Josiah Cushman and Susanna Shurtleff

Portions Transcribed from The Descendants of Robert Cushman, The Puritan, From the year 1617 to 1855
by Henry Wyles Cushman, 1855

Josiah Cushman and Susanna Shurtleff

27 VI JOSIAH. (86) b. 21 Mch. 1687-8, d. 13 Apl. 1750, ae. 62 years and 22 days. He m. Susanna Shurtleff, dau. Capt. Wm. Shurtleff, 29 Dec. 1709, by Rev. Isaac Cushman. She was b. at Plymouth in 1691, d. 27 July 1763, in her 73d year. He was a Lt. in the militia and lived in that part of Plymouth that is now Carver. He was a highly respected and useful man. He joined the chh. during the ministry of his uncle, Rev. Isaac Cushman.

The following is a copy of the introductory part of his Will made in June, 1742, recorded in Plymouth Colony Records, vol. 12, p. 275:

"Imprimis, I will and bequeath my soul unto God who gave it me and my body to the dust to be decently interred, at the


gravestones of Lt. Josiah Cushman (1687/8-1750) and Susannah Shurtleff Cushman (1691-1763)
buried in "Ye Olde Burial Grounds" Plympton, Mass.

129

Fourth Generation

discretion of ny Executor herein after named, nothing doubting but at ye general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life," &c.

The inventory of his personal property amounted to �207 19s. 6d.

A great grandson of his (Elisha P. Cushman, Esq., of Bloomfield, Indiana,) gives the following tradition of him: "I recollect, my Grandfather telling how his father (LI. Josiah) bought a negro boy in Kingston, Mass. There were several of them for sale; he lifted up some of them, and they all cried, but when he took hold of the one he purchased, he looked up into his face and laughed. His name was called King. He is said to have been a very faithful and good negro. When my great grandfather died he gave King to my grandfather's brother, who offered to give him his freedom; but the old negro refused, saying, "they had had the meat and must then pick the bone."

We give the foregoing as illustrating the state of society and civilization of that day. It was not uncommon, at that time, even in Mass., for the best men to hold slaves! What a change a century has produced in that particular! On 29 Dec 1709, Josiah married SUSANNA SHURTLEFF, daughter of Capt. William Shurtleff (1657-4 Feb 1730) & Susanna Lothrop, (Feb. 28, 1664/5-9 Aug 1726), in Plympton, Massachusetts. She was born on 1 Mar 1691 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, New England. On 27 Jul 1763, Susanna died in Plympton, Mass. They had the following children: 

    i. Susanna (Died as Infant), (1710-) 
   ii. Martha,  (1712-1770) 
  iii. Susanna,  (1715-1756) 
   iv. Anna,  (1717-) 
    v. Josiah,  (1719-1784) 
   vi. Elkanah,  (1721-1803) 
  vii. William,  (1723-) 
 viii. Elizabeth, (1728-1808) 
   ix. Isaiah,  (1730-1818)

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