A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
NameCol Josiah Edson 
459
459Birth24 Jan 1709459
DeathAug 1776, Long Island City, Queens Co, Province of New York, BCA11 Age: 67
BurialFirst Cemetery, Bridgewater, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts1381
FatherCapt Josiah Edson (1682-1762)
MotherSarah Packard (1692-1754)
Notes for Col Josiah Edson
The third of the children, Col. Josiah Edson, was born on January 24, 1709, graduated from Harvard in 1730, was the owner of large real estate and represented Bridgewater for 12 years in the General Court at Boston.His term there expired in 1773 in the stormy years preceding the American Revolution.He was the colonel of a full regiment of militia and when the crisis came the old man stuck to his King and his colors.He saw only disaster in any attempt to coerce the parent government.He had been one of the 17 "rescinders" in the General Court when that body voted, on June 30, 1768, 92 against 17, not to rescind their appeal to the other colonies to resist the oppression of the Crown.He was also one of the "36" mandamus councilors of 1774.In the excitement of the time, he found his position unbearable and in the autumn of 1774, he left his home and joined the British Forces in Boston.In the early part of 1776 he accompanied the Royalist troops to Halifax, Nova Scotia, later returning to Headquarters on Long Island, New York.On September 23, 1778, by resolve of the General Court of Massachusetts, his property was confiscated and sold.He died December 28, 1778, broken hearted and depressed, still with the British Army on Long Island.His widow existed in poverty and was helped by the Town.His confiscated home at Bridgewater was, as late as 1949 , marked with a sign stating that this was where the "Tory" lived.As far as ascertained, Col. Josiah Edson was the only Edson who was a Tory sympathizer.Several Edsons of his and following generations served with distinction in the American Revolutionary Forces. 459