Rev. John Eliot was born and educated in England and came to New England on November 3, 1631 landing in Boston, MA. Rev Eliot became the interim pastor of Boston’s first church society, and refused to become a teacher in the church once the pastor returned. The Rev. had promised his friends in Nazeing, England that he would be their minister when they arrived in New England. The group arrived and settled in Roxbury with Rev. John Eliot ordained as their minister. Arriving with this group was Rev. Eliot’s finance, Hanna Mumford, whom he married in October 1632. It was the first marriage on the town record. The Rev.’s two sisters and two brothers also joined him in Roxbury.
Rev. John Eliot was known as the “Apostle to the Indians”. He took the time to learn the Algonquian language by taking in a Native American boy into his home. The boy, a captive in the Pequot War, had learned to speak and understand everyday English. He also could read English, but could not write it. On October 28, 1646, Rev. Eliot preached his first sermon in Algonquian to a group of Native Americans gathered at the wigwam of a chieftain at Nonantum (now Newton). They understood the Rev. and asked questions of him. He was invited back to preach again. Another first for Rev. Eliot was the writing of the First Native American Bible (1661–1663). He lived to see a second edition of his Native American Bible. He died in 1690 having lived in Roxbury all his New England life.
Rev. John Eliot’s connection to Andover, MA was the Chandler family and George Abbot. The Chandlers and George Abbot landed in Boston in 1637 and went immediately to Roxbury. Rev. Eliot, the Chandlers, and George Abbot all came from the same town in England. The Chandler family was made up of father, William; mother, Annis; sons: John, Thomas, and William, and a daughter, Hannah. William and Thomas came to Andover. Hannah married George Abbot and they settled in Andover.
