The Galusha family is one of the oldest in New England, although the precise date of their coming cannot be given. The family has been universally prominent in the state of Vermont where Jonas Galusha, the fifth governor of the state, had a remarkable career as soldier, judge and statesman.
(I) Early in the seventeenth century, Jacob Galusha (then about eight years old) was abducted from Wales by persons interested in an estate to which he was likely to become an heir. He was sent to New England, and eventually settled near Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he married and reared two sons, Jacob and Daniel.
(II) Daniel, son of Jacob Galusha, married and had three sons, Jacob, Daniel and Jonas.
(III) Jacob (2), son of Daniel Galusha, was born January 8, 1751, died July 25, 1824, in Shaftsbury, Vermont. He was a farmer and blacksmith in good circumstances, of upright character, sound judgment and much native shrewdness. In 1769 he removed to Salisbury, Connecticut, and thence in the spring of 1775 to Shaftsbury, Vermont. He married, (first) in Norwick, Connecticut, September 10, 1745, Lydia Huntington, born April 25, 1728, died May 6, 1764, daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Heath) Huntington, of Preston, Connecticut, of the same family with Governor Samuel Huntington, of Massachusetts. Matthew Huntington was engaged in the French war of 1756-60, for which he enlisted a company of sixty men, and started with them for the seat of war on Lake George. He over-exerted himself on the way, and suddenly died. Matthew was a son of Matthew Huntington, of Norwich, Connecticut, grandson of Deacon Christopher Huntington, of Norwick, "The first born of males in the town"; deacon of the Norwich Church for forty years; great-grandson of Christopher Huntington, one of the original proprietors of Norwich, Connecticut; great-great-grandson of Simon and Margaret (Baret) Huntington, of Norwich, England. Simon Huntington died on the voyage to America in 1633. The church records of Roxbury, Massachusetts, in the handwriting of Rev. John Elliot, have his record, "Margaret Huntington, widow, came in 1633. Her husband died by way of the smallpox. She brought ———— children with her." (The blank is as found in the records.) The number of children is five, of whom Christopher (4) is the fourth. Children of Jacob and Lydia (Huntington) Galusha:
- Mary.
- Captain David, was the representative of Shaftsbury, Vermont, 1779; captain in Colonel Seth Warner's regiment in 1775.
- Jacob, was elected town clerk of Shaftsbury in 1784, and held the office forty-one years; was also justice of the peace for a long term, and representative of Shaftsbury for ten consecutive years, 1801-11.
- Jonas, was born in Norwich, Connecticut; was a member of Captain Seth Warner's regiment of "Green Mountain Boys" in service in Canada in the fall of 1775; prior to the battle of Bennington, August 16, 1775, he was captain in command of his own company, and that of Captain Amos Huntington, his uncle, who had been taken prisoner at Hubbardstown; he fought all through the battle of Bennington, although so weak before it began, that he had to be assisted; he continued in the service until the surrender of Burgoyne; in 1781 he was elected sheriff of Bennington county, Vermont; in 1792 member of the council of censors; in 1793 member of the governor's council, re-elected six consecutive times; in 1795 assistant judge of Bennington county, again in 1800 until 1806; in 1800 elected to state assembly, resigning the second day to take a seat in the governor's council; in 1807 elected judge of the supreme court, and again in 1808; was presidential elector, 1809-21-25-29; elected governor of Vermont, 1809-10-11-12; in 1813 elected by a plurality, but not a majority, the election going to the legislature who defeated him; elected governor in 1815-16-17-18-19; in 1822, president of the Vermont constitutional convention, which was his last public office; he was a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school; he had four wives; he lived to the age of eighty-two years.
- Amos, see forward.
- Elijah.
- Olive.
- Lydia.
- Anna.
Jacob Galusha married (second) Thankful King, and had one daughter, Lucy. He married (third) Desire (Andrus) Metcalf, and had sons: Daniel, Benjamin, Ezra, Elias, daughters: Desire and Sally. He married (fourth) Abigail Loomis. No issue. Abigail (Loomis) Galusha was a woman of great strength and longevity. In her eightieth year she was baptized by immersion and joined the Baptist church in Shaftsbury, Vermont, and when ninety years old rode fifty miles in a wagon in one day with no serious inconvenience. Concerning the temper and disposition of his four wives, Mr. Galusha once said, in his peculiar shrewd way, "I have been twice in heaven, once on earth and once in hell."
(IV) Amos, fourth son of Jacob (2) and Lydia (Huntington) Galusha, was born in Norwich, Connecticut. He moved with his father's family to Salisbury, Connecticut, and later to Shaftsbury, Vermont. He served in the revolution in the company commanded by his brother, Captain Jonas Galusha, four days on an alarm in 1780; also on another alarm at Cambridge and Saratoga in 1781; also on an alarm at Castleton, Vermont, in October, 1781. During the administrations of Presidents Jefferson and Madison, he rendered them very efficient support by his contributions to the periodical press. He married Mary, daughter of Jeremiah Clark, who was born in Preston, Connecticut, 1733, came to Bennington in 1767, served in the revolution and took part in the battle of Bennington; was afterwards a member of the council of safety in 1777-78; councillor in 1778-80; chief justice of Bennington county, 1778. In the latter capacity he passed sentence of death on David Redding, the first man executed in Vermont. He was styled major; he died in 1817. Children of Amos and Mary (Clark) Galusha:
- Amos, married Elizabeth Spencer;
- Elijah, see forward;
- Eunice, married Jonathan Niles;
- Jacob, married Betsy Niles;
- Simeon and Anne, twins, died unmarried.
(V) Elijah, son of Captain Amos Galusha, was born in Shaftsbury, Vermont; came to Troy, New York, about 1830, and died there in 1871. He was a manufacturer of fine furniture, for which he was noted. He continued in business in Troy until his death. He married Charlotte M. Howlett, born in Vermont, died in New York City in 1888. They had issue.
(VI) Henry, son of Elijah and Charlotte M. (Howlett) Galusha, was born in Troy, New York, August 24, 1833, died in the same city, September 14, 1909. He was educated in the private schools of Troy. He began and ended his business career of over half a century in the wholesale grocery business, beginning as a clerk with Battershall & McDoual, continuing with their successors, McDoual, Squires & Sherry. In 1860 Peter McDoual died, and he was admitted to the firm, whose sign, Squires, Sherry & Galusha, has stood unchanged for fifty years. Mr. Galusha was a most excellent man of business, and although of a quiet, retiring nature had a multitude of friends. He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church, of which he was for many years an elder. He had served in earlier years as chairman of the board of trustees and superintendent of the Sunday school. He was a member of the Masonic order, affiliated with Mount Zion Lodge; member of William Floyd Chapter, Sons of the Revolution; the Troy Club; senior member of the Citizens' Corps, and an exempt fireman, and honorary member of Arba Read Steamer Company. He married Elizabeth Osgood (see Osgood VIII). They lived in Troy for over half a century and in 1908 passed their golden wedding. Mrs. Galusha is a member of the Presbyterian church in Troy, where she has worshipped for over fifty years. She survives her husband and resides at 100 First street, Troy.
(The Osgood Line)
Mrs. Henry Galusha (Elizabeth Osgood) descends from the Osgood family of England and Andover, Massachusetts. The name Osgood was established in several counties of England when the Domesday Book was compiled in 1066. The American family has been traced to Peter Osgood, of Nether Wallup, who was assessed in 1552, and whose will was proved in 1534. The earliest parish register of Wherwell, England, is dated 1634. On November 14, 1636, the baptism of Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sarah Osgood, is recorded. Their names next appear on the list of passengers, dated April 14, 1638, of the ship "Confidence," which sailed from Southampton for New England. John Osgood was admitted a freeman in Massachusetts, May 26, 1639. There were three Osgoods who founded families in Massachusetts, all settled first at Newbury, Massachusetts, Christopher, John and William. John and William came in the "Confidence," while Christopher preceded them. They were doubtless nearly related, while some genealogists claim they were brothers.
(I) John Osgood, born in the parish of Wherwell, Hampshire, England, July 23, 1595, died in Andover, Massachusetts, October 24, 1651. He was for a time of Ipswich and Newbury, after coming to Massachusetts in 1638, but in 1645 settled in Andover, where he died. He was the first representative from Andover to sit in the general court. He was one of the first ten members, freeholders, as required by law to form and constitute the church at Andover. He married, in England, about 1627, Sarah ————, who died April 8, 1667.
(II) John (2), eldest, son of John (1) and Sarah Osgood, was born in England about 1630, died in Andover, Massachusetts, August 31, 1693. He lived in Andover in the house his father had left him. He was sergeant, lieutenant and captain of militia, the latter in 1683. He was innholder and selectman several terms. He was very popular with the townspeople of Andover. He married at Haverhill, November 15, 1653, May, daughter of Rev. Robert Clements, who came from London in 1642. May (Clements) Osgood was one of the unfortunates suspected of witchcraft in the miserable delusion of 1692, was examined in Salem before John Hawthorne and other "Majestie's Justices," September 8, 1692, confessed and was indicted in January, 1693, but recanted before Increase Mather. After four months' imprisonment she was released. They had twelve children.
(III) Stephen, youngest son of John (2) and May (Clements) Osgood, was born in Ipswich, or Newbury, Massachusetts, 1683; died January 15, 1691. He was a farmer. He married, October 24, 1663, Mary Hooker.
(IV) Hooker, son of Stephen and Mary (Hooker) Osgood, was born in Andover, Massachusetts, August 24, 1668, died in Lancaster, January 29, 1748. He was a saddler; also selectman in Lancaster, Massachusetts. He married, April 26, 1692, Dorothy Wood.
(V) Captain David, son of Hooker and Dorothy (Wood) Osgood, was born October 8, 1698; was of Sterling, Massachusetts, where he owned a negro slave. He married, November 3, 1742, Eunice Carter.
(VI) Captain David (2), son of Captain David (1) and Eunice (Carter) Osgood, was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, April 21, 1734, died in Rutland, Vermont, October 9, 1812. He moved to Rutland, Vermont, at an early date in its settlement; was a large landowner and cattle dealer, and during the revolutionary war the army of General Gates was supplied from his herds. He married (first), April 12, 1759, Sarah Baily; (second) Martha ————; (third), Widow Spencer; (fourth), Widow Campbell, who survived him.
(VII) David (3), son of Captain David (2) Osgood, and his first or second wife (most likely the first), was born December 31, 1774, died 1820. He removed from Rutland, Vermont, to Cooperstown, New York, where he was engaged in the clothing business; removed to Rensselaer county, New York, where he put in operation the first carting machine in New York state; afterwards removed to Eaton, Madison county, New York, where he died in 1820. He married (first), Mary Rice; (second) Caroline Lester, of Columbia county. Children, all by second wife:
- Jason C., see forward;
- David R., married Mary Pomeroy;
- Jonathan W., unmarried;
- Janet R.; Belsey, married Rev. David Tripp; lived in Washington, Indiana;
- Robert R., of Troy, New York, harness-maker and later manufacturer of dredging machines; married Sarah M. Smith;
- Adeline S., unmarried;
- Mary J., married Barnard Cook, of Lapeer, Michigan.
(VIII) Jason C., son of David (3) and Caroline (Lester) Osgood, was born 1804, died April 27, 1875. He was a constructing and civil engineer and engaged on a great deal of river, harbor, and public work, inventing and constructing special machinery for his operations. He held many public offices in Troy, New York; was member of the assembly, fire commissioner, etc. He married Asenath Moyer. Children:
- Helen C., born May 6, 1834, married Nelson Davenport;
- Adaline A., born March 18, 1836, died August 9, 1849;
- Elizabeth, born March 12, 1838, married Henry Galusha (see Galusha VI).