Josiah Taft (1709 - 1756)

Born 2 Apr 1709 in Mendon, Worcester, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Lydia (Chapin) Taft — married 28 Dec 1731 in Mendon, Worcester, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 30 Sep 1756 at age 47 in Uxbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts

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Biography

Birth

Josiah Taft was born at Mendon, Massachusetts on April 2, 1709, son of Daniel and Lydia (Chapin) Taft. ^{[1] [2]}

• 1740-49: 51-55: Served as Town Clerk. ^[3]
• 1746: 48-50: 52-56: Selectman. ^[3]
• 1746: 52-56: Town Moderator. ^[3]
• 1753: Representative for Uxbridge in the Massachusetts General Court. ^[3]

Military

• 1754: Ensign. ^[3]
• 1755: Lieutenant. ^[3]
• 1756: Captain. ^[3]

Marriage

He married Lydia Chapin at Mendon on December 28, 1731. She was born there on February 2, 1711, daughter of Seth and Bethiah (Thurston) Chapin. ^{[1] [2]}

Death

Josiah died at Uxbridge, Massachusetts on September 30, 1756. ^{[4] [2]}

In the appraisal of Josiah's estate, his extensive land holdings were valued at L1779 12s, of which L507 6s 8 d, had already been deeded to eldest son Josiah. ^[5]

In the estate settlement, widow Lydia was given one third share, and the remainder went to the surviving children:

• eldest son Josiah
• youngest son Bezaleel
• only daughter Chloe ^[5]

His widow Lydia died in her 67th year on November 9, 1778. ^[4]

Children

1. Josiah born on May 10, 1733 ; died August 18, 1761; married Lydia Taft of Mendon on June 11, 1755. ^{[4] [2]}
2. Ebenezer born on August 20, 1735; died on October 16, 1735. ^[4][2]
3. Caleb born on January 15, 1738/9; died at Harvard College on September 19, 1756. ^{[4] [2]}
4. Asahael born on April 23, 1740 ^{[4] [2]}; not mentioned in the his father's estate settlement. ^[5]
5. Joel born on August 15, 1742; died on December 23, 1745. ^{[4] [2]}
6. Joel born on February 19, 1747/8 died on August 30, 1749. ^{[4] [2]}
7. Bezaleel born on November 3, 1750; died at the age of 88 on June 21, 1839; married first Abigail Taft, in Mendon, on December 17, 1772: married second Sarah Richardson on January 2, 1777. ^{[4] [2]}
8. Chloe born on June 7, 1753. ^{[4] [2]}

Research notes

Mendon Births

Taft, Josiah, s. of Dan][e]ll and Ledia, Apr. 2, 1709. (p. 168)

Chapin, Lydiah, d. Seth and Bethiah, Feb. 2, 1711. (p. 44)

Mendon Marriages

Taft, Josiah and Lydia Chapin, Dec. 28, 1731. (p. 397) ^[1]

Uxbridge Births

Taft, Josiah s. of Josiah and Lydia, May 10, 1733. (p. 155)

Taft, Ebenezer s. of Josiah and Lydia, Aug. 20, 1735. (p. 151)

Taft, Caleb s. of Josiah and Lydia, Jan. 15, 1738-9. (p. 150)

Taft, Asahael s. of Josiah and Lydia, Apr. 23, 1740. (p. 149)

Taft, Joel s. of Josiah and Lydia, Aug. 15, 1742. (p. 155)

Taft, Joel s. of Josiah and Lydia, Feb. 19, 1747-8. (p. 155)

Taft, Bezaleel s. of Josiah and Lydia, Nov. 3, 1750. (p. 150)

Taft, Chloa d. of Josiah and Lydia, June 7, 1753. (p. 150)

Uxbridge Marriages

Taft, Josiah and Lydia Taft of Mendon, in Mendon, June 11, 1755 . (p. 317)

Taft, Barzillai and Abigail Taft, in Mendon, Dec. 17, 1772. (p. 313)

Taft, Bezaleel and Sarah Richardson, Jan. 2, 1777. (p. 313)

Uxbridge Deaths

Taft, Josiah, Capt. Sept. 30, 1756. (p. 406)

Taft, Lydia, w. of Capt. Josiah, Nov. 9, 1778, in her 67th y. (p. 407)

Taft, Joel, s. of Josiah and Lydia, Dec. 23, 1745, in his 4th y. (p. 406)

Taft, Ebenezer, s. Josiah and Lydia, Oct. 16, 1735. (p. 405)

Taft, Joel, s. of Josiah and Lydia, Aug. 30, 1749. (p. 406)

Taft, Caleb, Sept. 19, 1756. (p. 404)

Taft, Josiah, Aug. 18, 1761. (p. 406)

Taft, Bezaleel June 21, 1839, a. 88 y. 7 m. Revolutionary soldier. GR1. (p. 404) ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Baldwin, Thomas, compiler. Vital records of Mendon, Massachusetts, to the year 1850. NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 1920
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Chapin Family Association. The Chapin Book of Genealogical Data: With Brief Biographical Sketches, of the Descendants of Deacon Samuel Chapin, Volume 1, Hartford, Connecticut, 1924 p. 101: 302-3
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Schultz, John A. Legislators of the Massachusetts General Court, 1691-1780: A Biographical Dictionary, Northeastern University Press, Boston, Massachusetts, 1997, p. 353
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10} Baldwin, Thomas, compiler. Vital Records of Uxbridge, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 1916
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Case 57945: p. 1-25: Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)

See also:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Taft
• "The Taft Family Gathering, Proceedings at the Meeting of the Taft Family at Uxbridge, Mass., August 12, 1874." Spencer Brothers, Book and Job Printers, Uxbridge, Compendium Office. 1874. p. 46.see at archive.org