Betsey Bitgood (maiden name: Church) was born around 1805 in Connecticut. She married Elisha Bitgood, and they had at least seven children: Albert, born around 1836; Sarah, born around 1838; Joel, born on July 16, 1840; Franklin, born around 1842; Andrew, born on July 12, 1845; John, born around 1846; and William, born around 1850. They lived in Voluntown, Connecticut, and her husband worked as a farmer. By 1860, he owned $1,800 of real estate and $500 of personal property. Her husband died on February 15, 1866, and by 1870, she was living in her son Albert’s household in Voluntown. She died on May 20, 1871.