FATHER

Josiah Cleaveland

MOTHER

Mary Bates

WIFE

Abigail Paine

CHILDREN

1. Kesiah Cleaveland b. 26 Nov 1711

2. Josiah Cleaveland b. 04 Apr 1713

3. Abigail Cleaveland b. 03 Jun 1715

4. Eliisha Cleaveland b. 07 Jan 1715-16

5. Lois Cleaveland b. 11 Dec 1718

6. Mary Cleaveland b. 29 Jun 1720

7. John Cleaveland b. 11 Apr 1722

8. Lydia Cleaveland b. 16 Feb 1723-24

9. Ebenezer Cleaveland b. 25 Dec 1725

10. Aaron Cleaveland b. 27 Nov 1727

11. Moses Cleaveland b. 18 Apr 1730

Josiah Cleaveland
by Chase Brooke
Feb 2021

Josiah Cleaveland was born on 7 Oct 1690 in Chelmsford, MA, the oldest son of Josiah Cleaveland and Mary Bates. (1) He was married 7 Aug 1710 in Canterbury, CT to Abigail Paine. (2) There is a record in the Connecticut Church Records of their admission to the Canterbury First Congregational Church on 22 Feb 1713. (3)  In 1721 they signed a petition requesting a new church closer to where they lived. (4)  He wrote his will 28 Nov 1750 naming his wife Abigail and children: Keziah Morse, eldest son Josiah, daughter Abigail Adams, son Eisha, dughter Mary Bradford, son John, son Ebenezer, son Aaron and grandson Benjamin. In his will he bequeathed his portion in the ownership of the church and £200 to be used for their needs. (5)  He died 9 Feb 1751 (6) and the estate was probated 5 Mar 1751.

Sources

(1) Town Records Chelmsford, MA 1650-1780 fhl film 868435 image 206

(2) Canterbury Vital Records fhl film 1378163 image 336

(3) Connecticut Church Records  Canterbury First Congregational Church 1711-1821 Copied by Mrs. J. L. Raymond, pg 40
"Abigail & her h. Josiah, adm. ch. Feb 22, 1713"

(4) History of Windham County by Ellen D Larned, 1974  fhl fillm 1000153 image 124

About twenty families had gathered in the south part of Pomfret by 1720.  Their position was somewhat peculiar. A distinct, independent township lay between them and the main settlement, and had to be traversed by them on their way to public worship, town-meetings and trainings.  The long journey over rough roads, which they had not the power to mend or alter, was "exceedingly difficult and next to impossible, and children were compelled a great part of the year to tarry at home on the Lord's day."  ---  In May 1721, the following petition was presented to the Assembly, from the inhabitants north of Canterbury and south of Pomfret, showing,

"That your memorialists are settled upon a tract of land three or four miles wide and seven miles long, which, until late years, was never circumscribed within the bounds of any town, now divided between the two towns. That the families of said memorialists having grown more numerous than formerly, find it exceedingly difficult and next to impossible to attend worship with their families at the usual places, having many miles to travel, which, especially in the winter, is attended with great difficulty.  That having been blessed by God in their outward circumstances, and in some good degree capable of taking care of themselves, and though a considerable charge to invite and settle an orthodox minister, yet the care of our children and families so requiring, your memorialists shall, with the greatest cheerfulness comply with the charge, and, therefore, pray that the inhabitants dwelling between the ancient lines of the said towns of Canterbury and Pomfret may b a separate parish or precinct of preaching, as soon as they obtain a gospel minister to preach."

(5) Winham Probate Records fhl film 5442 image 216

"I give to my son Aaron Cleaveland £500 in bills of credit of the old tenor to be paid within five years after my decease. I give also my said son Aaron a tract of land adjoining to his south line on the west side of the country road in said Canterbury lying in form as parallelogram or long square bounding east on said road and bounding north on Daron's land.

"I will and bequeath to ye church in Canterbury to whom I now belong called The Congregational Church my whole part of ye separate meeting house and land adjoining thereto belonging to said church being 1/8th part thereof with £200 in bills of credit old tenor to be paid to deacon Obadiah Johnson within six years after my decease for the use of said church forever."

(6) Canterbury Vital Records fhl film 1378163 image 344