Robert Rand

Birth: 18 JUN 1684 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts
Death: AFT 5 DEC 1734 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts
Father: THOMAS RAND b: 1 FEB 1657 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts
Mother: SARAH LONGLEY b: 15 OCT 1660 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts
Marriage 1 ELIZABETH WELCH b: 3 JUN 1689 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts
Married: 12 MAY 1709 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts 3

In the Anglo-Saxon, Danish, RAND Dutch and German languages the word rand signifies a border, margin or edge. It first appears in England as a patronymic in the early part of the fifteenth century, when there were Rands at Rand's Grange, a small town near Bedale, and also in Yorkshire in 1475. In Evelyn's Diary he mentions "his friend, Dr. Rand." The name is found in the London records as early as 1633; in Ripple, Kent, in 1600; in Gateshead, county Durham, 1578; in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire. Essex and other counties at later dates. There are numerous coats-of-arms borne by branches of this family in England. There were three early immigrants of this name to New England. James Rand settled in Plymouth, coming in 1623 in the ship "Ann," but probably returned before 1627. Francis Rand came to Rye, New Hampshire, and has many descendants. Robert Rand is mentioned below.

(1) Robert Rand, immigrant ancestor, born in England, settled in 1635 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. In 1638 he owned a house there on the west side of Windmill Hill, sixty-six acres and three commons. He died in 1639 or 1640. In 1658 his widow Alice and son Thomas had a town grant of thirtyfour or thirty-five acres of woodland and nine commons in Charlestown. Alice was a sister of Mary, wife of Captain Richard Sprague,said to be a daughter of Nicholas Sharpe. Both Captain Richard and his wife left legacies in their wills to various members of the Rand family. Alice died August 5, 1691, aged ninety-eight, according to the town record, ninety-seven according to her gravestone. Children: 1. Robert, farmer at Woodend, Lynn, Massachusetts, died November 8, 1694. 2. Margery, born about 1624; died April 12, 1714; married Lawrence Dowse. 3. Thomas, mentioned below. 4. Susanna, born about 1630: married, February 8, 1652, Abraham Newell, of Roxbury. 5. Alice, born 1633; died August 11, 1721. 6. Nathaniel, baptized November 3, 1636, in Charlestown: sergeant; freeman; selectman; died May 17, 1696; married Mary Carter and Abigail Carter. 7. Elizabeth, baptized December 29, 1639; died May 1, 1702; married, December 6, 1661, Nathaniel Brewer, in Roxbury.

(II) Thomas Rand, son of Robert Rand (1), born in England, about 1627, died at Charlestown, August 4, 1683. He was sergeant; cordwainer by trade; admitted freeman 1660: married, March 25. 1656, Sarah, daughter of Edmund and Eliza (Whitman) Edenden. His wife died June 26, 1699, aged sixty-three. Children, born in Charlestown: 1. Thomas, born February 1, 1657; mentioned below. 2. John, born October 6, 1659; died December 19, 1659. 3. Sarah, baptized January 6, 1661; died young. 4. Elizabeth, baptized February 2, 1662; married John Penny. 5. John, born May 25, 1664. 6. Sarah, born August 15, 1666; married Thomas White. 7. Robert, born April 19, 1668; died of small pox, 1678. 8. Edmund, born January 27, 1670; died 1683. 9. Hannah, born February 21, 1672: married Nathaniel Frothingham. 10. William, born September 11, 1674. 11. Deborah, born September 28, 1676; died February 16, 1701. 12. Samuel, born May 3, 1679.

(III) Thomas Rand, son of Thomas Rand (2), was born in Charlestown, February 1, 1657: was drowned in a canoe accident in the Mystic river, October 3, 1695; was a cordwainer by trade, and lived in Charlestown; was admitted to the church January 29, 1682. He married, June 17, 167—, Sarah Longley, of Groton. daughter of William. She was admitted to the church March 9, 1684; she married second, 1701, Benjamin Watts. Children of Thomas and Sarah Rand: 1. Sarah, born January 27, died February 11, 1680. 2. Thomas, born December 26, 1681; was a mariner. 2. Edmund, born about 1683, died Augtest, 1683. 4. Robert, born June 18, 1684; mentioned below. 5. Edmund, born August 22, 1686. 6, William, born May 4, 1689. 7. Joshua, born March 2, 1692; died before 1711. 8. Sarah, born September 1, 1694; died September 3, 1695.

(IV) Robert Rand, son of Thomas Rand (3), was born in Charlestown, June 18, 1684; married, May 2, 1709, Elizabeth Welch. He was a sailmaker by trade and lived in Boston.
Children:
1. Robert, born January 29, 1710, died young.
2. Thomas, born May 28, 1711; died September 8, 1711.
3. Thomas, born 1712, baptized November 9, 1712; buried February 4, 1713.
4. Elizabeth, baptized June 20, 1714; married, February 11, 1732, Simmons Secomb.
5. Rachel, bor n 1716, baptized March 4, 1716; married Henry White, 1743.
6. Robert, baptized January 19, 1718; mentioned below.
7. Joshua, baptized July 19, 1719; died December 31. 1719.
8. William, baptized September 4, 1720; died September, 1721.
9. Sarah, baptized March 25, 1722.
10. William, born July 6, 1723.
11. . baptized March 7, 1725.
12. Joshua, baptized February 12. 1727.
[source: Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, https://books.google.com

About Robert Rand, Sr.
It should be noted that a substantial recognition of the great services of Mr. Thomas Goffe, the supposed owner of the May-Flower, as the warm friend and promoter of the settlement of New England, was made in 1734, when the General Court of the Province of Massachusetts Bay granted his grandnephew, Robert Rand, of Boston, -- the sole heir of Goffe's daughter, Mrs. Sarah Watts, --- one thousand acres of land, in response to his petition, setting forth Mr. Goffe's services and losses. Rand recites that Mr. Goffe died on a voyage to this country. (Drake's History of Boston, p. 588).
(p. 353). Source: The May-flower and her log, July 15, 1620-May 6, 1621: chiefly from original sources (Google eBook) Azel Ames Houghton, Mifflin, 1907
http://books.google.com