Priscilla Josselyn

(19 November 1917 - 18 April 1982)
Pedigree - three generations
Date this page was last edited=7 Jul 2014
Appears on chart or charts:
Descendants of Thomas Josselyn (1591 - 1661)
Priscilla Josselyn, 1955 Woman's Club recital. Slide taken by Martha or Kenneth DeVoe.
Priscilla Josselyn was born on 19 November 1917 in White Plains, Westchester County, New York.1 She was the daughter of Edgar Alonzo Josselyn and Ella May Hannah.

Priscilla Josselyn appeared on the census of 17 January 1920 at 2 Bank Street, White Plains, Westchester County, New York, in the household of her father.2

In 1922 or earlier, the family built a summer home on Hoanjovo Lane (then called Hoanjo Lane) in Pleasantville, New York.3 The work was done by their friend Nick Filardi (who was a builder) and by themselves on weekends, using material from an old school including huge windows.4

Edgar Josselyn designed a house at 19 Highland Avenue, White Plains, New York. The family moved into it after the Pleasantville house was built; this was probably in 1924 or 1925.4 The house was rented out in summer while the family stayed at the Pleasantville house and Edgar commuted to his office in New York City. In the depression there was no work, so the Highland Avenue house was sold and the family made the Pleasantville house a permanent year-round residence about 1931.3,5,6

Priscilla Josselyn appeared on the census of 7 April 1930 at 19 Highland Avenue, White Plains, Westchester County, New York, in the household of her father.7

Her father died in April 1943. On 9 August 1943 Priscilla Josselyn and Ella May Hannah moved to a one-bedroom apartment at 3 Greenridge Avenue, White Plains, Westchester County, New York.8 On 5 May 1944, Priscilla Josselyn began working as a sales person at the Abercrombie & Fitch store in New York City.9 She was engaged before November 22, 1944, to Michael A. Farmer of 9 West 9th Street, New York City, a fellow worker at Abercrombie & Fitch.10 The wedding never took place.11

On 17 April 1982, while visiting a friend (Marge Cushing) in St. Cloud, Florida, Priscilla became seriously ill. Her sister Martha flew down to be with her in the hospital.12 She died on 18 April 1982 at St. Cloud, Florida, at age 64.12 Robert DeVoe got a look at her death certificate, which said that she died of bacterial pneumonia.13 She was buried on 18 August 1982 in Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.14,15,16

Citations

  1. [S88] Josselyn family records: Births, reverse side.
  2. [S72] Edgar A. Josselyn household, 1920 U.S. census, Westchester County, New York, White Plains, Enumeration District 189.
  3. [S24] Interview, Martha (Josselyn) DeVoe, 27 August 2002.
  4. [S531] Taped interview, Martha (Josselyn) DeVoe, 5 December 2004.
  5. [S191] Interview, Martha (Josselyn) DeVoe, 3 February 2003.
  6. [S190] Interview, Martha (Josselyn) DeVoe, 4 February 2003.
  7. [S52] Edgar A. Josselyn household, 1930 U.S. census, Westchester County, New York, White Plains, Enumeration District 399.
  8. [S586] The Hoanjovo Happenings, August 1943.
  9. [S586] The Hoanjovo Happenings, October 1944.
  10. [S586] The Hoanjovo Happenings, 22 November 1944.
  11. [S92] Personal knowledge of Howard DeVoe.
  12. [S70] Appointment Diary of Howard DeVoe for 1982.
  13. [S66] Interview, Robert DeVoe, Nov 2002.
  14. [S431] Gravestone inscriptions, Lot 1356, Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, original proprietor Alonzo Josselyn.
  15. [S433] Records of the Alonzo Josselyn plot, Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.
  16. [S867] Find A Grave memorial page for Priscilla Josselyn (1917 - 1982).

This family history is a work in progress. If you know of any errors or omissions, please contact me through the e-mail link at the bottom of the page.