Cabinet Making Advertisement in the Republican Farmer August 23, 1811

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 17^th 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

  

John Joseph of Churchville, Virginia

The Valley Virginian, a newspaper published in Staunton, Virginia printed an article titled "DEATH OF AGED CITIZENS" reporting deaths that occurred in the community. My 3rd great grandfather John Joseph was mentioned in the news piece.

   The Valley Virginian, Staunton, Virginia, Thursday, February 13, 1879, page 3

     DEATH OF AGED CITIZENS--Within the past week or two Death has been busy among the aged citizens of the county.   

     On the 3rd Mr. John Joseph, a venerable and highly respectable citizen of this county, died at the residence of his son, on Whiskey Creek, near Churchville, in the 93rd year of his age. In many respects, Mr. Joseph was a remarkable man. Having lived all of his life in the county, he remembered when it was little more than a wilderness, with here and there a hearty woodman's hut, and small patch of tilable land which patient industry had redeemed from the surrounding forest. His recollection of past events was clear, and he was fond of recurring to them, and tracing step by step the growth of Staunton and the development of the country around it. He was unusually active for one of his years, and never acknowledged that he was too infirm to work at his trade--that of a carpenter. He never used spectacles, and his sight was but little impaired. Mr. Joseph was an honest, industrious, hard working man all of his life, and was universally esteemed for his sterling qualities.

The Valley Virginian
February 13, 1879

   When John Joseph was ninety years old, his health had also been admired in the Staunton Vindicator Friday, February 9, 1877 issue, page 2

   AN OLD Pedestrian. --Mr. John Joseph, aged ninety years, born in Staunton, walked to West View, Wednesday, 7 miles from his home, near Churchville, and, after transacting his business, walked out again. He made good time both ways. He is still an active man, with clear eyesight, and was a married man for sixty years until his wife's death lately.

You can view the above papers at Virginia's newspaper archives at www.virginiachronicle.com