Jacob Basford

Several counfounders and parentage is uncertain. Here is the explanation plagerized from Descendants of Jacob Basford and Elizabeth Clifford (http://www.basford.org/genealogy/jacob-basford/JacobBasfordRegister/rr01/rr01_017.htm#P13874): There are at least two Jacob Basfords living in the Eastern Townships that have been difficult to straighten out. One is the son of Jacob and Leah (Harris) Basford who was born 6 Oct 1778. It appears that this Jacob is probably the one who married Hannah (Flanders) Libby and had a son WIllard. [LDC: FindAGrave.com has Jacob Basford 6 Oct 1778-3 Feb 1852, spouse of Hannah Flanders Basford, buried in George Cemetery, Brome Co., Quebec]. There is also a Jacob Basford who filed land papers with his wife Nancy in 1821(?) in the Township of Stanstead. This must be the same Jacob who married Nancy Poor. A listing of the family members was given: Jacob Basford; Nancy Basford, my wife; James Basford, my son, 19 years old; Rhuhama(?) Basford � 18 years old; Charlotte Basford � 16 years old, Mary Basford � 15 years old; Ro__y Basford � 13 years old; Cynthia Basford � 11 years old. Since he only married Nancy a few years before, the children must have been from a first wife. [317] This must be the Jacob Basford who married Nancy Poor 8 Sep 1818, Dunham, Canada East. Witnesses to his marriage to Nancy Poor were Henry Basford and William Gates, who would be the brother and brother-in-law to Jacob the son of Joseph and Lean (Harris) Basford. [316] This would suggest that it would be likely that this would fit in that family. However, many of the facts do not support this conclusion as will be discussed below. One scenario is that Jacob the son of Joseph and Leah married once, had some children; was married a second time to Nancy Poor in 1817; then was married a third time to the widow Hannah Flanders, and had a son Willard. However, Jacob the husband of Hannah is believed to have three daughters: Roxanna, Abigail and Sophronia. Jacob the husband of Nancy did have a daughter Roxey who could be the Roxanna, but Sophronia and Abigail are not listed in the record of his children found in the land petition. It might be possible that only Rozanna was his daughter, and that the other two "sisters" are actually cousins? Another scenario is that there were two Jacobs: one married Nancy Poor as his second wife, and the other married Hannah Flanders as his second wife. The Census data confirms that there were indeed two Jacob Basfords in that area in 1831; one lived in Shefford, and the other lived in Brome Township. One of them must be the son of Joseph and Leah, but it is not clear who the other one would be. He could be Jacob the brother of Joseph, or possibly he could be a son of that Jacob? For now, I will assume that the Jacob who married Hannah Flanders was the son of Joseph and Leah (Harris) Basford based on the close matching of the birthdate. I will also assume that the three Basford girls who married George brothers were his daughters by a first marriage. This would imply that the Jacob who married Nancy Poor must be a different person since he did not have daughters named Sophronia or Abigail. I will assume that this other Jacob must be a grandson of Joseph and Elizabeth (Goodhue) Basford, but it is not clear who his father would be. The best bet would be that he would be the son of Jacob (b. 5 Aug 1754) but we know very little about this family so far. He might be the Jacob Basford whose name appears on the list of petitioners for the settlement of the township of Raxton, Canada East. [219] (If it is not his uncle Jacob.) He might be the Jacob Basford in the 1825 census for Stanstead, Canada East. [2] He might be the Jacob Basford in the 1831 census for Shefford, Canada East [214] family of 8 1 male under 5 1 male age 5-14 1 single male 14-18 1 married male 30-60 2 femalies under 14 1 married female 14-45 1 single female 14-45 There was another Jacob Basford in the 1831 census for Brome Twp., Canada East [2] Could he be the father of Lydia Basford, "daughter of Jacob and Lydia Basford," who died 28 Dec 1842 aged 12 years, 11 months, 19 days, and is buried at All Saints Church, Dunham, Quebec, Canada. [198] If so, then he must have had a third wife after Nancy. Deeds: Land Petition of Jacob Basford, Lower Canada Land Papers, RG 1 L 3L, Vol. 38 13 Jul 1821(?) To his Excellency George Earl of Dulhouse .... Governor in Chief in & over the Province of Lower Canada ___ Admiral of the same. The humble petition of Jacob Basford of the Township of Stanstead in the District of Montreal & Province of Lower Canada. Most humbly _____ that your petitioner would beg to be permitted to approach your Excellency & to state that he has resided in this Province for more than twenty one years last past ,that he has a family who together with himself are desirous of settling in this Province, that he has never received any of the waste lands of the Crown or any of the favor from the British Government. Therefore your Excellencys Petitioner most humbly prays your Excellencys that since his Majesties Government have manifested(?) an intention of providing the settlement & improvement of this ____ by granting portions of the wastelands of the Crown to subjects of tried & established loyalty and attachment to the Government that your Excellency will be favorably pleased to take into your wise consideration the prayer of your petitioner & that your Excellency in your ____ _____ pleased to grant such portions of the waste land of the crown to himself & his family as your Excellency in your proper wisdom may deem ____ & your Excellencys Petitioner and in duty bound will ever pray Jacob Basford Stanstead Lower Canada 13th July 1821(?) Your Excell'ys Petitioner begs to be permitted to give the names of his family (______) Jacob Basford Nancy Basford, my wife James Basford, my son 19 years old Rhuhama(?) Basford � 18 years old Charlotte Basford � 16 years old Mary Basford � 15 years old Ro__y Basford � 13 years old Cynthia Basford � 11 years old We do certify that from _____ & _______ with Jacob Basford we do believe that the statement in this foregoing Petition is true _______ _____ our hands at Montreal(?) this 18th day of July 1821(?) ____ Hubbard __ __ ____ Charles Kilborn __ __ _______________________________________________________________________________ Summary of records (of all confounded Jacob Basfords): ------------------------- * 6 Oct 1778 NH: Jacob Basford born, son of Joseph Basford and Leah Harris. * 10 Jan 1785: Hannah Flanders born, dau., Thomas Flanders and Eunice Eastham. * 1801/2: Son James Basford born * 1802/3: Dau. Rhuhama born * 1804/5: Dau. Charlotte born * 1805/6: Dau. Mary born * 1807/8: Dau. Roxey born * 1809/10: Dau. Cynthia born * June 1814: Dau. Sophronia born * Sep 1817: Dau. Abigail born * 18 Sep 1818: Jacob Basford m. Nancy Poor. Witnesses: Henry Basford & William Gates. [Note: Witnesses are believed to be a son & son-in-law of Joseph Basford & Leah Harris]. * 1821: Stanstead: Land record identifies: Jacob Basford, Nancy his wife, Children: James 19, Rhuhama 18, Charlotte 16, Mary 15, Roxey 13, Cynthia 11. * 1825 Census Stanstead: Jacob Basford * 1827: Hannah Flanders' first husband, Moses Libby, dies * 9 Jan 1830: Lydia, dau. Jacob and Lydia, born. * 1831 Census Brome Twp.: Jacob Basford * 1831 Census Shefford: Jacob Basford 1M(<5), 1M(5-13), 1M(14-17), 1M(marr. 30-60), 2F(<14), 1F(marr 14-45), 1F(single, 14-45). * 12 Aug 1833 Knowlton. Williard C. Basford born to Jacob Basford and Hannah Flanders. His death certificate (Barton, VT, 13 Jul 1918) names these as his parents. * 28 Dec 1842: "Lydia, dau. of Jacob and Lydia Basford" dies, age 12y, 11m, 19d. Bur. All Saints Church, Dunham, Quebec. * 3 Feb 1852: Jacob dies, buried George Cemetery, Mansonville, QC. "1791-1852" * 1875: Hannah (Flanders)(Libby)Basford dies. Buried George Cemetery, Mansonville, QC. "1791-1875" * Buried in George Cemetery, Mansonville, Quebec: Sophronia (Basford) George (Jun 1814-3 Aug 1881), Abigail (Basford) George (Sep 1817 - 11 Feb 1888). * 3 Feb 1852: Jacob b. 1779 dies. Buried in George Cemetery, Mansonville, Quebec, with wife Hannah. * 1875: Hannah (Flanders)(Libby)Basford dies. Bur. George Cemetery, Mansonville, Quebec. Another possibility not covered in Basford genealogy: Abigail and Sophronia are daughters of Hannah (Flanders) Libby by her first husband. They are adopted by Jacob, hence change their name. ---------------------- A few things that help untangle these: The witnesses of the wedding of Jacob Basford & Nancy Poor are a son and a son-in-law of Joseph Basford and Leah Harris. The 1821 land record shows him to be the father of James. The gravestone dates show him to be the one who was married to Hannah (Flanders)(Libby) when he died. So, from these, Jacob son of Joseph & Leah had three wives, unknown, Nancy Poor and Hannah Flanders.