Joshua Babcock (1707 - 1783)

Born 17 May 1707 in Westerly, Kings, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Stanton) Babcock — married 11 Aug 1735 in Westerly, Kings, Rhode Island

Descendants

Died 1 Apr 1783 at age 75 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Babcock Name Study.

Joshua Babcock is Notable.

Joshua Babcock is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A004268.

Dr. Babcock was a man of great influence and extremely peculiar habits as described in detail in the Genealogy of the Stanton family. The Babcock Genealogy by Stephen Babcock elaborates on his accomplishments and influence in the revolutionary period.

In 1724 graduated from Yale College. He was the first Yale graduate from Rhode Island, and later studied medicine and surgery in Boston and London.

Dr. Joshua Babcock's home was built in 1734 at 124 Granite st., Westerly, Rhode Island. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places and became a museum in 1972. You can visit it or read about it at the link to the Babcock-Smith House.

His house was on the post road, the great connector between Boston and New York. He hosted George Washington on occassion and was said to be long time friends with Benjamin Franklin, a frequent traveler on the post road. They are said to have enjoyed fishing for Blackfish together at Noyes Rocks (Weekapaug) . In the 1770's he became the first postmaster of Westerly operating both a general store and post office from his home.

He had been chief justice on the Rhode Island Colonial Court and an incorporator of Brown University. He was a Seventh Day Baptist as were many Westerly Babcocks. Dr. Joshua's house was nearby the "Hill Meeting House" sometimes called the "Babcock Meeting House" for the first four pastors. Later in life Dr. Babcock espoused Unitarianism.

Major General Dr. Joshua Babcock served as a General in the State Militia playing an important leadership role in the revolution. A portrait of him is printed in Updike's "A history of the Episcopal church in Narragansett, Rhode Island" on page 529.

Daughters of the American Revolution information:

• BABCOCK, JOSHUA
• Ancestor #: A004268
• Service: RHODE ISLAND
• Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE, MAJOR GENERAL
• Birth: 5-17-1707 WESTERLY NEWPORT CO RHODE ISLAND
• Death: 4-1-1783 WESTERLY WASHINGTON CO RHODE ISLAND
• Service Source: SMITH, CIVIL & MIL LISTS OF RI 1647-1800, VOL 1, PP 319, 328, 339; BARTLETT, RECS OF THE COLONY OF RI, VOL 7, PP 510-11
• Service Description: 1) MILITIA; MEMBER OF COUNCIL OF WAR; 2) MEMBER OF ASSEMBLY
• RESIDENCE: Created: 2002-03-27 23:23:55.3, Updated: 2009-04-01 11:57:55.0, By: 1) City: WESTERLY - County: WASHINGTON CO - State: RHODE ISLAND
• SPOUSE (1): HANNAH STANTON; Created: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, Updated: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, By: Conversion 1)
• SPOUSE (2): ANN MAXSON; Created: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, Updated: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, By: Conversion 2) ANN MAXSON
• Child son: ADAM BABCOCK, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] ABIGAIL SMYTH
• Child son: HENRY BABCOCK, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] MARY STANTON
• Child daughter: HANNAH BABCOCK, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] JOHN BOURS

Sources

• Dexter, Franklin Bowditch. Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College (Holt, 1885) Vol. 1, Page 293

• Wikipedia: Joshua Babcock

• DAR public profile

• A record, genealogical, biographical, statistical, of Thomas Stanton, of Connecticut, and his descendants : 1635-1891, page 46 and 47

• The Babcock Geneaology by Stephen Babcock, pages 30-33

• FamilySearch.Org Pedigree (may not be fully sourced)

• Finda a Grave Memorial 31814330

• History of the Babcock-Smith House

• Newport Mercury Deaths, Arnolds Vital Records, Vol. 12 page 38

• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A004268

• This person was created through the import of HOAGUE.GED on 22 May 2011.