Josiah DuBois Family Papers (1689-1865)
Finding Aid Completed by Eric Roth, July 12, 2004 (last updated February 2024)
Inclusive Dates: 1689-1865
Volume: 0.75 cu. ft.
Collection ID: MSS.067
Language: English, Dutch
Acquisition: Unknown. These records were probably found by Kenneth E. Hasbrouck and other HHS staff at the Blake House (built by Josiah DuBois) on Libertyville Road during the 1980s.
Access and Use: Unrestricted. Request for permission to publish materials from these records should be discussed with the Archivist/Librarian of HHS.
Preferred Citation: [identification of item (author, title and date if known)], Josiah DuBois Family Papers, Historic Huguenot Street, New Paltz N.Y.
Digital Access: Digitized in 2022, available online at New York Heritage (also see links in Box/Folder listing below)
Biographical Note
Josiah DuBois E-572, [1] was born on December 12, 1779 to Cornelius DuBois and Gertrude Bruyn. He was baptized at the New Paltz Reformed Church on January 3, 1782. On September 22, 1805, he married Elizabeth Hasbrouck (1789-1815), daughter of Josiah Hasbrouck and Sarah Decker. The marriage took place at the Reformed Dutch Church at Shawangunk, NY. Josiah had two children by Elizabeth : Sarah and Pamelia. After the death of Elizabeth in 1815, he married Catherine Winfield (1789-1833), daughter of Dr. Elias Winfield of Kingston. Josiah and Catherine had six children: Elizabeth, Gilbert, Edward, Josiah, Antoinette, and Jane. On January 16, 1834 Josiah was married for the third time to Nancy Wiltsie (1790-1869), but had no further children. This marriage took place at the Reformed Dutch Church at Beacon, NY. Josiah DuBois died in 1867.
In the early 19th century, Josiah entered into a partnership with his father-in-law Josiah Hasbrouck and "carried on the mercantile business" in what is now the Jean Hasbrouck House, now part of the Historic Huguenot Street museum. In 1822, he built a brick house on Libertyville Road in New Paltz now known as the Blake House. He also became a trustee of the New Paltz Academy upon its incorporation in 1833 and became a part-owner in 1845. [2] New Paltz election records show that he was elected to the position of Overseer of the Poor several times between 1832 and 1837, and in 1837 was also elected to the position of Overseer of the Roads. [3] During his lifetime he was affiliated with the Dutch Reformed churches at New Paltz and Shawangunk, and became active in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Collection Description
The large majority of the collection documents the real estate holdings and financial activities of Josiah DuBois during the early nineteenth century. The account books and loose receipts provide documentation of the management of the store located in the Jean Hasbrouck House on Huguenot Street by both DuBois and his father-in-law, Josiah Hasbrouck. Other financial activities covered include newspaper subscriptions, taxes, court fees and judgments, expenses concerning advertising, livestock, transportation, and farm and construction work, and DuBois' work as Overseer of the Poor.
Estate and legal papers such as deeds, mortgages, agreements, bonds, survey maps, and other papers relate to the DuBois family's land holdings in Libertyville and elsewhere in New Paltz during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Documents dating prior to 1815 chiefly concern Josiah DuBois's father and grandfather, both named Cornelius DuBois, and great-grandfather, Solomon DuBois, although other family members (including New Paltz founder, Louis DuBois) are also occasionally represented. Two of these documents are in Dutch. Of particular importance here are several court documents and estate inventories from 1816-1825 relating to the care of Josiah DuBois' mentally unstable brother Cornelius Bruyn DuBois (1783-1825). Also of interest are the numerous wills and inventories of DuBois family members such as Cornelius DuBois, 1780-1781, Margaret DuBois, 1784, Cornelius DuBois Jr., 1803, and an undated late nineteenth-century inventory of a woman identified only as "Mrs. DuBois."
Includes more than 30 daguerreotypes and ambrotypes, most of which are identified, of the DuBois family members and relatives from the Catlin, Elting, Hoysradt, and Van Wagner families.
The physical condition of the collection is generally fair, showing damage from tearing, fraying, folding, yellowing, and worn and detached bindings. Some documents are badly torn, with only fragments remaining. The handwriting tends to be clear and legible throughout the collection.
Related Collections at HHS
Historic Huguenot Street also maintains several other collections of DuBois family papers:
Garret and Roelof DuBois Family Papers (1771-1882), MSS.009
Hendricus DuBois Family Papers (1702-1927), MSS.010
Daniel and Simon DuBois Family Papers (1695-1864), MSS.008
Nathaniel and Isaac DuBois Family Papers (1778-1927), MSS.011
Patterson DuBois Family Papers (1775-1921), MSS.012
Petrus DuBois Family Papers (1732-1869), MSS.013
Solomon DuBois and Rachel Elting Family Papers (1812-1944), MSS.014
Emily DuBois Hoysradt Family Papers and Photographs (1752-1984, bulk 1880s-1920s), MSS.404. Josiah DuBois was Emily’s great-grandfather, so there is some overlap in the individuals represented in both collections.
Researchers should also consult the Bible and Rare Book Collection and Ciphering Book Collection for other items with DuBois family history.
Box and Folder List
View all digitized items online at New York Heritage (or use folder/item links below). Box 2 is not digitized.
Box 1
Series 1: Account Books and Papers (1689-1865)
001.001v1 (item) Daybook, Josiah DuBois, Vol. 1 (1807-1820)
001.001v2 (item) Daybook, Josiah DuBois, Vol. 2 (1807-1813)
001.002 (item) Receipt Book, Josiah DuBois (1794-1847)
001.003 (folder) Account Books, (1805-1819 and undated)
001.004 (folder) Receipts (1813-1861 and undated)
001.005 (folder) Papers (1705-1819 and undated)
001.006 (folder) Papers (1694-1869)
001.007 (folder) Papers (1689-1796) – oversize
001.008 (folder) Papers (1806-1851) – oversize
Box 2 (not digitized)
Series 2: Photographs (1840s-1860)
DA.2007.157 - Emily Catlin Dubois, husband Josiah Dubois, son and baby (possible)
DA.2007.158 - Unidentified young man (probably Luther Elting)
DA.2007.159 - Unidentified young man (probably Luther Elting)
DA.2007.160 - Luther Elting
DA.2007.161 - Unidentified baby
DA.2007.162 - William E. DuBois (childhood)
DA.2007.163 - Unidentifed man and woman
DA.2007.164 - Captain Abraham Elting
DA.2007.165 - Unidentified woman and child
DA.2007.166 - Mary Eleanor Elting (mother of Clarence)
DA.2007.167 - Phoebe Ann Hasbrouck
DA.2007.168 - Two (2) unidentified young women
DA.2007.169 - Elting sisters
DA.2007.170 - Luther Elting (brother of Clarence)
DA.2007.171 - Elizabeth DuBois (married Doctor Isaac Reeve)
DA.2007.172 - Unidentified child
DA.2007.173 - Robert Van Wagner (husband of Margaret Catlin, sister of Emily)
DA.2007.174 - Unidentified middle aged woman
DA.2007.175 - Unidentified young man (probably Luther Elting)
DA.2007.176 - Josiah DuBois Jr.
DA.2007.177 - Francis Miller Hoysradt (father - Louis Hoysradt)
DA.2007.178 - Hasbrouck So.
DA.2007.179 - Amos Catlin DuBois - Judge Supreme Court of California (brother of Emily Catlin DuBois)
DA.2007.180 - Josiah DuBois Sr. 1781-1869 (Libertyville Rd.)
DA.2007.181 - William Catlin DuBois (brother of Emily Catlin DuBois)
DA.2007.182 - Josiah DuBois Jr.
DA.2007.183 - Unidentifed child
DA.2007.184 - Emily Catlin Dubois (wife of Josiah Dubois Jr.)
DA.2007.185 - Pierce Catlin DuBois, eldest son of Josiah & Emily Catlin DuBois
DA.2007.186 - Cousin in the DuBois family
DA.2007.187 - Grandfather Catlin's sister Emily Gibbs
DA.2007.188 - Nettie DuBois
DA.2007.189 - Emily Catlin DuBois(5/9/1826-2/14/1882)
Photographs are individually wrapped in acid-free Tyvek.
Notes
[1] Heidgerd, William. The American Descendants of Chretien DuBois of Wicres, France, 20 vols. Compiled for the DuBois Family Association, Huguenot Historical Society, New Paltz, NY, Inc. (1968). Unless otherwise noted, all genealogical information is taken from this source.
[2] LeFevre, Ralph. History of New Paltz and Its Old Families. Albany, New York. Fort Orange Press (1909): pp. 310-311.
[3] New Paltz Town Records (1677-1932). MSS collections, Historic Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY.