John Darby Sr (1736 - 1820)

Ancestors Descendants

Biography

Captain John Darby, Sr. was born January 17, 1736, in Essex county, New Jersey, (see notes) a son of William Darby and Mary Durfee. John served as an officer during the American Revolutionary War, entering the War as a Lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of the Essex County Militia, he attained the rank of Captain before the end of the War. ^[1]

Captain John Darby is honored for his military service by the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as DAR Ancestor #A029754. DAR records indicate that John was twice married. His first wife was Rachel Squire and his second wife was Mrs. Margaret Stanbery, widow of Recompence Stanbery, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War and DAR Ancestor #A108619. Applications for membership in the Society of the DAR have been made by the John's descendants: John Darby, Jr., who married Nancy Stansbery; Margaret Darby, who married Joseph Cory; and Joanna Darby, who married Parkhurst (or Parkin) Cory. ^[2]

John died June 28, 1820, at the age of 84 years and is buried in the churchyard of the Scotch Plains Baptist Church (also known as Gods Little Acre Cemetery) ^[3] In 1742, William Darby donated a corner of his property to the newly formed Baptist congregation of Scotch Plains in order to build a church and bury the dead. The oldest grave here dates back to 1742; however, the earliest legible stone belongs to Sarah Frazee dated 1758. First known as ‘God’s Little Acre’, this cemetery contains the graves of 24 Revolutionary War veterans including the grave of Noah Clark who was the brother of Abraham Clark; a signer of the Declaration of Independence. ^[4]

Researcher's Notes

Although his DAR records do not indicate that John served as an enlisted soldier, prior to serving as an officer, there is a plaque on his Find A Grave that indicates that he was a Sergeant in the Morris county Militia. ^[5]

Morris County was created on March 15, 1739, from portions of Hunterdon County. The county was named for the Governor of the Province of New Jersey, Colonel Lewis Morris. In later years Sussex County (on June 8, 1753) and, after the revolution, Warren County (on November 20, 1824, from portions of Sussex County) were carved out of what had been the original area of Morris County under English rule. Union County was formed on March 19, 1857, from portions of Essex County; it was the last of New Jersey's 21 counties to be established.

Sources

1. ↑ New Jersey Rev War Records Roll 17.3 Seimes in Data
2. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/), "Record of John Darby", Ancestor # A029754.
3. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10340425/john-darby
4. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1976054/scotch-plains-baptist-church-cemetery
5. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10340425/john-darby#view-photo=1528429

• New Jersey Marriage Records 1683-1802
• US Sons of the revolution Membership Applications 1189-1970