From the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1848, Pg 285.
Joseph, b. at Scituate, 1665, m. Dorothy Thomas of that place. His residence at Scituate was on the south of Colman's Hill, the former residence of Gilbert Brooks, Esq. He held the office of Judge of the Court of Commons Pleas for Plymouth Co., from 1703 to 1714. In 1709 the town of Scituate "voted that the Society empower Joseph Otis, Esq., to finish the meeting house by pewing it, and also to appoint two and two to a pew, (where they do not argee to couple them- selves,) each couple paying the cost of building the pew." In 1710, he was elected under the governor's order representative to "the great and general Court," and again in 1713. He held other town offices. He removed to New London about 1721, where many of his relations and acquaintances lived, and where he d. 1754. From the records of Colchester, Ct., it appears that in 1724 he purchased of Capt. Samuel Gilbert a house and farm of 280 acres, lying in the east part of the town of Colchester, on the old county road, for "770 pounds lawful money of New England." He is described in the deed as of "Scituate." This land Joseph deeds to his son Nathaniel, in 1735-6, "for and in consideration of the love, good will and affection which I have for, & do bear unto my beloved son," "and is the whole of what I design my said son shall have of my estate." (the house erected on this land by Nathaniel, has been occupied successively by five generations). "Judge Otis is spoken of by his contemporaries as a gentleman of great integrity, a judicious and useful citizen." The following portrait of him was written soon after his death. "He was a Christan upon principle, a public spirited and useful man, distinguished by talents of the solid, judicious and useful, rather than of the brilliant and showy kind. He was large in stature, his countenance solemn and serene; frank and open in his manners, of ready wit, and sound understanding. As a private individual, he had the union of simple dignity and benevolent courtesy, which mark the gentleman, and he died at the advanced age of 89, universally lamented."
BURIAL: Raymond Hill Cemetery, Montville, New London Co., CT.
BURIAL: Raymond Hill Cemetery, Montville, New London Co., CT.
From the book "Denison Genealogy" - Ancestors and Descendants of Captain George Denison. Written by E. Glenn denison, Josphine Middleton Peck and Donald L. Jacobus. By the Pequot Press, Inc. -Stonington, CT.
From the book "A Record of the Descendants of Captain George Denison, of Stonington, CT" by John Denison Baldwin andWilliam Clift. Printed by Tyler & Seagrave in 1881.
From the book "A Record of the Descendants of Samuel Denison" by George Burlingame Denison, Muscatine, Iowa in 1884.
Also the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, October 1951.
Harrises in Boston before 1700, page 246.
Also the "Harris Genealogy" - A History of James Harris of New London, CT and his descendants from 1640 to 1878, by Nathaniel Harris Morgan.
NAME: Some sources have Martha's last name as Boykin.