First Generation

1. Josiah ROOT (*) was born on 14 December 1756 in Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America.^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15} (Tolland is approximately 20 miles northeast of Hartford, CT.)

This is a picture of Josiah's gravestone in the Middle Village Cemetery. The stone was laid by the Daughters of the American Revolution and contains the following inscription:

Josiah Root
Connecticut
General Arnold's Regt
Rev War 1815

"The Root name is believed to be of Teutonic origin, derived from the German word 'Rot,' meaning 'red' or 'ruddy,' and the old Saxon word 'rod,' defined as 'cheerful.'

In ancient English and early American records, Root has been spelled Rote, Roote, Rootes, and Roots. Regarded as an emblem of family rather than nationality, the use of the coat of arms in many families continued after the Revolutionary War. The coat of arms bearing the Root name contains three red lozenges on a gold shield and a tree proper for the crest. The wreath is of red and gold twists. The motto 'Reviresco' means 'I flourish again.'" (From the book "A Branch of the Root Family" by Hazel Esther Drake, March 1948 and Alice Drake Grow, March 1979.)

The furthest back that we have been able to trace our branch of the Root family is to this Josiah Root, who was born in 1756. Josiah's birth place is not known for certain, but it is stated in his wife's Revolutionary War pension application to have been Tolland, Connecticut. The 1880 Census for his son John listed it as New York, but the LDS FamilySearch Family Group Record and the research of Joe Price list it as Tolland.

According to Josiah's wife's widow's pension application, "She understands from him and heard him say ... (unreadable) that he was from Tolland in the State of Connecticut...." It is not known whether that was his birthplace or just the place where he lived when he enlisted to serve in the Revolutionary War.

At the time that he was born, Tolland was a part of Windham County. According to Everton's Handybook, Tolland County was not formed until 1785, and Connecticut did not become a state until 1788.

There were no Root families listed in the 1790 Census for Tolland Township, so his parents may never have lived there, may have moved, or may have died before then. Based on information from Janice Maine, the church historian at the First Baptist Church in Springfield Center, where Josiah eventually lived, his parents' names would have been Ira and Lucinda if Josiah and Experience followed the naming convention of the Baptist Church at that time.

The 1790 Census for Pittstown, Albany (later Rensselaer) County, NY--where Josiah lived before moving to Springfield Township in 1787--contains two families by the name of Root. The household of David Root consisted of 1 male, age 16 and upward; and 3 females. The household of William Root consisted of 1 male, age 16 and upward; 3 males, under age 16; and 4 females. Neither David nor William could have been Josiah's father, because he was reportedly an only child (see Kate Gray article below). But they may have been uncles or other relatives.

In the Town Clerk's Records of Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY, there was an assignment in April 1798 of township duties of Constable to a Stephen Root. Josiah lived in Springfield Township at the same time, and it is not known if Stephen was related to him. He was not one of Josiah's sons or a brother, but he may have been a nephew or cousin. Stephen is listed in the 1800 Census for Springfield Township as a male, age 16-26, so he was about 25 years younger than Josiah.

The records of the First Baptist Church in Springfield Center also list a Martin Root as a member between 1799 and 1802. His possible relationship to Josiah is also unknown.

Excerpts from "The History of Springfield" by Kate Gray, 1935: Gen. James Clinton Chapter No. 640, DAR. "Prominent Early Baptists" pp. 100-102 -- "JOSIAH ROOT" (Comments of Gary Griggs in parentheses)

"A hand written article in the possession of Josiah Root's descendants reads as follows: 'Josiah Root's ancestors came from Scotland and he enlisted in the Continental army before the Declaration of Independence; first under General Arnold who took his army from near Boston in the fall and winter up through Maine on the Kennebec river, where they suffered extremely, were starved to death - toasted old shoes to maintain their lives. They fought battles at Quebec and were taken prisoners. Suffered hunger and ill treatment to that extent that could and did slip the hand cuffs they were compelled to wear over their hands when their keepers were absent. They were exchanged and he served in the army four or five years after. Never tried to get pay for being in army and did not receive anything, though his widow received a pension land warrant and monthly pension. Josiah Root died in eighteen hundred and fifteen and was buried in the Middle Village burying ground. Josiah was the only child of his parents.

'Josiah Root and Experience Root, the parents of John Root and grandparents of John B. Root, were of Scotland parentage, came to Springfield from Pittstown in Rensselaer county, New York, in the year seventeen eighty-seven in month of May, by way of Cherry Valley with wagon and to Mr. Davis north of Middle Village, which was end of wagon road. (It is not known why Josiah would have traveled from Tolland, CT to Pittstown, NY to meet and marry Experience. The distance between them is approximately 125 miles--a 2 or 3 day trip at the time.)

They took the Indian trail on horse back to foot of Mud Lake (which is now called Lake Summit) where there was living a family, being the only one within several miles, and was received with kindness and told of a big spring near by and settled there (which now is known as the Marshall farm).

'William Adkins, brother of Experience Root, came with them and took land jointly with them, built a log house and cleared land. He went to Cherry Valley and got apple pumice from cider mill and planted a nursery. Wm. Adkins married a Miss Bennet. Josiah Root and family moved to the Wiles place about one mile north and lived there some ten years or more, but took lease of one hundred and five acres on the hill, cleared same and set a large orchard. The lease was taken in seventeen hundred and ninety-one from General Schuyler, a three-lived lease, including his wife and son Ira. John Root was born when they lived on the Wiles place.

'Josiah Root obtained possession of seven acres, part of Mount Tom, and east of there built house and barn and moved on it about eighteen hundred and eight and died in eighteen hundred eight (actually 1815) and left a widow and twelve sons and daughters.

'A son, Thomas, was killed in Canada, near Ottawa in the war of eighteen hundred twelve . . . . .

'They came to Springfield in the month of April or May (1887) and the Baptist church of Springfield was organized in June of same year, in which they took much interest. It is not plain if they were members of any church before coming, but joined soon after.

'The church (which was the first Baptist Church west of the Hudson River) was without a meeting house for three or four years. They obtained an acre of ground north of Middle Village and built a meeting house and allowed burial in the yard. This house was built by Baptists entire and remained a Baptist meeting house about twenty years, no other being in town. Then an organization of Congregationalists of seven persons or families started a house at West Springfield. Some moved away and Baptists obtained the unfinished building and sold the meeting house that was built in the burying ground to William Bigelow and was used by him for a dwelling house . . . . . . Josiah Root, it has been said, was one of the seven men who built the first church (not true). He had a lime kiln on the leased lot on knoll side hill and obtained lime there for building the meeting house.' [letter ends here]

[Text continues:] "His [Josiah Root's] name appears in the record of the first town meeting as one of the Commissioners of Roads and as receiving a license to sell spirits. Later he filled other offices.

"Josiah Root was also granted a license. In 1791, General Philip Schuyler and George L. Schuyler leased to Josiah Root Lot No. 15 which they sold in 1845 to John Root, so it seems that Josiah Root was living in 1797 where his grandson John Root lived later. He also owned Lot 17, bought in 1796 and may have lived on that land....

"Mr. R. P. Bennett told me that his forefathers had told him that Experience, wife of Josiah Root, used to carry a bag of grain across the horse's back and follow a trail of marked trees to Lowe's Mills at Swanswick where it was ground or floured.

"Jedediah Bennet, one of the early settlers came to Springfield from Pittstown, Rensselaer Co. N.Y. in 1795, settling on the Bennet farm near Lake Summit, commonly known as 'Mud Lake.'

"The land had been 'taken up' in 1789 by William Atkins, and has been owned and occupied by the Bennet family since 1795. Jedediah was born in Rensselaer Co. June 16, 1770 (inscription on tombstone) and married Lucy Abbot of Connecticut, who was born Sept. 20, 1772.

"The father of Jedediah Bennet was John Bennet, a pioneer in Rensselaer Co. He 'took up' land in the woods, cleared his farm and reared a family of six.

"He erected a log cabin on his farm, and continued to reside there until his death, Dec. 10, 1844. His wife survived him two years. Both are buried in the old cemetery." He lived in Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America in 1775.^1,8,16 According to his wife's pension application, he resided in Tolland Township, Tolland County, when he enlisted in the Army of the Revolution. He served in the military between 22 April 1775 and about 1780 in Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America.^{2,8,12,16,17,18} From Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files (from MaryARoots@aol.com): "He enlisted in the Revolutionary War as a private and served as a Corporal in Col. (Benedict) Arnold's expeditions against Quebec, where he was taken prisoner and exchanged after about 19 months."

He may have served in the 1st Connecticut Regiment, which was raised on April 27, 1775 at Norwich, Connecticut. The regiment would see action in the Invasion of Canada and the Battle of Trois-Rivieres, after which the regiment was disbanded on April 15, 1776. It was reformed on September 16, 1776 to fight in the New York Campaign and the Battle of Monmouth. The regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1783 at West Point, New York.

The following is an account of Col. Benedict Arnold's campaign in The Battle of Quebec, which was an attempt on December 31, 1775 by American revolutionaries to capture the Canadian city of Quebec and enlist Canadian support for the Revolutionary War (most Canadians in the Quebec area at the time were French, and many resisted occupation by the British). Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgomery were the two primary American commanders in the assault.

Seeking to draw Canada into the revolution, American commanders set out to seize the city of Quebec, which was held by a small garrison of 100 British regulars under the command of Guy Carleton, the Governor of Canada, and Col. Allen Maclean. The British were supported by hundreds of poorly-armed militia, using mostly muskets and a few bayonets; city fortifications were in disrepair and supplanted by wooden barricades erected within the urban districts.

Two expeditions were launched toward Quebec. Brigadier General Montgomery came up via Lake Champlain; General Benedict Arnold took his armies through the backcountry of Maine. Meanwhile, General Washington maneuvered his armies to block the British from sending reinforcements north. In late October 1775, the American forces came within view of the City of Quebec. In November 1775, Arnold took his forces across the St. Lawrence River onto the Plains of Abraham, where he summoned the city's garrison to come out and fight. Getting no response, Arnold decided to attack.

The attack began at 4:00 am on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1775. Arnold divided his army into two attack columns. He would lead his own group, totaling 600 men, to attack the northern part around the walled city, while a second column, totaling 300 men led by Montgomery, would attack the southern part of the city. The two attack columns would meet at the tip of the St. Lawrence river and move into the walled city itself. But the fortifications proved to be too strong to take by force. Combined with a sudden snowstorm that began before dawn, the attack was doomed from the start. Montgomery's column advanced along the river coastline under the Cape Diamond Bastion, where they came to a blockhouse barricade at Pres de Ville manned by about 30 Canadian militia. Opening fire, Montgomery was killed by the first volley and about a dozen more were also killed or injured. Unable to fire back with their muskets useless in the snowstorm, the Americans retreated back along the riverbank.

Unaware of Montgomery's death and his attack's failure, Arnold advanced with his main body towards the northern barricades where they were fired upon by British and local militia manning the wall of the city. Upon reaching a street barricade at a street called Sault au Matelot, Arnold was wounded in the left ankle by a musket ball and was taken to the rear. With Arnold out of action, his second-in-command, Daniel Morgan, took command and captured the first street barricade. But while awaiting further orders, the Americans were attacked in the street and surrounding row houses by hundreds of militia. A British counter-attack re-occupied the first barricade, trapping Morgan and his men within the narrow streets of the city. With no way of retreat and under heavy fire, all of Morgan's men surrendered and by 10:00 the battle was over with Morgan surrendering himself and the last pocket of American resistance in the city.

Of Arnold's command, over 30 of his men were killed (20 more were later found after the spring thaw and several more drowned while fleeing across the frozen rivers). 426 prisoners (probably including Josiah Root) were taken along with Morgan. At least 12 more Americans were killed or wounded along with Montgomery on the southern riverback of the attack. The British commander, Guy Carleton, reported his losses as one British naval officer and five French Canadian militia killed, with four British soldiers and 15 militia wounded.

Arnold refused to give up and, despite now being outnumbered by three to one, lay siege to Quebec, despite the sub-freezing temperature of the winter and the mass desertions of his men after their enlistments expired on January 1, 1776. By March of 1776, the first American reinforcements arrived which brought the total to 2,000 men. But unable to renew an assault on the city, the siege continued until over 8,000 British reinforcements arrived on May 6, 1776, which forced the American army to retreat south and back to the New York colony.

Arnold had other problems as well. On 19 May the American garrison at Les Cèdres, a post located west of Montreal between Lake St Francis and Lac Saint-Louis, surrendered to a force of Indians, Canadians, and British regulars under Captain George Forster, the commander at Fort Oswegatchie (Ogdensburg, N.Y.). The following day a band of Indians and Canadians, the latter led by Jean-Baptiste-Jérémie Testard de Montigny, captured a detachment of American troops whom Arnold had sent to reinforce Les Cèdres. With his prisoners in tow, Forster began to march towards Montreal, but he was compelled to retreat when he learned that Arnold and 600 troops had entrenched themselves at Lachine. Setting off in pursuit, Arnold came within sight of the enemy just outside Vaudreuil. Here he discovered not only that the captured American officers had arranged an exchange of prisoners with the British, but also that under the terms of this “cartel” the freed Americans were prohibited from taking up arms again--a restriction that was not to apply to the British side. What was even more galling, when Arnold warned that he would punish the Indians severely if they refused to give up their prisoners, the Indians retorted that in the event of an American attack “they would immediately kill every prisoner, and give no quarter to any who should fall into their hands hereafter.” Backed into a corner, Arnold agreed to sign the cartel on the condition, which Forster accepted, that the clause relating to the military service of the freed soldiers was deleted. (Apparently, Josiah Root was one of the freed soldiers.)

With the British victory at Quebec and the later retreat of the Americans from Canada, there was never another serious attempt to bring the Canadians into the American Revolution against the British.

Kate Gray in an article in "The History of Springfield" about Josiah Root notes that a hand-written family record of Josiah's life indicated that, after he was released as a prisoner, he served for four or five more years in the Army. However, his wife's widow's pension application states that he was released after nineteen months as a prisoner and was "sent home" (in about May 1777). It is possible, however, that he re-joined his military unit and served for a few more years.

Josiah's wife eventually filed for a widow's War Pension: "Root, Josiah, Cont., Mass., Experience Adkins, former widow, W26414; BL. Wt. 6455-I60-55": "ROOT, Josiah, Experience Adams, Cont & MA line, W26414, BLW #6455-160-55, sol(dier) was b(orn) 14 Dec 1756, he lived at Tolland, CT at enl(istment), sol(dier) m(arried) Experience daughter of Thomas Adkins on 24 Feb 1784 at Pittstown in Rensselaer Co NY & she was b(orn) 31 Jul 1767 & shortly after their m(arriage) they moved to Springfield in Otsego Co NY, sol(dier) d(ied) in 1815, wid(ow) appl(lied) 19 Jul 1851 at Springfield NY, sol's & wid's 1st child was b(orn) 17 Oct 1785 & d(ied) 6 Nov 1785 & another child 'Lowsinday' (Lucinda) b(orn) 14 Aug 1786, a son John Root aged 49 made aff'dt in Otsego Co NY in 1851."

The military widow's pension application (full text below) was an affidavit written for his wife Experience and dated 19 July 1851. It was accompanied by an affidavit from their son John, as well as affidavits written by neighbors Benjamin Huntington, William Akers and Lebius Ranson that attested to Josiah's military service and his marriage to Experience. The application was approved on 12 March 1853 in the amount of $71.99 per annum.

Justice Richard Ely, one of the witnesses to the 1851 application noted that "I certify that Experience Root made her mark, not being able to write her name." Her "sign" resembled "uY."

The text of the affidavit written on July 19, 1851 for Experience: "State of New York, Otsego County. Experience Adkins Root being duly sworn says she resided in the town of Springfield in said county will be eighty four years of age on the last day of the present month of July, that she is the widow of Josiah Root deceased who died in the year 1815. That she was married to her said husband on the 24th day of February 1784 at Pittstown in the County of Renssalear in this state. That said marriage was solemnized at the residence of the father of this deponent (Thomas Adkins) by a clergyman of the Baptist denomination whose name this deponent has forgotten. This deponent further saith that there is no record of said marriage to her knowledge except what is contained in her family bible, which is taken therefrom and hereto ...(word not clear)... and is in the proper hand writing of her said husband who died in 1815 as above states. This deponent further saith that her said husband served in the Army of the Revolution for the share of time of about nineteen months as she has been at various & different times been informed by him and as she verily believes to be true. She understood from him and heard him say and declare that he went from Tolland in the State of Connecticut and served as Corporal under Col. Arnold in the campaign against Quebec and was taken prisoner and was finally exchanged or discharged and sent home after an absence of about nineteen months. These were the services rendered by said husband and for which she claims a pension from the Government of the United States under the acts of Congress granting pensions to certain widows and for which ... this declaration is made by her---that she has never married since the death of her husband but has continued and now is the widow of said Josiah Root."

Written below her statement is the following: "I certify that the above named applicant is a credible person and from her age and infirmity is unable to appear in open court to make the forgoing declaration." Signed by James Hyde, County Judge of Otsego County, N.Y.

The National Archives Microfilm Publications files also contain a document indicating that on July 7, 1838 she was approved for a pension of $71.99 per annum effective 4 March 1836 for a period of 21 months "except 2 yrs." (The meaning of the exception is not known.) Another document indicates that another pension act was passed on February 2, 1848, and that a pension of the same amount was granted on 4 March 1848; the pension was approved on 12 March 1853. So apparently, she began receiving the pension in 1838 and had to reapply in 1848 and 1851. (Gary Griggs has copies of the affidavits and other documents related to the 1851 application.)

A copy of the "U.S. Pensioner Records, 1818-1872" on Ancestry.com indicates that on 4 March 1848 she began to receive a "half-yearly allowance" of $35.99. The payments were made by the Albany, NY office each March and September and the last payment was made in March 1858, indicating that she passed away between March and September of that year.

According to MyHeritage.com's "Revolutionary War Pension Records." he served in the "Continental Mass." in the state of Massachusetts. He is listed under "Pension # W.26414." Josiah lived at his family home in Canojoxharrie Township, Montgomery County, NY in May 1787.^1,16,19 after they moved from Pittstown in Rensselaer County, NY. (Canojoxharrie Township in Montgomery County was re-named Springfield Township in Otsego County in the late 1790's.) He appeared in the census in 1790 in Canojoxharrie Township, Montgomery County, NY.^7,19,20 At the time of the 1790 Census, Springfield Township, Otsego County, was known as Conojoxharrie Township, Montgomery County. The original name of "Canojoxharrie" Township in the 1790 census was later changed to the present spelling of "Canajoharie." Otsego County was set off from Montgomery County and organized as a separate county on 16 February 1791.

The household of Josiah Root was located five households from that of William Atkins, the brother of Josiah's wife, Experience. There were also several Bennett households, who may have been related to the wife of William. It is almost certain that Josiah's family did not move from their original location because many of their neighbors in the 1790 census were also located near them in 1800.

The Josiah Root household consisted of 1 "free white male of 16 years & upwards, including heads of families;" 2 "free white males under 16 years;" and 2 "free white females including heads of families." The first person could have been Josiah; the identities of the two sons are unknown (Ira was not born until July 1791 and his brother Thomas was not born until 1795); and the two females may have been Experience and their daughter Lucinda (born August 1786). Their daughter Margaret is believed to have been born in 1788, and it is not known why she would not have been listed in the census. In April 1797 he was a Commissioner of Roads in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁴ At the first Town Meeting, which was held at the "meeting house" on 4 April 1797, the officers of the township were chosen. In April 1798 Josiah was a Fence Viewer and Damage Appraiser in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁴ He in 1800 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.²¹ The values of his Real Property was $1,780 and that of his Personal Property was $178, and his Total Tax was $3.37. His was, by far, one of the most valuable properties in the area. His occupation was "Farmer." He appeared in the census in 1800 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁷ Josiah's household consisted of 3 Free White Males, age 0-10 (his sons Thomas, Ira and William); 1 FWM, age 26-45 (Josiah); 1 Free White Females, age 0-10 (his daughters Hannah and Elizabeth); 2 FWF, age 10-16 (his daughters Margaret and Lucinda); and 1 FWF, age 26-45 (his wife, Experience). Josiah was Baptist on 15 October 1808 in Springfield Center, Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^19,22,23 The LDS Family Search website contains a record of the "Christening" of Josiah Root on 15 Oct 1808 at the First Baptist Church of Springfield. However, research of the church records in July 2002 by Janice Maine, the church historian of the First Baptist Church, could find no record of his christening. He was accepted as a member by "profession of faith."

Ms. Maine pointed out that the Baptist Church does not "Christen" people; rather, they are "baptized" later in life. Josiah may have been baptized in another Baptist Church before moving to Springfield Township. He appeared in the census in 1810 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.²⁴ His household consisted of 3 males, under 10 years of age (John, 8; Alvin, 5; and Charles, 3); 2 males, 10-15 (Thomas, 15; and William, 13); 1 male, 16-25 (Ira, 20); 1 male, 45 and over (Josiah, 54); 2 females, under 10 (Ruth, 7; Polly, 6; or Experience, 4); 2 females, 10-14 (Elizabeth, 16; and Hannah, 11); and 1 female, 26-44 (Experience, 43). He owned on 28 April 1814 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.²⁵ The following is the text of the Quit-Claim Deed that is in the possession of Gary Griggs that transferred Josiah's real property to his son Ira:

"This Indenture, made the twenty-eighth day of April in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and fourteen between Josiah Root of the Town of Springfield in the County of Otsego and Sate of New York of the first part, and Ira Root of the same place of the second part, Witnesseth, That the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the SUM of five hundred dollars Current Money of the United States, in hand paid, by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged; hath bargained, sold, remised and quit-claimed; and by these Presents do bargain, sell, remise and quit-claim, unto the said party of the second part, (in his actual possession now being) and to his Heirs and Assigns, for ever, ALL that certain piece of parcel of land situate lying and being in the Town of Springfield aforsaid and is a part of Lot number seventeen in Springfield patent -- Beginning at the South West Corner of said Lot no. 17 in the middle of the road where it crosses the patent line and runs thence East thirty degrees South forty three chains and seventy five links, thence North thirty degrees East seven chains and eighty links, thence West thirty degrees north forty three chains and seventy five links, thence South thirty degrees west seven chains and eighty links to the place of beginning. (GLG note: The size of the property was 2,887.5 feet by 514.8 feet, or 34.1 acres.)

TOGETHER with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining; and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof; and also all the estate, right, title, interest, claim or demand whatsoever of him the said party of the first part, either in law or equity of, in and to the above bargained premises, and every part and parcel thereof, to the said party of the second part, his Heirs and Assigns, to the sole and only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said party of the second part, his Heirs and Assigns for ever.

In witness whereof, the party of the first part hath hereunto set his hand and seal, the day and year first above written.

Sealed and delivered in presence of Henry Brown."

(Signed by) Josiah Root" (Next to his signature is a wax seal, covered by a small piece of paper.)

On the left half of the reverse side of the quit claim deed is the following hand-written note: "State of New York on the 28th day of April AD 1814 before me came Josiah Root, the within named grantor to me well known and acknowledged that he executed the within deed as his free and voluntary act for the purposes therein mentioned. Having examined said deed and finding no material alteration therein other and the one noted, I allow it to be recorded. (Signed by) Henry Brown, Master in Chany" (The last word is not clear. It was most likely an abbreviation for "Chancery," a term meaning "Master in Equity," which was commonly used in New York State.)

On the right half of the reverse side of the deed is the following hand-written note that transferred the property from Ira back to his father, Josiah, just before the death of the latter: "Know all men by their presents that I, Ira Root, the within named grantee in consideration of the sum of five hundred and seventy six dollars to me in hand paid have released and quit-claimed and by these presents to release and quit-claim unto the within named Josiah Root all of my right and title to the within mentioned premises. To have and to hold the same to him the said Josiah Root his heirs and assigns forever. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this twenty fourth day of March one thousand eight hundred & fifteen.

Sealed and delivered in presence of Henry Brown Sam'l A. Brown"

(Signed by) Ira Root" (Next to his signature is a wax seal, covered by a small piece of paper.)

Written immediately below is this note: "State of New York on the 25th day of March AD 1815 before me came Ira Root the above named grantor to me known and acknowledged that he executed the above quit-claim deed as his free and voluntary act for the purpose therein mentioned. (Signed by) Henry Brown Master in Chany." Josiah signed a will on 24 March 1815 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^26,27,28 Last Will and Testament of Josiah Root
Town of Springfield, Otsego County, New York.
Date of Probate: April 25, 1815.
Recorded in Book E, Pages 244-246, Records of Wills, Surrogate's Office, Otsego County Court House, Cooperstown, New York.

In the name of God amen, I, Josiah Root, of the town of Springfield in the County of Otsego and State of New York being weak in body but Sound of mind and memory, Do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

First, I resign my soul into the hands of Almighty God, and my body I commit to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named and my worldly estate I give and devise as follows:

-----I give and devise to my beloved wife Experience Root (in lieu of her dower) one-third part of all my real estate to have and to hold the same for and during her natural life, and also the following articles of my personal estate: to wit one horse, Saddle and bridle, one Cow, ten sheep, one-half of the bees and hives to have and to hold the same absolutely, and also the Clock for & during her natural life-----

-----I do forgive unto John Peterson the husband of Lucinda Peterson my eldest daughter the amount of Small note of about thirty Dollars which I now hold against the Said John Peterson----

-----Also I give and bequeath unto Margaret Shannan my Second daughter twelve Dollars to be paid by my executors hereinafter named in the settlement of my estate-----

-----Also I give and devise to my eldest Son Ira Root his heirs and assigns thirty-two acres of Land now in his possession to hold to him the said Ira Root his heirs and assigns forever, on Condition however, that the said Ira Root, his heirs or assigns shall well and truly pay or Cause to be paid, to my youngest Son Charles Root the Sum of two hundred and Sixteen dollars, on the thirtieth day of March which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight.

-----Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Root the Sum of Sixty Dollars to be paid by Said executors in furniture at the lowest Cash price on the Settlement of my estate.

-----Also I give and bequeath unto my son William Root a horse of middling value to be delivered the Said William Root when he Shall arrive at the age of twenty one years. Also I give and devise the Said William Root fifty acres off the north end of Lot number fifteen which I hold under a lease from Philip Schuyler-------To have and to hold the Same to him the Said William Root his executors administrators and assigns from and after the twenty-Seventh Day of May which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen to his and their own use and benefit-----

-----Also I give & bequeath to my daughter Hannah Root the Sum of Sixty Dollars to be paid in furniture at the lowest Cash price when the Said Hannah Shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years------

-----Also I will that my son John Root be learnt and instructed in Some mechanical employment to be chosen by my beloved wife Experience Root-----that the Said John be supported and Sent to School a part of the time till he Shall arrive at the age of fifteen years that then he be put out to some trade as aforesaid till he Shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years. I also give and bequeath to the Said John sixty six dollars to be paid when he Shall arrive at the Said age of twenty-one years.

Ira Root, Benjamin Huntington, executors.

Abstract of Wills Vol. 1 1794-1829 GS #851123 IT #4 p. 37 (Springfield, Otsego Co, NY):

"ROOT, Josiah of Springfield. dated March 24, 1815 -- Probated Apr 1, 1815. WIFE: Experience: SONS: Ira (eldest), Chas. (youngest), Wm. (under 21), John (under 15); DAUS: Lucinda (oldest & wife of John Peterson), Margaret Shannon, Elizabeth Root, Hannah Root (under 21).

EXEC. Ira Root & Benjamin Huntington

Witness: Henry Brown, Jedediah Bennett, David White, Charles L. Fish"

It is believed that his daughters Ruth and Polly had died before his Will was written, and that is why they were not mentioned. However, it is not known why his other children--namely, Alvin (b. 1805) and Experience (b. 1806), were not mentioned. It does mention Charles, who was born in 1807, so it is not a question of the Will having been written before 1802. The latter children are all listed in the 1820 Census, conducted five years after Josiah died.

Additional details concerning probate of Josiah Root's estate:

Otsego County, New York, Surrogate's Office Book E (Wills) pp. 396-397 Decrees

Some of Josiah's land had to be sold to meet his debts: Lot #17 (bounded on north by land of William Adkins) - 22 acres; and 10 acres from north side of Lot #15

Joshua Ransom is guardian "appointed for taking care of the Interests of the infant heirs" - appointment November 13, 1816

It appears that Josiah signed the will on March 24, 1815

Inventory of Josiah's property taken by executors on May 3, 1815:

(Page 1)

17 hives of bees at $4 each $68 -
1 Waggon 60 -
1 other Waggon 10 -
1 Cart 8 -
1 Drag and clevis 2 -
1 Slay 2 -
1 Cutter 1.50
1 Plough 3.50
3 Whippletrees 1 -
4 trace chanes 1 -
3 clevises .50
1 Drag 1.25
2 chanes 2 -
28 old Sheep and 13 Lambs 5 -
2 Whippletrees and clevises 1 -
1 yoke of oxen 60 -
5 cows 90 -
2 Plougs (sic) 2 -
5 kettles 10 -
3 ox yokes 4 -

(Page 2)

17 Pair of Steeliards 17.50
2 Three year old cattle 24 -
4 two year old cattle 28 -
4 Calves 3 -
3 horses 110 -
20 Bushels of wheat 20 -
8 Bushels of rye 4 -
16 Bushels of oats 4 -
[?] Bushels of Potatoes 4 -
8 Bushels of buck wheat 3.50
3 Bushels of pees (sic) 2.25
20 Bushels of Corn 10 -
2 Bushels of flax seed 2 -
5 hundred of hay 1.25
5 pounds of flax 1.88
4 hives of bees 16 -
1 saddle 5 -
1 set of harness 10 -
1 Loom 6 -
3 chests and clothing in them 15 -
5 Beds and Bedding 15 -
4 Wheels and a reel 8 -
1 Table 1 -
1 Gun 7 -
4 Hogs 25 -
2 Cupboards and furniture 12 -
1 Clock 18 -

Inventory filed September 28, 1815

(Information transcribed January 20, 1976, by Connie Root Van Horn Nuss.) He died after 25 March 1815 at the age of 58 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^{1,3,11,16,19,29} Josiah signed his Will on 24 March 1815, his son Ira quit-claimed property to him on 25 March 1815, and Josiah's Will was probated on 21 April 1815. So he must have died in late-March or early-April 1815.

The military widow's pension application filed by his wife in 1851, as well as the supporting statement by his son John, indicate only that Josiah died in 1815. The month and date were not listed.

The gravestone of one of his grandsons, Thomas Burrell Root, lists Josiah's year of death as 1814. That is not correct. He was buried after 25 March 1815 in Springfield Center, Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^{3,12,19,30,31,32} in the Middle Village Cemetery.

According to "The History of Springfield," by Kate Gray, he is buried in the Middle Village Cemetery. Lists of the cemetery's 135 gravesites on NewEnglandAncestors.org and on RootsWeb.com do not contain a listing for his gravestone, but he is buried there because there is a gravestone. The cemetery, also known as the Town Ground Cemetery, is located on Van Alstyne Road between Springfield Center and East Springfield, just off of U.S. Highway 20.

In 1934, Mrs. George Gray of Richfield Springs, NY (a member of the Daughters of the American Resolution) submitted an "Application for Headstone" to the War Department to obtain a grave marker for Josiah to be placed in the "Middle Village Town Cemetery." The DAR requested the headstone because of Josiah's service in The Revolutionary War. The application was approved on May 21, 1934 and the stone was shipped from Proctor, VT on July 19, 1934.

In the late-1970's, Connie (Root) Nuss took a picture of Josiah's gravestone and the picture is in her possession. It is shown with his record.

In visits to the cemetery in July 2002, July 2004 and September 2023, Gary Griggs was not able to locate Josiah's gravestone because the cemetery was no longer being used and it had become overgrown and not maintained. However, the cemetery was cleared later and Ms. Melissa Stickles posted a picture of Josiah's gravestone on her Find-a-Grave website in January 2013.

In the Springfield Cemetery in Springfield Center is also a memorial gravestone with the names of Josiah, Experience, their son Thomas Burrell Root and Thomas' wife, Eliza Shaw. It is located in Section J. That gravestone lists Josiah's year of death as 1814, but that is incorrect because his Will is dated 24 March 1815 and it was probated April 25, 1815. A picture of that gravestone is shown with his wife's profile in this database. Josiah had his estate probated on 25 April 1815 in Otsego County, NY.³³
He has Ancestral File Number 9XY4-9C5.³⁴ The reference code for the DAR research is RPBYAAK, 3/20/03.

Based on the Baptist Church convention and tradition of naming children, Josiah's parents' names may have been Ira and Lucinda, but that has not been confirmed.

Josiah ROOT (*) and Experience ADKINS (*) were married on 24 February 1784 in Pittstown, Rensselaer County, NY.^{1,2,3,8,11,35,36,37,38} According to the military widow's pension application filed by Experience, "she was married to her said husband on the 24th day of February 1784 at Pittstown in the County of Rensselaer in this state. That said marriage was solemnized at the residence of the father (Thomas Adkins) of this deponent by a clergyman of the Baptist denomination whose name this deponent has forgotten. This deponent further saith that there is no record of said marriage to her knowledge except what is contained in her family bible, which is taken therefrom and hereto ... (illegible) and is in the proper hand writing of her first husband who died in 1815 as above stated."

A supporting written statement made by their son John indicated that "he is well acquainted with his father's mother's family bible containing this record of this marriage, which record is hereto ...(illegible)..., that this record is in the ten ...(illegible)... handwriting of his said father." (The whereabouts of Josiah's mother's family bible is not known.)

According to the Pittstown, NY, Town Clerk, all of the early town records were destroyed in a fire in the early-1800's and no record of their marriage exists. That was confirmed in a phone conversation in that Gary Griggs had in November 2004 with the Pittstown Town Historian. She also researched early records from the Pittstown Baptist Church, but found no record of their marriage.

According to Janice Maine, the church historian in 2003 of the First Baptist Church in Springfield Center, NY, where Josiah and Experience would become members, the naming of children in Baptist families at that time would adhere to the following convention: Son 1: father's father; Son 2: mother's father; Son 3: father; Daughter 1: mother's mother; Daughter 2: father's mother; and Daughter 3: mother. Based on the names of the known children of Josiah and Experience, if that convention was followed, Josiah's father's given name would have been Ira and his mother's given name may have been Lucinda. Experience's father's given name would have been Thomas (which it was) and her mother's given name would have been unknown because the given name of their first daughter is not known.

However, they apparently did not follow that convention entirely, because their third son was named William, not Josiah, and their third daughter was named Margaret, not Experience. They did use the names Lucinda and Ira for their 2nd and 4th children, as well as the name Experience for their 8th daughter. Experience ADKINS (*), daughter of Thomas ADKINS and Susanna SANDERSON, was born on 31 July 1767 in Pittstown, Rensselaer County, New York Colony, British Colonial America.^{1,11,16,19,39,40,41,42} (Pittstown is approximately 20 miles northeast of Albany, NY.)

This is a memorial gravestone of Experience and her husband, Josiah, in the Springfield Center Cemetery. It also has the name of a grandson, Thomas Burrell Root, who may have had the stone made to mark the location of his grave.

In the 1790 Census, Experience's birth place of Pittstown was part of Albany County; it later became part of Rensselaer County. Pittstown is about 20 miles northeast of Troy. (The 1855 New York State census for her son John listed her birth place as Massachusetts.)

Her family's surname may have been spelled "Atkins," although census records for her brother as well as other documents related to the family's arrival and life in the area, spelled it as both "Adkins" and "Atkins." It is spelled "Adkins" on her gravestone. She appeared in the census in 1790 in Canojoxharrie Township, Montgomery County, NY.²⁰ She appeared in the census in 1800 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁷ The farm where Experience and Josiah Root lived in Springfield Township, NY, was located a few hundred yards south of Mount Tom, near Springfield Township. Experience appeared in the census in 1810 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.²⁴ She was baptized on 23 June 1811 in Springfield Center, Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^22,43,44 at the First Baptist Church. She appeared in the census in 1820 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^19,45 Her husband, Josiah, had died in 1815, and Experience was listed as the head of the household.

Her household consisted of 1 male, age 10-16 (either her son Charles, 13, or Alvin, 15; probably Charles); 1 male, age 16-26 (either her son William, 23, or John, 18; probably John); 2 females, age 0-10 (unknown); 2 females, age 10-16 (Experience, 14, and Polly, 16); 1 female, age 16-26 (probably her daughter Hannah, 21, or possibly Elizabeth, 26); and 1 female, over age 45 (Experience, 53).

At his death, Josiah Root had only twelve living children, so it is likely that the two females, age 0-10, were the children of one of his daughters--possibly Lucinda, the oldest. Experience appeared in the census in 1830 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁴¹ Her household consisted of 2 males, age 20-30 (John, 28; and Charles, 23); 2 females, 15-20 (possibly two daughters of Experience's daughter Lucinda); 1 female, 20-30 (Polly, 26; or Experience, 24); and 1 female, 60-70 (Experience, 63).
She appeared in the census in 1840 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^46,47 She was living with her son John and his family.

(A detailed search of all 61 pages of the 1850 Census for Springfield Township failed to locate her; it is not known where she was living. However, the written statement of her son John that supported her widow's pension application filed on 19 July 1851 indicated that she was living with him at the time.) She appeared in the census in 1855 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^8,40 She was living with her son John and his family. Experience died between April 1858 and September 1858 at the age of 90 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^2,3,11,17,42 She received the last of her semi-annual Military Pensioner widow's payments in March 1858, indicating that she died between April and September, 1858. She was buried in 1858 in Springfield Center, Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^3,31,48 in the Springfield Cemetery.

She is reportedly buried in the Middle Village Cemetery with her husband, but her actual gravestone has not been located there with his. There is a memorial gravestone for her, her husband and a grandson, Thomas Burrell Root, and his wife in the Springfield Cemetery in Springfield Center, and it is assumed that Experience is buried there.
She has Ancestral File Number 9XY4-9CT.³⁴ (This is the gravestone of one of her grandsons, Thomas Burrell Root. It includes a memorial to her husband, Josiah, with his years of birth and death, as well as hers.)

Josiah ROOT (*) and Experience ADKINS (*) had the following children:

+2	i.	*Ira R. ROOT ().**
3	ii.	(Unknown Daughter) ROOT was born on 17 October 1785 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^8,11,49 (She was not named, but this daughter was mentioned as her father's first-born child in his wife's widow's military pension application; her dates of birth and death were included. Contrary to that, Josiah's daughter Margaret was mentioned in his Will as his "second daughter," with Lucinda being the first. So, this daughter was not considered in Josiah's will. She also was not listed in the LDS FamilySearch Family Group Record for her parents and siblings or on the Puzzilla.org website.) (This is a map of Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.) (New York became the 11th State of the Union on July 26, 1788, so it was still one of the Colonies when she was born.) She died on 6 November 1785 at the age of 0 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^8,49
+4	iii.	Lucinda ROOT.
+5	iv.	Margaret Shannon ROOT.
6	v.	Elizabeth ROOT was born in 1794 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^{3,11,29,42,49,50} (This is a map of Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.) (The Atkins Family Tree on Ancestry.com lists her birth year as 1794. The LDS FamilySearch Family Group Record lists her year of birth as 1800 and her year of death as 1810.) She appeared in the census in 1800 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁷ She appeared in the census in 1810 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.²⁴ Elizabeth died in 1810 at the age of 16 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^11,29,50,51 She has Ancestral File Number 9XY4-9C9.³⁴
7	vi.	Thomas ROOT was born about 1795 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^3,11,50,52 (This is a view of the location of the farm of his parents and siblings near Mount Tom in Springfield Township.) (He is not listed as a member of the family in the research of Joe Price, but his family relationship and death are listed in the "History of Springfield" article by Kate Gray.) He appeared in the census in 1800 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁷ He appeared in the census in 1810 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.²⁴ Thomas died about 1812 at the age of 17 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.^11,50,51,52 He has Ancestral File Number 9XY4-9CQ.³⁴
+8	vii.	William ROOT.
9	viii.	Hannah ROOT was born about 1799 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^3,11,49,50 She appeared in the census in 1800 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁷ She appeared in the census in 1810 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.²⁴ Hannah appeared in the census in 1820 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁴⁵ She has Ancestral File Number 9XY4-9CC.³⁴
+10	ix.	John ROOT Sr..
11	x.	Ruth ROOT was born in 1803 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^{3,11,27,49,50} (Unlike most of her siblings, she was not mentioned in her father's Will, written 24 March 1815. She reportedly had died before then.) She appeared in the census in 1810 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.²⁴ She died in 1810 at the age of 7 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^11,50 Ruth has Ancestral File Number 9XY4-9CX.³⁴
12	xi.	Polly ROOT was born in 1804 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^3,11,49,50 (Unlike most of her siblings, she was not mentioned in her father's Will, written 24 March 1815. She reportedly had died before then.) She died before 1810 at the age of 6 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^24,52 She (or Ruth or Experience) was not listed with the family in the 1810 Census. Her death before 1810 is questionable, however, because the article in the "History of Springfield" indicates that when Josiah died he "left a widow and twelve sons and daughters." She has Ancestral File Number 9XY4-9CN.³⁴
13	xii.	Alvin ROOT was born in 1805 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^{3,11,49,50,53} (Unlike most of his siblings, he was not mentioned in his father's Will, written 24 March 1815. He may have died before then, or he may have been omitted because he was only about 9 years old at the time.) (The research of Joe Price and Jay Root lists him as a female named Alvina.) He appeared in the census in 1810 in Springfield Center, Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.²⁴ He has Ancestral File Number 9XY4-9CV.³⁴
14	xiii.	Experience ROOT was born in 1806 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^{3,11,49,50,53} (Unlike most of her siblings, she was not mentioned in her father's Will, written 24 March 1815. She may have been omitted because she was only about 8 years old at the time.) She appeared in the census in 1810 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.²⁴ She appeared in the census in 1830 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁴¹ She was living with her mother. Experience has Ancestral File Number 9XY4-9C2.³⁴
+15	xiv.	Charles ROOT.