David Sands Aldrich, son of Charles Aldrich and Olive Farrington, was born on September 15 (18), 1812 in Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts.[1] At age sixteen, David moved to Palmyra from Massachusetts. His first job in Palmyra was to carry mail to nearby towns. He was later employed as a clerk in a general store—a dry-goods store—in Palmyra. David recalled Martin Harris purchasing a black suit for Joseph Smith in the general store. Years later, he claimed “to have sold Joseph Smith his first suit.”[2]
As he matured, David became an employee at the first bank in Palmyra. The bank was organized by proprietors George W. Cuyler and Pliny Sexton. David married Catherine Turner Sexton, daughter of Pliny Sexton, in 1841 in Palmyra. He and his wife resided in the greater Palmyra area (Macedon) until his death on September 18, 1882 at age seventy.[3] David was buried in the Palmyra City Cemetery.[4]
David Sands Aldrich’s Timeline
September 15 (18), 1812: Born in Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts, to Charles Aldrich and Olive Farrington.
1828: At age sixteen, David moves to Palmyra, New York, from Massachusetts. He begins working as a mail carrier to nearby towns.
Late 1820s to Early 1830s: Works as a clerk in a dry-goods store in Palmyra. Recalls selling Martin Harris a black suit for Joseph Smith, and later claims to have sold Joseph Smith his first suit.
1830s to 1840s: Becomes an employee at the first bank in Palmyra, which was organized by George W. Cuyler and Pliny Sexton.
1841: Marries Catherine Turner Sexton, daughter of Pliny Sexton, in Palmyra.
1841–1882: Resides in the greater Palmyra area, specifically in Macedon, with his wife Catherine.
September 18, 1882: Passes away at the age of seventy in Macedon, New York.
Post-1882: Buried in Palmyra City Cemetery.
[1] Massachusetts Vital and Town Records, 1626–2001; Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639–1915.
[2] Pomeroy Tucker, Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism: Biography of Its Founders and History of Its Church. Personal Remembrances and Historical Collections hitherto Unwritten (Classic Reprint), p. 39.
[3] US Federal Census, 1860 and 1880.
[4] Palmyra City Cemetery Burial Records.