Lot Chadwick.
     -- GEORGE RUSSELL LINN, born 30 Sept. 1800.

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