Person:Francis Dane (2)

Abstract from "Early Records of the Dane Family of Andover" by Charlotte Helen Abbott (full manuscript here)

John¹ Dane m. (1) Frances Bowyer, m. (2) the widow of William Chandler, Annis. His will dated 7 Jul 1658 bequeaths to his son Francis Dane of Andover, minister.

Francis came to New England about 1636. He was educated here probably in Lynn, as he married Elizabeth Ingalls of Lynn. He replaced John Woodbridge as minister in Andover in 1648, "very likely through the influence of Thomas and Wm. Chandler and George Abbott" all half-brothers [and original proprietors of Andover].

Francis married (2) Mary Thomas, (3) step-sister Hannah Abbott, and died 17 Feb 1697. His will bequeathed to wife Hannah and two sons "Nathe" [Nathaniel] and Francis. Children: Nathe m. Deliverance Hazeltine, Francis m. Hannah Poore, Elizabeth m. Stephen Johnson, Hannah m. William Goodhue, Phebe m. Joseph Robinson, Abigail m. Francis Faulkner.

From "Historical Sketches of Andover" by Sarah Loring Bailey, p. 423:

"When the community was frenzied with the witchcraft delusion, Mr. Dane was one of the few men whose judgment remained unshaken, and whose courage was not daunted by fear of personal danger. 'The Rev. Francis Dane deserves', says Upham, 'to be recognized preeminent, and for a time almost alone, in bold denunciation and courageous resistance of the execrable proceedings of that dark day.'

"Every record goes to prove Mr. Dane to have been a man of strong sense, fearless courage, and withal of Christian fortitude. ... almost every member of his family was under arrest or suspicion ..."

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Otten, Marjorie Wardwell. The Ingalls Sisters. Essex Genealogist (Massachusetts) (Essex Society of Genealogists). (Nov 1999)
   19:222.

   "… Francis² Dane, bpt. 20 Nov 1615, Bishops Stortford (Hertfordshire) England, son of John Dane (later of Ipswich and Roxbury)."

2. ↑ Francis Dane, in Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862)
   2:6.

   "Francis (Dane), Andover, s. of John of Roxbury, b. in Eng. was of Ipswich 1648, and soon after ord. sec. min. of A. was brot. by his f. 1636, it is said, in the same ship with Nathaniel Rogers, wh. was half a yr. on her passage from London to Boston; by w. Eliz. m. bef. he went to A. wh. d. 9 June 1676, were all his ch. prob. b. but we have not their names or dates, with exactness; yet two, Nathaniel, and Eliz. were b. perhaps bef. his ordin. Besides these, he had, also, Albert, and two nam. Francis, wh. all d. young; Hannah, wh. m. 14 Nov. 1666, William Goodhue; Phebe m. 30 May 1671, Joseph Robinson; Abigail m. 12 Oct. 1675, Francis Faulkner; and Francis, again. He m. sec. w. 22 Nov. 1677, Mary Thomas, wh. d. 18 Feb. 1689; and, third, Hannah, wid. of George Abbot, wh. surv. to June 1711. He d. 17 Feb. 1697, æt. 82. He was in danger from the cruel infatua. of 1692, when others of high rank fled from the suspicion of witchcraft, and of his humbler neighb. sheep of his fold, innocent of the nonsense as hims. not a few suffer. Hutch. II. 38.
   
   [Additions and Corrections] [Savage 2:577] [Vol. 2] P. 6, l. 6, aft Eliz. add, d of Edmund Ingalls,"
   
   There is no record evidence that the sons, Albert (a very unusual name for the time), and two earlier named Francis, ever existed.

3. ↑ Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Andover, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. (Topsfield, Massachusetts: Topsfield Historical Society, 1912)
   2:420.

   "Dane, … Francis, Rev., 'Teacher of the church of Andover, having been an officer in ye church 48 years,' [died] Feb. 17, 1696-7, a. 81 y."