Biography

last updated 27 March 2025

CAPT. JOSEPH CADY (1666–1742), son of Nicholas Cady and Judith Knapp, was born on May 28, 1666 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He died on December 29, 1742 in Killingly, Connecticut and was buried at the Aspinwall Cemetery in Putnam, Windham County, Connecticut.

Joseph Cady resided in both Massachusetts and Connecticut where he was a Captain, constable, and innholder. Capt. Joseph Cady had charge of the public lands of Killingly for many years, and was a useful man of general public affairs, as the many town records of him testify. On March 25, 1728, he was chosen townsman. He was Deputy, or Representative, from Killingly in 1731-1734.

Joseph Cady “was noted for his giant frame and physical prowess, and gained great influence over the Indians."

Picture is a sketch of their homestead in Putnam.

Family

He married Sarah Davis, born August 12, 1667, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Waters) Davis, of Groton, on 18 October 1689 in Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Her death date is not known.

Children, the six oldest b. Groton, Mass., the others Killingly, Conn. :

1. Joseph, b. Oct. 3, 1690.
2. William, b. 1692 (?). He is not on record as such, but I can find no other family to which he can reasonably be assigned.
3. James, b. Nov. 22, 1694.
4. Isaac, b. Jan. 17, 1696/7.
5. Abigail, b. Jan. 22, 1699 ; further history unknown.
6. Stephen, b. June 16, 1701.
7. David, b. Sept. 17, 1703.
8. Jonathan, b. abt. 1705 ; bapt. in Killingly, April 4, 1714.
9. Benjamin, b. abt. 1707; bapt. in Killingly, April 4, 1714.

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See:
Descendants of Nicholas Cady of Watertown, Mass. 1645-1910 Allen, Orrin Peer, b. 1833. Page 22 < Archive.Org >

Joseph Cady removed to Groton with his parents when he was an infant, and in that town he spent his youth and young manhood ; then, at the age of ten, he began to experience the strenuous life of the early settlers of Massachusetts, in the three assaults of the Indians in the month of March, 1676, when the inhabitants sought protection in their garrisoned houses, which were bravely defended till relieved by Capt. Lee of Cambridge, who escorted them and their effects to Concord ; there also he had service with his brothers, John, Daniel and Nicholas, in the garrison defense of the town during the Indian disturbances of 1691-2. After immediate danger from the Indians was past, he returned with the other people who had left Groton, who sought to repair the damage they had sustained. In 1695 he was chosen Constable of Groton, and was granted permission by the General Court to keep an inn from 1699 to 1 701. He disposed of his real estate in Groton Feb. 22, 1702/3, and on Jan. 20, 1703, he bought 150 acres of land for ,£20 of John Chandler of Woodstock, located in Aspinock,* later called Killingly, now Putnam, Conn., where he removed his family and where he spent the remainder of his life. This farm was located north of the old Providence road, about one mile easterly from the present city of Putnam. The site of his first abode, a log house, can still be identified on the south side of the farm. As an evidence of his prosperity, he built a pretentious house in 17 14, which was occupied by himself and descendants for many years. The general appearance of the house may be judged from the photograph herewith given.

The writer visited the old house in 1895 and found it deserted by tenants and fast going to ruin. It had a frontage of two stories ; in the center was the conventional stone chimney of the olden days, with a huge oven and fireplace in the kitchen, and fireplaces for the reception and family rooms. There were six rooms of varying size on each floor, of ample proportion and convenience.

A short time before his death, Joseph Cady Jun. sold this homestead to Darius Session, Deputy Governor of Rhode Island, who made it his summer residence ; a few years later, during the dark days of the Revolution, this house became a familiar resort for noted men, including Washington, who is said to have been entertained there during one of his trips across the country. It next came into the possession of Solomon Cleveland, whose brilliant family became the center of attraction in the old township.*

In the course of time this property changed from hand to hand, and finally became the home for changing tenants till it was deserted in 1893, when it was said to have been the oldest standing house in N. E. Connecticut.

The ability of Joseph Cady found early recognition in his newly- adopted home, for in 1708 he was chosen Lieutenant of the soldiers or Train Band of Aspinock, and confirmed as such by act of the Colonial Assembly in same year. In 1721 the Train Band was reorganized and Joseph Cady was chosen Captain, Ephraim Warren, Lieutenant, and Thomas Gould, Ensign. During his captaincy Luther Rasle's war resulted in Lovewell's expedition and the New England colonies were in a ferment, and Capt. Joseph Cady was one of the "three military officers" from Killingly who were engaged, as stated by Miss Larned. On returning from one of these perilous expeditions he was thus greeted by an old squaw whose family he had befriended : " Oh, Massa Cady, I glad to see you ; I so glad I could drink a whole quart of rum."§ Capt. Cady was noted for his giant frame and physical prowess, and he gained notable influence over the Indians, with whom he had much intercourse, from the fact that his farm produced quantities of their sacred medicinal herbs, for which they came in often quest, and as this was considered neutral ground they left their animosities behind.

However, the following tale relates an unfortunate result of a friendly meeting with an Indian : "As Joseph Cady was one day cutting brush alone, an Indian approached him from the neighboring forest and expressed a strong desire to try the skill of a white man in wrestling. Cady thought to himself that if he could throw the fellow it might operate to deter the Indians from hostilities against the settlements, and accordingly accepted the challenge. Both men struggled long and desperately ; but Cady at last prevailed and the Indian was prostrated. Unfortunately he fell among the brush which his antagonist had been cutting, and one of the sharp stumps perforating his skull, he died on the spot."*

References

1. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCMB-VC3 : Fri Mar 08 10:58:37 UTC 2024), Joseph Cady, son of Nicholas Cady and Judith, 28 May 1666. Watertowne, Middlesex, Massachusetts
2. NEW ENGLAND MARRIAGES PRIOR TO 1700 by Clarence Torrey Cady, Joseph 1666 and Sarah Davis 1667 Married 18 October 1689 Groton MA / Canterbury CT / to Killingly CT
3. "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPSP-4Z3D : Sun Mar 10 07:23:07 UTC 2024), Entry for Joseph Cady, 29 December 1742. Event Place Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States
4. Descendants of Nicholas Cady of Watertown, Mass. 1645-1910 Author Allen, Orrin Peer, b. 1833. Page 22 < Archive.Org >
5. "New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial by William Richard Cutter
6. https://www.anamericanfamilyhistory.com/Davis%20Family/DavisSarahCa...
7. http://www.straw.ws/jao/pub/jao/13737.htm (dead link)
8. http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bing/cady/mytree.html (dead link)
9. http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/p/o/p/Sandra-Popiel/FILE... (dead link)
10. https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/LBR9-GMH
11. "First Supplement to Index of Ancestors1941 society of colonial Wars".
12. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38888762/joseph-cady: accessed March 27, 2025), memorial page for Capt Joseph Cady (28 May 1666–29 Dec 1742), Find a Grave Memorial ID 38888762, citing Aspinwall Cemetery, Putnam, Windham County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by Jack W. Davis (contributor 46900076). (Note: wrong death date for his wife Sarah Davis)
13. From < OldNews > (subscription site). Newspaper: The Boston Transcript Publication: Mar 30 1908 - Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States Summary: Detailed genealogy of Nicholas Cady and his family, including his son Daniel and grandson Nicholas, as well as Captain Joseph Cady and his wife Sarah. "V. Captain Joseph Cady. This article is too long to copy. " See also Barber's Historical Collections of Connectleat. " The account In The Monthly Record. says, in part: ' Served as leader of Killingly's first military company, first as lieutenant and afterwards as captain, and wast frequently called to border service. " A picture of the' Old Cady House' is given in The Monthly Record. Nothing appears to known as to Captain Joseph's wife, except that her first name was Sarah. ' He brought his wife Sarah and several children to his new home soon after 1700. " He probably had married in Groton before migrating to that part of Killingly that is now called Thompson."