Joel Bayley/Bailey 1746-1813 Middletown, NY

Joel Bailey was the younger brother of Mercy Bailey, the wife of Samuel Griffin. His birth is recorded in the town records in Killingworth, Connecticut. The entry for his birth reads; “Joel ye son of John & Mercy Bayley was born June ye 1st 1746”. Joel and his brother Jesse used the old world “Bayley” spelling of the family name. His children spelled the name “Bailey”.--------- The search for the historical Joel Bailey centers on information retained by his extended family from what they referred to as the Joel Bailey Family Bible. We have posted a copy of the Bible information below. It comes from a publication title, A Chronicle of Everyday People, by Catherine Marshall Gardiner. There are also several entries in the, Sons of the America Revolution, that are available that also reflect a well know family genealogy.---------- Joel followed his younger brother, Jesse, to Newport, New Hampshire. In Newport Joel married Elizabeth Deming March 9, 1773. In Newport Joel and his brother were both very involved with the local Militia during the American Revolution. We have documented their service in the entry for Jesse Bailey. The family Bible lists six children born in Newport; Mary b. Nov 1773 (Josiah Winslow), Mercy b. Oct. 6, 1775, Twins, John and Joel b. Dec. 2, 1777, Elizabeth b. Sept. 3, 1779 and Benjamin b. Aug. 24, 1782.---------- There are records of the birth of three more children that were born in nearby Sunapee/ Wendell N.H. Their birth is recorded on page 44 of the original town records, James b. March 6, 1785, Anna b. Jan. 20, 1788, Peter b. Aug. 23, 1780. Family tradition suggests that anther child, Sally, was also born in Wendell June 13, 1794. At the turn of the century both Bayley brothers left New Hampshire with Joel moving to Middlefield, Otsego County New York. The area historically has been referred to as Cherry Valley. Family tradition suggests that the last child in the family, Hannah, b. Nov 4, 1797 was born in Middlefield.---------- Joel died in Middlefield December 1, 1813. Elizabeth lived until August 13, 1840. His generation maintained a presence in the area for some time.---------- The most prominent citizen of Cherry Valley at the time was James Fenimore Cooper, 1778-1851. It tantalizing to think he may have added a line to one of his novels based on a conversation he had with the old soldier Joel Bailey.