Ephraim Dexter (1741-1823) and His Wife Keziah Tobey of Rochester/Mattapoisett, Massachusetts

Ephraim Dexter was born Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts on 31 December 1741, the son of Ephraim and Martha (Clark) Dexter. [Rochester VR 1:110] He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. I wrote about Ephraim's parents here.

On 29 December 1771 Ephraim Dexter Jr married Kezia Tobey both of Rochester. [Rochester VR 1:110; Records of the First Church Rochester, 1737-1797, p 176]

Keziah was baptized 10 April 1754 at Rochester, the daughter of Luke and Anne (Swift) Tobey. [Rochester VR 1:294] Warden has her maiden name as Sober which is an error—original record does read Tobey. They were married by Revd Jonathan Moore; recorded by Town Clerk David Wing. [ancestry.com, “Rochester Town Records and Earmarks, with Births, Marriages, and Deaths”]

Keziah’s first name is also spelled as Kezia and Kesiah. They are my 6th great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

Keziah and Ephraim had eleven children, born Rochester [Warden, Beers]:

1. Martha b 28 Sept 1772 [calculated from age at death]; m Prince Snow 1794 [Rochester VR 2:113]; d 29 Jan 1852 at Rochester, age 79 [MA VR 67:273]
2. Anna b 6 Jan 1774 [calculated from age at death]; m James Snow 1795 [intentions 6 Dec, Rochester VR 2:108]; d 18 Aug 1860 at Mattapoisett, age 86 [MA VR 139:308]
3. Keziah b 5 October 1775 [from grave record]; m Ebenezer Holmes in November 1805 [Rochester VR 2:112]; d 2 June 1835 at Rochester, age 57 years [Rochester VR 2:399]
4. Luke b 16 Nov 1777 [from grave record]; m September 1802 Joanna Pierce [Rochester VR 2:112]; Warden has his death as 9 November 1856 but vital records have as 2 May 1856 at Rochester but lists his father as Luke Dexter [MA VR 103:223]; he was about age 78
5. Ephraim b 28 April 1779; married 1) 22 Oct 1802 (intentions) Achsah/Axey Snow and 2) 27 April 1806 Rachel Snow [Beers]; d 27 June 1862 at Mattapoisett, age 83 [MA VR 157:355]
6. Gideon b 1781 [calculated age at death]; intentions to Mary Dexter 30 Sept 1804 [Rochester VR 2:111]; d 31 Jan 1827 [Rochester VR VR 2:374] age 45; tragically he froze to death while attempting to aid a ship in distress [The Boston Recorder and Telegraph]
7. Thomas b 9 March 1783 [calculated from age at death]; married 1) 5 Nov 1814 Hannah Luce [Rochester VR 2:115] and 2) 18 March 1850 Lydia C. Swift [Beers]; d 22 Feb 1871 at Mattapoisett, age 87 years [MA VR 239:346]
8. Jane b May 1785 [calculated age at death]; m James Cathell intentions 7 March 1810 [Rochester VR 2:111]; d 21 Nov 1875 at Rochester, age 90 [MA VR 275:329]
9. Alden b 4 July 1788 [from gravestone]; married 1) Lucy Barrows in 1810 and 2) Polly Crowell on 19 Sept 1862; d 8 Oct 1869 at Mattapoisett, age 81 [MA VR 221:325]
10. 10.Polly b 25 Feb 1790; m Larnet Hall in 1811 [Rochester VR 2:113]; d 12 March 1864, age 83/84, at Lexington, Minnesota [grave record Yankee Cemetery in Le Sueur County] 
11. 11.Alice b 17 May 1792; d 1801 [dates from Warden & Beers but not in the published Rochester Vital Records]

I descend from Martha whom I wrote about here.I find it remarkable that of the ten children who survived childhood, eight lived to advanced ages for the time—late 70s to age 90.

The death records of Alden, Jane, and Thomas give parents as Ephraim and Keziah (Tobey) Dexter. There is some inconsistency among the rest: Anna’s parents are Ephraim and Elsa Dexter; Luke’s father is Luke Dexter with no mother’s name; Ephraim’s mother Kezia’s maiden name is Cushman.

Sons Alden, Thomas, Luke, and Ephraim are all listed as caulkers on their death records. They were skilled tradesmen who undertook the tedious and physically demanding process of waterproofing vessels by driving fibers into the seams between the wooden planks and applying pitch or tar to the exterior. As caulkers often worked in teams, I expect the brothers worked side by side. 

Ephraim and Keziah lived in a part of Rochester that became the coastal town of Mattapoisett in 1857.

Ephraim’s father, Ephraim Sr, was a 4th generation mill owner but I haven’t found any indication that Ephraim Jr continued the family business, but he is infrequently mentioned in records. His father Ephraim Dexter wrote his will on 10 Oct 1724 which included the following bequest: “To my two dutifull sons Ephraim and Caleb I give all the residue of my estate of whatever nature, to be equally divided between them, obliging them to pay equally my funeral charges & all other debts which I may owe at my decease, obliging them also to keep a good riding beast for my beloved wife for her to ride on when she thinks proper.

Also I appoint my two sons Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In testimony of which I I do hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty four.” Caleb signed some of the documents in the probate file but Ephraim did not; would have been nice to see his signature!

Ephraim Dexter of Rochester served on the Jury at the July 1765 Plymouth Court of Common Pleas. [Plymouth County Court Records 8:152]

In 1768 Ephraim Dexter was on the committee with John Clark and Obed Barlow to dismiss Rev Ivory Hovey; some months earlier they made choice of minister Ebenezer Meiggs. [Leonard]

Ephraim Dexter served in the Revolutionary War. Ephraim Dexter, private, Capt Nathaniel Hammond’s (2d) Rochester Co. which marched 20 April 1775 in response to the Alarm of April 19, 1775 to Marshfield; service 4 days; also Capt Nathaniel Hammond’s Co., Col Ebenezer Sprout’s (4th Plymouth County) regt.; service 15 days; company marched from Rochester to Rhode Island on an alarm in December 1776; also Capt Nathaniel Hammond’s Co.: 4th Plymouth County Regt; commanded by Lt Col White; enlisted 30 July 1780; discharged 8 August 1780; service 9 days, at Rhode Island on Alarm. [Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War, p 720]

An application to the Sons of the American Revolution, approved 9 February 1924, provides details to identify the soldier as this Ephraim: born 31 Dec 1741 Rochester; m Kezia Tobey 29 Dec 1771; she was born 1740?; died 24 Oct 1804 [sic]. Another application approved 12 July 1926 has Ephraim Dexter born 1741; died 1823 m Kezia Tobey born 1754, died 1807, m 1771. [ancestry.com “Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications 1899-1790”]

In 1776 Ephm Dexter was taxed 11s 11d 2q on the Assessors’ Rate Bill of the Inhabitants of Rochester, includes Polls, Real, Personal, and Faculty Taxes. Polls were assessed 5s 5d. [Leonard]

December 1786 Plymouth Court of Common Pleas, Ephraim Derter [sic] of Rochester was juror. [Plymouth Colony Court Records 10:62]

Ephraim owned a large amount of land in Rochester/Mattapoisett as seen in the 1798 Mass and Maine Direct Tax, Rochester [13:80, 129]:

P. 129: Occupied by Ephraim Dexter, owned by Ephraim Dexter at Rochester; 600 acres, valued at $540 

12 houses, 18 acres, $16.20

13 houses, 75 acres, $67.50

3 houses, 150 acres, $135

20 houses, 180 acres, $162

Total $920.70

P. 80: Ephraim Dexter occupant, Ephraim Dexter owner, Rochester, 1 dwelling, 2 acres, $450 value

Ephraim Dexter is a head of household in the 1800 Federal Census for Rochester but the image quality is poor and I cannot decipher the number of people in the household. He is again a head of household in the 1810 Federal Census for Rochester. I don’t find him in the 1820 census. 

Kesiah Dexter wife Ephraim died 24 October 1807 in her 50th year. [Rochester VR 2:375]  Her age seems to be an error as it would indicate she was born after her date of baptism. I have not found anything indicating Ephraim married again.

Ephraim Dexter died 5 April 1823 at Mattapoisett. [Rochester VR 2:688 citing grave record] He was 81 years of age and is buried Pine Island Cemetery. [Find a Grave Memorial ID 126196197] I have not found a probate record for Ephraim. Perhaps he had already gifted his land to his children, making a will unnecessary.  

Ephraim Dexter's gravestone (source: FindaGrave.com)

Sources:

William A. Warden, Genealogy of the Dexter Family in America: Descendants of Thomas Dexter Together with the Record of Other Allied Families, 1905

JH Beers & Co, Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts, 1912

Mary Hall Leonard, History of Mattapoisett and Old Rochester, 1907

Philip Delano / De Lannoy 1603 to 1681/2 of Leiden, Holland, and Plymouth & Duxbury, Mass., and His Wives Hester Dewsbury and Mary Pontus

Philip Delano was baptized as “Philip De Lannoy” at the Walloon Church (also called the Green Gate Church), Leiden, Holland, on 7 December (or 6 November) 1603, the son of Jean and Mary (Mahieu) de Lannoy. [TAG 52:91-92, 53:172-3] His parents were French-speaking Protestant Walloons who fled to England and then Holland during the Reformation. Wallonia, along with Flanders and Brussels, are the three regions of Belgium. Philip is my probable 11th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family, but I have more research to do.

Remains of the Vouwekerk Church 

Philip was not your typical New England Colonist—he was French by ancestry and Dutch by birth. His name became Anglicized over time. 

Philip’s uncle and aunt were Francis and Hester (Mahieu) Cooke; Francis was a Mayflower passenger and perhaps served as Philip’s guardian as his he was just 3 or 4 when his father died. [Bangs] I descend from Francis Cooke through his daughter Hester who married Richard Wright. 

In 1621 Philip was 18 years old when he came to Plymouth on the Fortune. He is called a husbandman and fisherman in records. 

Edward Winslow wrote of Philip: “There is also one Philip Delanoy, born of French parents, came to us from Leyden to New Plymouth, who coming to age of discerning demanded also communion with us; and proving himself to be come of such parents as were in full communion with the French churches, was hereupon admitted by the church of Plymouth; and after, upon his removal of habitation to Duxburrow, where Mr. Ralph Partridge is pastor of the church, and upon letters of recommendation from the church at Duxburrow, being six miles distant from Plymouth; and so, I dare say, if his occasions lead him, may from church to church throughout New England.”

As passengers of the Fortune, “Philipe de la Noye” and Moses Simonson were granted two acres of land. Philip sold his acre to Stephen Deane in 1627 for £4. [PCR 12:7] Philip was admitted freeman at Plymouth 1 January 1632/3. [PCR 1:5]

Philip was granted 40 acres in Duxbury on 2 October 1637. [PCR 1:67]  He moved to Duxbury by 1639 when he is in that section of Plymouth Colony lists of freemen. [PCR 5:274] His neighbor was Edward Bumpas/Bumpus/Bompasse, also believed to be a Walloon. I descend from Edward as well, but my line of descent has one generation that needs work. Philip’s land bordered the sea and Stoney/Mill Brook at what is now St. George Street and site of playing fields. [Healy] 

He had some education as he signed his deeds. Philip served the Colony in a variety of ways: grand juries, petit juries, arbiter, and surveyor. [Anderson] He volunteered to serve in the Pequot War on 7 June 1637. [PCR 1:61]

Philip married, first, Hester Dewsbury on 19 December 1634 at Plymouth. [PCR 1:32]

Philip had at least nine children, although their births are not recorded, and whether their mother is Hester or Mary is not always certain. Philip, Thomas, John, Samuel, Jane, and Rebecca are named in the settlement of his estate. Mary and Jonathan are known from other records. He may well have had additional children, likely daughters, depending on how one interprets the memorandum that served as a will.

Hester and Philip likely had these five children [Anderson]:

1. Mary born say 1636; m Plymouth 29 Nov 1655 Jonathan Dunham; she died soon after marriage
2. Philip born say 1637; m say 1670 Elizabeth Sampson daughter of Samuel and —?— (Nash) Sampson.
3. Thomas born say 1639; m by 1667 Rebecca Alden daughter of John Alden
4. John born say 1644; m about 1679 Mary Weston daughter of Edmond of Duxbury.
5. Jonathan born about 1648; m Dartmouth 28 Feb 1677/8 Mercy Warren, daughter of Nathaniel Warren

Hester died sometime between 1648 and 1653.

Philip married, second, Mary Pontus by 17 January 1654 at Plymouth. [MD 5:92] She was born Leiden about 1622, the daughter of William and Wybra (Hanson) Pontus. She had married, first, James Glass on 31 October 1645 who died at sea in September 1652. I also descend from James and Mary’s daughter Hannah.

Mary and Philip likely had these three children [Anderson]:

6. Jane born say 1655; living 1682

7. Samuel born say 1659; m by 1679 Elizabeth daughter of Alexander Standish. 

8. Rebecca b say 1661; m 28 Dec 1686 John Churchill

Philip’s probable daughter, probably by wife Hester:

9. Esther who is my ancestor. There is adequate circumstantial evidence that she was Philip’s daughter. Unfortunately she is not mentioned by name in settlement of her father’s estate in 1682. An Esther/Hester married Samuel Samson/Sampson. Some published genealogists have her marrying, second, John Soule, son of George of the Mayflower, but Anderson wrote this is not the case. There is an Esther, wife of John Soule buried in Duxbury whose age at death calculates to a 1640 birth. I wrote about Samuel Samson here.

I descend from Esther and her first husband Samuel Samson and also from John Soule and his first wife Rebecca Simmons/Simonson, the daughter of Moses with whom Philip Delano was deeded the land at Duxbury. All of the inter-connections make my head spin! 

In a 1641 deposition “Phillip De Lanoe of Duxbury planter” stated that he was “aged about thirty-six years” and at that time he owned a boat which he used in catching mackerel. [Hale] On 3 March 1676/7 “Philip Delano Senr” gave his age as “74 years or there about.” [MD 14:61, citing PCLR 6:93]

On 17 Jan 1653/4 Phillip Delano of Duxburrow and Mary his wife sold to John Churchill and Benajah Pratt (my 8th great grandfather) the house and land near Plymouth “sometimes the house and land of William Pontus and James Glasse both deceased.” Mary had inherited this land from her father William Pontus.  On the same day they sold a parcel of about 1.5 acres of meadow to John Churchill with the same notation of past ownership. [MD 5:92-93, citing PCLR 2:1:93]

On 3 Dec 1659 Phillip Delano Sr with the consent of Mary his wife sold one half his purchase lands at Coaksett [current day Westport] or Cushena or both to William Earle. [MD 11:249, citing PCLR 2:2:41] On 13 Dec 1660 “Phillip Delanoy of Duxburrow…with the consent of my wife” sold to Nicholas Byram of Weymouth “my whole right of lands in the town of Bridgewater…viz: a full and complete purchase of uplands, meadows and swamps that is or shall be laid out or divided or remain in common.” [PCLR 3:25]  On 5 June 1667 Philip Delano of Duxbury, husbandman, sold to John Russell Sr of Dartmouth, yeoman, one half share of the lands at Dartmouth “granted unto the said Phillip Delano…as a purchaser or old comer.” [PCLR 3:83] 

Philip was an original proprietor of Bridgewater in 1645 but he did not live there. [Winsor]

On 11 April 1674 Philip Delano Sr of Duxbury, planter, in consideration of “love and natural affection” granted “unto my true and natural son John Delano my lot of five and twenty acres at Namassakett lying upon Teticutt River in Middleborough with three acres of upland lying in Duxburrow.” [PCLR 3:330] On the same day Philip Delano Sr of Duxbury, planter, granted to “Thomas Delano his true and natural son the one-half of his hundred acre lot at Namassakett in the town of Middleborough, the lot to be divided betwixt his brother and him, Phillip Delano and him.” Also one-half the meadow land in Middleborough, one-half of five acres of meadow land at the beach lying on the Southside of Plymouth and three acres of meadow lying at the Mill River.” [PCLR 3:331]

Philip died between 22 August 1681 [document serving as a will] and 4 March 1681/2 [date of inventory] at Duxbury. He was about 78 years old. 

On 5 July 1682 a comparison was made between two memoranda purporting to reflect the intent of Philip Delano for the disposal of his estate, one dated 22 August 1681, the other “now drawn” 5 July 1682.The merged intent was agreed to mean: “his three eldest [sons] and each of [them] know their proportions, and John hath twenty five acres more at Namassakett” to Samuel a horse, cow, two steers, chain and cart; to Jane one cow and heifer; to Rebeckah a yearling heifer; his wife a cow and free use of one third of the orchard and land during her life; to his three sons Phillip, Thomas and Samuel a yoke of old oxen to improve “and when their service is done, to revert wholly to Phillip and Thomas,” Thomas executor; saw and wedges to Samuel; 5s each to the “Seven eldest children, of which seven, two, viz: Phillip and Thomas, have received their proportions;” at wife’s death all moveables to his four youngest children. [MD 11:250-1, citing PCPR 4:2:120]

On 7 July 1682 administration on the estate of “Phillip Delano of Duxburrow” was granted to Samuel Delano. [PCR 6:91] Inventory of the estate of “Phillip Delano of Duxburrow”had already been taken on 4 March 1681/2 and totaled £50 13s. No real estate included as he had already sold and gifted his holdings. [MD 11:249, citing PCPR 4:2:120]

Mary Delano died 3 February 1690 at Plymouth. She was about 68 years old. 

Sources:

Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs, Strangers and Pilgrims, Travellers and Sojourners, Leiden and the Foundations of Plymouth Plantation, GSMD, 2009

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, Its History and People, 1986

Lamont “Monty” Healy, Duxbury Clipper, “The Delano Family,” August 1, 2012

Justin Winsor, History of the Town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with Genealogical Registers, 1849

George English, The Mayflower Descendant, “Ancestry and History of Philip Delano, born Philippe de Lannoy: Further Findings about the de Lannoy and Mahieu Families,” 69:5 (2021)

Muriel Curtis Cushing & George B. DeLano, Duxbury: Our Pilgrim Story, “The Delano Family,” Duxbury Rural & Historical Society, 2020

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Edward Winslow Hypocrisie Unmasked, 1646

Edward Everett Hale, Editor, Note-book Kept by Thomas Lechford Esq, Lawyer, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay, from June 27, 1638 to July 29, 1641, 1885