Person:Joseph Conkling (8)

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. Most 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 Conklin of Rye or the pre-1700 Westchester NY Conklins. 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.

A man named Joseph Conkling could be the father of Joseph (b. 1729) Conkling of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Support for this theory is circumstantial only. What follows is the result of my research on this problem.

PLEASE NOTE: We do not know the certain name of the father of Joseph Conkling b. 1729 and there are some missing generatinos between Joseph Conklin b. 1729 and John of Rye. The link between Jospeh Conklin b. 1729 and John of Rye is genetically certain. It is recorded that a Joseph Conklin appeared in Elizabethtown, New Jersey on 5 April 1731 when he purchased land lying on the road to Crane's Mill from Anthony and Mary Little (Littell) for 73 pounds. In his will dated 9 October 1731, Anthony Littell mentions his land adjoining that of Joseph Conklin. On 21 February 1746/7, Joseph Conkling witnessed the will of Mary Wood, widow of Jonas Wood.

Joseph (b. 1729) and Joshua Conkling (b.1727) were most likely first cousins as the Y-DNA of their descendants on one marker off. Joshua Conkling was a witness to Joseph’s will in 1779. According to Littell these two men were from Williams Farms. A 1782 newspaper article states that Williams Farms was a small community about two miles from Elizabeth Town. It was probably between Elizabeth Town and Westfield. This location fits in well with the described location of the land which Joseph Conkling purchased in 1731. The families of both Joseph and Joshua are discussed in Littell. A list of Elizabethtown freeholders issued on 1 September 1755 names only three Conkling men--David Conkling, Joseph Conkling, and Joshua Conkling. Joseph Conkling, Sr. was probably deceased by then and the Joseph Conkling named was probably his son. All three men belonged to the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth. Some have suggested that David Conkling was also a brother of Joseph and Joshua, but this can not be determined. Conklin Mann suggests that David Conkling and the Sarah Conkling who married Nathaniel Rusco on 16 February 1747 may both be siblings of Joseph and Joshua.