FATHER

Moses Cleaveland

MOTHER

Ann Winn

WIFE

Mary Bates

CHILDREN

1. Josiah Cleavelan   
    b. 7 Oct 1690
    m. 7 Aug 1710 Abigail Paine
    d. 9 Feb 1749/50

2. Joseph Cleaveland
    b. 16 Jun 1692

3. Mary Cleaveland
    b. 17 Mar 1693/4
    m. 30 Jan 1716 Richard Smith
    d. 11 Oct 1742

4. John Cleaveland
    b. 28 Jun 1696

5. Jonathan Cleaveland
    b. Mar 1698
    d. 5 Apr 1698

6. Henry Cleaveland
    b. 22 Dec 1699

7. Jonathan Cleaveland
    b. Abt. 1701

8. Rachel Cleaveland
    b. Abt. 1703

9. Lydia Cleaveland
    b. 7 Dec 1704

10. Deliverance Cleaveland
    b. 13 Jul 1707

11. Abiel Cleaveland
    b. 9 Oct 1709

Josiah Cleaveland
by Chase Brooke
Feb 2021

Josiah Cleaveland, eighth child of Moses and Ann (Winn) Cleaveland, was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, February 26, 1666-7.  (1) He married Mary Bates probably in 1689 in Chelmsford. There is no record of the marriage, but her father named her as his daughter "Mary Cleaveland" in his will of 1722. (2)  Josiah Cleaveland is reported have served in the Indian Wars in 1688-9 and was listed in 1691 in the garrison of the West Regiment of  Middlesex in Chelmsford, living with his family. (3)  In 1693 he went to Connecticut, and in 1699 was one of the petitioners to the general court for the organization of the town of Plainfield.   Plainfield was split in half by the Quinebaug River making it very difficult for the west side settlers, like Josiah Cleaveland, to go to church on the east side. In Jun 1701 the committee recommended that a church be established on the west side. In 1703 the west side became the town of Canterbury. (4)  He died in Canterbury, Connecticut, April 26, 1709. He had eight children at that time, the oldest Josiah was 19 years old.  His wife, Mary, was pregnant with his 9th child.  Abiel was born five months after his death. (5) Josiah died intestate with his wife Mary receiving 1/3 of all his estate.  His children received in money and land and other assets the remaining 2/3rds distributed as follows: Josiah, the eldest son, received £47.  The rest of the children each received £23. The children named in 1720 were: Mary Smith, eldest daughter, Rachel Cleaveland, 2nd daughter, Joseph, 2nd son, John, 3rd son, Henry, 4th son, Deliverance, youngest son, Lydia, third daughter, and Abiel the youngest daughter.(6)
His daughter, Mary Smith, received her share in 1719.  The rest received their shares in 1720.  Lydia was still underage.  Her guardian had been her brother, John Cleaveland, but he died in 1718 and in Dec 1719 she chose her brother Joseph as her guardian.

Sources

(1) Woburn Vital Records fhl film 859998 image 18

(2) Will of John Bates
Middlesex Probate Records fhl film 521773 image 235

(3) New England Historical and Genealogical Register vol 43 pg. 373

The following is a copy of an ancient document owned by the New Hampshire Historical Society, which was probably presented to the Society many years ago by the late John Farmer.

There were nineteen garrisons at Chelmsford, as shown by the following list:
Settlement of the Garrison in the West Regiment of Middlesex.
Chelmsford March 16, 1691/2

"Nathaniel Hill and with him Sergeant Samuel Fletcher
Josiah Cleaveland and their families
7 men"

(4) History of Windham County by Ellen D Larned, 1974  fhl fillm 1000153 image 72-74

Josiah Cleaveland was appointed  a member of the Quinebaug Land Committee.  "They had neither roads, bridges, mills, schools, meeting-house or record-book, and even the arrangement for religious services had not been carried out faithfully.  Plainfield was only fordable at low water and was as times impassable."  The committee recommended on 13 Jun 1701 that a church be established for the west settlers.

(5) Barber Collection, Canterbury

(6) Connecticut Probate Records

Receipt for Josiah Cleaveland, Jr. 31 Mar 1720

Inventory of Josiah Cleaveland, Sr. listing ages of children 23 May 1709