Deacon Joseph Bridgham

Joseph Bridgman married thrice. First to Sarah, with whom he had one son, Henry Joseph Bridgman.. Second to Susana (Upshall) Cook. Third to Mercy Wensley.

Joseph Bridgman married Mercy Wensley, his third wife, on April 17, 1701 in Boston, Suffolk County, Colony of Massachusetts.

The Inscription oh Henry Joseph Bridgham's grave marker reads: "RULEING ELDER OF YE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN BOSTON"

Notes

George Little writes,

Joseph, the fourth son of Henry and Elizabeth (Harding) Bridgham. In 1674 was a member of the artillery company, in 1678 was made freeman, was representative in 1697, also for Northampton in 1690. He was deacon and ruling elder in the First Church of Christ, was often moderator of the Boston town meetings, and often on various town committees. His will was probated in Suffolk county, and provided a sum of twenty pounds to be spent by the deacons of the church for plate for the communion table. He was a tanner, probably carrying on his business in the same location as his father before him. His first wife was Sarah, and he married (second) April 17, 1700, Mercy Wensley, who survived him and married Thomas Cushman, between whom and the heirs of Joseph Bridgham there arose a dispute as to the settlement of the estate. She died October 3, 1740. His children, mentioned in his will and the Boston town records, were: By first wife: Henry, born December 16, 1676, married Abigail Walker, February 6, 1700, died April 14, 1720, and his widow married John Dixwell. By second wife: Joseph; Elizabeth, born September 27, 1702, baptized October, 1702, married Samuel Holyoke; Mercy, born November 11, 1704, married John Smith, December 5, 1728; John born February 28, 1705, died young; James, June 11, 1706, died young.[3]

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Apr 12 2018, 10:18:53 UTC