Ephraim Morton born about 1623, of Plymouth, Mass., and His Wife Ann Cooper

Ephraim Morton was born about 1623, possibly in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the son of George and Juliana (Carpenter) Morton. According to John K. Allen, Ephraim was said to have been born aboard the ship Anne in 1623 during the voyage to New England. I have not seen any proof of this, so I am unsure if Ephraim was born in England shortly before the voyage, on board the ship (either the Anne or Little James as his father was in the 1623 Plymouth land division), or at Plymouth after their arrival. His parents were Separatists who were with the Pilgrims at Leiden, Holland. Ephraim is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis’ side of the family. I also descend from Ephraim’s siblings Nathaniel, Patience, and Sarah. 

Ephraim was just a baby when his father George died in 1624. His mother married Manasseh Kempton and they were, along with her children Nathaniel, John, Ephraim, and Patience, in Gov. William Bradford’s company in the 1627 Cattle Division. Her daughter Sarah Morton is in Christian (Penn) Eaton’s company. It is likely that Governor Bradford raised Ephraim. Bradford was married to Alice Carpenter, Ephraim’s aunt. 

Ephraim married Ann Cooper on 18 November 1644 at Plymouth (PCR 2:79) whose parents I have not discovered. She was born about 1624, but not in Plymouth as she is not listed in the 1627 Cattle Division. 

Children with Ann, order uncertain (first seven from Ephraim’s will which is badly water damaged):

Patience

Mercy/Marcy

George

Josiah

Nathaniel

Thomas 

Eleazer

Joanna

Ephraim

Rebecca 

I descend from Joanna who married John Gray. The Mayflower Families book on James Chilton and Richard More states that John Gray married the daughter of Ephraim and Ann (Cooper) Morton. Although Joanna is not mentioned in Ephraim's will, the 1709 will of Ephraim’s son Nathaniel Morton names Ann Gray, the daughter of his sister Joanna Gray. Nathaniel’s will also mentions his brother Ephraim and sister Rebecca. 

Ann (Cooper) Morton died on 1 or 6 September 1691. Ephraim Morton married, second, Mary Shelley Harlow on 1 October 1692 (Plymouth Vital Records 1:86). Mary was first married to William Harlow. After Ephraim’s death, she married Hugh Cole in 1694. 

The marriage covenant between Ephraim Morton, of Plymouth, and Mrs. Mary Harlow, widow of Mr. William Harlow, deceased, of said Plymouth, dated 11 October and acknowledged 19 October 1692, provided: She is to have her right of dower in the estate of her late husband, and is to quitclaim her rights to the estate of said Ephraim Morton if she survived him. Witnessed by Thomas Faunce and Jon Faunce. Ephraim signed the agreement and Mary used her mark. 

Ephraim Morton is on the Plymouth 1643 list of men able to bear arms. He was made a Plymouth Colony freeman on 7 June 1648. A member of an important and influential family, Ephraim clearly lived up to the family expectations. He served his community and the colony in a variety of important positions and was clearly well respected. He was elected Constable in 1648, named to a Grand Inquest in 1654, was head of the Plymouth Board of Selectmen for close to 25 years, and was elected Representative to the Plymouth General Court in 1657 where he served for 28 years. Ephraim was Magistrate of the Colony in 1683 and became one of the first representatives to the General Court in 1691/92 when Plymouth Colony merged into Massachusetts Bay. At the time of his death was a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. 

On 1 August 1669, Ephraim was chosen as a Deacon for the Plymouth Church, serving for the rest of his life. Ephraim served in the Plymouth Militia and is often referred to as Lieutenant or Left. in records. He was first a sergeant and was elected Lieutenant in 1664. In 1671 he was appointed to the Council of War, something on which he served for years, including during the time of King Philip’s War. Mass Officers and Soldiers in 17th Century Conflicts includes Ephraim Morton of Plymouth for the year 1664 but the “conflict” column is blank. 

Ephraim and his brothers also conducted inventories for their neighbors’ estates. On 20 February 1652 Ephraim and Nathaniel Morton took the inventory for the estate of William Pontus of Plymouth. Ephraim and John Morton took the inventory of Thomas Southworth, presented 1 March 1669. 

Some land transactions involving Ephraim Morton: 

8 June 1644, Anthony Snow, Ensign Mark Eames, Joseph Warren, Richard Wright, William Harlow, Nathaniel Morton, Ephraim Morton, William Paybody, John Dunham Jr., and John Rogers were given liberty to look for land for accommodations. (Plymouth Land Records 4:20) 

1 October 1668, Ephraim Morton sold to Edward Gray of Plymouth for 8 pounds, land at Nemasket River that was granted to Ephraim 7 June 1665. (PLR vol 3, part 2, p 57) 

Nemasket River, Middleboro

16 May 1670 Ephraim Morton of New Plymouth, yeoman, sold to Edward Gray of same town, for 5 pounds sterling, land in a neck of land called Punckateesett Neck lying against Rhode Island, being one half of the 33rd lot, 11 acres more of less. (PLR vol. 3, part 2, p 68) 

8 November 1673 Lt. Ephraim Morton of New Plymouth sold for 10 pounds, already paid, to Mr. Barnabas Laythorpe of Barnstable, mariner, parcel of 50 acres of Plymouth land called Manomett Ponds, bounded on southeast side by brook that run into the same pond, bounded northerly corner by the brook, running westerly up the brook to a great rock on the easterly side of the cartway, running southerly to a small white oak and then to a heap of stones lying near the pond. His wife Ann agreed. Acknowledged 7 Jan 1673/4. (PLR vol 3, part 2, p. 174) 

Ephraim Morton’s will was written 27 September 1693 and recorded 9 November 1693, record no. 14264, Plymouth. It is damaged by water, so very difficult to decipher. It names his dear and loving wife [damaged but must have been his second wife Mary] as well as children: wife of John Nelson [this would be Patience], Marcy, George, Josiah, Nathaniel, Thomas, and Eleazer.  He left money to his daughters Mary and Patience, He bequested land to sons George, Nathaniel, Thomas, Josiah, and Eleazer. He left his wearing apparel to son George. Witnesses were Thomas Faunce and Joseph Faunce. 

Ephraim Morton's signature

Plymouth Vital records recorded by Elder Faunce, volume 1, p. 248: My aunt Ann Morton the wife of my uncle Ephraim Morton deceased on the 6th day of September 1691. 

Same volume, p 249: Left. [for Lieutenant] Ephraim Morton deceased 8 October 1693 

Inventory of his estate taken 1 November 1693, by Eleanor Churchill and Thomas Faunce, is also water damaged. Items include: 

Wearing apparel

Books

Cash and armor or arms

Housing and land valued at 6o pounds

Sheep, horse kind, and swine 23 pounds 5 shillings

Bed, bolster, pillow, rug, sheets, blankets, and pillobears

Bed, bolster, rug, coverlet

Table, linen, two table cloths, and six linen napkins 

Pewter, brass, iron 

Pots, kettles, frying pans 

Great table, joint stools 

Cupboards and two chests 

Bedstead curtains

7 chairs

2 bedsteads 

Wooden and earthen ware 

Tongs, fireman, hurks[?], pot hangers 

Old cart, wheels, and tackling 

Plows, chains, and horse goods 

English grain of all sorts

Indian corn

Sheeps wool, flax, and yarn 

Loom and goods 

Remnant of new cloth

Saddle and pillion, pillion cloth and bridle

Two spinning wheels and cards 

Tobacco and soap, axes, hoes, and old tools

Canoe and old lumber. 


Estate is owed 2 pounds 16 shillings in debt

Estate owed debts of 17 pounds 3 shillings 8 pence.

Sources not listed above: 

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins 

John K. Allen, George Morton and Some of His Descendants, 1908 

Torrey’s New England Marriages 

Mayflower Families, James Chilton and Richard More, 15:37

Hiram Kelley 1800-1868 of West Dennis, Massachusetts

 

Hiram Kelley was born 5 Mar 1800 in West Dennis on Cape Cod to Elihu Kelley and his wife Thankfull. Some give Thankfull’s maiden name as Baxter, but I have not found proof of that yet. Hiram is my great-great-great grandfather on my grandmother Milly (Booth) Rollins’ side of the family. It just occurred to me I haven’t written about him yet! I did write about his wife Abagail Howes Kelley, which can be read here. Their last name is sometimes spelled Kelly.

Hiram married Abagail Howes in South Dennis on 10 Feb 1820 (Dennis Vital Records, book 2, p 574). She was born 27 August 1799 in Dennis Port to David and Rebecah (Howes) Kelley. Her nicknames included Abby and Nabby.

In 1829 Hiram built a Cape Cod-style house that is still standing at 50 Ferry Street in West Dennis. My great-great grandfather David Howes Kelley was born there and raised his own family there, including my great-grandmother Ethel. My grandmother Mildred “Milly" Booth Rollins was born in the house as well. Milly told me about the house and what it was like when she lived there at several points in her childhood, so I have long had an affinity for the house and, in turn, Hiram Kelley. It originally included land that went to the shores of the Bass River, with a fishing shack. Over the years parts of the land were sold off so there are now houses between Hiram’s house and the river. Hiram’s father Elihu also lived on Ferry Street and that is likely how Hiram came to own land there.

50 Ferry Street West Dennis

Ferry Street is now a residential street, but in the past it was the home of Judah Baker’s mill (which was later moved across the river to Yarmouth), a shipbuilding enterprise, and Hiram’s father Elihu “the Ferryman,” with a brother and cousin, operated a ferry across the river before the bridges were built. 

Vintage postcard of Bass River Bridge

Hiram was a mariner and at times is listed as a mechanic, blacksmith and farmer. From my understanding, a mechanic at this time was someone who repaired metal parts of windmills and saltworks. 

Hiram and Abagail had at least eight children, all born in West Dennis:

1. Hiram born 19 Jan 1822; he was a mariner; died 8 Jun 1843 of yellow fever in the West Indies at just 21 years old, according to Eunice Kelley Randall’s book on the Kelley family
2. Rebecca born 24 Aug 1824; m. David Kelley 23 Feb 1843; died 5 Feb 1908 in Dennis
3. Ezra born 7 Oct 1827; m. Althina Nickerson 26 Jun 1855 in Dennis; died 13 Nov 1902 in West Dennis
4. Benjamin born 30 Jun 1830; he was a mariner; m. Mercy Lewis 12 Feb 1852 at Duchess County, New York; when he was just 24 he died of consumption 12 Mar 1855 at Dennis, leaving behind a wife and one surviving son (they had lost an infant in 1853)
5. Hope D. born 20 Jun 1833; m. Richard Nickerson, a master mariner, on 24 Oct 1852 at Dennis; died 24 Nov 1865 at West Dennis of consumption; at 32 she was already a widow so she left four children orphaned 
6. Abba/Abby born 17 Jun 1836; m. Robert Studley, a mariner, at South Yarmouth 3 Jan 1856; died 28 Feb 1882 at West Dennis at age 45 of “mesenterica” which I’ve read is an inflammation of the lymph nodes and a form of consumption; she was the mother of seven children one of whom pre-deceased her
7. Isaac Dunham born 07 Apr 1839; m. Gabrelia Chase in Dennis on 21 Apr 1859; died at sea when his ship disappeared off the coast of Rhode Island on 4 Apr 1863; he was just 23 years of age and had two young daughters
8. David Howes Kelley born 02 Mar 1842; m. 1st Lucina Doane Ellis 7 Dec 1874 at West Dennis, 2nd Mary E. Chase 04 May 1876 at Harwich, 3rd Mary Ann Kelley 27 Dec 1881 at Boston; early on he was a mariner but later did other jobs including house painting; he died at West Dennis in 1925 

David Howes and Mary Ann Kelley are my great-great grandparents. I wrote about them here. Abagail’s 1888 obituary states she had ten children, with seven pre-deceasing her, but I’ve never found any information on two additional children. Perhaps these were children who died so young that their births weren’t recorded. At the time of her death Rebecca, Ezra and David were still living. 

Hiram received a half-acre of land in his father's 30 June 1835 will, and was to split the rest of the land with his brother's and nephew after their mother's death. It appears all of the  Kelley brothers lived very close to their parents and owned several schooners together.

Hiram  Kelly of Dennis wrote his will on 24 November1863. He left his wife Abigail the use, improvement and income of his estate which she had power to sell as needed to be comfortable during her life time. This is one of the reasons I think so much of Hiram — instead of treating his widow as someone to just hold onto his estate before it would be passed to their children, he was primarily concerned about her quality of life. He also did not even add a clause that she would forfeit his estate if she remarried. 

Son David H. Kelley would receive his homestead with outbuildings and land after Abigail’s death if she did not sell it during her lifetime. He also received one feather bed. His daughters Rebecca Kelly wife of David Kelly, Hope D. Nickerson widow of Richard Nickerson Jr., and Abba Studley wife of Robert Studley, to receive equal shares of all household furniture and indoor moveables that remain at the decease of wife Abigail. He mentions that his son Ezra and heirs of his late sons Benjamin and Isaac “have not been forgotten,” so it seems he had already gifted or deeded them something. Hiram signed his will.

Hiram Kelley died in West Dennis on 8 Apr 1868. He was 68 years old and died of lung fever. 

On 11 August 1868 Abagail Kelly, widow of Hiram Kelly, requested the court allow her to have access to some part of his personal estate valued at $230.40. John Larkin was executor. On 21 April 1868 heirs at law are listed as Ezra Kelly, David H. Kelly, Abby Studley wife of Robert C. Studley of Dennis, Rebecca Kelly wife of David Kelly of Harwich children of said deceased, Amelia, Bradley C, Richard, Ella M. Nickerson children of Hope D. Nickerson and grandchildren of said deceased residing in said Dennis.

On 24 August 1868 the heirs include children of the late sons Isaac and Benjamin, David H. Kelley, Ezra Kelley, Rebecca Kelley wife of David Kelley, Abby Studley wife of Robert Studley,  children of Hope D. Nickerson deceased.

On 3 June 1868, Nehemiah Crowell, James Chase & William White made oath to Hiram’s inventory which included two boats, 1/64 of the schooner Samuel Gilman, blacksmith tools, and various household items. Total of personal estate was $551.15 which included $326.55 in cash on hand. 

Real estate totaled $485 and included homestead with land and a building on the sea valued at $475 and one-fifth of shore landing work $10. 

Hiram and later his son David's fishing shanty on the Bass River

Abagail lived for another 20 years, dying in West Dennis 17 Oct 1888. She kept the Ferry Street house and her son David and his family lived there and did inherit the house. She must have been a great help to David when he lost two young wives and three young children.

Hiram and Abagail share a headstone at West Dennis Cemetery which reads "Dear parents, tho we miss you much we know you rest with God.”

Sources Not Listed Above:

Eunice Kelley Randall, David O’Killia and His Descendants, 1962

Dennis Historical Society  Newsletter, November, 1978

Probate records of Hiram Kelley/Kelly, Barnstable County Courthouse, Case 5377

Carrie (Washburn) Ellis 1896-1974 of Plymouth, Mass.

Carrie Clyfton Washburn was born Plymouth, Massachusetts, 5 February 1896, one of the eight children of Charles F. and Hattie Maria (Benson) Washburn. She is my great-grandmother and although I was twelve when she died, I never met her. Carrie was born, raised, and died in Plymouth and was a descendant of many Mayflower passengers. 

I also never knew her son, my grandfather Arthur “Art” Washburn Davis, as he and my grandmother were married briefly and he rarely saw my dad. I was always curious about Art, but it took me quite some time to find his birth record as he used different surnames: Washburn, Ellis, and Washburn. It turns out Carrie was just 17 and unmarried in 1913 when she gave birth to Art. There is no father listed on his birth record, but I later had the good fortune to find and meet Art’s half-sister Dorothy “Dot” (Ellis) Parker. I wrote about Dot and Art here. She said when her mother was elderly, she told her the identity of Art’s father: George Brewster Smith of Plymouth. It turns out George died two months before Art’s birth—in an accident when he was re-arranging a wagon-load of furniture and the horse took off and George’s head smashed into a bridge. George, who was just 18 when he died, had married Helen Pearson in 1912 and they had a baby, also named George. DNA results show I’m closely matched to some of George’s descendants through his son George, so I believe this story is accurate.

Carrie married Everett “Pete” Ellis on 28 August 1914 at Plymouth. He was born Bridgewater on 25 March 1892 to William and Maude Ellis. Carrie and Pete had a large family of ten children: Francis, Dorothy, Gladys, Marion, Nancy, Everett, Walter, Barbara, Marjorie, and Robert. 

Arthur "Art" Davis

As a child, Art went first to live with the Roden family in Falmouth on Cape Cod (he was there by the 1920 census). In the 1930 census he is in the household of his step-aunt Grace (Ellis) Davis (sister of Pete) and her husband John Davis in Falmouth. Since Grace and John raised Arthur, he would eventually take their surname, although I have not found any record of his formally changing his name. On formal records, he always wrote that Grace was his mother. Grace and Pete’s mother Maude and her then-husband Henry Coulter lived next door to Grace, and Carrie and Pete’s son Francis lived with Maude and later with Grace. Carrie’s daughter Dot told me it was difficult for her parents to afford such a large family and since Grace didn’t have children of her own, she was happy to care for Art and Francis; she eventually took in a boy named Merle as well.  If Art felt abandoned by his mother, it must have been comforting to have his half-brother nearby. 

Francis (left) and Art Davis on cross country trip to California

Dot told me she grew up knowing Art was her brother and that he was regularly at family gatherings in Plymouth, although as an adult the family saw him less and less. I’ve wondered perhaps if Pete didn’t want to raise another man’s son. I’ve been in touch with one of Francis’ sons, and he said Art and Francis remained close; my grandmother confirmed this. 

When I met Dot (who was 94 at the time, but full of incredible positive energy and warmth, and immediately treated me like family), she said her mother was busy taking care of the children and running the household so she didn't have time for hobbies and other interests.  Carrie could draw, but rarely indulged this talent, which is a talent Dot inherited. I asked her if she knew where Carrie’s middle name came from as Clyfton isn’t a surname I’ve come across in our ancestry, but she didn’t know. In a letter from Grace Davis to my grandmother, she wrote that Carrie’s family was involved with the Salvation Army and that Carrie sang with a choir and had a quiet nature. 

In my quest to learn more about Carrie, I once spoke on the phone with Rose Ellis, Carrie’s daughter-in-law. She said Carrie was a very special person, that she always welcomed everyone into her home and insisted they have something to eat. I asked if she was a good cook, and she said not really, but she loved to feed everyone! I have just one photo of Carrie, shared with me by Dot, of her with Everett celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. I hope someday to find an earlier photo of her. 

From census records and town directories, Carrie and Pete lived at various rented homes in Plymouth—in downtown on Sandwich, Newfield, and Summer Streets and in Manomet neighborhood on Beaver Dam and Brook Roads. In the early 1940s, they owned a home on South Street in Duxbury. By 1950, I believe they owned their home at 5 Freedom Street in downtown Plymouth, a stones-throw from the waterfront. This is their address in the 1950 census and their son Everett, with his wife Rose and son Edward, deeded that property to another son Allan in 1989. 

Carrie's Freedom Street house

Carrie Clyfton Ellis died 31 March 1974 at Plymouth. She was 78 years old and died of acute myocardial failure. She is buried at Vine Hills Cemetery with her husband Everett/Pete Ellis. Pete died from cancer in 1966. He worked for the Town of Plymouth in the Parks Department. 

Her obituary from Plymouth’s Old Colony Memorial newspaper, 14 April 1974: "In Plymouth, March 31 -- A funeral service for Mrs. Carrie Clyfton (Washburn) Ellis, 78, of 5 Freedom St., Plymouth, was conducted yesterday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. The Rev. William W. Williams III officiated and burial followed in Vine Hills Cemetery.

Mrs. Ellis was found dead at 12:51 p.m. Sunday by Anthony Maynard. Medical Examiner Dr. William Gould pronounced Mrs. Ellis dead of natural causes. 

Mrs. Ellis was the widow of Everett W. Ellis who died on July 10, 1966. She was born in Plymouth on Feb. 5, 1896, the daughter of Charles and Hattie (Benson) Washburn.

She is survived by five sons, Francis of Falmouth; Everett, Walter and Robert of Plymouth and Arthur Davis, Falmouth; six daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Parker, Mrs. Gladys Maynard, Mrs. Marion Costa, Mrs. Nancy Reposa, Mrs. Marjorie Pierson and Mrs. Barbara Felton all of Plymouth; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews; and one sister, Mrs. Marion Haverstock of Plymouth.

Beamon's Funeral Home, 28 Middle St., made the arrangements."

It saddens me that I missed out on knowing Art and Carrie, but during the process of trying to learn more about them, I’ve uncovered so many interesting ancestors—Mayflower passengers (twelve men, six women, and six children); veterans of King Philip’s War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the French-Indian War, and the Civil War; strong inspiring women; people who founded the original Cape Cod towns, the towns surrounding Plymouth, and Salem; Plymouth Colony Governor and other government officials; writer/historian; mill owners; a convicted murderer; ministers and church deacons; salters; traders; mariners and fishermen; a 49er; blacksmiths; leather workers; carpenters and shipbuilders; tailors; rope makers; tavern owners; lawyers and a judge; iron workers; doctors; and farmers. 

Sources:

Carrie’s birth and death record from Plymouth Town Clerk in possession of writer

Carrie and Everett’s marriage record: MA Vital Records, vol 627; p. 255