Joseph S. Sutton (1747 - 1822)

Born 9 Jul 1747 in Basking Ridge, Somerset, New Jersey

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Pierson) Sutton — married 14 Apr 1778 in Hanover, Morris, New Jersey, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Nov 1822 at age 75 in Mendham, Morris, New Jersey, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kathryn McCollough [send private message]

Biography

Joseph was born 9 July 1747 to Zebulon Sutton and and unknown mother (said to be Mary Doty but no evidence has been found- see research notes.)

Sergeant Joseph Sutton served with Morris County Militia, New Jersey Militia during the American Revolution.

Joseph Sutton is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 300564
Rank: Sergeant

Joseph Sutton is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A111362.

He performed military service in the Revolutionary War:

• Private, under Captain Platt Bailey;
• Corporal and Sergeant
  • 1776 under Captain McCoy
  • 1777, three months as Sergeant under Captain McCoy and Colonel Frelinghuysen at battles of Ash Swamp, Short Hills and Bound Brook
• Also PVT, CPL, Morris County Militia ^[1]

He married Martha Pierson, a widow with two children, in 1778. Martha, offers a snapshot of their life together in sworn testimony in 1836 in support of her application for Widow's benefits:

"Joseph Sutton, my decd.. husband, was born July 9 1747. I was married to him on the 14th April, 1778, at Hanover, Morris County, by Rev. Wm,, Elmer of Turkey. Soon after our marriage, we removed near to Baskinidge in Morris Township, & County & moved then to Mendham in Morris County, where we had a family of children, viz: 6 sons & 3 daughters all of whom are now living.

"I was a widow before my marriage to Joseph Sutton. My first husband was James Pierson, & we lived till his death & till after my marriage to Joseph Sutton, in Hanover aforesaid. Joseph Sutton died at Mendham, on the 8th day of November, 1822, of the Dysentery. The dates of births, marriages & death before referred to, are taken from a family bible record, now in my posession. ^[2]

Much can be learned about others' (including his brother's) recollections of his service in the multiple documents attached to the above application. (I will add more info here as I study those documents.)

The following is quoted from Genealogical Notes of the Sutton Family of New Jersey, 1900, pg 43-44:
"JOSEPH 4 (Zebulon', Daniel 2, William 1)
Noted by Stryker ("Officers and Men of New
Jersey," page 471) as sergeant of militia. There
is record of his· serving during Washington's
retreat through New Jersey in 1776, at the battle
of Monmouth, at Springfield, at Connecticut
Farms, and when the Pennsylvania line revolted
in 1781. He lived in Mendham Township, Morris
County, N. J., near Basking Ridge in Somerset.
His farm is still in possession (sic) of his descendants.
He married, April 14, 1778, Martha Pierson. He
died November 8, 1822.
CHILDREN:

1. Uriah. b. March 27, 1779.
2. Shadrach, b. March 25, 1781.
3. Rebecca, b. June 2, 1783.
4. Jonathan, b. Feb 18, 1787.
5. Elizabeth, b. June 19, 1789.
6. Martha, b. Sept. 27, 1792.
7. James, b. July 4, 1796.
8. Joseph P, b. Nov. 9, 1798."

^[3] Some of the dates are slightly off compared to Martha's bible records, which has both Uriah and Shadrach born March 28 in their respective years, and Jonathan born Feb 13th.

While Martha reported having six sons with Joseph Sutton, the main body of the list of children has only five, however, listed at the top of the page in another hand is "Henry William was born April 16 in the year of our Lord 1788." It appears that this is the sixth son.

When Joseph died of dysentery in 1822 at the age of 75, he was buried at Hilltop Cemetery, Mendham, Morris County, New Jersey, United States of America. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ SAR Patriot Index Edition III (CD: PP2210, Progeny Publ., 2002) plus data to 2004 Pension number W872 Records of the Revolutionary War Office at Adjutant General State House, Trenton, NJ, Mss. Nol 872 - Joseph Sutton
2. ↑ Military: "U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900"
   Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1995 #58908 (accessed 25 July 2022)
   Name: Joseph Sutton; Application State: New Jersey; Applicant Designation: Widow's Pension Application File; Second Applicant Name: Martha Sutton; Second Applicant Pension Year: 1841; Second Applicant Application State: New Jersey; Archive Publication Number: M804; Archive Roll Number: 2325; Total Pages in Packet: 35. Family Bible Record included in documents
3. ↑ , Sutton, Edward F.H., "Genealogical Notes of the Sutton Family of New Jersey" Printed for Private Circulation, Printer and Publisher: T.A. Wright, New York, 1900, page 20-22 Digital Copy of Book with handwritten notes by EF Sutton
4. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #5883755 (accessed 28 July 2022)
   Memorial page for Joseph S Sutton (Jul 1747-8 Nov 1822), citing Hilltop Cemetery, Mendham, Morris County, New Jersey, USA (plot: Section 1); Maintained by Keeper of the Stars (contributor 47216601).

Research Notes

SAR Database mix-up- Two Joseph Suttons SAR database lists Joseph's wife's name as Mary Betson. (EDITED: This has been corrected. His wife is listed as Mary Pierson now, However, the name is not listed as Martha. I do not know what documentation was used to determine this.)

• Joseph Sutton (Willliam, John, James?) b 1762 in Sussex, NJ was married to Mary Batson(?) and died 24 Feb 1836 in Warren County. Buried at the Old Presbyterian Churchyard there. He would have been 14 years old in 1776. While he appears to have served, and is listed as a private in the 3rd Regt Hunterdon Co, on his VA marker, it appears the SAR has mixed up this Joseph Sutton (William, John, James?) with Joseph S. Sutton (William, Daniel, Zebulon,) born 1747, d 1822.

• The SAR database appears to have listed Joseph S Sutton's (William, Daniel, Zebulon) service record, residenc, and birth and death dates, but Joseph Sutton's (Willliam, John, James?) wife. It appears that Joseph Sutton's (Willliam, John, James?) descendants may have been admitted to the SAR claiming descendance from Joseph S Sutton (William, Daniel, Zebulon.) More research is needed.

• I wonder if this is why poor Martha had to work so hard to get her Widow's pension. Could the two have been mixed up even back then?) I will continue to research.

Disputed Mother: The Elusive - and Unlikely - Mayflower Connection Claims have been made that Joseph's mother, Mary, was actually Mary Doty, descendant of Mayflower Pilgrim Edward Doty. This is unsupported and appears unlikely therefore I have removed her as his mother. See her profile for in-depth discussion of this.

"Genealogical Notes of the Sutton Family of New Jersey" by Edward FH Sutton, speculates that Zebulon's wife Mary, who he married about 1731, was the daughter of Jonathan Doty, and descended form Mayflower Pilgrim Edward Doty via his son, Samuel. Mary Doty The claim was later adjusted to reflect she was the daughter of James Doty.