Josiah Matthew Duggar (born August 28, 1996) is the eighth child and fourth son of Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar.
He is the brother of Joshua Duggar, Jana Duggar, John-David Duggar, Jill Dillard, Jessa Seewald, Jinger Vuolo, Joseph Duggar, Joy-Anna Forsyth, Jedidiah Duggar, Jeremiah Duggar, Jason Duggar, James Duggar, Justin Duggar, Jackson Duggar, Johannah Duggar, Jennifer Duggar, Jordyn-Grace Duggar, and Josie Duggar.
He is the husband of Lauren Duggar and the father of their children, Bella, Daisy, and Baby Boy Swanson-Duggar.
Early life[]
Josiah as a child
Josiah Matthew Duggar was born on August 28, 1996, in Arkansas, to Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar. He was the couple's eighth child, and they went on to have eleven more children after him.
Josiah was often said to be a playful child, and was often seen playing pranks on his family. He had a close bond with his younger sister, Joy-Anna, as a child and the two were often found playing together.
Josiah was homeschooled growing up. He took the test to get his GED in 2014, at seventeen years old. His family had a graduation party to celebrate this event.
Like most children, Josiah was assigned chores growing up, which the family called "jurisdictions". In 2004, one of Josiah's jurisditions was taking out the trash. In 2011, Josiah's jurisdictions including cleaning the bathrooms. It is likely that Josiah was freed all jurisdiction duties when he began his courtship, as his sisters had previously been when beginning their courtships.
By 2001, Josiah's parents had implemented a buddy system, where each older child was paired with a younger child to take care of. Typical tasks for an older buddy included dressing, bathing, and feeding their younger buddies. It is likely that Josiah was a younger buddy in this system, at least for a short time. By 2009, the family had switched from individual buddies to buddy teams, with each team being led by one of the oldest four daughters. Josiah was not assigned to a buddy group.
Josiah began taking piano lessons from Ruth Anita Anderson, who he and his siblings referred to as "Nana", as a young child. He also took violin lessons. As an adult, Josiah has been seen playing the cello, but it is unknown when he learned this instrument.
In 2006, as featured on one of the TV specials, Josiah and his family moved into a new home in Springdale, Arkansas. The family made a point of doing much of the work on the house themselves, seeing it as a learning opportunity for their children. In this house, Josiah was given a dormitory-style room with his brothers.
In late 2009, after his sister Josie was born premature, Josiah moved with his family into the Cornish House in Little Rock, Arkansas, to be closer to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Once Josie was healthy enough to leave the NICU, Josiah and his family moved back home.
In 2010, Josiah was an extra on the film Courageous, but he did not make it into the film's final cut.
Thanks to the reality show, Josiah has been able to take a number of vacations as a teenager and young adult. Notable vacation locations include Disneyland, New York City, Niagara Falls, Scotland, Ireland, London, Israel, China, and Japan.
Personal life[]
Courtship to Marjorie[]
On April 6, 2015, Josiah entered a courtship with Marjorie Jackson. The two met when her mother taught Spanish classes to Josiah and his siblings. Although Marjorie says she fell for Josiah almost immediately, he did not begin to fall for her until the two went on a mission trip to El Salvador in December of 2014. This courtship was announced to the public on April 13, 2015. The courtship was scheduled to be featured on the show 19 Kids and Counting, but the show was cancelled before this could happen. On August 5, 2015, the couple announced that they had ended their courtship. According to a statement by Josiah on March 9, 2016, it was Marjorie who chose to end the courtship. Although it was speculated that this break-up was a direct result of the scandals regarding Josiah's oldest brother, Joshua, this was never confirmed.
Courting
Courtship to Lauren[]
Josiah surprised Lauren Swanson by showing up during a girl's night out with some of his siblings and asking her to enter an official courtship, which she said yes to. The two publicly announced their courtship on January 23, 2018, on the Duggar family's website.
Engaged
Engagement[]
On March 5, 2018, Josiah announced on the Duggar family website that he and Lauren Swanson were engaged. He proposed on Lauren's family's property on February 24, 2018, in the same place where Lauren's parents got engaged.
Just married
Marriage[]
Josiah married Lauren Milagro Swanson on June 30, 2018, at John Brown University's Cathedral of the Ozarks in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. His best man was his brother Joseph, and his groomsmen were his brothers Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, and James, his brother-in-law, Austin, one of new future brothers-in-law David, and a friend, with one of his new brothers-in-law Dustin as his ring bearer.
Baby Bella
Fatherhood[]
Josiah and Lauren were expecting a child, but suffered a miscarriage in October 2018. They affectionately called the baby Asa.
On May 20, 2019, they announced that they are expecting their second child, due in the Fall of 2019. On June 25, 2019, they revealed that they are expecting a girl. Their daughter, Bella Milagro was born on November 8, 2019, at 5:24 p.m., weighing 6 pounds and 5 ounces, measuring 18.5 inches long.
After several months of speculation, on December 25, 2022, James Duggar released a video on YouTube indicating that Lauren and Josiah had privately welcomed another child, a daughter named Daisy. Given the timing of Jeremiah's wedding and the couple's absence, it is suspected that the baby was born in March of 2022, though further confirmation is desired.
In a video posted to YouTube by Jinger Vuolo on July 4, 2023, Lauren was spotted and appeared to be unmistakably pregnant. The events of the video had taken place in early April, as pictures from the occasion were posted by other Duggar family members at around that time. Comments made by Jim Bob Duggar at Gunner Forsyth's birth indicated that Lauren and Josiah's third baby was a boy. The baby is believed to have arrived in May of 2023, given an Amazon baby registry found for Lauren Duggar.
Career[]
Josiah is said to currently be working in real estate maintenance for his father. He has also been seen on social media training to get his pilot's license.
Wedding involvement[]
Josiah was a groomsman at his brother Josh's wedding to Anna Keller on September 26, 2008.
He was a groomsman at his parents Jim Bob and Michelle's vow renewal ceremony in 2009.
He was a singer and cellist at his family friend Priscilla Keller's wedding to David Waller on February 4, 2012.
He was an usher at his sister Jill's wedding to Derick Dillard on June 21, 2014.
He was a groomsman at his sister Jessa's wedding to Ben Seewald on November 1, 2014.
He was an usher at his sister Jinger's wedding to Jeremy Vuolo on November 5, 2016.
He was the best man at his brother Joseph's wedding to Kendra Caldwell on September 8, 2017.
He was a singer at his brother John-David's wedding to Abbie Burnett on November 3, 2018.
He was a groomsman at his brother Jedidiah's wedding to Katelyn Nakatsu on April 3, 2021.
