Joseph moved from Hadley to South Hadley, Massachusetts with his parents and siblings in 1727-29. In January 1731, when the land of the Hadley inner commons was divided, Joseph Moody, then age 19, was not on the list of those receiving land as he was already living in South Hadley where he received his land in 1731-1740. In April 1753 South Hadley was made a district of Hadley and in 1775 it became a separate town. He married Sarah Kellogg, daughter of Joseph Kellogg, about 1736 in South Hadley, at which time he became the head of the family and eligible for land. “He settled in South Hadley on land out for his father who was one of the original proprietors, which land was conveyed and confirmed to the son by Will of Capt. Ebenezer Moody. His dwelling house was about twenty rods south of the road in ‘Moody Corner’ which leads from the bridge to Amherst and upon the brow of the hill, which slopes west to the brook. It stood near a spring, which still identifies the place though the house itself has been removed. He was a carpenter and joiner and mill wright by trade. He engaged also in agricultural pursuits, being a large land holder. He received the title of Serjeant [sic] in the Militia - and showed interest in matters of trust pertaining to the town. The precise date of his admission to the church is not known, but his name appears on a list of communicants in 1785, Rev. Joel Hays, Pastor, and there can be no doubt that he was a member under the pastorate of Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge, some years previously.” ®408 He was paid 2 shillings, 8 d. per day as a Sergeant in Captain Smith’s Company ®8 (South Hadley Company) in the Hampshire militia which in 1757 marched toward Fort William Henry after its surrender to the French. The contingent returned home when it was learned that the French and Indians had left Fort William Henry and returned to Canada. The Hampshire group was away 12 days and marched (rode horseback ®8) a total of 180 miles. ®729 "Of the South Hadley Company, Capt. Samuel Smith, Lieut. Luke Montague, Sergeants Aaron Nash, Joseph Moody and Reuben Smith, four corporals and 54 privates were gone also 12 days, and their distance both ways was called 180 miles.” ®730
Joseph and Sarah lived in “Moody Corners”, South Hadley, the hamlet that his father, Ebenezer, had founded. They had 8 children, 4 of whom survived to maturity. ®8 He was mentioned in the will of his father, Ebenezer Moody, in 1757 and was an executor of that will in 1758.
On 7 March 1774 Joseph Moody was elected one of five Selectmen for the district and served in that position until the next election on 6 March 1775.
On 14 June 1774 Joseph Moody was elected moderator of the district meeting which with other towns established a Committee of Correspondence on American affairs.
On 19 September 1774 Joseph Moody, Josiah White and Noah Goodman, were selected delegates to the County Congress at Northampton to be held the next Thursday, 22 September 1774.
On 2 January 1775 Joseph Moody was chosen one of a committee of five to "report to this meeting respecting the advise of the Continental and Provincial Congress”.
On 8 January 1775 the district meeting voted that the Selectmen (Joseph Moody serving as a Selectman at that time) "shall provide bayonets for the minit [sic] men”.
On 25 January 1775 Joseph Moody was chosen to a committee to examine and find how much money there is due to each school in the district.
On 6 March 1775 Joseph Moody was elected moderator of the district meeting and the next day he was elected to a committee to "promote Peace”...quiet all Disturbances...and...prevent or suppress all uprisings, tumults”.
On 28 November 1775 Serj. [sic] Joseph Moody was one of four elected as additional members of the Committee of Inspection Respective Consumption of British Goods originally appointed on 2 January 1775.
On 14 March 1776 he was elected one of nine members of the new Committee of Correspondence, Safety and Inspection.
On 11 February 1777 he was still a member of the Committee of Correspondence as he was elected chairman at a meeting of the Selectmen and the Committee of Correspondence which met to set prices on goods and other articles in conformance with an Act of the State of Massachusetts Bay made to prevent Monopoly. ®731
On 22 June 1782 his wife Sarah died in South Hadley. He lived in South Hadley as a widower for another 21 years until he died there on ®732 on 15 Sep 1803.
On the 2 August 1790 census he is a 78 year old widower survived by Noah (who has his own home in South Hadley) and lives with 2 other males over 16, 1 male under 16, and 5 females. He is probably living with his only other surviving children, Seth and Daniel and their families, which is why neither Seth or Daniel appear in the 1790 census. The three families added together fit the 3 males, 1 male under 16 and 5 females. ®675 Joseph does not appear on the 1800 census, 3 years before his death, and is probably living in the home of his son Seth, where three males over age 45 appear on the 1800 census. ®733

The records of South Hadley list his birth date as 24 Jan 1712, but the records of Hadley, where he was born, say 13 Jan 1712. ®711
On the 1790 census he is a 78 year old widower survived by Noah and Daniel (who have their own homes) and lives with 2 other males over 16, 1 male under 16, and 5 females. I think he is living with his other surviving son’s family, Seth, which is why Seth doesn’t appear in the 1790 census, but does on the 1800 and subsequent census. ®675