| Russell was not an uncommon name in England, New England, and Virginia in the 17th century; a dearth of records, however, makes it very difficult to connect possible relatives. The object of this study is to trace the descendants of John Russell of Woburn, Massachusetts, who was the progenitor of the Russells of Newport and Providence, Rhode Island, and of others who had migrated to Massachusetts, Maine, New York, and Canada by the late 19th century. John Russell was a subscriber to the town orders drawn up for Woburn in 1640. He played a prominent role in the new town. He served as selectman for several consecutive terms, helped distribute the towns land among the proprietors, and was a deacon of the Congregationalist Church. He died in 1676. His descendants included here are his son, John, as well as Jonathan Russell, Thomas Russell, Ralph Russell, and several Russell female lines. Also included are the connections with Solomon Drowne, Smith Bartlett, and Joseph Cooke. Original full name index. - Family Genealogy - Family Genealogy - Russell |
