BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Joseph Crosby and Sarah French

Joseph Crosby was the fourth child of Simon and Rachel (Brackett) Crosby. He was born in the family home in Billerica, Massachusetts on July 5, 1669.

Sarah French was born on October 29, 1671, also in Billerica, to William and Mary (Lothrop) French.

Apparently, Sarah could not read or write as she made a mark to acknowledge her inheritance upon her father's death in 1681. The bulk of the inheritance consisted of "40 acres in ye old common field", "4 acres in mill swamp" and 14 acres of ye homestead".

On May 6, 1691, Joseph and Sarah were married in Billerica. Joseph was given land by his father and built a home "near Nutting's Pond on Bedford Road."

The couple would have twelve children:

Joseph Crosby was a farmer and a tailor and apparently led a life somewhat less remarkable than his forebears. A book on the Crosby family, published in 1914, notes that Joseph "was just what he was and nothing else...it does not matter whether Joseph Crosby made a success of his life or not." While Joseph deeded bits of land to his children, he also sold other parcels for money.

Sarah (Foster) Crosby probably died in the latter half of 1727 in Billerica, at about the age of 56.

Joseph would live nine more years during which he sold off all of his remaining property . In 1736, unable to support himself, he took the unusual step of petitioning the court to have his children care for him. For reasons unknown, the case was never brought to trial. Joseph is believed to have died in 1736 or shortly thereafter.

Sources & Related Information

  • Family records
  • "Simon Crosby the Emigrant: His English Ancestry and some of his Descendants" by Eleanor Davis Crosby, 1914