Brief Life History of Joseph
When Joseph Turner was born about 1717, in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, United States, his father, Lawrence Turner Jr, was 51 and his mother, Mary Foster, was 45. He married Abigail Smith on 16 August 1744. They were the parents of at least 1 daughter. He died on 1 April 1778, at the age of 62.
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Family Time Line
Sources (7)
- Turner, "Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1916"
- Turner in entry for Hannah Yates, "Rhode Island, Providence County, Providence, Swan Point Cemetery Records, ca.1846-ca.1950"
- Joseph T., "Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1916"
Spouse and Children
Parents and Siblings
Siblings (11)
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World Events (2)
1776
Thomas Jefferson's American Declaration of Independence endorsed by Congress. Colonies declare independence.
1776 · Rhode Island Declares Independence
Rhode Island declares independence from Great Britain on May 4, 1776, making it the first colony to do so officially.
Name Meaning
English: occupational name from Middle English t(o)urnour, turner ‘turner’ (Old French to(u)rn(e)our), mainly denoting someone who fashioned small objects of wood, metal, or bone on a lathe, but also a variety of other occupations, including turnspit and translator or interpreter. This surname may have become confused with Toner . In North America, it is also very common among African Americans.
English: occasionally perhaps a nickname from Middle English turn-hare, a compound of Middle English tournen ‘to turn, direct, steer’ + hare ‘hare’, a name for someone in charge of the greyhounds in hare coursing or an exaggerated compliment for someone who could run fast. See also Turnbull .
English: perhaps also from Middle English t(o)urn(e)our ‘jouster, one who takes part in a tournament’ (Old French tornoieor, tournoieur).
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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