Notes
Note H2852
Index
[Robert Ruhl and Mary Farrier 20081222.GED]
He owned at his death on Washington St. opposite Cedar St., at the north end of town.
He died intestate and Gaius Thayer, housewright, was his administrator, Dec.3,1779. Widow Ann Thayer made a quit claim to the estate Apr.19,1780 (S.P. 78-601,527) and division was made Apr.28,1780 to Gaius Thayer, eldest son, a double portion, to Elkanah Thayer who received half the house, part being already his, to Mary Thayer, to Lydia Thayer, and to Thomas and Samuel Hayden (S.P. 79-559). The warrant for the division (S.P. 79-224) gives the heirs as Gaius and Elkanah Thayer, James Thayer Jr., blacksmith, and wife Mary, Solomon Thayer, wheelwright, and wife Lydia, and Stephen Penniman as guardian to Thomas and Samuel, Hayden, minors, children of Aminadab Hayden..
He was elected surveyor of highways for the South Precinct 1753, so probably lived there for a time. He was hogreave 1747, fenceviewer 1753, tithingman 1757 and 1778. Ensign Thomas was surveyor of highways 1754,56,1758, and Thomas was surveyor of highways 1765, warden 1763, constable 1766.
He was taxed in the North Parish in 1778 for a poll tax as well as for the place belonging to the heirs of Dr. Savil, showing he then lived there on present School St. where the Presbyterian Church is now (1958).
Notes
Note H2853
Index
[Robert Ruhl and Mary Farrier 20081222.GED]
The Weymouth History quotes a news item of his second marriage (Vol.3, p.356) from the Boston Evening Post of Dec.24,1753:
The Boston Evening Post of Monday~ 24 Dec. 1753, reads as follows: "We hear from Weymouth that on Thursday last was married there, at the hour of 12, Mr. Ephraim Thair of Braintree, being 84 years old, to Mrs. Mary Kingman of that place, aged 78, it being about fifteen months since he buried his former wife (with whom he had lived sixty years in the married state), at which time he was father, grandfather and great-grandfather of sixty-six male and sixty-six fornale children, since when there has been an increase of twenty more. After the ceremony was over, be returned to his house in Braintree, attended with a great concourse of people."
Sarah wife of Ephraim Thayer was admitted to full communion Jul.21,1695 and had children baptized Ephraim & Sally Jul.28,1695, Philip May 17,1696, Hannah Apr.10,1698, Joseph Aug.6,1699, Shadrach Apr.20,1701, Christopher May 7,1703, Ruth Apr.2,1704, Esther Aug.26,1705. Later ones probably were baptized in the now Braintree Church founded in 1706, but records of them not found.
The present Braintree Church records give an account of his death -"1757 June 15, Died Ephraim Thayer, suddenly in the 88th year of his age - occasioned as is supposed by a violent blow in his forehead with the sharp end of a rail at the barn door where he was found dead. A great concourse of people attended his funeral".
He was a weaver by trade. He was elected hayward or field driver for Monatiquot 1694, fenceviewer 1705,1710,12,15, constable 1714, tithingman 1717,1730, Selectman 1724,25, and moderator of town meeting 1742.
Ephraim Thayer resided on the westerly part of his grandfather's homestead on the south side of Elm St. near where the Cochato Club now stands. He sold the easterly half to son James Apr.2,1754 (S.D. 113-71). He also owned a home lot in Mendon which he sold to Josiah Thayer of Mendon May 3,1692 (S.D. 19-356).
In his will dated Apr.10,1755 he gives wife Mary the use of the best room in the house so long as she stays, and if she moves away to be maintained with as much as she has from her Kingman sons, and the goods she brought, to son Ephraim 20 shillings more than he has, to son Philip £5 and my wearing apparel, to son Joseph £1 and 2bbls. cider per year for 3 years, to son Shadrach my cane and half my land in the 1st & 2nd lot adjoining lands I gave son Ephraim, to son Napthali other half of the 1st & 2nd lots adjoining lands I gave him, to son Peter 20 shillings, to grand daughter Ruth Vinton daughter of my daughter Sarah Dorman, deceased, a cow, to daughter Hannah Blancher 1/2 acre adjoining my son Blancher's land, and 2 acres meadow, and my best bed, to daughter Ruth Capen £5, and she has a bed already, to daughter Esther French, a bed, to daughter Priscilla Ford, a cow, to daughter Abigail Richards my silver cup, to my five daughters all land undisposed of. I confirm to sons Christopher & James the whole of my homestead housing, and barn, with all lands on the north & south side of the way, Christopher to have the west part and James the east, Christopher to have the east end of the barn and corn house, and the house to be divided to suit them both. To son Christopher 2 1/2 acres meadow bought of Capt. Ebenezer Thayer, to son James 3 acres bought of John Mills adjoining Capt. Thayer's land, my cart and wheels, etc. and they to be executors.
All fourteen children lived to have families and celebrated their parent's golden wedding communion.
Notes
Note H2854
Index
[Robert Ruhl and Mary Farrier 20081222.GED]
Ephraim Thayer Jr. was fenceviewer 1735, surveyor of highways 1734,44,48,1751 in Middle Precinct, and constable 1739.
He left a will dated Mar.24,1773, proved Feb.18,1780 mentioning wife Mary who is to have use of whole estate and the use and service of my negro woman Zipporah who is to have her freedom if she survives my wife. To daughter Mary Packard household goods at wife's decease and any of said Zipporah's children that I may leave undisposed of until they are aged 25, then to have their liberty. To grand children Luke, James, Israel, Content, Eve, Mary, & Sarah Packard £3 each, and to grandson Ephraim Packard all my real estate. Brother James Thayer, executor. On Feb.18,1779 Ephraim Thayer & Mary sold their estate 40 acres house and barn to Uriah Thayer Jr. (S.D. 131-156). He also had as an apprentice in 1733 Cornelius5 Thayer (David4Cornelius3Richard2-1).
(1717 Boston Court Rec.)