Joseph Stetson (abt. 1639 - bef. 1724)

Born about Jun 1639 in Scituate, Plymouth Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 8 May 1724 before about age 84 in Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

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Biography

Birth

Joseph Stetson was born in Scituate, Plymouth Colony, the eldest son of Cornet Robert Stetson and his wife Honor (Tucker) Stetson. His birth date is given in Plymouth Colony Records as June 1639 but is estimated as June 1640. ^[1] The Kindred genealogy gives his birth date as June 1639.^[2] He was christened on 5 October 1645 in the Second Church of Scituate, along with two of his brothers.^[3][1]

Residence

As the oldest son he received a double portion of his father's estate, which included his father's farm in Scituate.^[4] He lived on that farm, which remained in the family until it was purchased by the Stetson Kindred of America, Inc. He held the office of constable.^[2]

Little Else is known about Joseph - according to the Kindred, He does not seem to have been prominent in the life of the community, However, He has left a large family, many of whom have become distinguished men and women^[2].

Marriage

Joseph married twice ^[A]. His first wife (1), married in about 1665-66, was Ruth Hiland or Hyland, (Kindred Records list as Hiland) daughter of Thomas Hiland from Tenterden, Kent, England. According to the Briggs Genealogy, she was a sister of Mary Hiland, second wife of Joseph's father, Cornet Robert Stetson, and of Sarah Hiland, wife of Thomas Turner. Ruth (Hiland) Stetson died soon after the birth of her son Joseph, in 1667.

Children ^[2].:

1. (i) Joseph Stetson, b. 1667

Joseph Stetson then married (2) Prudence, whose last name is not known ^[A] (Some sources list her name as Clapp ^[5][6], prior to 1670. There were seven additional children from this second marriage.^[4][2]

Children:

1. (ii) Robert Stetson, b. 9 Dec 1670-
2. (III) Lois Stetson, b. Mar 1672
3. (iv) William Stetson/Studson, b. Dec 1673; d. 14 Aug 1600 at Yarmouth, Massachusetts ^[2].
4. (v) Desire Stetson, B. Sep 1676 ^[7]
5. (vi) Prudence Stetson, b. Sep 1678 ^[7]
6. (vii) Samuel Stetson, B. Dec 1679 ^[7]
7. (viii) Hannah Stetson, b. Jun 1682 ^[7]

Death

He died between 4 April 1722, when he created his will, and 8 May 1724, when his estate was inventoried.^[2][8]

Probate

His will is dated 4 April 1722 and proved on 4 May 1724 in Plymouth. He mentions his wife Prudence, and his children, Joseph, Prudence Leach, Hannah Lincoln, Lois Ford, Robert, Samuel, and Desire Silvester. ^[9]

His inventory was taken on 8 May 1724 in Scituate.^[10]

Research Notes

• Stetson Kindred genealogical Index: 1-1

A. Excerpted information: His first wife was Ruth Hiland, daughter of Thomas Hiland, and his second wife was Prudence (--). His eldest son Joseph was the son of Ruth; other children, including Lois, are likely the children of the second wife. Ruth's father's 1683 will mentioned grandson Joseph Stetson, but not the other seven children of Joseph Stetson Sr. Prudence is known from her husband's will, so either wife could be Lois's mother. A Genealogical and Biographical Sketch of the Name and Family of Stetson, by John Stetson Barry, 1847, did not have the first wife. See Barry for additional children and descendants.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Bangs, pages 438-439 American Ancestors.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Stetson: Vol. 1, No. 1 Pg 22-23
3. ↑ Barry,p. 15
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Briggs, page 868.
5. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 14 February 2019), memorial page for Joseph Stetson (Jun 1639–1723), Find A Grave: Memorial #80161568, citing First Parish Cemetery, Norwell, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Rita Gibson (contributor 47361904). [No gravestone image, no sources cited other than the same derivative sources identified in this profile.]
6. ↑ Prudence Clapp Stetson's Find A Grave: Memorial #80161586)
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} Stetson:Vol. 1, No. 1 Pg 23
8. ↑ Barry, p. 16
9. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, (FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-997D-FNW7: 20 May 2014), Probate records 1717-1724 and 1854-1862 vol 4-4Q > image 229 of 485; State Archives, Boston.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-F4V3 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1724-1731 and 1838-1842 vol 5-5T > image 94 of 596; State Archives, Boston.
11. ↑ Stratton, Eugene A, Plymouth Colony, 1986, p 359.

See Also:

• Bangs, Jeremy D., Cornet Robert Stetson's Arrival in Scituate and the Birth Date of His Son Joseph, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1997) Vol. 151, Page 438-9.
• Barry, John Stetson. A Genealogical and Biographical Sketch of the Name and Family of Stetson. Boston: W.A. Hall and Co. 1847.
• Briggs, Lloyd Vernon. History and Genealogy of the Briggs Family, 1254-1937. Vol. 3. Boston: C. E. Goodspeed & Co., 1938.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #80161568
• Stetson, Oscar Frank, ed; Stetson, Nelson Mitchell, Descendants of Cornet Robert Stetson of Scituate, Massachusetts (Stetson Kindred of America, Inc., 1933, 1956, 2008)
• Stratton, Eugene A, Plymouth Colony, 1986, p 359.