Maj. Ephraim Hildreth

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hildreth-359

It has been said that Ephraim Hildreth and Mercy Richardson married possibly in Dracut or Chelmsford before May 1708, when their first child was born.[1] As the couple had their first child, Ephraim, in Chelmsford in 1708, they must have married before 1708.

"HILDRETH, Ephraim Maj., Sept. 26, 1740 [in 60th y., G.R.8]" at Dracut.[2]

Major Ephraim Hildreth, son of James Hildreth, was born in Chelmsford January 9 1680. He died in Dracut, formerly a part of Chelmsford, on September 26 1740. He married 1707 Mercy Richardson, (born January 9 1688 in Chelmsford died in Dracut December 25 1743 daughter of Lieutenant Josiah and Mercy Parish Richardson). Her mother was daughter of Robert and Elisabeth Blanchard Parish of Groton, and her father was son of Captain Josiah and Remembrance Underwood Richardson and grandson of Ezekiel and Susannah Richardson of Woburn.

Ephraim Hildreth seems to have been a surveyor and was repeatedly employed by the town. During his early life he was a resident of Chelmsford and after the part of the town in which he lived became Dracut he became identified with the history of the new town. He was town clerk of Dracut most of the time from 1713 to his death in 1740 and was succeeded by his son Ephraim. It is rather remarkable that the succession continued through four generations. After Ephraim Jr came William and William Jr in direct line. On March 3 1800, Lieutenant Israel Hildreth was chosen town clerk the fifth Hildreth in successive generations to hold the position Major Hildreth was a commissioner September 3 1734 from Dracut to other neighboring towns concerning a new county of which Chelmsford was to be the county seat He was sergeant in 1712. He was assessor surveyor of highways tythingman town treasurer trustee and selectman of the town of Dracut at various times served on many special committees for the town became captain about 1722 and major about 1736. His will was proved 1740.It mentions his children by name. [3]

Children, first two born Chelmsford, rest in Dracut:

1. Ephraim, b. 18 Jan 1708.
2. Josiah, b. 14 Feb 1710.
3. Robert, b. 18 May 1713; m. Sarah Abbott.
4. Marcy, b. 27 Jan 1715/6, d. 10 Dec 1729.
5. Zachariah, b. 27 Sep 1718, d. 10 Jan 1745/6.
6. Thomas, b. 05 Apr 1721, m. Hannah Colburn 3d.
7. William, b. 30 Aug 1723; m. Tabitha Colburn
8. Luis/Levi, b. 13 Oct 1726
9. Elijah, b. 23 May 1728, d. 14 May 1814; m. (1) Hannah Colburn 1746, m. (2) Hannah Richardson 1765.
10. Marcy, b. 27 Nov 1732; m. Jonathan Coburn 1753.

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The children listed in the probate records of James Hildreth as receiving shares of the estate are in this order: Richard (named eldest son), Margrett, Abigail, Dorathy, and Ephraim.

In the Cambridge probate records of July 17, 1695, it is recorded that Richard, "Son of Lieut. James Hildreth, then 17 years old, made choice of his Uncle Joseph as his guardian," and that "Ephraim, the son of Lieut. James (Hildreth), made choice of his Uncle Ephraim (of Stow) as his guardian, he then being fourteen years old, A. D. 1695."

References

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hildreth-359