Joseph Norris
Joseph Norris was born January 11, 1729 near Sharpsburg, Washington
County, Maryland. He was the son of John Norris who had come
from Ireland in the early 1700s. He married Mary Moody
about 1760.
Joseph was a Patriot who took the Oath of Fidelity and Support on
April 17, 1779 in Washington County, Maryland. He and his wife
then moved to Pennsylvania about 1780 and purchased a farm of about
400 acres near the Raystown branch of the Juniata River in Bedford
County (now Huntingdon). According to early PA Census
reports Joseph brought with him two slaves to help on the farm.
He later gave these slaves their freedom and a parcel of land for
their own use.
Joseph and Mary raised 12 children on his farm in Hopewell Township,
Bedford County. Some family members later moved to Clearfield
County, PA.
He died March 18, 1813 and was buried in a family cemetery that
later had to be moved when Raystown Lake Dam was built. His
grave and other family members were then moved to Jacob's Church
Cemetery, Huntingdon PA.
Source: Brumbaugh & Hodges, Revolutionary Records of MD, pg. 14 for
Patriot record.
