Individual Details

From The Atkins Chronicles:
"JOSIAH Adkins may have come to this country as a child with his father. His mother's name and the place and date of his birth are unknown; he died in Middletown 12 September 1690.
JOSIAH lived first in East Hartford, where he married Elizabeth Andrews, a sister of Edward Andrews of Hartford. They had three children: 1. Thomas, who married Elizabeth Williams and who died 23 October 1694; 2. Samuel, who married Esther Welch of Milford, Connecticut; and 3. Elizabeth, who married Richard Gilman.
After his first wife's death, JOSIAH removed to Middletown, Connecticut, and on 8 October 1673 married Elizabeth Whitmore (also spelled Wetmore and Wetmer), who became our first American Adkins/Atkins foremother. Elizabeth was born in 1648, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Hall) Whitmore. Thomas was the oldest son of the Whitmore immigrant, John, who came to New England about 1635 with his five children, all of whom were born in England. John Whitmore was later brutally murdered by Mohegan Indians, according to the family history, in October of 1648. His son Thomas was born in 1615 and died 11 December 1651. He married Sarah Hall in Hartford on 11 December 1645. Both died in Middletown, Sarah on 7 Decemb er 1664/5. Thomas was one of the founders of Middletown and was the town's representative to the General Assumbly in 1654 and 1655. Three members of Sarah Hall's family were also founders of Middletown.
When JOSIAH............Josiah Adkins came to Middletown, the town gave him four acres of meadowland 'near Robert Johnson's farm, next to John Stow, Senior,' as Thomas Atkins tells us in his history. Other sources state it was in the South Staddle Hill district. Josiah himself gave a succinct description of his land in his will, which he wrote twelve days before his death:
'Adkins, Josiah, Middletown, Invt. (Pounds) 67-10-00, Taken 1st January by Nathaniel Stowe, John Hall, sen., Samuel Hall. The legalees: Solomon Adkins, age 12 years, Josiah 10, Benjamin 8, Ephraim 5, Sarah 16, Abigail 14, Elizabeth 3 years old. Will dated 1st September 1690.
I, Josiah Adkins of Middletown do leave this as my last will and testament: I give to my wife Elizabeth my house, Houselott and Stock, for her lifetime, and to be at her dispose at her death, only willing her not to dispose of it but to my children then surviving. I give to my four sons, Solomon, Josiah, Benjamin and Ephraim, my Boggy Meadow and Swamp (note: While not the most desirable land, it may not have been completely useless. Conservationist Paul Brooks, writing in the Smithsonian (August 1976) says ___ the early settlers brought with them from England a method of alternate yearly _____ and draing of wetlands which created meadows in which native grasses could be grown for hay.) equally to be divided between them. My will is, that after my wife's decease, all movables in the house shall be equally divided amongst my three daughters, Sarah, Abigail and Elizabeth. I give to my other three children to whom I have formerly given according to my ability, that is, to Thomas, Samuel and Elizabeth Gilman, ten shillings apiece. I request my brother Nathaniel Stowe and Mr. Thomas Warde to be overseers. Witness: Daniel Hurlbut, John Hall sen. Will exhibited. Adms to the Widow Elizabeth, with the Will annexed."
From the Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: "JOSIAH, Middletown, d. 12 Sept. 1690, leav. seven ch. minors, Sarah, aged 16; Abigail, 14; Solomon, 12; Josiah, 10; Benjamin, 8; Ephraim, 6; and Elizabeth 3; but by a former w. thot. to be an Andrews, others had rec. their portions, nam. Thomas, Samuel, and Elizabeth Gilman, wh. perhaps was dec. bef. the m. 8 Oct. 1673, with Elizabeth Whitmore, mo. of the young ones, for wh. and her ch. he made provis. in his will a few days bef. his d."
From Dr. Savage, II, 19. from the Wetmore Genealogy; "Josiah, Middletown d. Sept. 12, 1690, leaving 7 chil. minors. Sarah aged 16; Abigail 14, Solomon 12; Josiah 10; Benjamin 8; Ephraim 6; and Eliz. 8; but by a former w. thot to be an Andrews, others had rec. their portions, name Thomas, Samuel, and Eliz. Gilman, who perhaps was dec. bef. the m. '8 Oct. 1678, with Eliz. Whitmore, mo. of the young ones for who. and her chil. he made proviion in his will a few days before his death."

Marriage	8 Oct 1673	Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut - Elizabeth WHETMORE
Death	12 Sep 1690	Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut
Marriage		Elizabeth ANDREWS

Spouse	Elizabeth WHETMORE (1648 - 1700)
Child	Josiah Jr. ADKINS (1679 - 1724)

Spouse	Elizabeth ANDREWS ( - 1673)
Child	Thomas ADKINS (1673 - 1694)
Child	Samuel ADKINS (1673 - )
Child	Elizabeth ADKINS ( - )

Father	William ADKINS ( - )
Mother	Unknown UNKNOWN ( - )

Notes