Person:Joseph Conkling (6)

ADDENDUM:

Y-DNA was submitted by a descendant of this Joseph Conkling in the year 2009. This was part of a study of 12 Conklin men. Two-thirds of the men in the study matched Joseph’s descendant on all 43 tested markers. The ones that had a difference were only one marker off and this was usually marker DYS464d which varied between 17 and 18. The conclusion of the Y-DNA study along with documentation for some participants strongly suggest that both of these men and the other men in the study are descendants of John and Elenor (aka Helena) Conklin of Rye NY. Results of the DNA study and collateral information provided by the members of the study point to Nicholas or John Conklin, both sons of John of Rye as the ancestor of each participant’s line. At this point persons with a 17 at marker DYS464e appear to be most likely to be descendant of Nicholas Conklin and Sarah Hunt and persons with an 18 at marker DYS464e appear to be most likely to be descendants of John Conklin Jr. and his wife Mehitable or Lydia. Since Joseph Conklin’s descendant has a 17 at marker DYS464e he is probably a descendant of Nicholas Conklin and Sarah Hunt. In addition, in 2013 the certain names of the immigrant parents of this line were confirmed to be John and Elenor. Conklin Mann referred to him as John of Rye".

Joseph Conkling was born in about, 1729, probably in New York or in the Elizabethtown area of New Jersey. Conklin Mann states that Joseph lived in an area called West Farms. Other records show that this family may have lived at Williams Farms. Names like Williams Farms or West Farms generally referred to an area of farms, located perhaps near one large farm. These names functioned much as our neighborhood names do today. It is quite possible that Williams Farms and West Farms were nearby or adjacent areas. Williams Farms was located between Elizabeth and Westfield, three miles east of Westfield.

Joseph married Mary Cory, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Meeker) Cory. Joseph is listed on the 1755 Elizabeth Town Freeholder List along with David and Joshua Conkling. Joshua is believed to be the brother of Joseph. The relationship with David is undetermined. This is probably the Joseph Conkling who witnessed the 1758 will of Joshua Clark of Elizabeth. Joseph’s tombstone inscription states that he died on 24 February 1779 in the fiftieth year of his age. His death is also recorded in the Sexton’s book of the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth. Considering his date of death, he may have died as a result of disease or injury caused by military involvement.

An index of New Jersey Revolutionary War soldiers shows that Joshua Conkling of Essex County, Joseph Conkling, and Joseph Conklin of Gloucester County all took part in the Revolutionary War. Joseph Conkling’s county is not listed. A certificate for depreciation of his Continental pay in the Essex County Militia was issued to Joseph Conklin of Essex County on 5 October 1784. This is probably Joseph Conklin, husband of Mary Cory. Joseph Conkling (b. 1729 d. 2-24-1779 m. Mary Cory, Pvt. NJ) is listed in the Centennial Edition of the DAR Patriot Index. In the New Jersey state archives, there is a receipt certifying that Joseph Concklin furnished the States with Twenty Hundred -- of good hay for the use of the army. Joseph Concklin, private appears on the Muster Roll of the 2nd Battalion of Captain William Shute’s Company, Second New Jersey Troops, commanded by Colonel William Maxwell for the month of 17 January, 1776. Joseph enlisted on 9 November 1775.

Joseph’s will was dated 22 February 1779 and was proved on 1 January 1784. His will identifies him as Joseph Conkling of Elizabeth Town, Essex County, New Jersey. He names Isaac, Moses, and Benjamin as his three eldest sons and leaves them land which he purchased from Elihu Spencer, John Clawson, and Abraham Clark. This land, he states was bound by the land of Jonathan Williams, John Spinning, deceased, John Miller, Joseph Cory, and Samuel Winans. To sons Joseph and Stephen, he leaves, “ the plantation where I live and the salt meadow when they are of age.” This land was sold by Joseph, Jr. to Stephen on 24 May 1791. On 6 April 1802 Stephen sold this same land to his brother-in-law, Peter Martin. The land was described as bound by lands of Isaac Wickham(?), David Williams, and Samuel Halse, deceased. The land was also described as running along the High Road to Halsey’s Lane. Sale of Joseph’s estate lands shows that he owned property in Elizabeth town ward, Westfield, and Rahway Meadow. At the time of the Revolutionary War, the borough of Elizabeth included both Westfield and Rahway.

Joseph’s will also provides 100 pounds each for daughters Mary, Phebe, and Sarah. Executors of his estate were his wife, Mary, son Isaac, and friend, Abraham Clark. Witnesses included Samuel Williams, Robart Clark, Joshua Conkling, and Abraham Clark.

Mary Cory Conkling was born in 1733, in Westfield, New Jersey. On 30 January 1801, “Mrs. widow Mary Conkling” sold land in Westfield Township. The land was bound by that of Edward Connett on the north and Matthias Clark and John B. Clark. Mary signed the transaction with her mark. Mary died in her 72nd year on 7 February 1805 in Westfield or Elizabethtown, New Jersey. Her will is dated 1 February 1805 and names children: Mary Pangburn, Sary, Stephen, and Pheby. In her will she identifies herself as the widow of Joseph. Records suggest that all of their children were born in the Elizabeth or Westfield area of New Jersey. Although some records show this family as affiliated with the Presbyterian church in Westfield, a book of cemetery inscriptions for the graveyard of the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth, New Jersey shows that Joseph and Mary were buried in that cemetery in lots 982 and 983. Part of the cemetery still exists, but their tombstones were not located in a visit to the cemetery in September, 1993. The tombstone inscriptions for Joseph and Mary are recorded as:

No. 982 "Here lies the body of Joseph Conkling who departed this life Febry ye 24th ano Domini 1779. In the fiftieth year of his age "The Grave in Silence teach More than Divine can preach"

No. 983 "M.C. In Memory of Mary widow of Joseph Conklin who died Feby the 7th 1805 in the 72nd year of her age "Death is the debt to mortals due. I have paid that debt & so must you".

The families of three of the sons of Joseph and Mary (Cory) Conklin; Stephen, Joseph, and Isaac moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in the early 1800's. Stephen's family was there by December, 1804 as his son, Amos was born in Cincinnati in that month. Joseph's family followed closely as Joseph purchased land in Cincinnati in April, 1806 and his son, Aaron was born in Cincinnati in December, 1806. Both Stephen and Joseph are listed as Hamilton County taxpayers in 1810, but Isaac's name does not yet appear.

1.   Iamele, Sharon Schertz. Conklin cousins : the many children of Joseph & Mary (Cory) Conkling. (Worthington, Ohio: S.S. Iamele, c1999).