285. David Bostwick, son of Benajah and Hannah (Fiske) Bostwick, was born in New Milford, Ct., Aug. 3, 1742, and died in Upper Merryall, New Milford, Ct., Oct. 4, 1821.

He married (1) in New Milford, Ct., Apr. 5, 1770, Hannah Hill. She died in Upper Merryall, Ct., May 23, 1798, aged 52 years. He married (2) Sarah Averill.

She died in Upper Merryall, Ct., Apr. 27, 1812, aged 65 years.

286. Joel Bostwick', son of Benajah and Hannah (Fiske) Bostwick, was born in New Milford, Ct., Aug. 3, 1745, and died in Upper Merryall, Ct., Apr. 11, 1777.

He married in New Milford, Ct., June 21, 1768, Sarah Kinney.

She was born in New Milford, Ct., Mar. 27, 1750, and died in Upper Merryall, Ct., Nov. 10, 1822.

He served in the War of the Revolution as a private in Capt. Couch's company, Col. Andrew Ward's regiment, Feb. 1 to Apr. 1, 1776.

301. James Bostwick', son of David and Mary (Hinman) Bostwick, was born in New York City, in 1761, and died in Hillsdale, N. Y., Nov. 27, 1836.

302. Elisha Bostwick', son of Samuel and Anne (Fiske) Bostwick, was born in New Milford, Ct., Dec. 17, 1748, and died there Dec. 1, 1834.

He married in New Milford, Ct., May 14, 1786, Betty, daughter of David and Abigail (Comstock) Ferris.

She was born in New Milford, Ct., May 25, 1768, and died there July 13, 1834.

In the War of the Revolution he enlisted as Sergeant, in Capt. Isaac Bostwick's company, in the 7th regiment, Conn. line, Col. Charles Webb, July 12, 1775, and was discharged Dec. 21, 1775, (see No. 92).

He also served as Lieutenant in the 8th company, 13th regiment, Conn. militia, in May, 1777, and rose to be Colonel in the militia. forces of the State.

He was for fifty-five years town clerk of New Milford, during which time he filled with his quill pens, twenty-one volumes of land records, and wrote an index of grantees, in a separate book, for the first twelve volumes of land records, and also an index of both grantees and grantors, for each of the first thirty-five volumes of land records. also planned and wrote an index of all the highways in the town that were made before his resignation, which was of great value.

For these services he received at various times certain considerations of value from the town and also from individuals. His allowance for recording a deed was one shilling, and, in the absence of ready money he received a due bill for this amount.

After his decease something like one thousand of these bills, it is said, were found unpaid.

He was justice of the peace for many years, and in the period of twenty years service, the number of marriages he officiated at was ninety-two.

When in his twentieth year, he heard that a daughter was born to David Ferris, who resided across the river, and he went over and called to see the baby. While looking at it in the cradle, he said to the mother, "It is a very nice baby; keep her until she is grown up and I will marry her". "All right", said the mother, "you shall have her". And so when he had been through the War of the Revo lution and was securely settled in his home, they were married.

Col. Bostwick was a fine appearing man, religious and noble in his character, and a man in whom all the people of the town took much honor and delight, and when, after fifty-five years of service as town clerk, he declined a further election, there was a most affecting scene at the town meeting.

He wrote his letter of resignation and placed it in the hands of Judge D. S. Boardman, a life long friend, to read in the meeting. This letter Judge Boardman began to read, but was so overcome with emotion, that he handed it to the clerk of the meeting, took his seat and with great effort restrained a further expression of the pathetic feelings which were induced by a sense of the final separation between the town and a long tried and faithful servant.

The letter was as follows:

"To the inhabitants of the town of New Milford, in annual town meeting this day assembled.

Gentlemen:

The time, I think, has now arrived, which in course of Divine Providence renders it proper that some other person should be appointed to the office of town-clerk, the failure of my eyesight compels me to make this statement.

I am now in the 84th year of my age. You, gentlemen, and your venerable fathers (now no more) having appointed me to that office for 55 years in succession, and I have in that time filled 21 volumes of land records, and now borne down as I am with old age, and with afflictions and sorrows, I deem it my duty to decline a further appointment.

And now, alas! Where shall I find words to express my gratitude and thankfulness to the Town for all their past favors, and above all, to

my God, for all his mercies, so that my present feelings and the tender emotions of my mind are such that I lose the power of utterance.

I add no more and must close abruptly.

New Milford, 1st Monday

of October, 1832.

ELISHA BOSTWICK.

Upon the presentation of this letter, the town meeting caused the following record to be made :

"At an annual town meeting of the inhabitants of the town of New Milford, legally warned and held at the Town House, in said New Milford, on the 1st Monday of October, 1832, Nathaniel Perry, chosen moderator, Oliver W. Pickett, Clerk pro tem.

Voted, that the thanks of the Town be presented to Col. Elisha Bostwick for his long and faithful services in the office of town clerk and that his communication, this day made to the town meeting, declining a reappointment, be recorded upon the record book of the Town".

Colonel Bostwick was representative from the town of New Milford to the Assembly fourteen sessions. He was surveyor of lands and did so much service in that capacity, that he was familiar with the boundaries of nearly every farm and locality of the town.

At the time the new Congregational meeting-house was just opened (1833) for worship where it now stands, and on the morning that the old meeting-house was to be torn down, Col. Bostwick went into the old house, took his usual seat, looked around on the seats where his kindred and neighbors had sat for worship during eighty years of his own memory, then rising, with the hymn-book in his hands, he sang a hymn, knelt and offered the last prayer in the old house, then arose and departed in peace to his own home.

701

iii. SAMUEL Randolph, b. Aug. 16, 1799; d. Dec. 30, 1802.

304. Samuel Bostwick', son of Samuel and Anne (Fiske) Bostwick, was born in New Milford, Ct., Jan. 19, 1755, and died there Apr. 3, 1799.

He married in New Milford, Ct., May 14, 1786, Polypheme, daughter of Lazarus and Hannah (Bostwick) Ruggles (363).

She was born in New Milford, Ct., Dec. 4, 1763, and died in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., April —, 1829.

307. Samuel Bostwick', son of Daniel and Lois (Holmes) Bostwick, was born in Bedford, N. Y., (date not known) and died there Aug. 13, 1798.

He married Mrs. Dorcas Rockwell.

She was born Nov. 28, 1753.

In the War of the Revolution he served as a private in Captain Chapman's company, in Col. Thomas' 2d Westchester, N. Y., regiment, and also in Captain Sackett's company in the same regiment.