Joseph Beardsley1,2,3

M, b. October 1634, d. between 19 April 1712 and 4 May 1712
FatherWilliam Beardsley b. c 1605, d. b 6 Jul 1661
MotherMary Harvey b. c 5 Jun 1605, d. a 6 Jul 1661
     Joseph was born in October 1634 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England. On 2 April 1635, Joseph left London with his parents aboard the ship, "Planter", under the command of Captain Nicholas Trerice, enroute for New England. Before being permited to board, his father, William, had to present his certificate from the minister of St. Albans in Hertfordshire and attestations from the justices of peace according to the Lords order. Among the passengers listed on the ship were William Beadsley aged 30 years, Mrs. Mary Beadsley aged 26 years, Mary aged 4 years, John aged 2 years, Joseph aged 6 months. The ship arrived at Boston the 7th of June..4 He first settled, with his parents, in Massachusetts. In 1639, his family settled in Cupheag [in 1643 became known as Stratford, Connecticut]. This was fourteen miles from New Haven, 58 miles from New York City & a mile & half from the Long Island Sound. He became very fond of the water, however, his father did not like this & left the provision in his will that his son's large inheritance was conditional on his leaving the sea & marrying. Acccording to his father;s will, if he were to marry, leave his life as a seaman & care for his mother, he would receive 1/2 of his property at Stratford.5 Joseph married in 1665 probably in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. The name of his bride is not known.6 In 1668, he is on the list of the Stratford inhabitants. In 1671, he is listed on the tax roles of the White Hills purchase in Stratford.2 In December of 1676, Joseph was elected & took the Oath of the Pounderd in Stratford.7 On 20 September 1693, Joseph Beardsley Sr. joined the Congregational Church of Stratford & resided there until his death.8 Joseph departed this life between 19 April 1712 and 4 May 1712 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.9 The inventory of Joseph's estate was taken on Sunday, 29 May 1712. His estate was vslued at 782 pounds, 7 shillings, 6 pence.

Important Notes: ..... .Abigail Dayton, daughter of Ralph Dayton & Dorothy Brewster, has been noted in several sources as the wife of Joseph Beardsley. Some sources also have him with a Phebe Dayton as his wife.
[NOTE: Stephen Dayton, author of Our Long Island Ancestors, The First Six Generations in America 1639-1807, has done extensive research on the Dayton family & finds no Abigail as a daughter of Ralph & no Dorothy Brewster as a wife of Ralph. At this time, the name of Joseph's wife is not known. klm 4/03/2016]

..... In August 1664, Joseph Beardsley was on record as residing in Brookhaven & took the oath of freeman in 1668. Joseph Beardsley exchanged July 31, 1684, he being then in Brookhaven, L.I. with Andrew Gibb - "all his possessions in Stratford for Mr. Gibb's homestead in Brookhaven". Joseph of Brookhaven died in December of 1684 in Brookhaven.
NOTE: Joseph Beardsley, son of William & Mary, appears on several records in Stratford & died there in 1712. The Joseph Beardsley of Brookhaven died in December of 1684 without a will. His estate was divided between Hannah Beardsley, wife of Richard Huls[e, & Mary Beardsley, wife Abraham Dayton. These two women are thought to be Joseph's sisters or more likely his nieces. The sisters are children of Thomas & Elizabeth [Harvey] Beardsley of Stratford. Thomas died in Stratford in 1667 & Elizabeth married 2nd Samuel Dayton of Brookhaven and removed there. Joseph Beardsley, son of William & Marry, who died in Stratford & the Joseph Beardsley who died in Brookhaven were two different men named Joseph Beardsley - most likely related. - klm 4/03/2016]
Stephen Dayton has shared a great deal of his research with us & has given a lot of help in solving these Baardsley issues. We are most grateful.10

Family
Children

Citations

  1. [S25] Isaac Haight Beardsley, Genealogical History of the Beardsly/lee Family In America, pages 18, 23-24.
  2. [S271] Nellie Beardslee Judson Holt, Beardsley Genealogy, page 7.
  3. [S17] Donald Lines Jacobus, History & Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Volume I: page 47.
  4. [S735] , The Planter of London, Nicholas Trerice master, She sailed from London April 1635 and arrived at Boston June 7, 1635. The following have brought certificate from the minister of St. Albans in Hertfordshire and attestations from the justices of peace according to the Lords order. William Beadsley 30, Mrs. Mary Beadsley 26, Mary 4, John 2, Joseph 6 months.
  5. [S1818] Reverend Samuel Orcutt, A History of the Old Town of Stratford & the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, page 1131 - His father left him half of his estate, after other pequests, provided he leave the life of a seaman & take care of his mother. He complied so far as to secure the property, which he exchanged July 31, 1684, he being then in Brookhaven, L.I. with Andrew Gibb - "all his possessions in Stratford for Mr. Gibbs homestead in Brookhaven".
    [NOTE: The part about exchanging his land in Stratford for some in Brookhaven concerns another Joseph Beardsley, probably a son of Thomas Beardsley. Joseph, son of William & Mary, remained in Stratford. - klm 4/03/2016]
  6. [S506] Note: Several sources have stated Joseph's wife to be Abigail Dayton, daughter of Ralph & Dorothy [Brewster] Dayton - Ralph neither had a daughter, Abigail nor a wife, Dorothy Brewster. Also, the name Phebe Dayton has been given as her name - that too is wrong. - klm 4/03/2016.
  7. [S1817] William Wilcoxson, History of Stratford, Connecticut: 1639-1939, page 235 - The Oath of the Pounders was truely a solem one. Benjamin Peak & Joseph Beardsley were elected to this office in December 1676, ...
  8. [S1809] Donald Lines Jacobus, Stratford, [Conn ] Congrdegational Church Records, page 271 - Members Added To The Church of Christ since 1675.
  9. [S506] Note: The Stratford records list no date for his death but it is found recorded between those dated 19 Aapril & 4 May 1712.
  10. [S1818] Reverend Samuel Orcutt, A History of the Old Town of Stratford & the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, page 1131 - His father left him half of his estate, after other pequests, provided he leave the life of a seaman & take care of his mother. He complied so far as to secure the property, which he exchanged July 31, 1684, he being then in Brookhaven, L.I. with Andrew Gibb - "all his possessions in Stratford for Mr. Gibbs homestead in Brookhaven".