Joseph Agard b: 1746

I am back working on my Agard family line. I started this research in the early 2000s and recently organized the write-ups on each generation into a 3-ring binder.

I chose to work on the third generation, the family of John and Mary (Mason) Horsford Agard. I started with their first son, Joseph, born 17 Aug 1746 who married Tabitha Leach bef 1775. Delving into this line, I learned that Joseph and Tabitha moved west to New York. I learned this line of the Agards moved to Smithville Flats, New York. With help from the local historical society I was able to put together information on the family and surprised to see how many Agards are buried in the local cemetery there. Here is the write-up so far on the Joseph and Tabitha Agard: Joseph married Tabitha Leach (b: 20 Nov 1750- d: 8 September 1818 age 67) bef 1775. Tabitha was the daughter of Richard and Amity Rebecca (Bugbee) Leach. In 1776, Joseph was a new-comer into the Winchester Society. “The town of Winchester lies in the northeast corner of the county. It is situated in the ‘Evergreen district of the state,’ and is hilly and mountainous. The soil a coarse gravelly loam and well adapted to graving. Winchester was granted by the Colonial Legislature in January 1686, to the towns of Hartford and Windsor. By dissolution of the partnership between the two towns, Winchester came under the sole proprietorship of Hartford.” Joseph and Tabitha moved to Pawlings, New York in 1803, where he claimed he owned a house and lot with real estate of 334 acres. The couple had six children. In 1798 the first settler of Smithville, New York, Robert Lytle, sold land to Joseph Agard and Epaphas Sheldon, and families. Smithville was founded in 1808 from part of the Town of Greene. I surmise Joseph moved his family to Smithville because of the land that became available following the Revolutionary War and subsequent treaties with the Indians. The quantity of land purchase is not known. “Joseph Agard built first frame house “which stood in front of Robert Hetrick residence” in hamlet of Smithville. (Smith’s History) “In front of” is not clearly defined but believed to be across street from current location, next to Seebers. Later deeded (1811) to his son Erastus. Joseph and Tabitha are buried in Smithville Flats Cemetery, Chenango County, New York, Plot 169. The epitaph on the grave of Tabitha: "She was the wife of Joseph, Esq., one of the 1st settlers in this town (1798), who after many years of the greatest toil in this howling wild, in which she with her family suffered much by hunger and nakedness, was taken with a lingering illness which lasted several years. She suffered great pain of body and depression of spirit. She knew in whom she believed, and waited with patience the coming of the Lord. She was an obedient wife, a loving mother, and keeper at home. She was a succorer of many in the settling of this country, both Indians and white men, who often received food from her hand. She instructed her children to be always obedient to their father and to fear God. Every day she was attentive to prayer, bowing the knee to the Lord, Jesus, thus leaving a glorious example to all her sex to be obedient to their own husband and teachers of good things and chaste keepers at home. She had 4 sons who cleared this ground where she and all this great family lie." There Agards buried in the Smithville Flats Cemetery: Clarissa Agard (1788-21 Feb 1869) Lot 4; Erastus Agard (11 Feb 1787-1 Oct 1863) Lot 169; Erastus Jordan Agard (1828-17 May 1860 Lot 169; John Agard (1838-Unknown) Lot 169; Latiums Agard (1830-1 Apr 1848) Lot 169; Sally Carpenter Agard (1797-5 Jun 1863) Lot 169; Tabitha Leach Agard (20 Nov 1750-8 Sept 1818) Lot 169; Joseph Agard (17 Aug 1746-25 Aug 1836) Lot 169; Ulisia Agard (1825-18 Sept 1836) Lot 169; Tabitha “Roxy” Agard (17 May 1779-4 Oct 1814) Lot 165; Marianne Agard Grant (1820-1905) Pharsalia Agard Scott (1823-3 Jan 1866) Lot 169. This research opened up a whole new avenue of research and making sure I have the right Joseph.