948. Joseph Backus
(119) was born on Sep 6 1667 in Norwich,
Connecticut. He died on Dec 23 1740 in Norwich, Connecticut. Joseph Backus
received a large legacy from his father, including lands in Saybrook and Norwich.
He was later granted additional land by the town of Norwich to set up a shop
and a coal-house.
He served as lieutenant of the training band in 1708 and was a member of the
General Assembly between 1704 and 1733. He was also a justice of the peace, a
substantial office at that time.
He opposed the "Saybrook Platform" and withdrew from the church at
Norwich when it was accepted.
F. M. Caulkins, in her history of the town of Norwich, says that goat-raising
"became a source of profit, and though no laws had then been made for their
restraint, who can blame Joseph Tracy for impounding fifty-four belonging to
Joseph Backus, which like an invading army invaded his lands in 1722?"
He was married to Elizabeth Huntington on Apr 9 1690 in Probably Norwich, Connecticut.
949. Elizabeth Huntington
was born on Oct 6 1669 in Norwich, Connecticut. She died on Aug 24 1762
in Norwich, Connecticut. Although all eight of Elizabeth Huntington's children
lived to adulthood--unusual in those days of very high infant and childhood mortality--she
lived to such a great age herself that she lived to bury five of them. Children
were:
i. Joseph
Backus was born in Mar 1690/91.
474 ii.
Samuel Backus.
iii.
Ann Backus was born on Jan 27 1694/95.
iv.
Simon Backus was born on Feb 11 1700/1.
v. James
Backus was born on Aug 14 1703.
vi.
Elizabeth Backus was born on Oct 27 1705.
vii.
Sarah Backus was born in Jul 1709.
viii.
Ebenezer Backus was born on Mar 30 1712.
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