Rev. Joseph Maxson

Find a Grave: Rev Joseph Maxson

1705- Deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly from Westerly, RI.

1732- Ordained an evangelist or travelling minister.

1747-50: Pastor of the 7th day Baptist Church, Westerly, RI. Same position held by his father and older brother, John II.

Siblings: Hannah born 1665, John II born 12 October 1666, Dorothy born 1668, and Jonathan born circa 1681.

From Henry Clarke's list of SDB Ministers before 1841 - listed as DOD as 1748, age 78

(From "Newport Seventh Day Baptist Trilogy" by Ilou & Don Sanford, 1998)

Book: The Descendents of Robert Burdick of Rhode Island -

by Nellie Willard Johnson, 1937

Family tree from "The Genealogical Record of the Ancestors and Descendents of Two Brothers, Elieonai & Lewis Alexander Davis compiled by Constance Clark Schey, 1973-1979. Succeeded his brother John II as pastor of the Westerly Church at 75 years of age.

5-16-1717 Thomas, Martha I and II and other members of the Westerly Church signed a letter commending Bro. William Davis to other church.

Copied from an original copy of Volume 1, No. 2, April, 1852, pp 49-58, of the Seventh-Day Baptist Memorial, a quarterly magazine, devoted to biography, history, and statistics.

JOSEPH MAXSON was the son of John Maxson, first elder of the Seventh-day Baptist Church in Westerly. He was born in 1672, and consequently was but six years younger than his brother who preceded him in the pastoral office. He was baptized on the 24th of January, 1694, and became a member of the Seventh-day Baptist Church at Newport. Like his brother, he was early engaged in the more active duties of the congregation; and in 1700 he was sent, in company with Joseph Crandall, on a mission to New London, requiring considerable judgment, for the investigation of circumstances relating to a complaint of John Rogers, of New London, against some of the members of the church. In 1710 he was sent on a commission to Shannock, with Joseph Clarke, Joseph Crandall, Joseph Clarke, Jr., and Thomas Hiscox, "to hear, debate, judge, and conclude what they or a major part of them, shall think fit in behalf of the church," concerning the church and brethren residing there,

Mr. Maxson was chosen to the office of a deacon in 1716, with Thomas Hiscox. At the same meeting John Maxson, Jr., was chosen as a colleague to his father; and in 1732 Mr. Maxson was ordained an evangelist, or traveling minister, as appears from the following entry in the records of the church at Newport: -

"At a church meeting held at the meeting-house in Westerly, Sept. 17th, 1732, voted, that Bro. Joseph Maxson and Bro. Thomas Hiscox go to visit some friends at the eastward, in answer to their request to Sabbath-keepers in this colony; also, voted, that our sister church of Newport, with the assistance of our deacon, is desired to ordain and qualify the said persons fit for evangelists or messengers in God’s service, as occasion may require, if said church see cause.

"A true copy from the church book in Westerly, Sept. 18, 1732.

"Per George Stillman, Clerk."

[page 59]Accordingly, they were, agreeable to the above request, ordained by the church at Newport, and the following entry was made in its records: -

"NEWPORT, Oct. 8.th - This day our beloved brethren Joseph Maxson and Thomas Hiscox were solemnly and regularly ordained evangelists or traveling ministers in God’s service, agreeable to a church vote passed at Westerly, Sept. 17, and a church vote passed in this church Oct. 1st. Our expectation and intention is, that the above-mentioned brethren, Joseph Maxson and Thomas Hiscox, are qualified and empowered by virtue of this ordination to administer the ordinances of the gospel as they may be occasionally called by either of the churches."

After the ordination of these brethren at Newport, they set out, accompanied by Henry Collins, of Newport, on a mission to the eastward, where there were scattered brethren belonging to both churches. A number of families were in New Bedford, some of whose descendants are still in the observance of the seventh day. On their return to Newport, they were invited by the church to administer the Lord’s Supper, and to serve the church on other occasions, as they might be led, or as circumstances might require. A most intimate and affectionate connection was uniformly maintained between these churches, and each seemed anxious to promote the glory of God and the spiritual welfare of the other, to the extent of their powers. They lost no opportunity of the other, to the extent of their powers. They lost no opportunity of extending to each other those acts of courtesy which evinced their desire for harmony and good will.

Mr. Maxson was appointed by the church, on the 25th of April, 1727, to visit the members of the church, with his brother the pastor, as appears by the following preamble and resolution, which we insert as a useful precedent for similar action on the part of churches in the present day: -

"Voted, Whereas, there hath for some considerable time past a great neglect appeared in the members of this church in assembling on the Sabbath meetings in general, and on sacramental days in particular, as also at the appointed church meeting; which we esteem discommendable, reproachful, and evil. In hopes of redressing said disorders, we appoint Bro. Joseph Maxson, Sen., to bear our elder, Bro. Maxson, company, and to assist him in the visiting of the members so neglecting, and to inquire the reason of their omission, and to help, council (sic), and admonish them, according to their various circumstances, to the diligent attending their duty for the future, and to make report to the church of their proceedings therein."

Ordination as traveling ministers did not at that time, in the estimation of the church, qualify for the oversight of a church, or for the [page 60] eldership in any particular church; and when the pastor required an assistant minister, it was thought necessary to ordain one especially to that office; and consequently, in 1737, when the leading elder, from his infirmities, desired the church to select some one to act as an elder, several meetings of the church were appointed to consider the qualifications of brethren for the office. Among the candidates proposed were Thomas Clarke, Joseph Maxson 2d, Joshua Babcock, and Joseph Maxson 3d. After a protracted canvassing of their merits and qualifications, it was determined to appoint Joseph Maxson, Sen., then at the age of 69 years. He notwithstanding made it a subject of inquiry and self-examination, before giving an answer, as the record shows: -

"At a church meeting in Westerly, April 24th 1739, it was voted, that Bro. Joseph Maxson, Sen., be appointed for ordination as an elder to assist our present elder in the service of the church. Bro. Maxson desired time to answer until next church meeting by course."

On the 24th of June, 1739, he "gave his answer, that he accepted of the office of an elder to assist the senior elder in the service of the church."

The eldership was a matter of serious consideration, both to the candidates and to the church; and while the latter properly appreciated the authority and wisdom of age, and desired that their leaders should indeed command the respect of elders, the former only approached the sacred office with much misgiving and self-depreciation. When in 1743, the church deemed it advisable to add to the number of elders, the senior and junior of that office were respectively 77 and 70 years of age. At this time Thomas Hiscox and John Davis were chosen by the church to the office, but declined the appointment. Mr. Davis, however, was afterward ordained by Mr. Maxson an elder to the brethren in Shrewsbury, N.J., where a church had been formed from members of the Westerly church dismissed at that place.

Upon the death of the pastor, in 1747, Joseph Maxson succeeded to the pastoral office. He was then at the age of 75 years, and could not of course long continue to serve the church in the capacity of a leader; yet, being ripe with the experience of years, and of well-tried character in all his business relations, he was too well qualified for the station to allow of his declining the responsible office which the providence of God seemed to devolve upon him. The period of his administration, though short, was one of considerable difficulty. Several of the members were from time to time put under admonition for their defection from the faith through the influence of the New Lights, whose meetings were held frequently in various parts of Westerly and vicinity; and [page 61] among them was one of the licentiates of the church, who withdrew from the church to join that sect, contrary to his former profession and covenant with the church. His license was consequently revoked, and the fellowship of the church withdrawn. The disciplinary proceedings in these cases were painful to the aged pastor, and led to great discouragements, but while the faith of some was overcome, that of others was strengthened, so that these difficulties seemed to come as a trial of their faith and patience. They had hitherto enjoyed undisturbed quiet in the settlement in regard to opposing interests, and had mostly forgotten the sharp conflict in which their predecessors engaged with opposing creeds, and were therefore exposed to greater danger from the boldness of these new assailants.

Mr. Maxson was assisted in the duties of his office by Eld. Thomas Hiscox, who was appointed his colleague soon after his confirmation to the leading eldership of the church. After continuing in the exercise of the pastor’s functions for three years, Mr. Maxson was released from his earthly responsibility, and, like a shock of corn fully ripe, was gathered to his fathers. He died in September, 1750, in the 78th year of his age.

[Maria's.GED]

5-6-2002 from Nina M. Troutner (ntrout@nwlink.com) I am a descendant, most directly, through the Maxson family line. My gggggrandmother was Nancy Ann Maxson who was married to Robert Conner.

Nancy's ancestry through the Maxson line is as follows...

l. Nancy Ann 1791-1841

2. Nathan b. 1766 - d. ?. ; unknown wife

3. Simeon b. 8/25/1727 - d. 2/26/1802 ; m. 1763 to Mary Babcock b. 1743-d. ?

4. Joseph b. 3/10/1691 or 92 - d. 1747; m. 1715 to Bethah Maxson b. 10/19/1693 - d. 1747

5. Joseph b. abt. 1672 - d. 1756; m. 1691 to Tacy Burdick b. 1670 - d. ?

6. John b. 3/24/1637 or 38 - d. 12/17/1720; m. 1661 to Mary Mosher b.1641 - d. 2/2/1717 or 18

7. Richard b. abt. 1602 - d. 1643; m. ? to Rebecca Harndell ?

Nancy and Robert lived in Preston Co. WV before they moved on to Ohio and then to Iowa. In 1841 Nancy died in Washington Co. Iowa and the rest of the family went west to Oregon in the wagon train of 1852. Some of the other members of the family came west earlier in 1847. I have quite a bit of the history of this family both before Nancy and after but I am still trying very hard to find out more about Nancy's father, Nathan, and her unknown mother. So far, in the years I have been at this genealogy quest, roughly 6 years, I have found no one who has knowledge of these two people other than the names of their children.

I also have reason to believe that I am connected to the Davis family in the SDB history. Nancy and Robert Conner's son, John, married a Catharine Alvira Davis. Somewhere, someone furnished me with the names of Benjamin Davis and Susan Ayers as the parents of Catharine. Am assuming that this

family lived in Ohio because Catharine was born there.

from book "Langfitt and Davis, British and Colonial Ancestry" by Margaret Parks Ewing, 1915-

From Jon Saunders

The first Sabbatarian (Seventh-day Baptist) Church in Westerly, later Hopkinton, had a stong influence in molding the opinions and lives of that community. At it's peak it enrolled over 1,000 members. In the early 1800's they had more members than all the other churches in town put together.

Of the first nine pastors of that church, serving from it's founding in 1708 until 1858, the last six are all my relatives.

Rev. John Maxson, 1st 1638-1720

Rev. John Maxson, 2nd 1666-1747

Rev. Joseph Maxson, 1672-1750

Rev. Thomas Hiscox, 1686-1773 (7G Grandfather)

Rev. Joshua Clarke, 1717-1793 (5G Grandfather)

Rev. John Burdick, 1732-1802 (2C6R)

Rev. Abram Coon, 1763-1813 (4C6R)

Rev. Matthew Stillman, 1770-1838 (3C5R)

Rev. Daniel Coon, 1792-1858 (5C5R)

“Westerly and It’s Witnesses”, 1878, Rev. Frederic Denison, J. A. and R. A. Reid, publishers. pp 59-65

4-20-04 Timothy Sutton -

WESTERLY, RI DEEDS VOL. 7 (DAVIS) WESTERLY, RI DEEDS VOL. 7, FHL film #940224

Pages 64-5, Joseph Maxson to John Maxson 2d, May 20, 1747. Witnesses: Daniel Mackcoon and W. Babcock.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jonsaunde...

Title: Rev.

Name: Joseph MAXSON Sr.

Given Name: Joseph

Surname: Maxson

Suffix: Sr. 1 2

Sex: M

Birth: 1672 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island

Death: SEP 1750 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island

Burial: 1750 Hopkinton, Kings Co., Rhode Island

Note: Memorial, HP022, 1st Hopkinton Cemetery

Note: He was the third pastor of the Seventh-day Baptist Church of Westerly, following his father and older brother. He served in that capacity from 1747 until his death in 1750. He was succeeded by Thomas Hiscox.

Father: John M. MAXSON b: 24 MAR 1638 in Newport, Newport Co., Rhode Island

Mother: Mary MOSHER b: 1640/41 in Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island

Marriage 1 Tacy BURDICK b: 02 DEC 1667 in Misquamicutt, Kings Co., Rhode Island

Married: 1690 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island

Children

Joseph MAXSON Jr. b: 10 MAR 1692 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island

John MAXSON b: ABT 1693 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island
Tacy MAXSON b: ABT 1699 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island
Mary MAXSON b: ABT 1700
Ruth MAXSON b: ABT 1705 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island
Goodeth 'Judith' MAXSON b: ABT 1707 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island
Elizabeth MAXSON b: 1713/14 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island
Sources:

Title: The Maxson Family, Descendants of John Maxson and wife Mary Mosher of Westerly, Rhode Island

Author: Walter LeRoy Brown

Publication: Eddy Printing Co., Albion, N. Y, 1954

Page: 3, 4

Title: Westerly and It's Witnesses

Author: Rev. Frederic Denison

Publication: J. A. and R. A. Reid, 1878

Page: 62

GEDCOM Note

[3026504.ged] WILL: dated 24 Apr 1747, proved 29 Oct 1750, Westerly, RI Genealogies of Rhode Island Families, Volume II; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1989; pp 679. The Genealogical Dictionary Of Rhode Island; by John Osbern Austin; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1982; pp 343. Appointed a Deputy, 1705. In 1732 he was ordained "an evangelist or traveling minister". In 1739 he was appointed an Elder, to assist his brother.

GEDCOM Note

Records not imported into INDI (individual) Gramps ID P1536:

Line ignored as not understood Line 32013: 3 _APID 1,7836::793105 Line ignored as not understood Line 32022: 3 _APID 1,7836::793105