The Genealogy of one Vermonter, Darrell A. Martin

Joseph was born in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in 1753. He was the son of Joseph Hodgman Senior and Abigail Piper. He was baptized in Concord, Mass., on 18 November 1753. The birth dates, even the birth order, of his older children is a matter of guesswork. Further, it is likely that his son Joseph "III", at least, was born before Joseph Jr.'s marriage to Sarah Lawrence. He married Sarah Lawrence in Mason, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, on 5 February 1777. Joseph was a head of family, age 16 and over, in the 1790 Census taken in Raby, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. The composition of this household is very problematic.¹ Joseph was a head of family, as "Joseph Hodgeman", age 45 and up, in the 1800 Census taken in Springfield, Windsor County, Vermont.² Joseph was a head of family, as "Joseph Hodgeman", age 45 and up, in the 1810 Census taken in Springfield.³ Joseph was a head of family, engaged in agriculture age 45 and up, in the 1820 Census taken in Springfield.⁴ Joseph was a soldier of the Revolution and a pensioner, serving both in the Militia and the Continental Army. His father also served; at one time both were in the same company. Many of his uncles and cousins also had Revolutionary War records. In his application for a pension he stated that he enlisted in 1775 and served eight months under Captain Mann. He enlisted again in January 1776, and served one year under the same captain. He enlisted in May 1781 and served under Captains Senter and Munroe until June 7, 1783. His enlistments were credited to Mason, N.H.. He applied for the pension from Springfield on 6 April 1818. His allowance was $96.00 per year. He is the only Joseph Hodgman on the pension rolls. He lived in Mason, N.H., beginning in 1775; Raby (now Brookline), N.H., in 1790; owned land in Chester before 1790, when he sold it to his brother Abel; and squatted on, then leased, land "in Springfield line" which was probably near his brother Nathan, which latter had been living in Chester for some time. He and his wife Sarah were members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Springfield. Joseph Hodgman was Highway Surveyor for Springfield in 1810. Joseph died on 8 April 1841 in Springfield. He was buried in Springfield.