Person:Josias Firman (Furman) (1)

Josias Firmin was baptized on 22 April 1621 at Nayland, county Suffolk, England, a son of John Furman and his second wife, Susan Warren (here profiled as Susan Warwick).[1] Josias died in 1709.

Josias was probably the "Josias Firmin," a servant to Governor John Winthrop in the mid-1630s.[1] He was admitted to the Boston church as "Josiah Ferman servant to our brother Mr. John Winthroppe" on 6 June 1640 and was admitted freeman on 2 June 1641.[2]

Josias apparently removed as early as 6 July 1657 to Middlebury [sic] (Middleburg, later Newtown, now Elmhurts in Quens), Long Island, soon after his father who was one of the original purchasers of land from the Native Americans in 1656.[2] In 1700, Josias was Commissioner of Highways at Newtown.[2]

Uncertain First Wife

Josias probably married twice.

   Josias' first wife's name is unknown (here profiled as Angelche (Alice) Beers (without evidence or source).[citation needed] 

Some assume that Josias's first wife's last name at birth was Beers. "Colonial Families of the United States, [Vol 2?]" reports that Josiah sold his lands to his "brother-in-law," _____ Beers, and moved to Hempstead, Long Island, then later to Newtown, Long Island.[3] This sale may hint at a relationship, but is not necessarily evidence for his wife's maiden name. Resolved Second Wife

   Josias married after her first husband's death c. 1689/90, as her 2nd, and probably as his 2nd, to Mary (Unknown) Weed, widow of John Weed of Stamford, Connecticut.[4] 

Some have assumed her name was Strickland, based on Manwaring's mis-reading of the name, "Wood." Manwaring included an abstract of Jonas Weed at Southampton, Long Island, but Anderson believes this was clearly a mis-reading of Jonas Wood.[1] Jonas Weed never lived at Southampton, and Mary's maiden name was not Strickland. Death and Legacy

Josias died at Newton, Long Island in 1709. Surviving him were his sons: John, Josias, Joseph, David, Samuel, Johnathan and his daughters: Martha and Rebecca.[2] Children

Josias and his wife had eight children:[citation needed]

   Josias Firmin, (Jr.) b 1645,
   John Firmin, b 1650,
   Elizabeth Firmin, b about 1655,
   Joseph Firmin, b 1656,
   Samuel Firmin, b 1658,
   Jonathan Firmin, b 1662,
   Martha Firmin, b 1666 and
   David Firmin, whose birth year is unknown

1.   Anderson Robert Charles, (1995) "John Firmin." Featured name. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III.
   675-.
2.   Ordan, John Woolf, (1911) Colonial Families of Philadelphia, Vol 2. New York: Lewis Pub. Co. Archive.org
   Vol 2, 1206.
3.   Mackenzie, George Norbury, (1907) "Colonial Families of the United States, [Vol 2?]" New York: Grafton Press.
4.   Jacobus, Donald Lines, (1930) Families of Old Fairfield, Connecticut, Vol 1.
   Vol 1, 653.

   AmericanAncestors.org