DJD-97-Ebenezer-4

LINE OF DEACON JOHN DUNHAM OF PLYMOUTH

FOURTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

97. EBENEZER 4 DUNHAM (Samuel 3,2 John 1) born in Plymouth 24 February 1691/92, [1] died in Plymouth 21 January 1771. [2] Ebenezer married in Middleboro 1 June 1720 ABIGAIL SMITH, [3] daughter of John and Mary (Ellenwood) Smith of Middleboro. [4] Abigail was born in Beverly, Essex Co. Massachusetts 10 February 1693/4. [5]

Abigail Smith was sister of Annis Smith who married Ephraim 4 Dunham (Nathaniel 3, Joseph 2, John 1). They were daughters of John Smith, Coaster, of Beverly who moved with his wife Mary and children to Middleboro, Plymouth County Massachusetts in 1702/3. [6] Plymouth Co. LR 6:127 dated 11 Feb. 1702/3 is for the sale by John Dogget and Samuel Doget, both of Marshfield, of two 100 acre lots within or adjacent to the Township of “Middlebury” (Middleboro) to John Smith, late of Beverly, Essex County, mariner. [7]

After their father’s death the four brothers of the fourth generation (Samuel, Nathaniel, Ebenezer and William) in a series of deeds executed in 1720, but not recorded until 1745, exchanged or consolidated the land holdings that had been left to them. From these deeds we can see that Ebenezer focused his choice of location on an area called “Southers Marsh”, which we can locate today just to the west of the Plymouth-Carver boundary on the north side of Tremont Road in Carver. Plymouth Co. LR 38:24, dated 18 March 1720 shows the purchase of this parcel.

Children of Ebenezer 4 and Abigail (Smith) Donham: [8]

318. i. ABIGAIL-5 DONHAM, b. 23 November 1720

319. ii. SAMUEL-5 DONHAM, b. 9 September 1722

320. iii. EBENEZER-5 DONHAM, b. 21 September 1724

321. iv. JOHN 5 DONHAM, b. 12 July 1726

v. MOSES-5 DONHAM, b. July 1728, died 11 February 1744/45 [9]

vi. MARY-5 DONHAM, b. June (date left blank in Plymouth VR p. 64) say 1730 probably died young [10]

322. vii. BARNABAS-5 DONHAM, b. June (year left blank in Plymouth VR p. 64) say 1732 baptised 17 March 1733/4 [11]

323. viii. WILLIAM-5 DONHAM, b. June (year left blank in Plymouth VR p. 64) say 1734, baptised 15 August 1736 [12]

References:

1. Plymouth VR p. 9.

2. Plymouth Co. Probate, (administration) #6836.

3. Middleboro, MA VR 1:26.

4. The Essex Genealogist, Vol 7:35-6 Article by Arlene M. Skehan, “John Smith of Back Cove, Beverly and Middleboro”.

5. Beverly VR p. 293

6. TAG 60:7-10.

7. ibid.

8. Plymouth VR p. 64.

9. TAG 62:8-9.

10. Harlow Gen. p. 53.

11. Ibid.

12. Ibid.