Joseph Baldwin (1751-1844)

Birth

Joseph Baldwin was born on 13 Sep 1751 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, as the sixth child of Theophilus Baldwin and Sarah Lamb. He had nine siblings, namely: Thankful, David, Abigail, Sarah, Theophilus, Nathan, Asa, Lucy, and Rebecca. Joseph Baldwin was baptized on 10 May 1752 in North Stonington, New London, Connecticut.

Marriage and Children

When he was 19, Joseph Baldwin married Sabra Billings, daughter of John Billings and Elizabeth Page, on 14 Nov 1770 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut.

Joseph Baldwin and Sabra Billings had the following children:

1. Elizabeth Baldwin was born on 11 Apr 1771 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut.  She married Thomas Holmes on 19 Nov 1789 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut. She died on 04 Mar 1810 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut.
2. Sally Baldwin was born in 1774 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut. She married Simeon Clark in Connecticut. She died on 12 Jul 1860 in New London, Connecticut.
3. Sabra Baldwin was born in 1777 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut. She married Daniel Thurston in Connecticut.
4. Bridget Baldwin was born in 1780 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut.  She married Robert M Palmer on 03 Feb 1801 in Griswold, New London, Connecticut. She died before 1860 in New London, Connecticut.
5. Joseph Baldwin was born in 1784 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut.
6. Andrew B Baldwin was born on 02 Jan 1788 in Lisbon, New London, Connecticut. He married Betsey Hutchins on 01 Jan 1811 in Connecticut. He died on 09 Oct 1882 in Thompson, Windham, Connecticut.
7. Henry Baldwin was born on 08 Mar 1790 in Lisbon, New London, Connecticut. He married Abigail Baldwin on 15 Sep 1815 in Connecticut. He died on 19 Aug 1863 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut.

The American Revolution

Joseph Baldwin assisted in establishing American Independence while acting in the capacity of Sergeant in 1776 and again as Private in 1779. He was a Revolutionary War soldier. With a wife and two young daughters at home, Joseph first went to serve under Captain Witter and Colonel Latimer in 1776. They were engaged in three notable battles, namely the Orchard Fight, Kip’s Bay, and Harlem Heights, all in New York. He served again, in 1779, under Captain Hewitt.

On 10 Sep 1832, Joseph Baldwin, then 80-years old, appeared in city court at Norwich, New London, Connecticut and gave an account of his service under oath.

“…on the 2nd day of June AD 1776 he voluntarily enlisted in the military services of the United States in said New London County in a company commanded by Capt. Ebenezer Witter of which company, Elias Sanford Palmer was Lieutenant, Joseph Smith was second Lieutenant, and John William was Ensign, for the term of seven months. Enlisted at Stonington. On or about the 20th June same year proceeded from Stonington through the village on board a bessect commanded by Capt Ebenezer Allen, with about twenty other recruits to sail for New York. Our passage was made in about six days. Having two brothers in Capt Eldridge’s Company stationed a little easterly of the City near the East River, the Captain landed the declarant there, and the next morning his said brothers accompanied him down to the city, where he joined his company at the Grand Battery so called.

While there he assisted by the use of the flat bottomed boats, to get the troops over to Long Island, from New Jersey, and York Island and they were landed at Brooklyn. After a short time, our company crossed over to Brooklyn and went to Cobble Hill Fort. After two or three days went from the Fort into the _Plains?___ and remaining there three to four days were then ordered back to the City. Soon after which, our company went to Briary Plains so called and went into trenchments. On the 15th of September, a very hot day, we were engaged in the Orchard Fight. Our Company was under command of Jonathan Latimer as Col. and Waterman Clisst as Major. Col. Selden was taken by the enemy. This fight took place soon after a number of the British ships moved up the river with troops and landed them on York island. After this fight we were moved to Harlem Heights about two or three weeks. Thence to Mile Square over Kings bridge. Thence to White Plains. Our company was present at the battle but was not actually engaged in it. Thence went to West Chester, for a few days. Thence to Berkshire under the same company officer. Thence we went to North Castle, to winter quarters. The weather became very cold and the declarant was discharged there on the 25th of December, as near as he can recollect without writing. During the whole of which period aforesaid, the declarant says that he served in quality of Sergeant of said Company.

On the first June 1779, the declarant was drafted at Stonington to serve for two months under Capt Richard Hewitt. Part of which time the declarant served as a private at Fort Griswold and part of the time at Stonington Point. He served the entire two months and was discharged at the fort at Stonington Point, without writing, with fourteen others…”

In the pension application, there is also testimony from Joseph’s brother, Asa, to support Joseph’s claim of service.

“I Asa Baldwin of Stonington in the County of New London State of Connecticut of Lawful age duly qualified testify and say that in the summer of 1776 I was in the army in and near New York and on Long Island that while there saw my brother Joseph Baldwin then of Stonington … of Lisbon in said County he the said Joseph Baldwin being then in the army and belonged to the Regt commanded by Coln Tilden and to Capt Ebenezer Witters Company that I saw said Joseph anumber of times on Long Island and at New York while he remaind in said service and after the army proceeded to the White Plains our Regt was separated from the one said Joseph was in and I saw him no more until he returned home to my fathers in Stonington in the fore part of January 1777. I always understood and verity believe that the said Joseph enlisted for seven months and that he served out the whole of said term — Asa Baldwin”

Likewise, Joseph Baldwin gave testimony to support Asa’s pension application.

“I, Joseph Baldwin of the Town of Lisbon in New London County in the State of Connecticut aged 80 years a Soldier of the Revolution, being sworn according to Law, do on my oath certify, declare and say that I have been well acquainted with Asa Baldwin of Stonington in said County from my youth being his elder brother. That the said Asa Baldwin did enlist at Stonington as a private soldier under Lieutenant John Belcher sometime in the summer of 1775 for 5 months. That he joined Major Lattimer’s Company at New London from thence went to Cambridge near Boston. I always understood and verily believe that he served the full term of five months under this enlistment. After that term of service expired, he enlisted for 12 months under Ensign Daniel Billings of Stonington. I believe this enlistment was about the first of January 1776 that he joined the company commanded by Captain James Eldridge at Roxbury near Boston. From thence they proceeded to New York & in the summer of 1776, I was a soldier at and near New York and I recollect of being stationed at that time at one of the large boats and assisted with transporting the troops to Long Island. That said Asa Baldwin, with sd. Capt Eldridges’s Company to which he then belonged, crossed in said boat. I saw him a number of times after our troops retreated from Long Island in and about New York that he served under this enlistment I verily believe twelve months. That I recollect he was up to this time a minor & that about the first of January 1777 he the sd Asa enlisted for three months at Stonington aforesaid under Lieutenant Sanford Billings of sd. town in Capt. Jeremiah Healsey’s Company they were stationed at Providence where I visited him during the winter that I understood & verily believe he served three months under this enlistment. (over)”

“That on or about the month of August 1778 or 9 he enlisted in a Company commanded by Capt. Richard Hewitt of Stonington for eight months was stationed at and near New London that I recollect as going down with sd. Asa while in that service. I while returning home and leading the horse he rode down my hand got caught in the bridle & put my thumb out of joint, from which injury my hand has never recovered. At this time I had a family, I resided near his father’s, I was in a situation to know of the circumstances above related. I also knew of his, the said Asa Baldwin, being drafted in the militia I believe for the term of one month at Stonington aforesaid in a Company commanded by Captain Daniel Fish but in what month or year I cannot say with certainty. Dated at Lisbon August 20th 1832. Joseph Baldwin.”

A minister vouched for Joseph when he made his testimony.

“I Levi Nelson, a clergyman of Lisbon, County of New London and State of Connecticut, certify that I am well acquainted with the forenamed Joseph Baldwin, and that I consider him to be a man of truth and certainty, and that his testimony may be relied on.”

Connecticut

At the time of the Revolutionary War, Joseph Baldwin lived at Stonington, New London, Connecticut. After the war, he lived several years in Preston. Then he finally settled in Lisbon, New London, Connecticut, which was incorporated as a town in 1786. Joseph Baldwin lived the remainder of his life at Lisbon.

Death

Joseph Baldwin died on 14 Nov 1844 in Lisbon, New London, Connecticut, at the age of 93.

Where was he in the tree?

Sources:

Ancestry.com, Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006).

Ancestry.com, Connecticut Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006).

Baldwin, Charles Candee, Baldwin: The Baldwin genealogy from 1500 to 1881 [database on-line] (Cleveland: unknown, 1881).

Baldwin, John Denison, A record of the descendants of John Baldwin of Stonington, Conn. (Worcester: Tyler & Seagrave, 1880). Available at https://archive.org/details/recordofdescenda00inbald.

Boas, Norman F., “Stonington in Rebellion, 1775,” The Stonington Historical Society, 1999, Web, 11 June 2016, http://www.stoningtonhistory.org/index.php?id=55.

DAR, ancestor #A20483, http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A204383.

Gabriel, Michael P., Ph.D., “Battle of Kip’s Bay,” George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Web, 11 June 2016, http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/battle-of-kips-bay/.

Revolutionary War Pensions at Fold3, www.fold3.com, Joseph Baldwin; https://www.fold3.com/image/11007359 and Asa Baldwin; https://www.fold3.com/image/12816324.

Stockwell, Mary, “Battle of Harlem Heights,” George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Web. 11 June 2016, http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/battle-of-harlem-heights/.

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Ancestor #: A204383. https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A204383.