Several weeks ago, I found this advertisement for 3rd-great-grandfather John Joseph in the August 23, 1811, issue of the Republican Farmer out of Staunton, Virginia. I hoped to find a better image to post but that was not to be. I consider myself lucky to have it as these old newspapers are scarce and hard to come by.
Five lines are not complete, but it still tells me what's happening with him. I'll fill in the blanks as best I can. I know from earlier research that John Joseph had been apprenticed to Jacob Yost to learn the trade of a house joiner when he was about 16 years old. I published an earlier account about this and am including it below.
John's notice was prepared August 2, 1811, when he was probably about 24 years old. I can glean a few details and make some educated guesses. No doubt the ad was titled "Cabinet Making". Perhaps it read "the subscriber carries on the Cabinet business in all its variety, at his shop in Middlebrook, Augusta County". His carpentry would be executed in the neatest and most substantial manner. He didn't need much notice. The postscript clearly reads he wished to employ a journeyman Cabinet maker and a journeyman House Carpenter.
Great-grandfather had the makings of an industrious and self-motived man.
Overseers of the Poor Bind John Joseph to Jacob Yost
originally posted April 5, 2016
I confess I’ve neglected 3rd-great-grandfather John Joseph on this blog. I published six items for John’s father, 4th-great-grandfather Daniel Joseph, which you can view here.
2nd-great-grandfather William Wilson Joseph, John’s son, was featured in blog post "William Wilson Joseph and Eliza Jane Spitler of Augusta Co., VA" and includes a photograph of my 2nd-great-grandparents.
John was born August 4, 1787, in Virginia to Daniel Joseph and Eva Margaretha Hanger. His family included an older sibling, Eve, born 1785, a younger sister, Margaret, and little brother, Daniel.
His parents had ties to Augusta and Rockingham Counties while John was a boy, so it’s hard to say where he was raised. When he was about 9 or 10 years old, his father died in Rockingham County, Virginia. A few years later, on January 5, 1799, John’s mother married Warner Peters.
Today I’m sharing an apprenticeship I found in the Rockingham County, Virginia Minute Book 5, pages 175-176.
"Tuesday, At a Court Held for the County of Rockingham On the 17th day of January 1804
Ordered that the Overseers of the poor bind John Joseph orphan of Daniel Joseph dec’d to Jacob Yost to learn the trade of a House Joiner he agreeing to take him for three years & a half from the first of August last"
Grandfather’s apprenticeship with Jacob Yost began in August 1803. This would have been close to John’s 16th birthday—a good time to plan his future. I have no reason to believe John was not well cared for by his mother and stepfather. This makes me wonder if 4th-great-grandmother Eve voluntarily arranged the apprenticeship with the Overseers of the Poor so John could learn a craft.
I’m certain the agreement was beneficial for both. Jacob Yost gained a young strong willing worker and Grandfather learned skills that would ensure his livelihood. Jacob Yost taught him well as John worked in the carpentry and woodworking trade his entire life.
Excerpt from Rockingham Co. Minute Book 5, page 175
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