Josiah II Hulett
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: Abt 1743 - Killingley, Windham, Connecticut
Christening:
Death: 1834 - Sandisfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN #:
Parents
Father: Josiah Hulett (1707- )
Mother: Lydia ( - )
Spouses and Children
1. *Elizabeth (Abt 1741 - 4 Mar 1832)
Marriage:
Status:
Children:
1. Selah Hulett (Bef 1775- )
2. Phoebe Hulett (Bef 1775- )
3. Obadiah Hulett (Bef 1775-1855)
4. Percis (Percy) Hulett (1782- )
5. Azuba (Ruba) Hulett (1785- )
6. Betsey (Eunice) Hulett (1787- )
7. Josiah III Hulett (1791- )
Notes
General:
By the 1760's Connecticut farming communities were crowded with big families on shrinking farms. Their land was also tired. For the Hulet's opportunity lay to the west but still relatively close to their roots. So several of Michael's grandsons packed up and headed for teh Berkshires adn Vermont to establish new farms.
In 27 Dec 1777, Phillip Hopkins of the Rhode Island Colony sold to Josiah Hulet and his wife Elizabeth a "tract of land of 80 acres in Killingly" for the sum of "two hunded forty pounds of lawful money". Less than two years later, on Nov 13, 1779, Josiah re-sold this parcel for "1000 pounds lawful money toSimeon Wheaton of Swansea of the Masachusetts Bay." Josiah signed his name while Elizabeth made her "X" mark.
In Berkshire County, Nov 14, 1780, Josiah, and Lemuel Howe of Great Barrington, sold to David Chapman of Norwhich, Ct, a tract of land in Grat Barrington for 480 pounds. Bernard mentions that some of the people of Killingly made out by land speculation.
On Apr 19, 1784, Amos Hutchinson of Sandisfield sold to "Josiah Huletof 'Newmalbrow' a lotof 65 acres in the 'Beach Plain' for 'one hundred fifty pounds lawful money.'. This was the homestead lot. In 1796 Josiah purchased an adjacent parcel from Waite Robbins of Wethersfield, Connecticut for 'one hundred fifty dolars cash' thereby expanding the family farm to atleast 120 acres.
Bernard bought the farm; his essay is a history of the property. He was impressed that the house was very well made, and built to last. A laboratory analysis of the cut nails in the house, shows the house was built by 1790. Machine made nail technology was introduced in the late 18th century, and new machines and processes and improvments were frequent, quickly making existing nails obsolete. So apparently to date a nail one just looks it up in the company records?
With his adult son Obadiah, Josiah built his house on the east side of Cold Spring Rd., then a narrow dirt path albeit an important passage for farm wagons in the Beech Plain.
Except for Betsey, who may have gone to Vermont, nothing is known of what happened to the girls (that Bernard found). They were all lviing in 1828 when Josiah Sr made out his will. Bernard wonders if they joined the communal religious sects that were growing rapidly at that time. However the record is rich with information about Josiah Sr and sons Obadiah and Josiah Jr.
In April 1828 Josiah Sr. made his last will and testament. He bequeathed his real and personal estate except for furniture and bedding, to his son, Josiah, on the condition that he care for his mother. He willed to sons Obadiah and Silias (Maybe Josiah Jr.?) $150 each. Similar amounts to each of his dathgers, adn "to Horace Hulet Twenty Dollars."