Joseph Atwood

JOSEPH ATWOOD (c. 1685–by 1738), son of Stephen Atwood and Apphia Bangs

BETHIAH CROWELL (1689–1752, daugher of John Crowell and Bethiah Sears

Joseph Atwood was born about 1685 in Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. [1] He married Bethiah Crowell on 12 October 1710. [2]

Bethiah Crowell, the daughter of John and Bethiah (Sears) Crowell, was born on 13 April 1689 in North Dennis, Barnstable County. [2] She died on 2 January 1752, age 62, and is buried in the Cove Burying Ground in Eastham. [3]

Inventory on the estate of Joseph Atwood, yeoman of Eastham, was taken on 20 and 21 Mar 1737/8. It included 800 pounds woth of real estate. His widow Bethiah was to get one-third and the rest was to be divided between his children Nathaniel, Bethiah, Hannah, Mary, Joseph, Joshua, Elisha, John and Abigail, with Nathaniel receiving a double share. [1]

Children of Joseph Atwood and Bethiah Crowell: The first nine recorded in Eastham. [4]

i. Bangs Atwood was born on 1 January 1711. He died in 1717. [2]

ii. Nathaniel Atwood was born on 18 April 1713. He died on 28 March 1769, age 55, and is buried in the Bridge Road Cemetery in Eastham. [5] He married first Abigail Stephens of Eastham after 7 January 1735/6 (intention in Eastham). [6] Abigail was the daughter of Richard and Abigail (Treat) Stephens. [7] She died on 6 October 1760. [2] She is buried in the Bridge Road Cemetery. [5] Nathaniel married second Priscilla Freeman of Eastham after 9 April 1761 (intention in Eastham). [2] Priscilla, the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Paine) Freeman, was born on 7 December 1725. [2] She married second John Doane on 19 November 1772 in Eastham. [6]

Nathaniel wrote his will on 4 February 1769. [7]

iii. Bethiah Atwood was born on 26 March 1715. She died on 9 March 1789, age 74, and is buried in the Cove Burying Ground in Eastham. [8] She married Colonel Willard Knowles on 10 May 1733. [2]

iv. Hannah Atwood was born on 14 December 1716. She married William Freeman, the son of William and Mercy (Pepper) Freeman, on 8 June 1736. [2] William was born on 12 May 1715 in Harwich. [9] He died in 1740/1. [9]

v. Mary Atwood was born on 15 November 1718. She married Nathan, the son of Nathan and Rebecca (Snow) Young, in 1738. [2] Nathan was born on 22 January 1713/4 and died in 1765. [7]

On 19 November 1760 Nathaniel Atwood, yeoman of Eastham, acting for Nathan Young, mariner of Eastham, sold some of Nathan's land to pay Nathan's debts. The deed was signed by Nathaniel Atwood and Mary Young. [1]

Nathan and Mary apparently moved to Dutchess County, New York. [7]

vi. Captain Joseph Atwood was born on 19 February 1720/1. He died on 18 February 1794, age 72, and is buried in the Chatham Old Burying Ground in Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts. [10] He married Deborah Sears, the daughter of Captain Daniel Sears and Sarah Howes, after 14 April 1742 (intention). [2] Deborah died on 6 January 1796, age 73, and is buried in Chatham Old Burying Ground. [10]

Joseph was probably a loyalist. [2] He was a shipmaster. [11] Joseph Atwood, mariner of Chatham, bought land from the heirs of Elisha Hopkins on 17 September 1745. [1]

vii. Joshua Atwood was born 27 October 1722. He on married first Mary Knowles. He married second the widow Kenney.

viii. Elisha Atwood (possible son, parents not named) was born on 25 April 1725. He married Abigail Freeman, the daughter of John and Tamsin (Sears) Freeman, on 29 August 1751. [2]

ix. John Atwood was born on 7 February 1726/7.

x. Abigail Atwood was born on 1729/30. [2] She married James Knowles, the son of James Knowles and Ann Doane, on 8 June 1749. [2]

References

1. Alicia Crane Williams, "Stephen Wood alias Atwood of Eastham, Massachusetts," Mayflower Descendant 46 (1996), 131–6; 47 (1997), 33–40, 123–30, specifically vol. 47: 34–35, 125.

2. New Englanders in Nova Scotia, manuscript, R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic and Genealogical Society, online database, American Ancestors, 8–9.

3. "Bethiah Crowell Atwood," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28557978/bethiah-atwood). Her gravestone says, "Here lies the body of Mrs. Bethiah Atwood wife of Mr. Joseph Atwood died Janry2d 1752 in the 63 year of her age."

4. "Eastham and Orleans, Mass., Vital Records," Mayflower Descendant 8: 12–13, except for Elisha, as the children of Joseph and Bethiah.

5. "Nathaniel Atwood," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15871634/nathaniel-atwood). His inscription says, "In Memory of Mr. Nathaniel Atwood of Eastham Died March the 28 1769 in the 56 Year of his Age.""Abigail Atwood," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14565534/abigail-atwood). Her inscription says, "In Memory of Mrs. Abigail Atwood wife to Mr. Nathaniel Atwood who died Octr the 6th A.D. 1760 in the 46 Year of her Age."

6. "Eastham and Orleans Vital Records," Mayflower Descendant 27: 106; 28: 178; 32: 175.

7. Elijah Francis Atwood, Ye Atte Wode Annals (Sisselton, SD: Atwood Publishing Co., 1928), 11.

8. "Bethiah Atwood Knowles," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28557978/bethiah-atwood). Her inscription says, "In memory of Mrs. Bethiah Knowles wife of Willard Knowles who departed this life March 9th 1789 in the 75th year of her age."

9. New Englanders in Nova Scotia, 159.

10. "Joseph Atwood," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38160946/joseph-atwood). His inscriptions says, "In Memory of Capt Joseph Atwood who died Febry 18th 1794 inthe 73d Year of his Age." "Deborah Sears Attwood," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38638246/deborah-attwood). Her inscription says, "In Memory of Mrs. Deborah Attwood wife of Capt Joseph Attwood Departed this Life Jany 6 1796 in the 74th Year of her Age."

11. No author, Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts, vol. 3 (Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1912), 1334.

last revised 25-Oct-2020