Josiah Boardman (1705-1781) was one of the earliest settlers of the Westfield section of Middletown. He acquired land there in 1727, but is thought to have built his house (at the current address of 953 East Street) circa 1734, the year he married Rachel Cole. The house was later expanded, probably at an early date, with a two-bay addition to the north of the original five-bay section. The house also has a modern garage. Josiah Boardman is described as follows in the Commemorative Biographical Record of Middlesex County, Connecticut (1903):
Josiah Boardman, the third in the above named family, removed from his native town of Wethersfield to Middletown and settled with the Westfield Society November 29, 1727. Samuel Galpin, of Kensington parish, Middletown, sold to Josiah Boardman, of the same parish, IOO acres of land in the northwest corner of Middletown. The farm of his brother, Edward, lay next to it. Josiah and wife joined the Kensington Congregational Church, which was nearer their home than that of Middletown, and he held membership in this congregation at the time of his death, January 29, 1781. On August 5, 1734, he was married to Rachel Cole, who was born in 1712, and died February 29, 1782, the mother of ten children[.]
