Joshua Murdock (1721 - 1797)

Born 31 Dec 1721 in Newton, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Esther (Child) Murdock — married 1 Mar 1745 (to 30 Mar 1755) in Newton, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Husband of Esther (Greenwood) Murdoch — married 17 Jun 1756 in Newton, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 3 Jul 1797 at age 75 in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA

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Biography

Revolutionary War Service

Sergeant Joshua Murdock served with 15th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment (1775), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Joshua Murdock is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A083180.

Joshua Murdock is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 254258
Rank: Corporal

Joshua Murdock of Newton was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving as a Private in Capt. Phineas Cook's company, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, to headquarters at Cambridge under command of Capt. Lieut. John Marean, and as a Corporal in Capt. Phineas Cook's company, Col. Thomas Gardner's regiment during 1775, and in Capt. Abraham Peirce's company, Col. Eleazer Brooks's regiment of guards in early 1778 and as a Sergeant in Capt. Edward Fuller's (1st Newton) company, Col. Samuel Thatcher's regiment company marching to Cambridge Sept. 2, 1778, to guard British troops. ^{[1] [2]}

Joshua Murdock's Life in Newton

Joshua Murdock was born on 31 December 1721 in Newton, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay, the son of Robert and Abigail (Hyde) Murdock.^[3]

He married Esther Child probably soon after intentions were published in Newton on 17 March 1744/5.^[4] She was the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Weld) Child. She died in Newton on 30 March 1755, aged 30 years, just a few days after her infant son died.^[5]

He married, as his second wife, Esther Greenwood on 17 June 1756 in Newton. ^[6]

Mr. Joshua Murdock died in Newton on 03 July 1797, aged 75 years,^[7] and was buried in the East Parish Burying Ground there.^[8]

Children by his first wife Esther Child born Newton:^[9]

1. Abigail, b. 18 Sep 1746
2. William, b. 14 Jan 1747/8
3. Anna, b. 25 Apr 1749
4. Elizabeth, b. 14 Sep 1750
5. Samuel, b. 04 Mar 1752; d. 20 Nov 1814, age 62.
6. Joshua, b. 15 Oct 1753
7. An infant son, d. 26 Mar 1755.

Children by his second wife Esther Greenwood born Newton:^[10]

1. Elisha, b. 19 Feb 1757; d. 01 Dec 1815.
2. Jonathan, b. 17 May 1759; d. 08 Jan 1838 age 78 or 79.
3. Esther, b. 28 Apr 1761
4. Robert, b. 30 Nov 1763; d. 01 Mar 1846, age 82.
5. Phebe, b. 05 Dec 1765
6. Nathaniel, b. 16 Mar 1768
7. Artemas, b. 02 Feb 1771; d. 11 Jan 1825; mar. Sarah.
8. Asa, b. 31 Dec 1772; d. 05 Jul 1773.

Sources

1. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Wright & Potter Printing Co., Boston, 1896) Vol. 11, p. 232
   • • "MURDOCK, JOSHUA, Newton. Private, Capt. Phineas Cook's co., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, to headquarters at Cambridge under command of Capt. Lieut. John Marean ; service, 5 days; also, Corporal, Capt. Phineas, Cook's co., Col. Gardner's regt. ; receipt for advance pay signed by said Murdock and others, dated Camp at Cambridge, June 27, 1775; also, Capt. Cook's co., 37th regt. ; company return dated Oct. 6, 1775."
     • "MURDOCK, JOSHUA. Corporal, Capt. Abraham Peirce's co., Col. Eleazer Brooks's regt. of guards; joined Jan. 12, 1778; service to April 3, 1778, 2 mos. 22 days, at Cambridge; also, Sergeant, Capt. Edward Fuller's (1st Newton) co., Col. Thatcher's regt.; entered camp Sept. 2,1778; discharged Sept. 4, 1778; service, 3 days ; company marched to Cambridge Sept. 2, 1778, to guard British troops."
2. ↑ Smith, S.F., History of Newton, Massachusetts (The American Logotype Co., Boston, 1880); p. 339-47
3. ↑ Mass Newton, Vital Records of Newton, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, Mass. : Pub. by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, at the charge of the Eddy town-record fund, 1905), p. 143.

   "Murdock, Joshiua [dup. Joshua], s. Robert & Abigall [dup. Abigail], Dec 31 1721."

4. ↑ VRs of Newton, page 344.

   "Murdock, Joshua and Esther Child, int. Mar. 17, 1744-5.

5. ↑ VRs of Newton. p. 482.
6. ↑ Newton, Mass., Vital Records of Newton, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850, (Boston, Mass. : NEHGS, 1905) p. 344

   "Murdock, Joshua and Esther Greenwood, June 17, 1756."

7. ↑ VRs of Newton, p. 482.

   "Murdock, Joshua, Mr., July 3, 1797. [a. 75, GR1] [a. 76, PR1]."

8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 16 November 2020), memorial page for Joshua Murdock (31 Dec 1721–3 Jul 1797), Find A Grave: Memorial #13122080, citing East Parish Burying Ground, Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Bonnie Huish (contributor 46938507) . (Includes gravestone photo.)
9. ↑ Newton, Mass., Vital Records of Newton, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. Boston, Mass. :NEHGS, 1905. pp. 141-144, pp. 481-3.
10. ↑ Newton, Mass., Vital Records of Newton, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. Boston, Mass. :NEHGS, 1905. c pp. 141-144.

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 2023-03-14), "Record of Joshua Murdock", Ancestor # A083180.

See also:

• Jackson, Francis, (1789-1861) "A History of the Early Settlement of Newton, county of Middlesex, Massachusetts from 1639-1800" pub. 1854, Boston: Printed by Stacy & Richardson. Note that this source contains extensive town records from Newton.