Josiah Harris

+Josiah Harris son of Samuel and Sarah was born Feb 27 1770 of Machias and East Machias Maine, town clerk, clerk of courts, and registor of probate, was born in Boston Mass. Feb 27 1770. Early in April 1787 while yet in his teens he went to Machias where he entered in the employment of James Avery Esq.

Mr Avery was one of the most important men of the town, a justice of the peace, select man, the first town clerk, the first representative to the General Court, the first register of probate for Washington County and later Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Young Harris remained with him a little more than a year, working most of the time in the office at Machias, writing out various legal and other public documents, and assisting in records and correspondence, but also active on Mr Avery’s farm at the “Rim”. June 23 1788, he set sail for Boston. After reaching there he first engaged with Mr Matthew Clark, a merchant of Charlestown. In May 1789 he found employment in Mr Lemuel Cravath’s shop in Boston. Mr Cravath giving up his business Josiah returned to Machias October 5 1789 in the service of Nathaniel J Robbins of Milton, who was the founder of Robbinson Maine. Josiah became a partner with Robbins and later entered the mercantile business by himself until a few years before his death on June 17 1846. He married Lucy Talbot Dec 11 1796. She was born Jan 18 1775 in East Machias the daughter if Peter and Lucy (Hammond) Talbot. She died in East Machias Dec 27 1861. Josiah and Lucy had the following children

     John Fairbanks born Oct  18 1797 marr Drusilla West Foster Jan 6 1822 died 1877

 + Stephen Talbot born Sept  9 1800 mar Cynthia Foster 2nd Joanna (Chase) died 1879

      George        born Mar 18 1802 marr Lucy Chalomer 2nd Mary Palmer died 1876

   Lucy Talbot      born Dec  2  1803 died Aug 4 1805

   Sarah Bowles    born July 25 1805 died unmarried Jan 21 1879

   Lucy Talbot      born Jun   4  1807 marr Jeremiah Foster died Mar 24 1895

   Peter Talbot      born Sep 12  1808 marr Deborah Longfellow Aug 1835 died 1855

   Betsey Talbot    born July 24  1810 marr Hiram Hill 1832 died  Aug 19 1834

      Samuel       born Jun  14  1814 marr Deborah Robbins 2nd Mrs Mary (Skinner)

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 13 2022, 8:00:44 UTC