Alternate History

The "handed down" history of Edward states that he and another brother, along with their father Richard, were in the lumber and shipbuilding business in Connecticut. They became unhappy with the quality and size of the local timber, so moved to New Brunswick, Canada. 

p. 569 Edward Alma Bagley

In our family, we have a very pretty story of Edward Bagley immigrating to Canada with his father and brother. It has a romantic certainty.

Here's an alternate story, but a lot more interesting in its own way.

In 1829, Edward Bagley was recruited into the United States second Infantry in Rochester, New York. He was a laborer; his age was 22; he was born in Connecticut. In January 1831, Edward Bagley is listed as a member of company F having deserted on January 25. Hiram Baker also deserted from the same company that day. Other individuals in Company F are listed as being at Hancock Barracks. Hancock Barracks is located at Garrison Hill in Houlton, Maine. Garrison Hill is next to the United States/Canadian border. It is 18 miles from the center of Woodstock, New Brunswick. Edward Bagley married Julia Grant in Woodstock in 1833. Edward Bagley bought land from John and Abisha Grant in July of 1832.

So, we now have Edward Bagley of Connecticut on the frontier in Western New York joining the US Army that stations him in what will become Maine and is across the current international border from Carlton county, New Brunswick. He leaves his post and disappears into the local population, marries a local girl and keeps details about himself to a minimum to avoid trouble with the United States Army.

Edward Bagley: Working Hypotheses

This is a follow up to Richard and Ester Bagley Part II - Wild Speculation.

I've been spending a lot of time looking in the Susquehanna Company as a possible explanation to the contradictions in the history of Edward Bagley. There are three Bagley families in Providence Pennsylvania - James Bagley, Jesse Bagley, and Richard Bagley living on the land of Elias Bagley. This has led to some interesting leads:

• Jenks Corey Bagley (ca 1795 to after 1884) - Jenks was an early settler in Washtenaw County Michigan.₁ He had a wife named Phoebe₂ - a brother named Jesse₃ who moved to Port Huron. Jenks and Phoebe had at least six children.₄ He was born in Luzerne  County.₅ He is likely the son of Jesse Bagley and Phoebe Bagley.₆ According to his application for a pension the Bagley family moved from Pennsylvania to Western New York and then to Michigan.₇ The name Jenks Bagley stongly links the family to North Providence/Smithfield Rhode Island -Jencks and Bagley families were neighbors and leaders in that part of Rhode Island for at least three generations.
• Eason Bagley (ca 1760 to before 1840) and Esther (Pepper) Bagley (ca 1780 to March 24, 1862) - Eason Bagley was an early settler of Bradford County, Pennsylvania.₈ He was in the county by 1812 and died before 1862. The last record we have of him is the 1830 federal census. ₉. His wife Esther Pepper was born in New York.₁₀ It is likely Esther is his second wife.₁₁ Some people believe Eason and Esther had a son born about 1810 named Edward and Eason's father is named Elias. If this speculation is true it is intriguing for my family. Eason could be the Richard Bagley living on Elias Bagley's property in Providence, Luzerne, Pennsylvania before 1800. This would give us a Richard and Esther living in New York or Pennsylvania, with a family history in Connecticut. 1810 is one possible birthdate for Edward Cyrenus Bagley.₁₂ Another possibility is Edward Bagley (1810 - 1874) who settled in Earlville, La Salle, Illinois.₁₃ Edward's eldest son Burton Bagley was born in 1834 in Bradford County PA.₁₄ However it is not clear if Eason and Esther Bagley were in Pennsylvania prior to 1812. 
• Edward Bagley (ca 1807, Connecticut), US Army Enlistment 1829₁₅ - Edward Bagley enlisted in the United States 2nd Infantry Company F in Rochester New York. His age is listed as 22. He deserted January 23, 1831. He was a common laborer. He did not list the town he was born in. There is no clear record of where he served. The 2nd Infantry was responsible for building and manning forts on the Great Lakes. If this is Edward Cyrenus Bagley this offers a different story than the family's traditional story. Instead of Edward Bagley and family moving to New Brunswick to log, Edward Bagley enlists in the US Army, gets tired of it and leaves to get a job across the boarder. He works for a couple of years - establishes himself in the local community and marries. It would explain the lack of records in New Brunswick prior to his receiving land and marrying Julia Ann Grant in 1833.

¹"history of washtenaw county, michigan - Google Books." history of washtenaw county, michigan - Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2017. <https://books.google.com/books?id=D4_OWVctHXoC&pg=PA493&lpg=PA493&dq=jenks+bagley+washtenaw+county&source=bl&ots=khcFv9ylaT&si>
²Phebe/Phoebe is possibly Phebe Allen, the daughter of George Allen. Phoebe Bagley is listed as the mother of Jenks' son Seneca. "Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHR6-558 : 9 December 2014), Seneca Bagley, 21 Oct 1902; citing Ypsi, Washtenaw, Michigan, reference v 3 p 50; FHL microfilm 1,019,063. Ancestry.com. Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=60872&h=753039462&ssrc=pt&tid=116259953&pid=230157354423&usePUB=true)Phoebe is living with Jenks in 1850. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MF8P-H46 : 12 April 2016), Phebe Bagley in household of Jenks Bagley, Superior, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States; citing family 1051, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Pheobe was born in NY and Pheobe Allen from NY, the daughter of George Allen married a Bagley. Letter to Mabel A. Warner from R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historical Genealogical Society. (https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/116259953/person/230157354423/media/d8cf746a-0bd8-4554-8731-cf61a9ee6901?usePUBJs=true).
³On Jenks Bagley's pension application, there are references to his nephew Warren Bagley of Port Hurson. Warren's father is Jesse Bagley. "Page 25 War of 1812 Pension Files - Fold3." Page 25 War of 1812 Pension Files - Fold3. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2017. (https://www.fold3.com/image/247/280434301).
⁴The children we can identify are sons: Seneca, Allen, Jesse and Osceola, and daughters: Carolin Matilda and Mary. Jackson and Edward Bagley and Martha Wilcox are living with Jenks Bagley in 1850 and may be his and Pheobe's children. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MF8P-H4D : 12 April 2016), Jenks Bagley, Superior, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States; citing family 1051, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
⁵"history of washtenaw county, michigan - Google Books." history of washtenaw county, michigan - Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2017. (https://books.google.com/books?id=D4_OWVctHXoC&pg=PA493&lpg=PA493&dq=jenks+bagley+washtenaw+county&source=bl&ots=khcFv9ylaT&si)
⁶There is a Phebe Bagley, aged 73, living in the Jenks Bagley household in 1850. Jesse Bagley is listed in the early Michigan census records in Ypsilanti living near Jenks.
⁷Page 25 War of 1812 Pension Files - Fold3." Page 25 War of 1812 Pension Files - Fold3. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2017. (https://www.fold3.com/image/247/280434301).
⁸"Pioneer and patriot families of Bradford County, Pennsylvania. " Pioneer and patriot families of Bradford County, Pennsylvania for. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2017. (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/20781/dvm_LocHist006867-00308-0/593?indiv=try&h&db). "Annual, Bradford County Historical Society : co...." Annual, Bradford County Historical Society : co.... N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2017. (https://archive.org/stream/annualbradfordc00pagoog#page/n254/mode/2up).
⁹T"United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHPR-7D8 : 12 August 2017), Eason Bailey, Canton, Bradford, Pennsylvania, United States; citing 131, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 145; FHL microfilm 20,619.
¹⁰In the 1850 federal census. Esther is living with her son James. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M44G-SWP : 12 April 2016), Esther Bagley in household of James Bagley, Le Roy, Bradford, Pennsylvania, United States; citing family 49, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
¹¹Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford lists Amy Bagley wife of William Pepper as the daughter of Eason Bagley. It also lists two sons, James who married Johanna Stickland and is probably Esther's oldest child and William who is not clearly identified. If the birth date on Amy's grave is correct, Amy was born in 1779 making her about the same age as Esther Pepper. This would mean Eason would need to be at least twenty years older, making Amy her step-daughter. Esther may also be related to her step-daughter's husband - based on his age William Pepper may have been her brother or cousin.
¹²There is disagreement about Edward's birth date. Pioneer Overland Travel puts his birth date in 1809. "Utah Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database, 1847-1868," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QL8S-G93Y : 25 July 2017), Edward Cyrenius Bagley, 25 Sep 1855; from "Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel: 1847-1868," database, > The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (https://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/ : 2004-). Family Histories put in 1815. The 1860 Federal Census puts it in 1810. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MH2W-WLK : 28 July 2017), Edwd Bagley, 1860. Because of his marriage in 1833, I am inclined to believe the earlier dates.
¹³United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHB8-TM1 : 15 August 2017), Edward Bagley, LaSalle, Illinois, United States; citing p. 150, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 63; FHL microfilm 7,643."United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8RS-MSK : 12 April 2016), Edward Bagly, Earl, La Salle, Illinois, United States; citing family 50, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXHC-KDL : 30 September 2017), Edward Bagley, 1860. "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M64B-FDW : 12 April 2016), Edward Bagley, Illinois, United States; citing p. 40, family 301, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,742.
¹⁴"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK12-H6CH : 15 December 2015), Burton W. Bagley, 1898; Burial, Earlville, LaSalle, Illinois, United States of America, Precinct Cemetery; citing record ID 149727007, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com. The source page contains a transcript of Burton's obituary from the Earlville Leader.
¹⁵Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls); Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Luther Bagley: a follow up on John Holroyd Bagley

Since the last time I wrote about the Bagleys from Rhode Island/Eastern Connecticut, I believe I have identified the parents of Luther Bagley. The first challenge with the family is getting used to the idea that the name Bagley/Bagly/Bayles/Bayley/Baily/Bailey are sometimes the same family. Luther and Sally were married on Aug. 9, 1804 in Providence. In the transcribe records of Rev. James Wilson, the names are Luther Bailey and Sally Baker.₁ In the Rhode Island Marriage indexes the names are Luther Bagley and Salley Baker._2,3 The newspapers consistently spelled the name "Bagley" when Luther died.₄ Luther Bagley is most likely the son of David Bagley and Dorothy Fox.  Luther Bagley was about 27 years old when he died in 1809. Making his birth year approximately 1782. Luther Bayley the son of David Bayley and Dorothy is born in Chatham, Connecticut in 1782.₅ David Bagley, son of Samuel Bagley, and grandson of Joseph Bagley "died in Connecticut".₆ Like Luther Bagley, the name Bagley was also reported as Bayley for David: David Bagley married Dorothy Fox₇ and David Bayley married Dorothy Fox.₈ David Bayley has a son Ambrose₉ and David Bagley has a son Ambrose.₁₀ I believe they are the same family. This would make John Holroyd Bagley a descendent of Samuel Bagley and not a descendant of Orlando Bagley as I expected.

Note: I started researching David Bagley's family in the hope that he had a son Richard who would be the father of Edward Bagely of New Brunswick. Even though David had six sons, none of them are named Richard.

Sources.
¹Arnold, Vital Records of Rhodes Island. Volume 7. p. 410.
²"Rhode Island Marriages, 1724-1916," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8KR-Q9G: 6 December 2014), Luther Bagley and Sally Baker, 09 Aug 1804; citing Providence,Providence,Rhode Island, reference ; FHL microfilm 914,406. ³"Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1916," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8VY-5MB : accessed 20 October 2017), Luther Bagley and Sally Baker, 09 Aug 1804; citing Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States, town halls, Rhode Island, and Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; FHL microfilm 387.
⁴ "Died." Providence Gazette. December 1, 1810. Volume XLVI. Issue 2449. 3.; "Died." Rhode-Island American. November 30, 1810. Volume III. Issue 13. 3.
⁵"Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74X-DM9 : 3 December 2014), Luther Bayley, 03 Aug 1782; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
I originally started looking at the family of David Bagley, hoping he had a son named Richard who would be the father of my ancestor Edward.
⁶Taylor, Janice Bagley. "Biography of Samuel Bagley." Bagley Biographies. Summer 1998. http://www.4familytrees.com/mckee/Samuel%20Bagley.pdf. Taylor refers to Reverend David Benedict's First Series, Part Six. Dated the 4th of March, 1853, which lists the children of Samuel Bagley that he raised on the farm he inherited from his father Joseph.
⁷Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2013. (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/3032/41107_620303988_0384-00011?indiv=try&h&db)
Original data: Connecticut. Church Records Index. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut.
⁸"Chatham, CT Vital Records from the Barbour Collection Surnames Starting with C to F." Chatham, CT Vital Records from the Barbour Collection Surnames Starting with C to F. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jun. 2017. (http://www.rays-place.com/town/chatham-ct/chatham-2.htm).
⁹ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F74X-DM2 : 3 December 2014), David Bayley in entry for Ambrose Bayley, 05 Jul 1784; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown. Arnold, Vital Records of Rhode Island, Volume 18, Providence Phenix Deaths. 262.
¹⁰Arnold, Vital Records of Rhode Island, Volume 13. 146.

Uncle George

I recently found I have another relative buried in Virginia from the Civil War. Clementine Clark is my g.g. grand mother. Her youngest daughter is my father's grandmother. Clementine had an older brother, George Clark. George was born November 20, 1834 in Gloucester, Massachusetts to John and Esther (Bishop) Clark. He married Harriet E. Tarr on March 19, 1862. I found Harriet died in 1886. According to the federal census, in 1870 and 1880 she was living with her parents as a widow. George and Harriet had a stillborn little boy who was born on October 12, 1862. That meant at some point between 1862 and 1870 Uncle George had died. Further research showed Harriet Clark was living with her parents according to 1865 Massachusetts census. She was a widow. So George died between 1862 and 1865. George was the right age to serve during the Civil War. I found a history of Gloucester that listed the citizens that served during the Civil War. There was a George Clark 3d. Uncle George was listed as George Clark 3d on one of the three records of his marriage. According to this history, George served twice: once in the Massachusetts 8th Regiment as a corporal and then in the Massachusetts 35th Regiment as a private. March 1862 was between the end of the three month enlistment in the 8th Regiment and the beginning of the three year enlistment with the 35th. George Clark 3d died after being shot by a guerrilla fighter on May 18, 1864 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In the civil war pension records I found Harriet E Tarr Clark. She received a widow's pension until she died in 1886. According to research published by the National Parks, George was initially buried on Gales Farm in Spotsylvania. An 1860 map at the Library of Congress puts Gayles Farm between Massaponax Church and Spotsylvania Courthouse. After the war his body was moved to the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. I have probably walked past Uncle George without knowing we were related. Next time I visit, it will be to visit with Uncle George.

Why Orlando Bagley

I have always thought the Ester Puffer/Captain Richard Bagley was about loyalists and patriots. My working hypothesis was someone wanted desperately to be a "good" american. They wanted to be part of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I saw a chart in Samuel Allin (1756-1841), Revolutionary War soldier of North Carolina and Kentucky : a record of his many descendants, 1756-1960₁ that illustrates another motive. The chart is interesting. It is not, like every other chart in the book a four generation chart; it shows two lines of couples going from child to parents to a common ancestral couple: Orlando Bagley and Sarah Colby. There are some birth and marriage dates, but most are missing. John Bagley and Margaret Mary Jane Allen are on the bottom on the right side. Joseph Smith Jr and Emma Hale are on the other. At least for the compilers of Samuel Allin there is second motive - to be "good" mormons. Being related to the Faith's founder would certainly do that.

¹Maude Bliss Allen, Flora F. Iverson and Carma Iverson, Samuel Allin (1756-1841), Revolutionary War soldier of North Carolina and Kentucky : a record of his many descendants, 1756-1960, n.d. 277.

John Holroyd Bagley and John Holroyd

John Holroyd Bagley (1806 - 1891) was a Hudson riverboat captain who was born in Providence, Rhode Island.₁ He died in Catskill, New York.₂ His grand-daughter, Emma (Bagley) Speed claimed he was the son of Luther and Sarah "Sally" (Baker) Bagley in 1911.₃ Emma informs us "Luther Bagley, born about 1775 in Providence, Rhode Island, was a marble cutter and dealt in monuments; was justice of the peace; prominent in the Masonic order." From available records we know Luther Bagley married Sally Baker in 1804,₄ and he died in 1809.₅ His wife, Sarah Bagley died the next year leaving three small children.₆ Two people claim to be children of this couple: Mary Malan (Bagley) Mason (1805-1891)₇ and John H. Bagley. It is possible the third child was too young to remember and identify their parents or they died without leaving a clear record. It is also possible based on the 1810 census there was another child in the household who died before Sally.₈ This leaves the following mysteries:

• Who are the parents of Luther Bagley and Sarah Baker? John H. Bagley's family believed Luther was likely descended from Orlando Bagley's family.₉ I think it is more likely Luther is the great grandson of Joseph Bagley(1672 -1743) the son of Samuel Bagley. Joseph has at least three grandsons (David, William and Joseph)  who could be the father of Luther Bagley and were living in the area when they died. The descendants of John Bagley could prove or disprove this with a genetic test. Of course, Luther Bagley may not be related to either of these Bagley families.
• Where did John Bagley's middle name come from? John Holroyd was prominent in the Providence, Rhode Island Masonic Lodge. He was a local minister and the son-in-law of Reverend Gano.₁₀ John H. Bagley's family speculates John Holroyd was a family friend.₁₁ Another possibility is John Holroyd is the foster father of John Bagley. Emma Speed's description of her great-grandfather might be a blending of Luther Bagley and John Holroyd. The Freemasons may very well have taken it on themselves to look after the Bagley orphans either as a general civic duty, or because the family had a connection to Freemasonry.
• Who cared for the Bagley children from the time of their mother's death to when they appear again in the public record? The records are thin for orphans. They are not listed in either parents estate papers. There are no records appointing guardians. There mother's obituary imply a community responsibility rather than individual responsibilities.₁₂ If the guess that John Holroyd fostered John Bagley. It is possible someone named Malan fostered his older sister Mary.
• How did fourteen year old John Bagley move from Providence, Rhode Island to Hudson, New York? The 1855 New York state census indicates John Bagley moved to Hudson 35 years before.₁₃ In 1820, John would have been 14. Did he move with a guardian? Was he apprenticed to a ships captain? Was he sent as an indentured servant?

Notes
1. "Locals." Windham Journal. February 19, 1891.; Culyer Reynolds. Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs. (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911) 1681.
2. "Locals."; Reynolds. 1681.; "Death of John H. Bagley, Senior." Hudson Daily Evening Register. February 6, 1891.
3. Reynolds. 1681. Emma Speed is clearly the source for this information since it lists her father's Bagley ancestors and her mother's Van Hoesen ancestors.
4. James N. Arnold. Vital record of Rhode Island : 1636-1850 : first series : births, marriages and deaths : a family register for the people. (Providence: Narragansett Historical Publishing Company, 1895) Volume 7. 410.; "Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1916," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8VY-5MB : accessed 16 June 2017), Luther Bagley and Sally Baker, 09 Aug 1804; citing Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States, town halls, Rhode Island, and Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; FHL microfilm 387.
5. Arnold. (1909) Volume 18. 246.; "Died." Providence Gazette. February 25, 1809. Volume XLV. Issue 2556. 3.; "Deaths." Columbia Phenix. February 25, 1809. Volume VII. Issue 370. 3.
6. "Died." Providence Gazette. December 1, 1810. Volume XLVI. Issue 2449. 3.; "Died." Rhode-Island American. November 30, 1810. Volume III. Issue 13. 3.
7. "Rhode Island Deaths and Burials, 1802-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8ZZ-BFT : 6 December 2014), Sarah Bagley in entry for Mary Malam Mason, 21 Jun 1891; citing Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, reference ; FHL microfilm 2,023,154.
8."United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XH2H-LG2 : accessed 20 June 2017), Sarah Bagley, North District, Providence, Rhode Island, United States; citing p. 78, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 58; FHL microfilm 281,232. The 1810 lists 2 males under 5 and 2 females under 5 in the household of Sarah Bagley. They appear to be living in the right location based on Sarah's obituary.
9. Reynolds. 1681.
10. Henry Warren Rugg, History of Freemasonry in Rhode Island. (Providence: E.L. Freeman and Son. 1895) 84. 365. 491. 820. 822.
11. RossBagley, Octtober 24,  2011 (03:06PM), reponse to dave3114, "John Holroyd BAGLEY Jr, Hudson / Catskill NY" Ancestry Message Boards.  February 16, 2011. https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.bagley/920/mb.ashx
12."Died." Providence Gazette.; "Died." Rhode-Island American.
13, "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K6S2-FB4 : 19 November 2014), John H Bagley, Ward 1, Hudson City, Columbia, New York, United States; count clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 479,098.

The Mysterious Lieutenant Josiah Bagley

In 1871, Ensign Josiah Bagley wrote to George Washington asking him for clemency on behalf of Edmund Burk.₁ Burk was apparently convicted of being drunk , disobeying orders, and had endangered the life of Ensign Bagley. Josiah Bagley was a member of the NewYork Regiments that fought with George Washington.₂ He probably enlisted in New York City, was appointed an Ensign and was promoted to Lieutenant.₃ His military career is fairly well documented. His life before and after is something of a mystery.

Josiah Bagley, might be the son of Josiah Bagley and Martha Wenman. We know Martha and Josiah have a son Josiah christened at Trinity Episcopal Church in 1754.₄ Unfortunately, while the elder Josiah's will probated in 1769 identifies his wife, Martha and brother-in-law, Richard Wenman, it does not identify any of his children by name.₅ Freeholders in Manhattan include Josiah who is a mariner who registered in 1749 and Josiah Jr., a carpenter, and William, a laborer, who registered in 1752. The mariner is probably the father of the carpenter. The carpenter is likely the husband of Martha (Wenman) Bagley who is listed in his will as a ship joiner. William Bagley could be a younger brother, and uncle, a cousin, to the younger Josiah.₆ Josiah, the mariner is likely the son of John Bagly and Mary (Jackson) Bagly christened in 1702 in Fairfield, Connecticut.₇ John is most likely the son of Samuel Bagley of Weymouth Massachusetts.

After the war, Josiah Bagley received a land grant from the state of New York in 1790 for 1200 acres for his service in the America Revolution.₈ He was given land in the military tract township of Tully and in the township of Fabius,₉ but did not settle there.₁₀ A family history claims the grant is in Genessee County.₁₁ He was an original member of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati,₁₂ but none of his descendants have joined.₁₃ A Josiah Bagley is in the 1790 Census in Hillsdale New York.₁₄ In the 1800 census a Josiah is still living in Hillsdale.₁₅ In the 1820 census, there is a Josiah living in Hillsdale₁₆ and Pembroke.₁₇

A Josiah Bagley in Hillsdale died in 1848 and is buried in Green River Cemetery. He is generally associated with Lieutenant Josiah Bagley of the New York regiments.₁₈ Alfred Bagley of Broome County New York was the grandson of a Josiah Bagley from Massachusetts. Alfred's father, Eli, was born in Columbia County New York in 1811.₁₉ This raises the possibility that the Josiah Bagley in Hillsdale is not Lieutenant Bagley, but the father of Eli Bagley and grandfather of Alfred. It is also possible the Josiah Bagley buried in Berkshire county Massachusetts is not the Lieutenant Josiah Bagley from the New York Regiments.

In 1840₂₀ and 1850₂₁ there is a Josiah Bagley living in Genesee county New York. The one recorded in 1850 was born in 1771 in Massachusetts - too young to be Lieutenant Bagley.

¹“To George Washington from Josiah Bagley, July 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, last modified March 30, 2017, http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-06558.
²Powell, William H. "List of Officers of the Army of the United States from 1779 to 1900." Hammersly and Co (New York: 1900) p. 13; Roberts, James A. "New York in the Revolution as Colony and State." Press of the Brandow Printing Company (Albany, New York: 1898) p. 40; "Calendar of Historical Manuscripts Related to the War in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany, New York." Weed Parsons and Company (Albany NY: 1868) p. 48-49.
³ "Calendar of Historical Manuscripts" p. 48;  Hamersly, Thomas H. S. "Complete Regular Army Register of the United States for 100 Years." T. H. S. Hamersly (Washington, DC: 1881) p. 16; "Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati: Formed by the Officers of the ... - John Schuyler - Google Books." Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati: Formed by the Officers of the ... - John Schuyler - Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2017. <https://books.google.com/books?id=L5YLAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=josiah+bagley+cincinnati&source=bl&ots=WMcrfwOc_N&sig=SM-arRN9dQEQh7FCexaYdCNwGME&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigl7HKyabTAhXK7yYKHWojDdUQ6AEIKjAC#v=onepage&q=josiah%20bagley%20cincinnati&f=false>.
⁴"New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V2HD-J2K : 12 December 2014), Josiah Bagley, 13 Nov 1754; citing TRINITY CHURCH PARISH,NEW YORK,NEW YORK,NEW YORK, reference ; FHL microfilm 974.7 B2N V. 90-93.
⁵"New York Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-28622-14051-65?cc=1920234 : 28 May 2014), New York > Wills 1767-1769 vol 26 > image 338 of 377; county courthouses, New York.
⁶"The Burghers of New Amsterdam and the Freemen of New York. 1675-1866 - New York (N.Y.) - Google Books." The Burghers of New Amsterdam and the Freemen of New York. 1675-1866 - New York (N.Y.) - Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.
⁷Schenck, Elizabeth Hubbell. "The history of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the settlement of the town in 1639 to 1818. (New York: 1905) Vol. 2 p. 475.
⁸Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants. (Baltimore, MD : Genealogical Pub. Co.) 1996. p. 19.
⁹"NAMES OF SOLDIERS WHO DREW LOTS IN THE MILITARY TRACT." NAMES OF SOLDIERS WHO DREW LOTS IN THE MILITARY TRACT. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2017. <http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyononda/SOLDLOTS.HTM>.
¹⁰"Onondaga's Centennial: Gleanings of a Century - Google Books." Onondaga's Centennial: Gleanings of a Century - Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2017. <https://books.google.com/books?id=iLJIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA867&lpg=PA867&dq=onondaga+military+tract+%22josiah+bagley%22&source=bl&ots=O3dxzNBMvI&sig=cBJvU4DDTWs85HIEMjZ9EqtVVwY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjNzquXpKfTAhWq1IMKHahSB4cQ6AEINTAD#v=onepage&q=%22josiah%20bagley%22&f=false>.; "Index. The balloting book and other documents relating to military bounty lands in the state of New-York. Albany, 1825." . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017. <http://tcpl.org/local-history/documents/nys-cny/Balloting_Book/Balloting_Book_p142to214.pdf>.
¹¹Shirk, Ida M. "Descendants of Richard & Elizabeth (Ewen) Talbott of Popular Knowle, West River, Anne Arundel County, Maryland." Shirk Genealogical Publishing Com 2009. p. 398. The passage is very vague:

His father, Thomas Bagley, son of Josiah, a soldier in the Revolution, was granted two sections of land, 1,280 acres, by State Government in Genesee Co., N. Y., for military service

It is not clear if the father Thomas Bagley is the soldier or the grand-father is the soldier in the revolution. Since Thomas Bagley was born around 1758 - Josiah can not be his father but is more likely a brother or cousin, and the family confused Lieutenant Bagley with his father. There is no record of Thomas Bagley serving in the revolution on either side.
¹²"Records of the Revolutionary War: Containing the Military and Financial ... - William Thomas Roberts Saffell, George Washington, Charles Lee, Nathanael Greene - Google Books." Records of the Revolutionary War: Containing the Military and Financial ... - William Thomas Roberts Saffell, George Washington, Charles Lee, Nathanael Greene - Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2017. <https://books.google.com/books?id=mR4TAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA477&lpg=PA477&dq=josiah+bagley+cincinnati&source=bl&ots=Tx5W4lHPJu&sig=4qmZm8U6bDuHqH5XNELPlFdWsXg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigl7HKyabTAhXK7yYKHWojDdUQ6AEIIzAA#v=onepage&q=josiah%20bagley%20cincinnati&f=false>.
^13"The New York State Society of the Cincinnati." The New York State Society of the Cincinnati. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2017. <http://www.nycincinnati.org/Never.htm>.
¹⁴"United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKP-661 : accessed 15 April 2017), Josiah Begley, Hillsdale, Columbia, New York, United States; citing p. 231, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 6; FHL microfilm 568,146.
¹⁵"United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRC-143 : accessed 16 April 2017), Josiah Bagley, Hillsdale, Columbia, New York, United States; citing p. 1180, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 22; FHL microfilm 193,710.
¹⁶"United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch;(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGF-KBN : accessed 16 April 2017), Josiah Bagley, Hillsdale, Columbia, New York, United States; citing p. 152, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 70; FHL microfilm 193,725.
¹⁷"United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLV-8DT : accessed 16 April 2017), Josiah Bagley, Pembroke, Genesee, New York, United States; citing p. 217, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 72; FHL microfilm 193,727.
¹⁸"Revolutionary War SoldiersBuried in Columbia County, New York." Revolutionary War SoldiersBuried in Columbia County, New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017. <http://www.newhorizonsgenealogicalservices.com/rev-ny-columbia-buried.htm>; "Lieut Josiah Bagley (1759 - 1848) - Find A Grave Memorial." Lieut Josiah Bagley (1759 - 1848) - Find A Grave Memorial. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017. <https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=17703&GRid=42315000&>.; "Historic Burial Grounds in Egremont - Egremont Historical Commission." Historic Burial Grounds in Egremont - Egremont Historical Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017. <https://egremonthistory.org/our-historical-resources/historic-burial-grounds-in-egremont/>.
¹⁹"Biographical review : this volume contains biog...." Biographical review : this volume contains biog.... N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017. <https://archive.org/stream/biographicalrevi02bost#page/n487/mode/2up/search/Bagley>.
²⁰"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT7-WM1 : 24 August 2015), Josiah Bagley, Darvin, Genesee, New York, United States; citing p. 599, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 287; FHL microfilm 17,188.
²¹"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCY6-YTB : 9 November 2014), Josiah Bagley, Darien, Genesee, New York, United States; citing family 368, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).