| Notes |
- Gadius is the earliest known male Stafford for Stafford Society Branch 28. His wife is a female Stafford descendant of Stafford Society Branch 5, Josiah Stafford (Stover).
A 26 marker Y-DNA test result for Michael H. Stafford, a descendant of Gadius, matches a 26 marker Y-DNA test for Arthur Charles Stafford, a descendant of Josiah Stafford (Stover). This means that Gad is a decendant of Josiah or they have a common male ancestor.
Gadius and Lydia Stafford moved to Auburn Twp, Geauga Co. OH in 1824 and purchased of Perkins, just east of the center, on the Kirtland tract. They lived there until 1838 and then moved to Chardon Twp. They may have moved to Hillsdale Co, Wheatland Twp MI about 1842 but are shown in Chardon OH for the 1850 Census. They apparently lived on their son Abraham's farm in Wheatland Twp, Hillsdale Co. MI where both apparently died.
The Military History of Wayne Co., NY by Lewis H. Clark lists Gadias Stafford as a private in Captain George Culver's Company, Thirty-ninth Infantry in June and July of 1812. After the opening of the war, the company was apparently re-organized - members being discharged and others enlisted.
The Northeastern Ohio account says Gadius was a soldier in the War of 1812. Gadias, David, Thomas, Tile, and William Stafford served in 39th Regiment (Howell"s) New York Militia. It also places his death in 1865 at age 75 with would mean he was born in 1787 not 1789. However Hillsdale Co MI Burials - as identified by Marker or Record place his death as 2 Jul 1862 at age 71.
I found the following blip on page 150 of the History of Wayne Co., New York concerning Joseph Smith Jr.:
"He formed an organization denominated "Latter Day Saints." They are enumerated as Oliver Cowdery, Samuel Lawrence, Martin Harris, Preserved Harris, Peter Ingersol, Charles Ford, George and Dolly Proper, of Palmyra, Zilba Peterson, Calvin Stoddard and wife Sophronia, of Macedon, Ezra Thayer, of Brighton, Leeman Walters, Of Pultneyville, Hiram Page, of Fayette, David Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, as well as Christian, John and Peter Jr., of Phelps, Simeon Nichols, of Farmington, William, Joshua and Gad Stafford, David and Abram Fish, Robert Orr, K. H. Quance, John Morgan, Orrin and Caroline Rockwell, Mrs. S. Risley, and the Smith Family." As this was about 1827, there is a conflict with the 1824 date of Gadius being in Ohio.
However, there is a record of Gadius selling land in Ontario Co., New York to a Russel Stoddard in 1828. Russel Stoddard also bought land from Abraham Stafford in 1823.
Carl M. Brewster prepared a manuscript in 1945 <http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/books/Brew1945.htm> entitled, "Did Sidney Rigdon Write the Book of Mormon?" in which he suggested that young Smith came to Auburn township, Geauga Co., Ohio in company with a friend (Porter Rockwell?) in about 1825 to consult with a local treasure-seeker. Only a few fragments of Brewster's original manuscript survive and it is currently not possible to identify his sources. His ancestors were pioneers in Auburn (immediately adjacent to Bainbridge) and Brewster may have been relying upon old family traditions for his information. The first known Manchester "treasure-seeker" in Auburn was Gadius Stafford, but he was not firmly established there until 1828 at the earliest (his name is on the 1829 tax list) -- and that would have been too late for him to have been the object of Smith's alleged earlier quest in Auburn. A sizeable colony of pioneers from Ontario and Wayne counties in New York settled in the center part of Auburn before 1828. Many of these people (such as Isaac Butts) must have known both the Manchester Smith family and their near neighbor in Ohio, Elder Sidney Rigdon, but among those Auburn settlers only the name of Gadius "Gad" Stafford was published <http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs1/1867TucA.htm> as having been a money-digging associate back in Manchester.
Born:
Son Abram Stafford lists Gadius as born in New York in 1800 Census. Son Reuben lists Gadius as born in Rhode Island.
Cousin Helen Murray has Gad born 10 Sep 1798 in Palmyra, New York.
Census:
1820. Page 317. Listed as "Gardius" Stafford.
3 males under age 10
1 male age 26 to 45
1 female under age 10
1 female age 26 to 45
1830. Listed as "Gad". Page 261.
1 male under age 5
1 male age 10-15
2 males age 15-20
1 male age 40-50
1 female under age 5
2 females age 5-10
1 female age 10-15
1 female age 40-50
1840. Listed as Gad Stafford on page 173
1 male 5-10
1 male 10-15
1male 20-30
1male 50-60
1 female 10-15
2 female 15-20
1 female 40-50
1850. Listed as "Gad Stafford" (on page 173.) with wife Lydia, Joshua Stafford (age 19) and Orvin Parshall, age 5. Gad & Lydia born in RI.
Died:
- Cousin Helen Murray has Gad's death on 2 Jul 1860, which may explain why he isn't listed in the 1860 Census. The death date on his obelisk is 2 Jun 1862 is probably the year his obelisk was erected.
Name: Gad Stafford
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Place of Birth: Rhode Island
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1790
Age: 70
Month of Death: Jul
Cause of Death: Fever Sore
Place of Death: (City, County, State)
Wheatland, Hillsdale, Michigan
Census Year: 1860
Image Source: Census Place (City, County, State): Wheatland, Hillsdale, Michigan; Roll: T1164_15; Page: ; Enumeration District: ;Line Number: 8.
Residency Country: United States
Buried:
- An obelisk marks the grave sites. It states that Gadius died 2 Jul 1862 aged 71 years ....months and .....days (very weathered. There is a very worn marker for Gadius, daughter Huldah and wife Lydia.
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1789 - 1860 (70 years)
