The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Birth: 28 Mar 1708 Milford / New Haven / CT Death: 02 Feb 1797 / / CT
Qualifying Service Description:
He served as a Private in the 8th Company of Captain Joseph Smith of the Connecticut Militia
Additional References:
DAR Patriot Index, Volume 1, pages. 73, 248
DAR Vol 95, pg 161
NSDAR #64521
SAR Patriot Index #32579 - 64491
NSSAR #128286; Sar File Ref# 10166 - 2480
SAR 141955, John Botsford Took Oath of Allegiance
SAR Patriot Index Edition III (CD: PP2210, Progeny Publ, 2002) plus data to 2004
Rev War Rolls, 1775-1783. Micropublication M246, roll 26. Washington: National Archives
Record of service of Connecticut men in the I. War of the Revolution, II. War of 1812, III. Mexican War, compiled by authority of the General Assembly, under direction of the Adjutants-General, Hartford: Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co, 1889, pg 68-69
John Botsford 28 March 1708 in Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, the son of John. He married Anna Bennet about 1732.
Abiel was born on 28 January 1733 and married Abigail Kent. He died in 1773.
Lucy was born on 8 March 1758 and married Henry Wood.
Abigail was born on 30 April 1759 and married Hill Fairfield.
Bethia was born on 14 December 1760 and married James Raymond.
John was born on 3 June 1763.
Moss Kent was born on 22 January 1768.
Lucy was born on 20 December 1735 and married George Smith.
Keziah was born on 2 October 1737 and married Joseph Wheler.
Anna was born about 1742 and married Benjamin Dunning.
John was born on 28 January 1756 and married Huldah Nichols.
He married a second time to Lydia [surname unknown].
It has been suggested that he is the same man who served as a Private in the 8th Company of Captain Joseph Smith of the Connecticut Militia in 1775. I’m somewhat skeptical of this as he would have been 67 years old at the time, while his son, John, would have been 19 years of age. It is far more likely that this service belongs to the son, rather than the father.
However, John Botsford did take the Oath of Allegiance, which makes him a Patriot.
John made his Last Will and Testament in May of 1794 at Newtown, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He names his heirs as his wife Lydia, daughter Lucy [deceased, wife of George Smith, also deceased], daughters Keziah and Anna, son Abiel [deceased] and Abliel’s son John, granddaughters Lucy wife of Henry Wood, Bethiah wife of James Raymond, and Abigail, wife of Hill Fairchild. He also lists another grandson Moss Kent Botsford.
John died on 9 November 1794 in Newtown, Fairfield County, Connecticut. His place of burial is unrecorded.
Authors Note: there are multiple men named John Botsford and caution should be used when attributing any information to future applications.
Sources:
Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850, Newtown, Fairfield County.
Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783. Micropublication M246, roll 26. Washington: National Archives.
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