Family:Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha Smith (1)

Biography

Amzi (20) and Jerusha (15) were married in Northfield, MA 06 Dec 1757 [1759 per records]. Shortly thereafter, they moved to nearby Warwick, MA, a new town. Jerusha gave Amzi nine children between 1760 and 1777. Then, in mid 1778, the two of them were both caught up in a "spiritual wife-ism" controversy that affected much of their family:

• A supposed Baptist preacher, "Elder Hix," ran off with their 16-year-old daughter, Lavina Doolittle.
• Jerusha Smith Doolittle eloped (ran off) with Amos Marsh sometime between mid-1778 and 1782.
• Amzi supposedly "hooked up" with Hannah, wife of Thomas Barber -- at least temporarily.

While it is not clear what immediately became of Jerusha, Amzi took his unmarried children to Townshend, VT where he later married (October 1787) Hannah Miller, divorced (yes!) wife of Thomas Barber. Two of Amzi and Jerusha's sons (Amzi, Jr. and Origin) married two of Hannah and Thomas' daughters (Esther and Hannah).

Jerusha's whereabouts between 1778 and 1840 are unknown. In the 1840 census, she is likely living with her son Amzi Doolittle, Jr. and is buried next to him in Winchester, NH, just up the hill from the burial ground of her first husband, Amzi Sr., and his second wife, Hannah Miller Barber Doolittle.

More Notes

Source for marriage: Vital Record/Index; LDS Extract: Northfield, MA Births, baptisms, marriages, intentions, deaths 1713-1839, approx Location: FHL Film 0886783 Batch C502411

Townshend, VT Land Deeds, Volume 1, p. 4, finds a list of two families, recorded at one sitting by Thos. Amsohn?, town clerk in March 1783. He recorded on one sheet, in the middle of the land deeds volume, the two families of DOOLITTLE and BARBER-- births that had taken place over 20 years earlier and not in Townshend. Of all the families in Townshend, why did he need to document the names and birth dates of the children of these two families? By this time, Amzi Doolittle and Thomas Barber had sold and purchased land between each other. In addition, by this time, not all these children were even IN Townshend. For example, Electa Doolittle had married Caleb Rich in January 1778 and was living back in Warwick, MA. Lavina had married (or eloped with) "Elder" Hicks about 1778 and was probably in Hoosick, NY. Yet for the sake of documentation, I repeat the transcription here.

1. Electa Doolittle, daughter to Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha his wife, born Aug. 12th, 1760.
2. Levina Doolittle, daughter to Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha his wife, born December 12th, 1761
3. Luther Doolittle, son to Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha his wife, born January 14, 1764
4. Lucy Doolittle, daughter to Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha his wife, born December 13th, 1765
5. Amzi Doolittle, son to Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha his wife, born February 24th, 1768
6. Junia Doolittle, daughter to Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha his wife, born May 5th, 1770
7. Origin Doolittle, son to Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha his wife, born January 20th, 1773
8. Rosil Doolittle, son to Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha his wife, born July 4th, 1775
9. Jerusha Doolittle, daughter to Amzi Doolittle and Jerusha his wife, born Aug't 21st, 1777.

Recorded March ?? 1783
Sd. Tho. Amsohn Town Clerk

1. ↑ Northfield (Massachusetts). Town Clerk. Births, baptisms, marriages, intentions, deaths, 1713-1839, approx. (Salt Lake City, Utah)
   p. 63.

   Married - D
   Dec. 6. 1759 Amzi Doolitte & Jerusha Smith