Josiah Bearse, s/o Joseph Bearse and Martha Taylor m. (1) 1716 [quotes Newcomb Genealogy saying 2 Nov 1716 but does not use this in summary] Zerviah Newcomb who survived him, d. New Fairfield, CT, 31 Aug 1753. "Josiah Bearss & Zurviah Bearss appointed administrators of estate of Josiah Bearss 1 Oct 1753. Distribution in 1791 after death of widow to heirs of eldest son Josiah Barss, second son Thomas Barss, Martha, heirs of Anna late wife of Benjamin Stevens, Mary wife of Gideon Beardsley, third son Joseph, fourth son of Benjamin.
[Note: the focus of the part of this article addressing Josiah is to refute suggestions by Otis and others that there was a second wife Mary.]