Joseph Aldrich

Joseph, the second child of George Aldrich and Katherine Aldrich(Seald)married Patience Osborne and came to Mendon with his father, he also becoming a proprietor. Joseph's houselot of 20 acres comprised the northerly portion of the N. R. George farm, extending across the road and taking in the southerly portion of the home place of Julius A. George. The house of Joseph Aldrich stood in the vicinity of where the former village blacksmith, the late John Barry, lived and died.

Joseph Aldrich stayed in Mendon until about the time of his father's death. George declared in his will that he left his clothes to his son, Joseph. As George was a tailor, "clothes" possibly meant the whole business, not just his own clothes. In about 1682 he removed to what is now Smithfield, Rhode Island, in which state many of his descendants are still found, including the Hon. Nelson W. Aldrich, the financial leader of the United States Senate, whose daughter married John D. Rockefeller Jr.

Joseph Aldrich was of the Quaker faith and tradition has It that on this account his house was spared at the burning of the town in 1676 by King Philip's warriors.

Norfolk County, Massachusetts was created on March 26, 1793 by legistation signed by Gov. John Hancock. Most of the towns were originally part of Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The towns of Dorchester and Roxbury were part of Norfolk County when it was created but, as Boston gradually annexed them, they returned to be part of Suffolk County. Hingham and Hull were originally part of the Norfolk County legislation but petitioned to remain in Suffolk county and in June 1793 their removal to Norfolk county was repealed. Later in 1803 they were moved into Plymouth County, Massachusetts.