Jedediah Durfey
1756 - 1828 (72 years)-
Name Jedediah Durfey Birth 1756 Canterbury, Windham, Connecticut, USA 
Christening 15 Oct 1758 First Congregational Church of Canterbury [1] Gender Male Death 1 Sep 1828 Richland, Oswego, New York, USA - September 11, 1828 age 60 yrs, 2 mos
Burial Ferguson Cemetery, Richland, Oswego, NY [2] - Blue Springs
Person ID I15548 Stewartsny Last Modified 2 Dec 2025
Father Joseph Durfee, b. 5 Dec 1732, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States d. 4 Jun 1794, Cornwall, Addison, Vermont, United States (Age 61 years) Relationship natural Mother Abigail Buck, b. 28 Jun 1732, Somers, Tolland, Connecticut, United States d. 9 Jun 1774, Vermont, United States (Age 41 years) Relationship natural Marriage 1755 Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, United States Family ID F2409 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 Millicent Foote, b. 6 Nov 1763, Waterbury, New Haven, CT d. 15 Aug 1802, Lincoln, Addison, VT (Age 38 years) Marriage 1783 [3] Children 1. Eli Durfey, b. 21 Apr 1786, Cornwall, Addison, VT d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]2. Electa Durfey, b. 25 Aug 1788, Cornwall, Addison, VT d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]3. Lovica Durfey, b. 7 Nov 1790, Cornwall, Addison, VT d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]4. Nancy Durfey, b. 17 Mar 1793, Cornwall, Addison, VT d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]5. Olive Durfey, b. 9 May 1794, Cornwall, Addison, VT d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]6. Truman Durfey, b. 19 Sep 1796, Cornwall, Addison, VT d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]7. William Durfey, b. 11 May 1802, Middlebury, Addison, VT d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]Family ID F4640 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 2 Dec 2025
Family 2 Lydia Dains, b. 22 Jul 1782, Canterbury, Windham, Connecticut, USA d. 1813, Canada (Age 30 years) Marriage Abt 1806 Johnston, N. Crosby, Ontario, Canada Children 1. Lowell Durfey, b. Abt 1805, Middlebury, Addison, Vermont d. Between 1845 and 1850, New York (Age 40 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]2. Carlton Durfey Durfee, b. 1807, Vermont Or Canada d. 1860, Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, United States (Age 53 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]3. Amanda Durfee, b. Bef 1810, Leeds Co., Ontario, Canada d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]4. Royal Durfey, b. 16 Mar 1811, North Crosby,Leeds,Ontario,Canada d. 11 Dec 1879, Salem, Utah (Age 68 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]5. Lucetta Durfee, b. 1813, Cana, Carroll, Virginia, United States d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]6. Asa Durfee, b. 13 Mar 1813, Crosby, Leeds County, Ontario, Canada d. 22 Feb 1889, Rodman, Jefferson County, New York (Age 75 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]Family ID F4639 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 2 Dec 2025
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Notes - Jedediah Durfey who is buried in Ferguson Cemetery on the Schoeller Paper Company property east of Richland had served in the Revolutionary War. Intensive research on Durfey in Vermont, New York and southern Ontario Province has yielded an amazing amount of information on the man. Uncovered documentation has proven that Durfey first enlisted in the Connecticut Militia following the Lexington alarm in 1775. He worked his way up to the rank of Sergeant before he moved to Vermont in 1778, where he continued to serve conspicuously throughout the war until 1782.
One of the most interesting discoveries on Jedediah Durfey was found recently among the 52-page pension record of Sandy Creek settler Stephen Lindsey, who served under Durfey in Connecticut from 1777-78. In August 1828 Durfey swore out an affidavit in the Pulaski Court House attesting to Lindsey’s service, aiding him in his pension application. This occurred only three weeks before Durfey’s death. The Lindsey pension record, along with statements found in a Mr. Richardson’s pension from Ellisburg, proved to us that Sergeant Jedediah Durfey of Cornwell, Vermont was the same man buried in Ferguson Cemetery.
Further work among the papers of the Bennington Library in Vermont has also brought forth the information hat Jedediah Durfey was one of the founders of Lincoln, Vermont and served as a state representative for that district in 1801. Durfey was succeeded by his brother Ebenezer who served 13 terms in the position. Durfey left Vermont to settle the Canadian wilderness near North Crosby, Leeds County Ontario about 1807. He later returned to the United States living in Ellisburg and Richland before his death. Information about the thirteen children born to Jedediah Durfey and his two wives add more color to the biography, one son, Royal Durfey, followed Joseph Smith and Brigham Young west with the Mormon movement.
What is amazing to us is that this fascinating life history has been unknown to us for all these years. Contacts made among Durfey descendants and Vermont researchers are also pleased to finally know where this missing ancestor and Vermont Republic patriot is buried.
Half-Shire Historical Society is located at 1100 County Rte. 48 in Richland. We can be reached by mail at P.O. Box 73, Richland, NY 13144 or on the web at halfshire@hotmail.com. We have a blog also at http://halfshire.blogspot.com/
- Jedediah Durfey who is buried in Ferguson Cemetery on the Schoeller Paper Company property east of Richland had served in the Revolutionary War. Intensive research on Durfey in Vermont, New York and southern Ontario Province has yielded an amazing amount of information on the man. Uncovered documentation has proven that Durfey first enlisted in the Connecticut Militia following the Lexington alarm in 1775. He worked his way up to the rank of Sergeant before he moved to Vermont in 1778, where he continued to serve conspicuously throughout the war until 1782.
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