Josiah Abbot (1759 - 1837)

Born 29 Dec 1759 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Ruth (Bodwell) Abbot — married 15 May 1784 in Methuen, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Husband of Anna (Furbush) Abbot — married 30 Mar 1790 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 12 Feb 1837 at age 77 in Lemington, Essex, Vermont, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Patricia Abbott [send private message]

Note on Identity

Not to be confused with Josiah Abbot born at Amherst, New Hampshire on 18 Dec 1759 son of Josiah and Hannah (Hobbs) Abbot. That Josiah went with his family from Amherst to Lyndeborough and had some service in the Revolution from Lyndeborough (refer to the History of the Town of Lyndeborough for details). The Josiah Abbot who served as ensign in the Revolution and who went to Lemington, Vermont was born in Andover son of David Abbot and Prudence Sheldon.

Biography

Josiah Abbot is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 100155
Rank: Ensign

Ensign Josiah Abbot served with 10th Massachusetts Regiment (1777), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

JOSIAH ABBOT, b. at Andover, 29 Dec 1759 son of David Abbott and Prudence Sheldon;^[1] d. at Lemington, VT, 12 Feb 1837 (given in pension record);^[2] m. 1st at Methuen, 15 May 1784,^[3] RUTH BODWELL, b. at Methuen, 17 Apr 1761^[4] daughter of Daniel and Abigail (Ladd) Bodwell;^[5] Ruth d. at Andover, of childbed fever, Feb 1788.^[6] Josiah m. 2nd at Andover, 30 Mar 1790,^[7] by Rev. Jonathan French of South Parish Church (pension record), ANNA FURBUSH, baptized at Andover, 16 Oct 1768^[8] daughter of Charles and Sarah (Corey) Furbush;^[9] Anna d. at Colebrook, NH, 11 Feb 1842 (pension record).

Josiah and his first wife Ruth lived in Andover. During his second marriage, Josiah relocated to Bath, New Hampshire, and finally settled in Lemington, Vermont.^[10]

On 7 September 1786, David Abbot of Billerica, in consideration of £216, conveyed to his son Josiah Abbot of Andover 73 acres in Andover that was part of David’s homestead. This property adjoined that of Capt. Jonathan Abbot. On 27 August 1787, Josiah conveyed this property of Samuel Phillips for £116. On 8 July 1796, Josiah Abbot conveyed 73 acres to Jonathan Abbot for payment of $1,020. On 1 March 1797, Josiah Abbot and his wife Anna of Andover, in consideration of fifty dollars, quitclaimed interest in the estate of honored father Charles Furbush to Solomon Furbush.^[11]

During the Revolution, Josiah served as ensign for a period of two years in Colonel Tupper’s Regiment of the Massachusetts Line (10th Massachusetts Infantry) which he joined in July 1781. He was commissioned ensign on 19 October 1781. He transferred to the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry on 1 January 1783.^[12][13][14] Prior to that time, he reported six shorter enlistments as a private. In 1818, at age 59, he made application for a pension. Josiah reported he had worked as a laborer and was now debilitated. His wife was aged 53 and two minor children were still at home, Moses S. Abbot aged 12 and Maria F. Abbot aged 9.^[15]

Josiah’s estate entered probate 16 March 1837 with Stephen Harris, Jr. of Lemington as administrator at the request of widow Anna. Personal estate was valued at $136.32. Widow Anna Abbot petitioned to have the whole of the personal estate assigned to her.^[16]

On 6 March 1843, surviving children of Josiah Abbot petitioned for payment of pension arrears of the widow’s pension. Surviving children of Anna named in the petition were Maria F. Harris of Lemington (who presented the petition), Sarah F. Hall, Sophia C. Goss, Dorcas Buffington, Walter S. Abbot, George W. Abbot, and Moses S. Abbot. It is noted that these are the surviving heirs of Anna Abbot (as opposed to all the children of Josiah). A subsequent petition on 19 April 1847 adds surviving children Ruthy B. Holmes and Fanny Clough (surviving children from Josiah’s marriage to Ruth Bodwell).^[17]

Children

Josiah Abbot and Ruth Bodwell were parents of three children born at Andover.

i CHARLES ABBOTT, b. 25 Nov 1784; b. at Lemington, VT, 29 Dec 1833; m. at Bath, NH, 31 Dec 1813, ANN “NANCY” SALTER LANG, b. at Bath, 26 Jun 1788 daughter of Samuel and Susan (Salter) Lang; Nancy d. at Bath, 14 Aug 1873.

ii RUTH BODWELL ABBOTT, b. 1 Jan 1786; d. at East Hardwick, VT, 17 Jun 1858; m. at Lyman, NH, 11 Nov 1813, ASA HOLMES “of Dalton, NH.”^[18] The children of this couple were born in Newbury, VT.

iii FANNY ABBOTT, b. 20 Dec 1787; d. at Landaff, NH, after 1850; m. at Bath, 27 Nov 1806, JEREMIAH CLOUGH, b. at Salem, NH, 20 Jan 1782 son of William and Abigail (Bailey) Clough; Jeremiah d. after 1850.

Josiah Abbot and Anna Furbush were parents of eight children, the oldest five at Andover and the three youngest children at Bath, New Hampshire.

i NANCY ABBOTT, b. 30 Nov 1790; d. 10 Jul 1818. Nancy did not marry.

ii SARAH F. ABBOTT, b. 10 Nov 1791; d. at Troy, NY, 18 Sep 1876; m. at Lynn, 24 Oct 1819, AARON HALL, b. 28 Apr 1792;^[19] Aaron d. at Troy, 13 Jun 1868.

iii SOPHIA C. ABBOTT, b. 20 Aug 1793; d. at Chazy, NY, after 1850; m. about 1813, HENRY GOSS, b. at Vernon, VT, 3 Jan 1788 son of Daniel and Anna (Inder) Goss; Henry d. after 1850.

iv DORCAS ABBOTT, b. 4 Mar 1796; d. at Troy, NY, 11 Jun 1842; m. about 1820, ARTEMUS W. BUFFINGTON, b. 11 Dec 1798 son of Comens and Laura (Lamkin) Buffington;^[20] Artemus d. at Lemington, 27 Jun 1835.

v WALTER STUART ABBOTT, b. 23 Feb 1798; d. at Milford, OH, after 1860; m. BETSEY G. LADD, b. about 1796 daughter of James and Elizabeth (Gould) Ladd;^[21] Betsey d. at Milford, 1858.

vi GEORGE WASHINGTON ABBOTT, b. 24 Dec 1799; d. at Lyman, NH, 13 Mar 1853; m. 1817, LUCINDA ROWELL, b. at Bennington, NY, 3 Mar 1800 daughter of William and Anna (-) Rowell;^[22] Lucinda d. at Barnet, VT, 22 Feb 1890.^[23]

vii MOSES SEWELL ABBOTT, b. 22 Oct 1806; d. at Mellette, SD, 27 Feb 1885; m. SOPHRONIA LADD, b. Sep 1809 daughter of James and Elizabeth (Gould) Ladd; Sophronia d. at Prairie de Sac, WI, 12 Apr 1872.

viii MARIA F. ABBOTT, b. 18 Jul 1809; d. at Stewartstown, NH, 3 Aug 1869; m. about 1830, STEPHEN HARRIS, b. at Vernon, VT, 27 Mar 1809 son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Johnson) Harris; Stephen d. at Westfield, MA, 14 Aug 1882.

Further note on children

Children listed in DAR patriot index: Sophia who m. Henry Goss, Fannie who m. Jeremiah Clough, George W who m. Lucinda Rowell. Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed February 13, 2020), "Record of Josiah Abbott", Ancestor # A000155.

Sources and Footnotes

1. ↑ Abbot, Josiah, s. David and Prudence, Dec. 29, 1759. Andover Vital Records; https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Andover/Images/Andover_B019.shtml
2. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 February 2020), memorial page for LT Josiah Abbott (18 Dec 1759–12 Feb 1837), Find A Grave: Memorial #60499490, citing Colebrook Village Cemetery, Colebrook, Coos County, New Hampshire, USA ; Maintained by Denice Huerta (contributor 47562281) .
3. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28V-1MWL : 10 March 2021), Josiah Abbott and Ruth Bodwell, 15 May 1784; citing Methuen, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 823,676.
4. ↑ Bodwell, Ruth, d. Daniel, jr. and Abigil Apr. 17, 1761. Methuen Vital records; https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Methuen/Images/Methuen_B021.shtml
5. ↑ The will of Daniel Bodwell of Methuen (probate 1804) includes a bequest to the heirs of his daughter Abbot deceased; Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. Case 2749
6. ↑ Abbot, –––––, w. Josiah, child bed fever, bur. Feb. 16, 1788, a. 26 y. Andover Vital Records; https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Andover/Images/Andover_D369.shtml
7. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29G-GGVF : 5 November 2017), Josiah Abbot and Anna Furbush, 30 Mar 1790; citing Marriage, Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007009706.
8. ↑ Furbush, Anna, d. Charles, bp. Oct. 16, 1768. Andover, Vital Records, https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Andover/Images/Andover_B170.shtml
9. ↑ Josiah Abbot provided a bond surety for the probate of Charles Furbush and received a distribution from the estate; Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. Case 9758
10. ↑ Abbot, Genealogical Register of the Descendants of George Abbot, p 77; https://archive.org/details/genealogicalregi00inabbo/page/76/mode/2up
11. ↑ Massachusetts Land Records, Essex County, 145:270, 149:71, 166:15, 163:120
12. ↑ Drake, Francis Samuel. Memorials of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati (The Society, Massachusetts, 1873) Page 209, (1930) p. 80
13. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Wright & Potter Printing Co., Boston, 1896); p. 11
14. ↑ Heitman, Francis Bernard. Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution (W.H. Lowdermilk & Co., Washington, DC, 1893); p. 62
15. ↑ Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files; Case W20554
16. ↑ Vermont Probate Records, Essex County, Estate Files Box 1, FHL Film# 004175418, images 2-14, Estate of Josiah Abbot
17. ↑ Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files; Case W20554
18. ↑ Asa Holmes is perhaps the son of Lemuel and Abigail (Bicknell) Holmes who was born in 1765 in Walpole, NH. If so, he had two earlier marriages.
19. ↑ Aaron’s date of birth is on his gravestone
20. ↑ Wilkins, The Descendants of Thomas Lamkin, p 163
21. ↑ Ladd, The Ladd Family, p 119
22. ↑ Lucinda’s parents are given as William and Anna on her death record.
23. ↑ Obituary of Lucinda Abbott, Caledonian, St. Johnsbury, VT, 27 Feb 1890

• Abbot, Abiel, and Ephraim Abbot. 1847. Genealogical Register of the Descendants of George Abbot of Andover, George Abbot of Rowley, Thomas Abbot of Andover, Arthur Abbot of Ipswich, Robert Abbot of Branford, CT, and George Abbot of Norwalk, CT. Boston: James Munroe and Company.

• Drake, Francis S. 1873. Memorials of the Society of the Cincinnati of the Massachusetts. Boston, MA: Printed for the Society.

• Ladd, Warren. 1890. The Ladd Family: A Genealogical and Biographical Memoir. New Bedford, MA: Printed for the author.

• Smith, Frank. 1931. Memorials of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. Boston, MA: Privately printed.

• Wilkins, Harold E. 2001. The Descendants of Thomas Lamkin of the Northern Neck of Virginia. Boston, MA: Newbury Street Press.