Joseph Selby

b. ?March 1731 in Purton, Wiltshire
d. June 1, 1786 in PG, Maryland

?Mary Collier

b. January 1744 in Minety, Wiltshire
d.

___ Orme

b.
d. < March 29, 1786

 

Children

?Mary Selby, b. 1758, England
?Betty Selby, b. 1760, England
?John Selby, b. Dec 1763, England
?Joseph, b. May 1767, d. Dec 1839, England

John Selby, b. ~1770
Joseph Selby, b. ~1771
Thomas Selby, b ~1773
Margaret Selby, b. ~1774
Ann Selby, b. ~1775
Martha Ann Selby, b. ~1776
Jesse Selby, b. 1777

 

Other Joseph Selby's:

A. Privates Joseph Selby and Thomas Selby served under Capt. John Smith in the Prince Georges County Militia from Mattapony and Mount Calvert in 1748/1749. [Colonial Soldiers of the South, 1732-1774 by Murtie J. Clark, 1999, pg 48] This is likely Joseph Selby (1718-1752), son of William Selby Jr, and Joseph's brother Thomas ( 1720-1793).

B. Joseph Selby, "sadler", of the City of Annapolis together with his wife Anne (Carter?) Selby, and often with John Howard and his wife Janie, bought and sold several properties in Annapolis between 1770 and his death in 1780. [AA LR IB2.306, AA LR DD5.607, AA LR DD5.596, AA LR DD5.682, AA LR NH1.78, AA LR NH1.79, AA LR NH1.310]

Joseph Selby and John Howard participated in the Revolutionary War by making and supplying cartridge boxes. On January 19, 1781 it was noted: "That Mr John Shaw receive(d) of Mrs. Ann Selby Widow of the late Joseph Selby all the Cartridge Boxes which had been finished by Selby and Howard according to their Contract with the State." [Journal & Correspondence of Maryland Council for Safety, Vol. 45, pg 280]

  • ?Married Mary Collier October 29, 1757 in Cricklade St. Sampson, Wiltshire. Together they had four children: Mary, Betty, John, and Joseph. [SH]
  • ?In 1767 Joseph Selby from Wiltshire was arrested and charged with stealing two heifers, the property of John Hughs of Broad Hinton, Wiltshire.[SH]
  • ?In March 1768 in Wiltshire of the Midland Circuit of England Joseph Selby was "reprieved from capital punishment on condition of transportation to the American colonies." [Bonded Passengers to America, by Peter Wilson Coldham, Vol. IX, page 88]
  • ?Joseph was transported in April 1768 to Virginia [The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage, by Peter Wilson Coldham, page 710] Is this our Joseph? If so, where did he land in Virginia and what brought him to Maryland? There is no indication that wife Mary or any of the four children traveled to America. Sons John and Joseph are buried in England
  • About 1769 Joseph married a daughter of John Orme (widower) who died in 1789 in PG as noted in his will. This daughter also had a son, Thomas Cummins, which suggests this was her second marriage. Her sister was Isabella Orme Selby. [PG WB T1.276]
  • May 20, 1777 Joseph Selby was among those appointed for "the present year" as "Overseers of the Highways" by the county court; he oversaw lower Mount Calvert. Then on November 25, 1777 he was again appointed "for the ensuing year." [Unpublished Revolutionary Records of Prince George's County, Loyal Civil Services from April 19, 1775, to Sept 8, 1783 by Caleb Clarke Magruder, Jr., pages 26, 28]
  • March 23, 1779 at the County Court at Upper Marlboro Town Joseph Selby was administered the Oath of Fidelity. [Revolutionary Records of Maryland, Brumbaugh and Hodges, pg 30]
  • Joseph Selby is listed as contributing 200 (pounds?) of tobacco as a member of the vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Parish in Baden on May 12, 1784. [St. Pauls Vestry Minutes, MSA Special Collections M255, pg 278]
  • Joseph's will was written 29 March 1786 and probated on June 1, 1786. [PG WB T1.235] Joseph died a widower. Philip Selby was executor of the will, and a neighbor, living at Sim's Delight along the road from St. Paul's Chapel to Upper Marlboro.
  • On December 30, 1786 Philip Selby, executor for Joseph Selby, sold four slaves to William Bowie III. [PG LR HH.244]
  • 26 June 1792: Orphans Bond was posted and signed by Philip Selby (executor), John Selby, and Joseph Selby of Prince Geroges County in the sum of 104 pounds due to the State of Maryland. "The Conclusion of the above Obligation is such that whereas there remains balance due the estate of Joseph Selby late of said County deceased to John Selby, Joseph, Thomas, Margaret, and Ann Selby & Jesse and Martha Selby, Orphans of the said Deceased amounting to the sum of fifth two pounds three shillings and two pence three farthings current money if therefore the above bound Philip Selby his Heirs Executors or Administrators do and shall well and truly satisfy and pay unto the said John, Joseph, Thomas, Margaret, Ann, Jessee, & Martha Selby their Heirs Executors Administrators or assigns the aforesaid sum of fifty two pounds three shillings two pence three farthings current money when they shall arrive at their Lawfull age then the above Obligation to be void else to remain and be in full force and virtue in Law." [PG County Guardianship bonds 1703-1803, 1791 volume, page 32, copy attached] This document indicates that the oldest siblings John and Joseph were 21 years old in 1792 (the age of majority necessary to post bonds and serve as guardians in clonial Maryland). John and Joseph in conjunction with Philip Selby, the executor, appear to have served as guardians of the younger siblings.

Will of Joseph Selby, 29 March 1786 - 1 June 1786
[PG WB T1.235, MSA CR 34.681]

In the name of God Amen, I Joseph Selby of Prince Georges County and State of Maryland being sick and weak of body, but blessed be God of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, considering the Certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time hereof, and being anxious to settle my worldly affairs, do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First and principally, I most humbly implore the mercy of Almighty God and pardon of him through the aforementioned merits of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by the sanctifying power of his Holy Spirit, I hope to inherit eternal life and my body to be buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and as for my Temporal Estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with, after my just debts and funeral expenses are truly paid, I give devise and bequeath in the manner following. Item, I give devise and bequeath to my loving Children jointly John Selby, Joseph Selby, Thomas Selby, Marget Selby, Ann Selby, Martha Ann Selby and Jesse Selby all my Estate both real and personal to be equally divided between them to them and their heirs or assigns forever, and lastly I do hereby constitute and Appoint Philip Selby Executor of this my last will and Testament, revoking and annulling all former wills heretofore made or said to be made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last Will and Testament in testimony whereof I have set my hand and fixed my seal this twenty ninth day of March Anno one thousand seven hundred eighty six.
Signed sealed, published and delivered by Joseph Selby the above named
Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presents of us who at                         Joseph F Selby [seal]
his request and in his presents have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
John Bird
Sary (her mark) Lewis

On the back of which will was thus written:  Prince Georges County, June 1, 1786
Then came John Bird and Sarah Lewis the two subscribing witnesses to the within last Will and Testament of Joseph Selby late of said County deceased, and severally made oath on the Holy Covenants of Almighty God that they did see the testator herein named sign and seal this will and that they heard him publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament, that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, and that they respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to this will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and in the presence of each. Certified by Frank Tyler, Reg Wills, Prince Georges County.