Person:Joshua Whitford (2)

Settlements of Brookfield were made in 1794 by Zadock Beebe,Joshua Whitford, John York, Wiat Hinckley and probably others. Joshua Whitford came from Stephentown, Rensselaer, NY and took up half of lot 76, and settled near the center of the town,where his grandson Silas now lives [1880], where he resided until his death. He married in Stephentown, Phebe Palmer with whom and their 8 children he came to this town[Brookfield]. They arrived here on the 3rd of July and on the 4th he cut the first tree upon his farm. Officers of Brookfield: Clerk: Joshua Whitford 1806, 1808, Supervisor: Calvin Whitford 1862-1864. Source: Historical Sketches of Northern New York - Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester.

Feb. 8, 1802, the First Sabbatarian Baptist Church and Society in Brookfield was incorporated. The first trustees were: Joshua Maxson and Ethan Clarke, to serve three years; Joshua Coon and Clark Maxson, to serve two years; Joshua Whitford and Abel Burdick, to serve one year. Joshua Whitford was chosen clerk of trustees, also of society.

At the same meeting they resolved to build a meeting-house 30 by 40 feet, and at a subsequent meeting, March 4th, changed it to 36 by 46 feet, with a gallery three-fourths the size of the house. The trustees purchased of Nathan and Isaac Brown one acre of land for sixty-two dollars and fifty cents, being a corner lot in the south-west corner of the original four corners of Leonardsville.