Moses Duty was born 2 September 1700 in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts to William Duty (1658-1738) and Elizabeth Hidden (1666-1742) and died 29 April 1778 Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire of unspecified causes. He married Mary Palmer (1717-1763) 1 May 1741 in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Biographical Notes
Moses Duty appears on the Christening Roll for Rowley, Essex Co, Mass. on 29 Oct 1700, which was a short time after his birth. His father is listed as William Duty.
Moses DUTY, christened 29 Oct 1700, married 1 May 1741, at Rowley, Ann Mary [11], daughter of John and Mary (STICKNEY) PALMER. [12] She was born at Rowley, 1 June 1717 [13], where most, if not all, of her children were born.
American Revolutionary War
They moved to Windham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, where he is found on a tax list 28 November 1775 "the first Province Tax under the Authority of Congress." [14] He signed the [15] was a method used to discover the loyalty of civilians in the contest between the Colonists and Britain, and was usually signed by men too old to give military service. It ran thus:
We the subscribers do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will to the utmost of our power, at the Risque of our Lives and Fortunes, with Arms oppose the Hostile Proceeding of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies.
His three sons, Moses, Mark, and William, gave loyal service in the Revolutionary War, William being at the Battle of Bunker Hill, Moses enlisting in June following and, together with his brother Mark, giving many years of military service during the struggle, both on this side and the other of the Canadian border. [17]
The following extract from History of the Visitation of Groveland, Massachusetts, in the 1863, by Alfred Poore, M.D., is of interest:
John Merrill came here and says: "William Duty, who resided on our place, was a very courageous man, He was in the Bunker Hill fight, and stood close by Major McClary, of Chichester, when a four pound ball struck and killed him." William Duty had a sister Eunice who could take up a barrel of cider and drink out of the bung. He also had a sister who was the wife of William Rowell, of Salem,....
Christening Record for Children
The following Christening records list children of Moses and Mary Duty.
- Moses Duty (M) - 09-Apr-1742 @ Georgetown, Essex Co, Mass.
- Mary Duty (F) - 11-Oct-1743 @ Georgetown, Essex Co, Mass.
- Eunice Duty (F) - 12-Jun-1745 @ Georgetown, Essex Co, Mass.
- Mark Duty (M) - 16-Oct-1747 @ Georgetown, Essex Co, Mass.
- William Duty (M) - 09-Jna-1749 @ Georgetown, Essex Co, Mass.
- Elizabeth Duty (F) - 26-Oct-1751 @ Georgetown, Essex Co, Mass.
- Sarah Duty (F) - 25-Jul-1753 @ Georgetown, Essex Co, Mass.
- Hannah Duty (F) - 11-Jun-1755 @ Georgetown, Essex Co, Mass.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Moses Duty (1742-1836) | |||
| Mary Duty (1743-1836) | 11 October 1743 Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States | 27 May 1836 Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio, United States | Asael Smith (1744-1830) |
| Eunice Duty (1745-1836) | |||
| Mark Duty (1747-1783) | 16 October 1747 Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States | 1783 | Abigail Woodbury (1746-1774) |
| William Duty (1749-1812) | |||
| Sarah Duty (1753-1767) | |||
| Hannah Duty (1755-1836) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Mary Duty (1683-1757) | |||
| William Duty (1687-1753) | |||
| Sarah Duty (1689-1767) | |||
| John Duty (1691-1756) | |||
| Matthew Duty (1694-1756) | |||
| Samuel Duty (1696-1761) | |||
| Andrew Duty (1698-1772) | |||
| Moses Duty (1700-1778) | 2 September 1700 Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts | 29 April 1778 Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire | Mary Palmer (1717-1763) |
| Joseph Duty (1705-) | |||
Famous Descendants
- Joseph Smith (1805-1844) - Great-grandson - Founder of Mormon Religious movement. Mary (1), Asael (2), Joseph Sr (3).
References
- Joseph Smith Sr Genealogy Groups Sheets - Family Genealogy (Joseph Smith Sr is grandson of Moses Duty & Mary Palmer)
- William Duty - JosephSmithSr Genealogy Wiki