Joseph Flagg

Joseph was born in Grafton, MA on December 2, 1786. He was the youngest of the eight children of Samuel and Lydia (Rockwood) Flagg. Joseph's grandfather Eliezer was one of the original settlers of Grafton. Samuel Flagg, Joseph's father, was known as "Maltster Flagg" in honor of the very successful malt business he ran from his farm.

On August 26, 1821 Joseph married Olivia Rebecca Millikin. After the death of Joseph's father they moved into the Flagg family homestead and ran the farm. Joseph and Olivia had six children. Only the oldest, Benjamin, died during childhood.

Joseph died "suddenly in the morning" on December 5, 1841. After his death Olivia married widower Timothy Hunt and they raised both sets of children together.

Joseph's marble gravestone is beautifully carved, and features a grave monument with a heart standing beneath a willow tree. He was very much loved by his family, and greatly missed. His epitaph reads:

"Farewell! my fond and loving wife,

Farewell! my children near and dear:

My Savior call's me from this life,

To join in Heaven the angels there:

And Oh! on Canaan's happy shore,

May we all meet to part no more."

He rests in the Old Oak Street Burial Ground in Grafton next to Olivia.