ABBOTT

All of our Abbott lines descend from the same person, George Abbot of Andover. In addition to the main line of descent of Abbott males, with have three other lines from the children of George that diverge and come back together. There are two other Abbott families in the Massachusetts Bay colony that we are peripherally related to by their marriage into the family (so they are uncles or cousins), but all of our direct lines come from George.

George Abbot and Hannah Chandler emigrated from England about 1643 and settled in Andover where they were one of the prominent founding families. They had 13 children, 10 of whom survived to adulthood. Four of these children are our direct ancestors.

1. Benjamin Abbott (1661-1703) is the source of the straight Abbott line. He was the eighth oldest of the 13 children. He is also known for being one of the accusers of Martha Carrier during the Salem witch trials. Martha was hung as a witch. Benjamin married Sarah Farnum in 1685 and they had five children including David. David (1689-1753) was the father of Jonathan (1739-1817) who served in the Revolutionary War, followed by Benjamin (1770-1835). That Benjamin was the father of Benjamin (1795-1853) followed by Justin (1820-1901) who served in the Civil War. Justin was the father of Arthur Merrill Abbott (1858-1930) who was the father of Fred Pemberton Abbott (1888-1968).

2. John Abbott (1648-1721) was the oldest in the family. His family lived in George's "garrison" house and John was a highly respected member of the community. He served as a selectman and deacon. John married Sarah Barker and they had nine children. Next in this line was John A. Abbott (1674-1754), then Captain John A. Abbott (1704-1793) who served in the French and Indian War. We then leave the Abbott line, but for just one generation. Captain Abbott's daughter Phebe (1733-1812) married Nathan Chandler. Phebe and Nathan's daughter Hannah Chandler married Benjamin Abbott (1770-1835) from that first line. And so the rest of this descent follows the same as line #1.

3. Hannah Abbott (1650-1741) was the third oldest child and the oldest daughter. Hannah married John Chandler I and then the line descends through John Chandler II (1679-1741) and Nathan Chandler (1708-1784). The following Nathan Chandler (1730-1786) is the one who married Phebe Abbott (1733-1812) in line #2. That line then continues as lines #2 and #1.

4. Elizabeth Abbott (1673-1750) was the youngest in the family. Elizabeth married Nathan Stevens. Their daughter Hannah Stevens (1701-1782) married Samuel Ames. Their son Benjamin Ames (1724-1809) was the father of Hannah Ames (1751-1831). Hannah married Thomas Boynton. Their son Thomas (1775-1856) was the father of Rebecca Boynton (1800-aft 1881) who married Benjamin Abbott (1795-1853) and who were the parents of Justin (1820-1901) in line #1.

So, although the four separate lines diverge somewhat, they all come back together in Justin Abbott.