264. Josiah STAFFORD (Stover) was born about 1662 in Cape Neddick,
   York Co. ME. (149) Another source has his birth about 1674. He signed
   a will in Jun 1742 in Bristol, Co. MA. He died on 9 Apr 1743 in
   Tiverton, Newport Co. RI.(150) He Will Proved on 22 Jun 1743. He was a
   Shipwright. Chronology of Josiah Stover-Stafford
   21 Jul 1687 Josiah Stover named as son in will of Sylvester Stove
   (Sargent, Maine Wills, Pg 12)
   2 Mar 1692 Neither the name of Josiah Stover nor that of Josiah
   Stafford occurs on the list of those present at the organization of
   the Town of Tiverton.
   8 Sep 1697 Josiah Stafford sold the sloop Scanderbeg to Sarah Fowler
   of Boston (RI Land Evidence, quoted by Grace Stafford Durfee in the
   LDS film No. 802446) (Also abstract in RI Roots, Vol 13, No. 2, Pg 31,
   1937)
   14 Feb 1698 Sary/Sarah daughter of Josiah Stover born (Tiverton Town
   records, LDS film 913076. *
   *The birth of Sarah Stover was recorded by Arnold in Vol. 4, Newport
   Co., Tiverton Sect. on pg 109 and the birth of Sarah Stafford, of
   Josiah and Sarah, the same day, on pg 108.
   11 Apr 1699 Sarah Lake, now the wife of Josiah Stafford, called before
   the Bristol Court. (The American Genealogist, Vol XII, pg 22)
   17 Jul 1702 Josiah Stover of Tiverton, shipwright, sold lands in
   Tiverton to Joseph Wanton. George Stover, his brother, was a witness.
   (Bristol Co. MA, Book 4, pages 298-299).
   24 Jun 1704 Josiah Stover and wife Sarah appeared and gave consent to
   the above sale.
   19 Apr 1705 Josiah Stafford's ear mark entered (Tiverton Town
   records).
   1709 Josiah Stover was of Tiverton RI (New Eng. Hist. & Gen. Reg. Vol
   XXXV, Pg 302, 1931(
   1709 Josiah Stover was of Tiverton, RI when he quit claimed to his
   brother ependance (Noyes et al, Gen. Dict. ME & NH Pg 667).
   25 Mar 1709/10 Josiah Stafford voted gran Jure man (Tiverton Town Rec)
   27 Mar 1714 Sias Stafford, tithing man for year. (Ibid)
   7 Dec 1714 Josiah Stover named in will of mother, Elizabeth Stover,
   Scituate, MA.
   12 Mar 1721/22 Josiah Stafford, tithing man (Tiverton Town Rec.)
   1722 Josiah Stover, living. (Noyes et al)
   12 Apr 1722 Josiah Stafford was named in a deed recorded. (Bristol Co.
   MA, and records, Northern Dist. Book 14, pp 209-210)
   12 Jun 1723 Tiverton Town meeting voted Thomas Jones, Schoolmaster, to
   keep a school at Joshua Dwellys or Josiah Stover's.
   12 Mar 1723/24 Josiah Stafford constable.
   11 Jan 1727/28 Josiah Stafford bought lands in Tiverton, RI from Peter
   Tallman (Tiverton land records Vol. 3, pg 257).
   All the above evidence point to the conclusion that Josiah Stover and
   Josiah Stafford were one and the same. No list of inhabitants of
   Tiverton, RI, has been found that contains the two names on the same
   day, other that that of the birth of Sarah.
   Information for the Stafford family bible, as published in the Durfee
   Genealogy, vol. 1, pg 293 also supports the conclusion that Josiah
   Stover and Josiah Stafford are one and the same. (See LDS film no.
   839398)
   Charles Warner Stafford in his Index to the Stafford Families of New
   England has the same conclusion but does make the note that Josiah
   Stover was raised by Thomas Stafford Jr. As Thomas was a ship builder,
   this may explain why Josiah became a shipwright and changed his name.
   Also the difference in the pronouniation of Stover and Stafford was
   not great during this era.
   An unidentified source has Josiah as the son of Thomas Stafford Jr.and
   his first wife Jane Dodge (m. 20 Dec 1671) Thomas Jr. died 26 Jan 1723
   in Warwick RI and did not name Josiah is his will.
   He was married to Sarah LAKE about 1698 in Tiverton, RI. (151)
   
   265. Sarah LAKE was born on 10 May 1678 in Tiverton, RI. She died on
   10 May 1754 in Tiverton, RI. On 11 April 1699, Josiah and Sarah were
   before the Bristol Court for fornification before marriage, but the
   child not yet being born, the case was continued. In this case she is
   described as "Sarah Lake, now the wife of Josiah Stafford". Her
   father, David Lake, appeared for them as both Josiah and Sarah were
   out of the Province (Bristol County Sessions Book, I. 35.) Children
   were:
   child i. Sarah STAFFORD was born on 14 Feb 1698 in Tiverton RI. She
   died after 30 Oct 1765 in NC?. Lived in Nine Partners NY and
   Pasquotank, NC Quaker communities.
   child ii. Joseph STAFFORD was born about 1701 in Tiverton RI. He died
   on 31 May 1773 in Tiverton, RI. Was noted as a "celebrated
   astrologist". Another date of death listed is 5 Jun 1776.
   child 84 iii. David STAFFORD.
   child iv. Abraham STAFFORD was born about 1711 in Tiverton RI. He died
   in Dec 1798 in Tiverton, RI. Noted as 1 Jan 1779 in Newport Mercury
   News.
   child v. Hannah STAFFORD was born about 1713 in Tiverton RI. She died
   on 1 Dec 1785 in Middletown, RI. Hannah also lived in Cartret, NC.
   child vi. Patience STAFFORD was born about 1715 in Tiverton, RI. She
   died after Apr 1770.
   child vii. Priscilla STAFFORD was born about 1717 in Tiverton RI. She
   died on 2 Jul 1797.
   child viii. Bethiah STAFFORD was born about 1719 in Tiverton RI. She
   died in 1785.
   child ix. Bersheba STAFFORD was born about 1722 in Tiverton RI. She
   died on 12 Mar 1787.
   child x. Phebe STAFFORD was born about 1725 in Tiverton RI.
   child xi. Elizabeth STAFFORD was born about 1727.