Parents: Peter DeWolf and Susan Couch

Paternal grandparents: Matthew DeWolf and Patience Brewster.*

Birth order: youngest of three

Siblings: Peter b 1753, d 1843 m Eliza Clemens; and Sarah m Luther Skinner.

Marriage:

Joseph married Sarah Gibbons, daughter of Peter Gibbons and Sarah Greene on 12 Oct 1780 at Granby, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

13 Children:

• Ten children born at Granby, Hartford Co., Connecticut:

Henry Champion b 3 Aug 1781; Ruhama b 8 Jun 1783; Tensard Robinson b 5 Jun 1785; Joseph Jr b 6 Apr 1787; Sally/Sarah b 10 Mar 1789; Catherine/Duty b 6 Nov 1790; Horatio/Oratia b 31 May 1793; Elizabeth Gibbons b 24 Feb 1795; Louisa b 28 Mar 1797; Eli Gibbons b 19 Mar 1799

• Joseph moved his family from Granby to Vernon, Trumbull County, Ohio in 1799. Three children were born there: Adeline b 18 Mar 1802; Lemuel/Samuel b 22 Jan 1804; and Amanda b 22 Apr 1806.

Biographical:

Excerpt from History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, Ohio, pub. 1882

Page 370: Work in the settlement began in the spring of 1798 with the first permanent cabin erected in July, 1798. Joseph DeWolf arrived in Spring, 1799 with another man, coming by way of PIttsburg and bringing valuable acquisitions consisting of two horses and an ox team.

Page 371: In the fall of 1799 Caleb Palmer and his son Warren, with Dr. Wilcox, and the family of Joseph DeWolf arrived in the settlement.

Page 372: The first saw-mill was built by Joseph DeWolf in 1800, on Mill creek, and was located about one mile northwest of Vernon center.

Page 383: As a pioneer he (Joseph DeWolf) battled not only with the forests of Vernon, but frequently with the wild beasts as well. On one occasion he had quite an adventure with a wounded deer. On going up to cut its throat it sprang up and at him, knocking him down. On regaining his feet he ran for a log that lay up some distance from the ground. Whenever the deer would spring at him he would roll down under the log and the deer would land on the other side of the tree, and he would then roll back and climb upon the log. This proceeding was kept up for some time, finally wearing the animal out, but not without himself receiving many bruises. Mr. DeWolf died in Vernon in 1846, and his wife two years later. They were highly esteemed by the entire community in which they resided so long.

Military:

Joseph served as private and corporal under Captain Pettibone and Colonel Mead, Connecticut Continental Line. He was placed on the pension roll in Ohio in 1833.

*Notes:

• Patience Brewster was a 5th generation Mayflower descendant.

• Revolutionary War Soldier, enlisted at age 15

• One of the first Settlers in Trumbull County. Ohio

• Was a Justice of the Peace there in 1810.

• There are references in the county history referenced below that Joseph built a barn "Joseph DeWolf framed the first barn for Martin Smith." and even made a coffin so he clearly did carpentry work.

Sources: Granby Vital Records, 1786-1850 (from Town Meeting records); North American Stories, DAR; History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, Ohio, (Vernon township) p 372; Charles DeWolf of Guadaloupe, his ancestors and descendants; Ancestry.