USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Goshen > History of the town of Goshen, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1761 to 1881, with family sketches > Part 11
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O let our banners wave, For Albion's nation brave And country dear, Wave o'er Columbia's shield With Freedom's signet sealed, For FRANKLIN, MORSE and Field, With long, loud cheer.
The town hall, decorated in evergreens and garlands, contained a large variety of articles usually found in ladies' fairs, together with. tea, coffee, cake and ice-creams.
The dinner tables were set under a large tree on the Common, where an excellent collation was served to the people of the town and to a large number of guests from abroad. After the repast, came toasts and speeches.
The first toast,-" The ladies of Goshen," was responded to by S. E. Bridgman, Esq., of Northampton, who read the following humor- ous "Appeal for the Church," written by one of the lady visitants:
" See the plaster falling, falling, Dry and scattered to the ground, To the sons of Goshen calling With a sad and solemn sound, Bring the mortar ! bring it quick ! Bring the trowel ! lay it thick !
123
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
See the shingles, shrinking, shrinking, Till the rain-drops trickle through ; Setting every one to thinking What a heavy shower might do. Bring new shingles ! bring them quick ! Bring the hammer ! nail them thick !
See the paint, a-going, agoing, Like the fading light of day, Unto all beholders showing How earth's pleasures pass away. Bring the paint-po: ! bring it quick ! Lay it on and lay it thick !
Israel's sons, so Moses taught us, Took the jewels, rich and rare,
From old Goshen's daughters, For the tabernacle fair ; But free gifts we ask of you; Show what willing hearts can do.
The second toast-Our expected guests, the Pastors ; like good shepherds they have sent their flocks out upon the hills. May the flocks be abundantly fed that they may return to their folds with rejoicing.
Samuel Wells, Esq., of Northampton, responded by reading a letter from his pastor, Rev. Gordon Hall, filled with pertinent thoughts and expressing regrets for his absence.
The following were some of the other toasts given :
The Atlantic Telegraph : a line of enterprise presenting an unparal- lelled Field of exertion.
The Atlantic Cable: a modern railway for the transmission of thought.
The Magnetic Telegraph : The Press and Express united. It does its own printing and carries its own mail.
The Atlantic Cable : A happy conceit got up by somebody to illus- trate the case of the Siamese Twins. Merry England and Young America will doubtless enjoy the conceit immensely.
Landlord Joseph Hawks : As in the land of ancient Goshen there was a Joseph who fed the hungry strangers from distant lands, and who supplied the needy nearer home, so this modern Goshen boasts a Joseph who feeds the weary traveller and refreshes all who call.
124
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
May a long line of carriages hereafter invade the modern Goshen, and continue, for many years to come, to seek his home, attracted by his fame, his forethought and his hospitable name ; may posterity revere that name, and continue to treasure his bones to the latest generation.
Editor Gere of Northampton was expected, but it was said that owing to his necessary absence his eloquent reply to the following toast was lost :
A paradox, it now may seem, But in the best devised scheme, Complete success cannot appear, Till we get something out of Gere.
This brief sketch of the festival-celebration may serve to show the interest felt in that great work of modern times, -the Atlantic Cable. Th electric conditions of this cable were faulty, and, after trans- mitting a few hundred messages, entirely ceased to operate. Every failure is said to be a step towards success, and so it proved in regard to the cable. Experiments continued and finally were crowned with complete success in 1866.
List of Town Officers-Supplementary.
Moderator.
Treasurer.
Collectors.
Constables.
May 23, 1781,
J. Sherwin, Esq., Joshua Abell,
March 4, 1782,
John James,
Thos. Brown,
10, 1783,
Oliver Taylor,
Thos. Brown,
15, 1784,
O. Taylor,
Benj. Burgess,
66
7, 1785, ,
6, 1786,
B. Burgess,
Benj. Burgess,
Eben Parsons,
12, 1787,
O. Taylor,
Benj. Burgess,
66
3, 1788,
O. Taylor,
Benj. Burgess,
66
2, 1789,
O. Taylor,
Benj. Burgess,
1, 1790,
O. Taylor,
Benj. Burgess,
66 14, 1791,
Barzil'i Banister, Wm. White,
6 5, 1792,
Benj. Burgess,
Wm. White,
Eben'r Parsons, Eben. Parsons.
April 1, 1793,
7, 1794,
Oliver Taylor,
Wm. White,
Solomon Parsons, S. Parsons. Solomon Parsons,S. Parsons. Lt. John Rogers, Lieut. J. Rogers. S. Parsons, S. Parsons.
M'ch 16, 1795,
14, 1796,
Oliver Taylor, Oliver Taylor, Justin Parsons, Justin Parsons,
Reuben Dresser, Thos. Brown, Oliver Taylor, Oliver Taylor, Oliver Taylor, Oliver Taylor,
Eben. Parsons, Eben. Parsons.
April 3, 1797,
M'ch 5,1798,
Malachi James, M. James.
S. Parsons,
S. Parsons.
O. Taylor,
Benj. Burgess,
Oliver Taylor,
Thos. Brown, Eben'r Parsons. B. Banister. Nehemiah May, Edward Orcutt. Artemas Stone, ( Cyrus Lyon. Wm. Damon. ( Sam'l Grimes, Farn. White. Reuben Loomis. Oliver Taylor.
Oliver Taylor. Lem'l Banister. Eben'r Parsons. Adam Beals,
Adam Beals, Justin Parsons, Justin Parsons. Adam Beals.
Adam Beals,
125
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Moderator.
M'ch 11, 1799,
66 10, 1800,
Justin Parsons,
S. Parsons,
66
15, 1802,
S. Parsons,
66
7, 1803, 19, 1804, 4, 1805,
6 6
66
3, 1806,
2. 1807,
S. Parsons.
S. Parsons,
7, 1808, 6, 1809, 12, 1810,
66
4, 1811,
9, 1812,
15, 1813,
April 4, 1814.
3, 1815,
M'ch 11, 1816,
3, 1817,
.6
7, 1818,
6 6
8, 1819,
6, 1820,
66
5, 1821,
Elias White.
66
66 4, 1522, 3, 1823, 8, 1824,
66
Willard Parsons.
Renben Dresser, Reuben Dresser, Willard Parsons.
Reuben Dresser,
M. JJames,
R. Dresser,
Reuben Dresser, Enther James.
66
12, 1827, 10, 1828, 2, 1829,
66
7, 1831,
66
5, 1832, 11, 1833, 3, 1834,
Col. Lyman, Col. Lyman, Jahn Grant, H. Williams, Col. L. Stone, E. Putney,
E. Putney,
E. Putney,
F. P. Stone.
66
7, 1836, 6, 1837,
Asahel Billings, J. E. Catheart, Frank Naramore, Daniel Hall.
J. E. Cathcart, D. Hall,
E. W. Town.
66
4, 1839,
Frank Naramore, F. P. Stone,
F. P. Stone,
66
23, 1840, 1, 1841,
Frank Naramore, Ezra Brackett, Frank Naramore, M. James.
Frank Naramore, E. Brackett.
E. Brackett,
66
13, 1843,
Frank Naramore, E. Brackett,
E. Brackett, Geo. Dresser,
66 11, 1844,
Frank Naramore, Geo. Dresser, Fred W. Lyman, E. A. Carpenter, E. 1. Carpenter, E. A. Carpenter.
66 3, 1845,
66
2, 1846,
A . Stone, Jr., E. Bridgman, Frank Naramore, Elijah Billings, Frank Naramore, Hiram Barrus,
E. Bridgman, E. Billings,
H. Barrus,
66
5, 1849,
Frank Naramore, H. Barrus,
H. Barrus,
E. Billings.
66
4, 1850, Frank Naramore, Forace Jepson,
66
3, 1851,
Frank Naramore, E. Billings.
F. Jepson, E. Billings,
E. Billings.
66 1, 1852,
H. Barrus,
E. Brackett,
E. Brackett,
Constable. M. James. M. James. M. James,
M. James. M. James,
M. James.
M. James.
M. James. M. JJames. M. James. Eben Parsons.
M. James. M. James. S. Parsons. M. James.
M. James.
E. White.
E. White.
A. Billings.
A. Billings. M. James. Theo. Parsons. Theo. Parsons.
Reuben Dresser, Theo. Parsons,
Reuben Dresser, Elias White, Renben Dresser, Reuben Dresser. Reuben Dresser,
Elias White, Elias White, Reuben Dresser,
Renben Dresser, Willard Parsons. Theo. Parsons. M. James,
Thos. Brown, Thos. Brown, Stephen V. Tilton, S. W. Tilton. 11. Williams.
HI. Williams,
II. Williams.
E. Putney.
HI. Williams,
H. Williams.
E. Putney.
66
Daniel Williams, H. Williams,
F. P. Stone.
66
5, 1838,
Col. L. Stone,
Joseph Hawks,
J. Hawks,
E. Brackett, M. James,
F. P. Stone. F. P. Stone. E. Brackett. Theo. Parsons. Theo. Parsons. Theo. Parsons. E. Bridgman.
66
1, 1847,
E. A. Carpenter. Daniel Williams, H. Barrus .
E. Billings.
H. Barrus .
Dea. J. Parsons, Nehemiah May, Oliver Taylor, Oliver Taylor, Major A. Stone, Major A. Stone, Oliver Taylor, Ambrose Stone, Ambrose Stone, Ambrose Stone, JJohn Grant,
John Williams, John Williams, J. Williams, 2d.,
A sahel Billings, M. James,
Theo. Parsons,
Elias White. Elias White.
7, 1825,
6, 1826,
Major A. Stone, Major A. Stone, Major 1. Stone, Col. T. Lyman, Col. T. Lyman, Col. T. Lyman, Benj. White, Col. Lyman, Col. Lyman, Col. Lyman,
1, 1830,
Thos. Brown. Luther James.
Emmons Putney.
H. Williams,
Treasurer. Oliver Taylor, M. James, M. James, Oliver Taylor, Oliver Taylor, Eben Parsons, Thos, Brown, S. Parsons, S. Parsons, S. l'arsons, Oliver Taylor, Wm. White, Oliver Taylor, Oliver Taylor, Dr. Ellis Coney, Capt. M. James, Dr. Ellis Coney, S. Parsons, M. James. Eben. Parsons, M. James, M. James, S. Parsons. M. James, M. James, John C. Lyman, John C. Lyman, John C. Lyman, John C. Lyman, John C. Lyman, John C. Lyman, John C. Lyman, John C. Lyman, Elias White, Elias White. John C. Lyman,
Collector.
Justin Parsons,
O. Taylor, O. Taylor, S. Parsons,
9, 1801,
66 6, 1848,
2, 1835,
F. P. Stone.
7, 1842,
126
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Moderator.
Treasurer.
Collector.
Constable.
M'ch 7, 1853,
6
6, 1854,
66
5, 1855,
H. Barrús,
E. Billings,
E. Billings,
66
3, 1856,
H. Barrus,
E. Brackett,
66
2, 1857,
E. Putney,
E. Carpenter,
E. Carpenter,
66 1, 1858,
7, 1859, 5, 1860,
4, 1861,
3, 1862,
2, 1863,
Hiram Barrus, Elijah Billings,
T. P. Lyman, Henry Tillton, Henry Tillton, Joshua Knowlton,
Henry Tillton, *
Josiah Miller. E. Billings. E. Billings.
66
4, 1867,
George Dresser,
Daniel Williams,
C. A. Packard.
66
7, 1870,
George Dresser, Alvan Barrus,
C. A. Packard, John H. Godfrey, C. A. Packard,
John H. Godfrey. Daniel Williams.
6, 1871,
Alvan Barrus,
Hiram Packard,
Lorin Barrus.
66
4, 1872,
Alvan Barrus,
Hiram Packard,
Lorin Barrus.
66
3, 1873,
T. P. Lyman,
Hiram Packard,
Ralph E. Smith.
2, 1874,
Caleb C. Dresser, Hiram Packard, C. C. Dresser, Freeman Sears,
R. E. Smith. R. E. Smith. R. E. Smith.
66
6, 1876,
Hiram Packard,
66
5, 1877,
Alvan Barrns,
J. H. Godfrey,
R. E. Smith.
4, 1878,
Alvan Barrus,
J. H. Godfrey,
J. H. Godfrey,
R. E. Smith.
66
3, 1879,
George Dresser,
J. H. Godfrey,
J. H. Godfrey,
R. E. Smith.
66 1, 1880,
George Dresser,
Marlon Damon,
Marlon Damon,
R. E. Smith.
7, 1864,
6, 1865,
E. Billings, E. Billings,
Joshua Knowlton,
Joshua Knowlton,
Daniel Williams. Daniel Williams.
2, 1868,
Freeman Sears,
Henry Tillton, Henry Tillton, Henry Tillton,
Henry Tillton, Henry Tillton,
Henry Tillton,
T. P. Lyman,
Sanford Gage. S. Gage. E. Billings. E. Billings. C. C. Dresser. John M. Smith. Alvan Barrus. Francis Jepson. H. L. Naramore. Francis Jepson.
Hiram Barrus,
Iliram Barrus,
Hiram Barrus,
Hiram Barrus,
Hiram Barrus,
Frank Naramore, Abner Pynchon, Frank Naramore, S. Gage,
A. Pynchon,
S. Gage,
E. Billings,
5, 1866,
1, 1869,
66 1, 1875,
Hiram Packard, Hiram Packard, J. H. Godfrey,
* No Collector chosen for 12 years.
127
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
CHAPTER X.
The leading character of American history is generally known as "Old Times," and it may not be out of plice to give a condensed sketch of him. He seems to have been a sort of ubiquitous person- age, not fixed to one locality, universally known, said to be old-fash- ioned, somewhat whimsical, a believer in signs and wonders, a maker of "Blue Laws," an executioner of witches ; yet he is remembered as a lover of good order, a founder of schools and colleges, a benefac- tor of his country and his race. He had great faith in himself, and many was the proverb he coined and used to inspire himself with power to act as occasion required. Was he inclined to carelessness, he remembered that "willful waste makes woful want ;" did he meet with obstacles, "where there's a will there's a way" helped him over them ; discouraged, he fell back upon the lines :-
"Never despair ; the darkest day, Live till to-morrow, will have passed away."
If selfishness became clamorous, he offered the couplet :
"With frugal care save what you can To bless your needy fellow man."
Old Times was a hard working old fellow. He spent more hours in his field than the sun shone upon them. He had a heavy forest to fell, and clear off the grounds before he could plant his first hill of corn. The log-house must be built, and it was far from being a pal- ace. The stars could be counted through the openings between the joints. His infant boy was cradled in a hollow half-log-the conca- vity holding the infant, the convexity serving for "rockers." As families increased, wooden stools and blocks of wood served for chairs. The table was unacquainted with the "spread," or a substi- tute. The plate, the tray, the bowls, the spoons, were all of wood. A "boiled dinner" of beef, pork, cabbage, potatoes and beans, was
-
128
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
the staff of life for every day. What was left of the dinner was con- verted into bean porridge for supper, and care was taken to have am- ple allowance of the same, that there might be enough for breakfast. The first one rising in the morning hung the old iron pot containing the food upon the stout crane, swung over the roaring log fire, and in a short time the porridge was heated, and the breakfast was ready for the family. The luxury was so universal that its merits were im- mortalized in the old couplet :-
"Bean porridge hot, bean porridge cold, Bean porridge best, nine days old."
Hasty-pudding was twin-brother to this popular dish, and the two walked hand in hand, doing good service for many a long year. As Old Times increased his means, he exhibited some of the traits of his more favored descendant, Young America, and increased his luxuries. The wooden furniture of his table was exchanged for dishes of pewter. Then were those old fashioned cupboards invented, that without doors or screens were permanent fixtures in the corner of the "best room," where the pewter dishes, scoured up to their brightest polish, exhibited the good fortune and the labored neatness of the proud housewife. Some of those old-fashioned pewter platters, which did service for several generations of grandparents and parents, are handed down to the present, as heir-looms in many a family. After the pewter came the earthern ware, the substantial giving way to the ornamental. The old log-house is disappearing, too. Old Times thinks he can afford something better than he has been ac- customed to. He builds a one-story house, like his neighbor's, 28 by 40, a front entry, an "east room" on one side of it, a "west room" on the other, a kitchen on the back side, connected with the pantry and entry on one end, and two bedrooms on the other. In the center of the whole is an immense chimney-wood is a nuisance, to be got rid of as fast as possible-a fire place, ten or twelve feet long, with a deep oven at the back side, follows as a necessity. If such a length of fire-place is not needed for consuming wood, a portion of it will be a convenient asylum, where the children can retreat in the long winter evenings, and amuse themselves by watching the ever-varying flames of the cheerful fire, or raise their eyes and gaze upon the stars, that meet their vision through the ample chimney above them. The more studious, with book in hand, may, by improving the abundant light and the passing hours, become the sage of a future day. The
129
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
world hardly knows how much it is indebted to those old-fashioned fire-places for "thoughts that breathe and words that burn."
Old Times had the good sense to get him a wife that was a help fit for him. Her girlhood was spent in usefulness. She helped her mother in her labors for the family, or even her father in the lighter work of the fields. When she was married and had a house, she knew how to keep it. She could spin and weave, as well as sew and knit. While she performed her part in the labors of life, she knew
how to enjoy its pleasures. She was social. Many was the time of a pleasant afternoon when she met the maidens and matrons of her neighborhood, and with cards and wool, they passed the flying hours in preparation for their autumnal spinning. This was her work -"two tun a day of filling, or a run and a half of warp," was the limit of the day's labor. When the yarn was scoured and submitted for a proper time to the coloring process then it must be woven ; when woven it must be sent to the clothiers to be "fulled and dressed and pressed ;" and then comes the cutting and making of winter garments, and all hands are fully engaged. But the occasions for a "good time" for both sexes, occur even among all this pressure of labor. There are husking parties, and weddings and trainings and musters and raisings, and once or twice during an age, there is an ordination, at which all the younger population, for many miles around, do not fail to be present. There was another social .occasion that eclipsed all others. It was "old-fashioned election day"-the last
Wednesday in May. The women and the men had equal interest in it. After the clothing for the winter had all been made, the women then entered upon the labor of preparing linen cloth for the summer clothing.
The early winter labor of Old Times himself was to break his flax, swingle and hatchel, and twist it up in neat bunches of a pound or so in weight, which the good wives and daughters transferred to the dis- taff, and transmuted to thread, marvelous for its strength and fine- ness, and for its even attenuation. This was then to be woven into cloth for the summer wear of the family, for cotton was almost un- known at that time. The coarser part of the flax, known as tow, made strong cloth for the out-door service of the men. When the linen cloth of the nicer qualities was woven, it was submitted to the process or bleaching by exposure to the sun and storms. Every thrifty housewife was expected to have all this work done before the
130
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
aforesaid election day. This was to be a day of rest from the great labor of the previous season. No new labor was to be entered upon on this day. It was a day that stood between two eras, the women's great holiday of the year.
Old Times never forgot that he had an interest in this day. It was the day for the meeting of the "Great and General Court" and for the inauguration of the new Governor, a day that was universally appropriated to militia trainings, and social gatherings, and in short, it was the great holiday of the year, for all classes. Old Times was careful to have his corn and his potatoes planted, his fields of rye, wheat and oats all sown, that he too might be duly entitled to his share of the pleasures of the day. One thing in the way of planting only remained to be done. It was deemed appropriate that the morn- ing hour of the day should be spent by every farmer's boy, in plant- ing his two quarts of white beans-the finishing touch to the work of planting for that season. The boys expected it and did it, but to many a boy it seemed as if those two quarts of beans held out like the widow's oil, and to many a farmer, when the beans came up, it seemed as if every bean sent up a marvelous number of plants. But the two quarts of beans disposed of, the boys' holiday commenced. There were gatherings of boys at the corners of the streets, and upon the common ; there were parties for fishing excursions, and rambling · excursions, and there was a training where every boy in town was- sure at last to be found, and was equally sure to invest his "four pence ha' penny" or nine pence in baker's gingerbread from some peddler's. cart, to be eaten to satisfy his own hunger, and the remainder to be- carried home to regale the appetites of those who went not to the training. Such gingerbread as that is not made now,-it is numbered among the "lost arts."
Old Times, it is said, never engaged very heartily in the temper- ance cause. He has been accused of being, on the contrary, somewhat given to his cups. It has been said that he drank when thirsty, when fatigued, when cold, when hot, when wet, when in com- pany, when alone, when abroad, when at home, when sick, when well. This seems rather frequent, and perhaps the statement is a little too strong. But it is well known that at every raising, and husking and all other similar occasions, it was "plenty of liquor, or no men." The farmer who had reduced his haying to the last acre, would send miles away, to replenish his decanter, if it was empty, rather than to finish
131
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
his haying without his regular drams. If the minister visited his people at their homes, a failure to offer him a glass of spirits, would have been considered a want of proper respect. When the ministers met in council, liquors were deemed as indispensable as food.
Old Times was a practical, matter-of fact man. He abhorred the assembling of the young for balls, dances and similar amusements, and often was the time when such occasions had been planned by the young men, that he would circumvent them by preventing the atten- dance of the young ladies, if he could not otherwise effect his pur- pose. The lively times that the young enjoyed, and the violin that helped lend enchantment to such occasions, were alike discarded as unhallowed inventions of the devil for the ruin of young souls, and the use of such tunes with words of a religious character, or a violin in the sanctuary to assist the choir, he would have esteemed a hea- ven-daring sin. Yet he had an appreciative ear, and was once heard to remark tha: "the devil has all the best tunes."
The "fashions" were a source of vexation to him, and he attempt- ed to regulate thei by law. His idea of their origin is illustrated by an anecdote. His son asked him, "Where do the fashions come from ?" "From Boston." "Where does Boston get them?" "From London." "Where does London get them ?" "From Paris." Where does Paris get them?" "From the d-l," was the conclusive reply. Yet he himself was not above criticism in such matters. His red coat, yellow pants, broad knee and shoe buckles, cocked hat, long cue of hair hanging down his back, powdered head, and immensely ruffled shirt, would make quite a sensation at the present day, not- withstanding he had adopted it as a pattern suit, for a pattern man.
Lest it should be inferred that Old Times was always rigid, it should in justice be said that he did at times so far relax his sternness as to allow the youth to play blind man's buff and similar games that he considered innocent. At husking parties when one found a red ear of corn, it was deemed proper for him, especially if the older people were present, to kiss the prettiest girl in the crowd. How much this had to do with giving husking parties their popularity, it is not nec- essary to decide. Inferences are in order.
Old Times had much of the religious element in his character. He was a non-conformist in England, served with Cromwell, suffered persecutions beyond measure, and at last sought these shores, where he might have liberty of conscience and freedom to worship God ac-
132
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
cording to his own interpretation of the Bible. Here he founded a church, on the true democratic idea, that all its members were equal before God, and had equal right to enjoy private opinions ; that each church should be independent of all dictation from others, except by way of mere advice, and owed no allegiance to priest, bishop, pope, or king. The congregation regulated its own affairs, and the church took the name "Congregational." Old Times was satisfied. His ef- fort was successful. For centuries the bible had not found such freedom, and bible men had not found such rest. Schools flourished, education and religion walked hand in hand, prosperity reigned.
Old Times was, in short, a man clear through ; "e'en his failings leaned to virtue's side." Deducting all these, there was still enough left for a man of large pattern. He was just in his dealings, charit- able to the needy, a firm believer in the capacity of man for unlimit- ed progress, true to the great principles of human liberty, first to de- clare that all men are created free and equal, first to gird on the sword in defense of a government whose highest officer should be the servant of the humblest individual. To found such a government, he fought the battles of Bunker Hill, Monmouth and Yorktown, pouring out his blood like water ; enduring trials, practising the most rigid self-denials, resigning all the endearments of home, hazarding all in the present that the future might be glorious.
His sufferings, his labors, his example were not in vain. His pos- terity have seen the enemy assault the government he bequeathed to them ; inspired by his teachings, they too, have shed their blood in its defense ; and this day they rejoice under that government as the noblest ever founded and the strongest the world ever saw.
133
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
CHAPTER XI.
Family Sketches.
Joshua Abell, Sch., came from Rehoboth about 1767. His first wife, Elizabeth, died Aug. 29, 1774; his second wife, Ruth, died Aug. 29, 1777. The town records gives the following as the children of Joshua and Molly, the third wife: Betty, born Aug. 5, 1781, died 1782 ; Sarah, born July 14, 1783 ; Joseph, born Nov. 24, 1785 ; Ezra, born Nov. 23, 1788, died 1802 ; Mrs. Molly died Oct. 26, 1802.
Joshua, Sen., had other sons, Benjamin, Joshua, and Nathaniel, probably by one or both of the former wives. Benjamin married Persis Banister. Their children were: Benjamin, born Jan. 16, 1781; Elizabeth, born May 8, 1782 ; Banister, born Oct. 14, 1783 ; Cynthia, born June 8, 1785 ; Asa, born June 19, 1787, removed to Swanton, Vermont.
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