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Josiah Flagg

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Birth	:	1769 Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA
Death	:	9 May 1849 Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia, USA
Burial	:	Norbourne Parish Cemetery, Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.4525414, -77.9671707
Description	:	THE FAMILY OF JOSIAH FLAGG OF BERKELEY COUNTY, VA. ___________ 1 Josiah6 Flagg, founder of the Berkeley County family of the name, was the second son of Thomas5 and Elizabeth (Foss) Flagg. As his elder brother was Thomas, Junior, so he received the name of his father's next younger brother, Josiah5 Flagg (whose grandson, Edmund Flagg the noted author, had his home near Falls Church, Fairfax County, Va., where his family still live). The date and place of birth of Josiah6 is unknown; it is not on record at Chester or Portsmouth, N. H., the early homes of his... Read More	THE FAMILY OF JOSIAH FLAGG OF BERKELEY COUNTY, VA. ___________ 1 Josiah6 Flagg, founder of the Berkeley County family of the name, was the second son of Thomas5 and Elizabeth (Foss) Flagg. As his elder brother was Thomas, Junior, so he received the name of his father's next younger brother, Josiah5 Flagg (whose grandson, Edmund Flagg the noted author, had his home near Falls Church, Fairfax County, Va., where his family still live). The date and place of birth of Josiah6 is unknown; it is not on record at Chester or Portsmouth, N. H., the early homes of his father and mother, nor yet in Boston, Mass., where there is some reason to think they lived; but we believe it took place about 1769. There are two conflicting statements on the matter; one in his wife's little German book of devotions, mentioned elsewhere, noting that he was 20 and she 17 at date of their marriage, in 1790; the other his tombstone which has it that he died 9 May, 1849, aged 82. We think the former record more likely to be correct. It was believed among Josiah's descendants that his mother died when he was very young, but we have reason to infer that the home life of the parents was inharmonious and this led to a separation. Clearly some explanation is needed for Josiah's and his brother's removal from early scenes in an age when communication was so difficult that they and their descendants seem to have lost relation with their Flagg kindred till our own day. According to the story handed down among his posterity, young Josiah was grievously afflicted with the "Rickets" as an infant and the family physician prescribed a sea voyage and frequent immersion in salt water as the only cure. Here "Aunt Keyes" comes into the story, otherwise Miss Ruth Keyes, sister of Mrs. Ebenezer Flagg of Chester, N. H., and therefore young Josiah's great aunt. Whether she had been sent for from Virginia where her father had been living several years, or it happened that she was in New England on a visit; or she had never gone South with her father, but remained in the North with some near relative, or was temporarily keeping house for her nephew Thomas Flagg – at any rate she took the two children on the long sea voyage to Virginia. The trip wrought the desired cure to young Josiah; and Aunt Keyes brought her charges up to the Shenandoah Valley where her father was living. Here the father of the boys, Thomas Flagg, disappears from our history, never to see his sons again; being lost at sea, if the family tradition is to be believed. "Aunt Keyes" as she is affectionately known in the family, brought up her charges at "Keyes Ferry" in a manner befitting their station in life, and it should be noted that Gersham Keyes the head of the family, once a wealthy Boston merchant, was then a large Virginia landholder. He survived till 1785 and it would be natural to infer that his unmarried daughter and her foster-sons were members of his household, though there is some reason to believe that Miss Keyes had her own establishment. Tradition says that on one occasion during the Revolution, Gen. Washington passed that way and the boys saw Aunt Keyes give him an apronful of gold, for the patriot cause. At the death of Gersham Keyes in 1785 if not before, Aunt Keyes became a landholder in her own right, but her home was still at or near Keyes Ferry on the Shenandoah. The record shows that she was taxed in 1785 for two slaves and four horses. The following year her will was made, and probably her death came that year or very soon after. Both boys were under age at the time, and Josiah the younger would come to his majority in 1790. The man selected for their guardian is believed to have been unfaithful to his trust, for the boys were turned out of their home without a penny, while the estate seems not to have been settled till 1799. Thomas and Josiah Flagg had learned the accomplishments of polite society, but had never acquired any trade or profession. Josiah possessed scholarly instincts, and had a knowledge of Latin, which was esteemed remarkable in his later years – all of which is explainable on the theory of heredity; his grandfather being the scholarly Rev. Ebenezer Flagg, a graduate of Harvard 1725. When turned out to shift for himself, he became temporarily a dancing master, being an excellent violinist and a beautiful dancer. Among his pupils was Miss Margaretta Shively, whose father John Shively, a wealthy Swiss merchant had emigrated from Geneva with his stock in trade before the Revolutionary war, and having prospered in America had purchased, probably from the Fairfax estate, large tracts of land in the old Frederick County, Va. (the part set off in 1772 as Berkeley County, an now in W. Va.). Margaretta, as the only child, brought all of this to her husband, after her father's death in 1792. Josiah Flagg sold part of the land, located on a section reserved, on the Tuscarora Stream; about a mile from Martinsburg and build "Flagg's Mills"; one large three-story flour mill, one plaster mill and one saw mill; all run by water power of the Tuscarora, with big pens for hogs, built over the stream. Houses were erected for the superintendents and hands, and the place grew to be an important one, many being employed in mills, dairy, distillery and farms. The residence of Josiah Flagg was a dwelling understood to have been erected by his father-in-law John Shively. It was destroyed by a fire a few years after his death, and replaced by the present "Laurel Hill," built on its site, by his son Thomas. Josiah was fond of reading and a delightful conversationalist, also a great Bible student. He told his colored valet "Dick" that the latter would be free some day, and proved it by the Bible. His wife was a remarkable woman and he left nearly everything to her management. He disliked details and was fond of social life. They were lavish entertainers. A story is related how Mr. Magnus Tate of Jefferson County, a close friend, lent him a book on Infidelity. Mrs. Flagg, "Peggy" as he called her, took it and hurled it into the fire, saying she would have no more of that stuff in the house. Her husband only laughed. The children were given all educational advantages they would accept. Josiah Flagg died 9 may, 1849. He married 28 Jan., 1790, Margaretta Shively, daughter of John and Mary (_____) Shively, born about 1772; died 10 Feb., 1835. The burial place of the children who died young is not definitely known. Probably they, with Mrs. Flagg's father, John Shively, were laid in the small cemetery at the end of the front lawn at Laurel Hill where to-day the B. & O. railroad runs. Children: all born at Flagg's Mills, Berkeley County, Va. (now W. Va.): i. RUTH KEYES,7 b. 17 Dec., 1790; d. Martinsburg, 16 Mar., 1873; m. 1812, Daniel Burkhart. ii. MOLLY, b. 2 July, 1792; d. 6 Apr., 1807. iii. ELIZABETH, b. 21 May, 1794; no further record; probably died in her "teens." iv. MARTHA MATILDA, b. 13 June, 1791; d. 22 Aug., 1800. v. RUHAMAH, b. 7 Aug., 1800; d. 25 June, 1800. vi. JOHN MAGNUS, b. 28 July, 1801; d. at sea, 24 Sept., 1849; m. 1822, Elizabeth R. Hughes. vii. THOMAS GEORGE, b. 14 Nov., 1803; d. Flagg's Mills, 11 May, 1879; m. 1828, Margaret B. Slemons. viii. ESTHER JOIDA ANN, b. 9 Aug., 1806; d. _____; m. 1st, Joseph Minghini; m. 2d, James Barnard. ix. JOSIAH DAVID, b. 20 Aug., 1809. As a boy he was not interested in studious pursuits, a lack he deeply regretted later. Was a farmer three miles from Martinsburg, and accumulated considerable property. He d. 24 Aug., 1885, and under terms of his will, his estate of sixty or seventy thousand dollars, was eventually divided between the families of his brothers and sisters; m. Caroline Burkhart, 2d cousin of his sister Ruth's husband. She survived her husband and spent her last days with her nephew, Robert Burkhart, near Martinsburg, W. Va. No children. x. MARGARET LOUISA, b. 18 May, 1811; d. young.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Josiah Flagg's memorial?
Josiah Flagg's memorial is located at: Norbourne Parish Cemetery, Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA.
When did Josiah Flagg death?
Josiah Flagg death on 9 May 1849 in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Josiah Flagg's memorial?
Latitude: 39.4525414
Longitude: -77.9671707

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Margaret “Peggy” Shiveley Flagg

(1772 - 1835)

Children

Ruth Keyes Flagg Burkhart

(1790 - 1873)

Thomas George Flagg

(1803 - 1879)

Josiah David Flagg

(1809 - 1885)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4536018, -77.9666977

2. Adam Stephen Monument
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4490400, -77.9663400

3. German Lutheran Reformed Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4563840, -77.9680570

4. Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4565750, -77.9653290

5. Old Green Hill Colored Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4566383, -77.9638291

6. Norborne Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4463997, -77.9682999

7. Whitenah Family Burial Ground
Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4547200, -77.9562990

8. Green Hill Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4538994, -77.9558029

9. Kearney Family Burial Site
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4522930, -77.9825800

10. Mount Hope Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4668999, -77.9533005

11. Beth Jacob Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4580800, -77.9403700

12. Rosedale Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4613991, -77.9403000

13. Providence Quaker Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4653015, -78.0000992

14. VanMetre Family Burial Ground
Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4454600, -77.9268400

15. Olean Graveyard
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4631004, -78.0065994

16. Tuscarora Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4641991, -78.0064011

17. Douglass Grove Cemetery
Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4182000, -77.9550500

18. Shepherd Family Cemetery
Douglas Grove, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4180940, -77.9543920

19. Smoketown Cemetery
Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4575000, -77.9059000

20. Maranatha Memorial Gardens
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5008507, -77.9391785

21. Pleasant View Memory Gardens
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4121000, -77.9163000

22. Poor House Farm Cemetery #1, #2, #3
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4602520, -78.0395790

23. Tabler Family Plot
Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4874440, -77.9063130

24. Beth Haven Baptist Church Cemetery
Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4278800, -77.8983400