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Brentford Families - Andrews

The oral family history of the Andrews extends back to my great-great grandfather, Thomas Andrews, a younger son of John Jr, but not farther, except for the fact that George William and his sister Emma Andrews lived together in the house on the High Street until Emma’s death in 1888. George William Andrews inherited the milling business from his father, John Jr. Thomas then purchased the lease of a mill in East Molesey, across from Hampton Court, and operated that with great success until almost the end of the 19th century.

I have just finished reviewing and amending my transcription of the probate copy of the will of John Andrews Sr of Old Brentford (1702-1784). You’ll see that it is very long, and mentions 11 properties that he held, and their tenants.

This is followed by two other documents relating to his son, John Andrews the Younger (1751-1814): a land dispute in 1799; and his will (and two codicils). The big house on Old Brentford High Street that he lived in he left for his wife Lydia’s use. It then passed to George William Andrews who continued the Meal Factor business until his death in the 1870s. His sister Emma continued in the house until shortly before her death in 1888 when the house was sold.

Lydia, widow of John Andrews, died in 1835 and Kenneth has provided a full transcript of her will.

A summary of the people mentioned:

• John Andrews (1702-1784)
  • John Andrews (1751-1814), mealman, married Lydia OWEN (1767-1834); children include:
    • George William Andrews (ca 1798/9-1874)
    • Thomas Andrews
    • Emma Andrews (d. 1888)

A few notes from the webmaster

The Andrews family lived at 334 High Street, a large property on the corner of Eaton Place, and also owned numbers 330 to 333 at the time of tithe enumeration ca 1840. Their plot, 252, included land to the rear and also an area across the road.

There are earlier references to the family:

The 1811 Ealing Census (to be added to the site for Christmas 2018) shows a large Andrews household – 13, seven males and six females – four in trade, nine ‘other’. John GREENWOOD is mentioned in the 1806 Indenture as a neighbour to John Andrews and was recorded next to him in 1811 (no. 333). Robert BANYON, mentioned in the 1814 will, was next door but one to Greenwood, at no. 331.

Ten years earlier the 1801 census shows John Andrews heading a household of 10: five males, five females. Jasper POLLECUTT, one of the witnesses to the will of John Andrews senior in 1783, was next door but one.

Kenneth added: 'I have compared the census statistics with what I know of the members of the family alive at the time of the censuses. John Andrews and his wife Lydia (OWEN) had 12 children in the space of twenty years. In 1801, four sons and one daughter were living, bringing the total of family to 5 males and 2 females, which would suggest three female servants to make up the total of 10.'

'In 1811 there were six sons living—the eldest 18 years old—and 2 daughters. Including the parents, if all were living at home, this would bring the totals to 7 males and 3 females, again leaving three females who might be servants. I’m not sure how to interpret the ‘Trade’ numbers. There are 4 in 1811 versus three in 1801. Perhaps this reflects the involvement of the eldest son in the business in 1811? (The next eldest son was 12.) I know that at least some of the sons were sent away to school.'

In 1798 the Land Tax Redemption Records for Old Brentford (available on the Ancestry website) include several references to Andrews.
In each entry the proprietor's name is followed by a description of the land and then the tenant's name:

• Messs Andrews & MAGSON & Co: for two pieces of Garden Ground & one Piece of Meadow, tenant Mr Jas MILLETT
• Mr John Andrews for an Acre of Land near the Potthouse, tenant Mr WELLFORD
• Ditto, tenant Mr SPINDER & Son (presume 'SPINDLER' as he is named in the will of John Andrews dated 1783)
• Mr John Andrews for the three corner Field, tenant as above
• Mr John Andrews for House and Yard belonging to the Heir of Eliz: STUCKEY, tenant Mr Thos BAKER
• Mr John Andrews for an Acre of Walled Garden Ground belonging to the Heir of Eliz: STUCKEY, tenant Mr SPINDLER
• Messrs Andrews MAGSON & others, tenant Mr John MERRITT
• As above, tenant Mr Thos MESSER
• As above, tenant Mr John GARDNER [this item and those above were all listed together; the next entries were a couple of pages further down and presumably in a different part of Brentford:]
• Mr HOPE for House & Offices called the Dardenals, tenant Mr Jon(atho)n Andrews
• Mr HOPE, extra land tax for ditto to be paid by the tenant, Mr Jon: Andrews [then another gap]
• Messrs Andrews MAGSON & others, tenant Mrs BENNETT
• Ditto for a Garden, tenant Mr Jacob T WHITE [two other entries follow then:]
• Messrs Andrews MAGSON & others, tenant Mr POLLICUT
• Ditto, tenant Mr FOWLER
• Mr J Andrews, self {no. 334}
• Ditto for the Garden opposite his House, self
• Mr J BAILEY, tenant Mr Rob(?) MOORE
• Mr John NEIL, Mr Thos BANYON
• Mr J Andrew, tenant Mr J GORE junr or Occupier [several entries, then next page:]
• Mr J Andrews, tenant Mrs CHURCH
• Ditto, tenant Mr Wm PLATT [six entries then:]
• Mr John Andrews for an Acre of Garden Ground near the Church path, tenant Mr Richd ALLEN

The Brentford section of the 1793 Universal British Directory of Trade, Commerce and Manufacture includes John Andrews, mealman.

So it would appear the family were in Brentford, and possibly in the same property, from the early 1780s until the late 1880s. The Andrews' High Street properties were sold in 1888 and no. 334 was a 'Club' in 1911. This photo from 1945 shows it was by then 'Brent House Club'.

John Andrews will 1783 probate 1784

In the Name of God Amen
I John Andrews the Elder of Old Brentford in the County of
Middlesex Mealman being of sound and disposing Mind and
Memory do make this my last Will and Testament I give and
devise unto my Son in Law George BARTON Collector of Excise
and to his heirs all that my Copyhold Messuage and Lands

[page 2]
thereto belonging lying and being in Old Brentford now in the
occupation of William SPINDLER and also all that my Copyhold
Messuages or Tenement with the Appurtenances situate in Old Brentford
aforesaid now in the Occupation of Isaac STRONG In trust to sell and
dispose thereof together or separate and out of the Money therefrom
arising to pay the Fines and all Costs attending to his Admissions to
such Copyholds and to place forth the Remainder thereof at Interest
in Real and Government Securities and to pay and apply the Interest
Dividends and Product thereof (after paying the Trustees Expenses)
for and towards the Maintenance Clothing and Education of his five
Children by my Daughter Anne his late Wife deceased during their
respective minorities each Child having an equal share thereof
applied for his and her Benefit and when and as they shall
respectively attain the age of twenty one years to pay unto each
of them one fifth part of the Principal for his and her own
use or in case any or either of them shall die in their minority
Then in trust to pay and apply the interest Dividends and Product
of the Share or Shares of his her or their so dying in like manner
for the benefit of the Survivors or Survivor of them during their
respective Minorities and when and as they shall severally attain
the age of twenty one years to pay unto each of them an equal
share of the principal or if only out of them of them [sic] shall
live to attain that age then to pay the whole thereof to such
out or in case the said George BARTON shall think it
most for the benefit and advantage of his children to preserve
to keep the several Copyhold Estates above devised or either of
them and not to sell the same or both of them which I
submit entirely to his choice and discretion these in trust to
receive and take the Rents and Profits thereof or such part thereof as shall be
unsold and to apply the same for the benefit of his said
Children in the same manner as the interest of the Money
to arise from the Sale thereof (if sold) is before directed to be
applied during their respective Minorities and when and as they
shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years to surrender
and convey to each Child and his or her heirs one fifth Part
or share thereof and in case any or either of the said Children
shall die in their Minority the Share or Shares of Him her or
Them so dying shall go to the Survivors or Survivor of them
and the heirs of them or the survivor of them if more than one
as Tenants in common and not as joint tenants. And I give
and devise unto my Son John Andrews and his Heirs subject
to the Proviso hereinafter mentioned all those my nine
Copyhold Messuages or Tenements situate and being in Old
Brentford aforesaid in the several Occupations of Charles
Andrews, Philip GOODENOUGH, William (ONEY or OVERS [?]), James LANGSDON,
James WILLIAMS, Anne WI..ER (WINTER, WIDMER?), Thomas BIGNELL, Thomas
STUMP and the Widow SIRETT in Trust to receive and take
Rents and Profits thereof and thereout to keep the said
Messuages or Tenements with their Appurtenances in repair
and to pay the Fine and Fees on his Admission thereto and to
pay the overplus Rents and Profits thereof into the Hands
of my Daughter in Law Martha Andrews Wife of my Son

[page 3]
William Andrews during her natural life and to and for her own
Sole and separate Use and to be entirely out of the power
control or disposal or her said Husband or of any Husband
she may hereafter marry and not to be subject to the debts or
Encumbrances of her present or future husband and the Receipts
and Receipts of my said Daughter in Law shall notwithstanding
her Coverture [?] be good and sufficient discharge and discharges
for the same and from and after the decease of my said Daughter
in Law (subject to the Proviso hereinafter mentioned) to pay
apply the Rents and Profits of my said last mentioned Copyhold
Messuages or Tenements for and towards the Maintenance Clothing
and Education of all the Children of my said son William
Andrews as well those now born as also all those which may be
hereafter born during their respective Minorities Each Child
having and [sic] equal share applied for his and her benefit
and when and as they shall severally attain the age of twenty
one years to surrender and convey to each Child and his
or her heirs an equal part or share thereof and in case
any or either of the last mentioned children shall die in their
Minority the share or shares of his her or their so dying
shall go to the Survivors or Survivor of them and the Heirs
of such Survivors or Survivor if more than one as tenants in
common and not as joint tenants provided always and my
Express Will and Desire is that if at any time hereafter during
the life of my said Daughter in Law Martha Andrews or
after her decease during the minority of the children of my
said son William Andrews it shall appear to the said John
Andrews or his heirs that it will be most for the benefit and
advantage of my said Daughter in Law Martha Andrews
during her life or of her said children after her decease that
the said mine Messuages or Tenements or any part or parts
thereof should be sold and disposed Then that it shall be
lawful for the said John Andrews or his heirs to make
Sale thereof or of any Part or parts thereof for the most
Money that can be got for the same and after paying
the Trustees Expenses to place forth the Money arising from
such sale or sales at interest dividends and product
thereof unto my said Daughter in Law Martha Andrews
for and during her natural life to and for her Sole and
Separate Use and to be entirely out of the power control
or disposal of the present or any future Husband and
the Receipt and Receipts of my said Daughter in Law to pay
and apply the Interest Dividends and Product of the last
mentioned Trust Money for and towards the Maintenance
Clothing and Education of the children of my said Son
William Andrews in equal shares and proportions until
they shall respectively attain thee age of twenty one years
and when and as they shall respectively attain that age

[page 4]
to pay to each Child and equal share or part thereof or
in case any or either of them shall die in their minority
then in trust to pay the Interest Dividends and product of
the Share or Shares of him her or them so dying in like
manner for the benefit of the Survivors or Survivor of
them until they each respectively attain the age of twenty
one years and when and as they shall severally attain that
age to pay unto each of them an equal Share of the Principal
or if only out of them shall live to attain that age in trust
to pay the whole thereof to such only one or in case all the
Children of the said William Andrews shall die in their
Minority then in trust to pay the last mentioned trust Money
after the decease of my said Daughter in Law unto my said
Son William Andrews his Executors or Administrators to his
or their own use or in case that last mentioned Messuages
or Tenements and Premises shall not be sold and all the
Children of the said William Andrews shall die in their
Minority then in trust after the decease of my said Daughter
in Law to surrender and convey the last mentioned
Messuages or Tenements Hereditaments and Premises unto and
to the use of my said Son William Andrews his heirs and assigns
for ever. And I give and devise unto and to the use of my said
Son John Andrews and his heirs my Copyhold Building
called the Granary and the Land thereunto belonging with
the Appurtenances situate in Old Brentford aforesaid now in
my own Occupation and I give and devise unto my said Sons
William Andrews and John Andrews their heirs and Assigns
for ever as tenants in common and not as joint tenants all
that my undivided third part or share of and in the three
freehold Messuages or Tenements with their Appurtenances
situate and lying in Brentford Butts in the Hamlet of New
Brentford in the said County of Middlesex now in the several
tenures or Occupations of Thomas TURNER Mrs. HOWARD and
Mrs. WITHERBY their undertenants or Assigns and I give and
bequeath unto my said son John Andrews his Executors
and Administrators all that my Moiety or half part of certain
Leaseholds Messuages or Tenements and Lands commonly called
or known by the Name of the Priory held under the Crown
situate at Richmond in the County of Surry in trust to receive
and take the Rents and profits thereof and thereout to pay unto
my Dear Wife Martha Early Andrews for and during her
natural life subject to the proviso hereinafter mentioned out
annuity or their Yearly Rent charge of Eighty Pounds of
lawful Money to be paid to her clear of land tax and all other
Deductions whatsoever to be made at the Expiration of Six
Calendar Months next after my decease and my Will is
that the said annuity shall be received and taken by my said
Wife in bar of Power or thirds at the common law which
she may claim or be entitled to out of any freehold Messuages
Lands Tenements or Hereditaments whereof I shall die seized
and also in Discharge and Barr of any right claim or title

[page 5]
which she shall or may be entitled to out of any Copyhold
Estates of Inheritance whereof I shall die seized by virtue of
any Custom of the Manors in which the same respectively
lie and whereas my said wife Martha Early Andrews was jointly
admitted with me to the Copyhold Messuage or Tenement with
the Appurtenances situate in Old Brentford aforesaid wherein
I now dwell which I purchased of Samuel SWIFT now I
earnestly request my said wife as soon as may be after my
decease to surrender the last mentioned Messuage or Tenement
with the Appurtenances unto my said son John Andrews and
his heirs for ever to whom so far as in my power I give and
devise the same and to his heirs for ever provided always that
if my said wife shall not on application to be made to her release
my said freehold estates from all right and Title of Power and
also my said Copyhold estates from any customary right or
claim she may claim therein or shall refuse to surrender
her Right and title unto my son John Andrews and his
heirs of and in the Copyhold Messuage with the Appurtenances
wherein I now dwell according to my before mentioned request
then my will is that in any or either of the said cases the
Annuity of eighty pounds herein before given to my said
wife shall cease and be void to all interests and purposes any
anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding and
to retain one third part of the overplus Rents and Profits of
my Moiety of the said Leasehold Estate called the Priory to the
only proper use of my said John Andrews his Executors or
Administrators and to pay one other third part of the said
Overplus rents and profits into the hands of my said daughter
in law Martha Andrews the wife of my said son William
Andrews to and for her sole and separate use and to be entirely
out of the power control or disposal of her said husband and
not to be subject to his Debts and Incumbrances and the receipt
and receipts of my said daughter in law shall notwithstanding
her Coverture be a good and sufficient discharge and discharges
for the same and to pay the remaining third part or Share
of the overplus rents and profits of my said Moiety of the said
Leasehold Estate unto and amongst all the children of my said
late daughter Ann BARTON equally share and share alike and
from and after the decease of my said wife if more than one equally if only
one then the whole thereof to such only one or if all such
children shall die in the lifetime of my said daughter in
law then after her decease I give and bequeath such third
part unto my said son William Andrews his Executors and
Administrators to his and their own use and I give and bequeath
one other third part thereof unto amongst all the children
of my said late daughter Anne Barton in equal shares and

[page 6]
the remaining third part thereof I give and bequeath unto
my said son John Andrews his Executors and Administrators
to and for his and their own use and benefit and I give unto
my said wife Martha Early Andrews the said sum of one hundred
pounds to be paid to her by my Executors hereinafter named out
of my residuary personal estate within one month next after
my decease I also give unto my said wife all my household
Furniture Plate and Linnen to her own use and I give to
my Brother in Law Nathaniel WINCUFF five Guineas for a
Ring and whereas under the will of John Aylett STOW Esqr.
Deceased I am seized to me and my heirs subject to an Estate
for Gift of Anne Swift therein of one undivided third part of
and in certain freehold messuages or Tenements and hereditaments
situate in Brentford Butts aforesaid and now in the possession of
Thomas TURNER Mrs. HOWARD and Mrs. WITHERLEY and also to
certain Copyhold Messuages or Tenements Lands and
Hereditaments situate in Old Brentford aforesaid now in the
Occupation of Sir Thomas EDWARDS Baronet Thomas NAILEY
John TORRINGTON and Benjamin SLAUGHTER now I hereby
give and devise one third part of all my estate and interest
in the said last mentioned freehold and copyhold hereditaments
unto my said son William Andrews his heirs and assigns for
ever one other third part thereof unto my said son John
Andrews his heirs and assigns for ever and the remaining
third part or share thereof I give I give and devise unto my said
son in law George BARTON his heirs and assigns for ever

And all the rest and residue of my personal
estate of what nature and kind soever before unbequeathed
after payment thereout of all such debts as I shall know at my
decease and my funeral and testamentary expenses I give in
manner following that is to say one third part I give
unto my said son William Andrews to and for his own use one
other third part thereof I give unto my said son John
Andrews to and for his own use and the remaining third part
thereof I give unto my said son in law George BARTON in
trust for all the children of my said daughter BARTON equally
share and share alike and to be applied for their equal
benefit either in their minority or otherwise as the said
George BARTON shall think most fit and proper for them and
if any or either of such children shall die before his or her
share of my residuary personal estate shall have been applied
for his or her benefit then the share or shares of him her
or them so dying shall go in like manner to the survivors
or survivor of them if more than one equally and I hereby
nominate and appoint my said sons William Andrews and
John Andrews and my said son in law George BARTON
Executors of this my will hereby revoking all former wills and
testaments by me made and do publish and declare these five
sheets of paper to be and contain my last will and testament
in witness whereof I the said John Andrews the Testator have

[page 7]
to the first four sheets have set my hand and to this the last of them
my hand and seal the fifteenth day of December in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three Jno. Andrews
Signed sealed published and declared by the above named John
Andrews the Testator as and for his last will and testament in
the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses
thereof at the request and in the presence of the said Testator and
in the presence of each other Isaac Strong Jasper POLLECUT Charles Andrews

This will was proved in London the fifteenth
day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and eighty four before the worshipful [etc]

John ANDREWS Land Dispute 1799

To the Right Honorable Alexander Lord LOUGHBOROUGH Baron of Loughborough in the County of Leicester Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.

The will (and two codicils) of John Andrews the Younger (1751-1814)

to whose care and superintendence I commit my said children as their
natural as well as my testamentary guardian I likewise empower my
executor and executrix to advance any such sum of money as they shall
think necessary out of the estates and legacies which my said children will
respectively become entitled to under this my will
for the placing out of my sons clerk or apprentice
to any profession or business or otherwise for their advancement in the
world and in case my wife should be pregnant at the time of my decease I
direct the sum of fifteen hundred pounds to be placed in the funds to the
amount of such child or children as may be born of her within nine
months after subject to the like conditions as aforesaid to my nephews
William Andrews John Andrews Joseph Andrews and Joseph BARTON and
to my nieces Ann Barton Sarah LUDLAM and Frances Clinton OWEN
I give ten guineas each for a ring I likewise give to Joseph WILKINS of
New Brentford and Mary his wife and to Martha Andrews of Reading and
Saml. SOTHEBY of the Strand Bookseller five guineas each for a ring and
I direct my Executor and Executrix to present to my much respected friends
Thomas SMITH and Thomas HARRINGTON Esqs five guineas each for a ring
which I request their acceptance of as a small token of my greatful
remembrance of their friendship to me I leave it to the judgement
of my Executor and Executrix to appoint one of my sons to succeed me
in my business desiring them to select him that in their opinion is most
proper and deserving of it without any respect to seniority all the rest
residue and remainder of my estate and effects I direct to be equally
divided among such of my children as shall be living at the time
of my decease lastly I appoint James Ludlam of Oxford Street Hosier
to whom I bequeath ten guineas for a ring Executor and my dear
wife Lydia Andrews Executrix to this my last will and testament
hereby revoking and making void all other will or wills heretofore
by me made and I hereby make and ordain this as my last will and
testament in witness whereof I have to this my last will written with
my own hand and contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and
to the last sheet my hand and seal this thirtieth day of January in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen Jno
Andrews Signed sealed published and declared by the testator
as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in
his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have
set and subscribed our names as witnesses thereto Robt. BANYON Old
Brentford |–| Thomas GORE Do.|–| Wm. GORE Do. |–|

I direct that my son Frederick Andrews shall carry on my
business for the benefit of the estate and himself when he is twenty-
one years of age the profits to be equally divided one moiety to the estate
and the other moiety to himself and that from and after the age of
twenty three years the business shall be wholly his I give and bequeath
to my dear wife Lydia Andrews four hundred pounds four per cent
Consols which stand in my name in the Bank of England to her and her
heirs for ever and whereas the necessaries of life are encreasing and likely to
encrease I direct that my wife shall be allowed sixty pounds per annum
instead of fifty pounds for the bringing up of each child subject to the
former conditions Jno Andrews |–| Witness Elizabeth BEACH Old Brentford
March 29th 1814

April 2nd 1814 To each of my nephews and nieces viz The Revd. Wm
Andrews John Andrews Joseph Andrews and Frances OWEN and to Joseph
BARTON Ann BARTON and Sarah LUDLAM and to James LUDLAM my
Executor I bequeath ten guineas each in addition to my former bequest
Jno Andrews

......
[witnesses to John Andrews’s handwriting]
......
Proved in London with two codicils 28th May 1814 before the
worshipful John DODSON Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oaths of
James LUDLAM and Lydia Andrews Widow the Relict the Executors to
whom admon was granted they having been first sworn duly to admin.

The will of Lydia Andrews (1767-1834)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Proved at London the 24th January 1835 before the worshipful William Calverley
CURTOIS Dr of Laws and Surrogate by the oaths of John NEWTON Esquire and John CLARK esquire
the Exors to whom admon was granted having been first sworn duly to administer.

Page published October 2018