Colonel Ezekiel Cushing, I

Added by Elwin C. Nickerson: About My ancestor: Ezekiel Cushing Hon. Colonel (1698 - 1765), was the son of Rev. Jeremiah Cushing of Scituate, where he was born 28 April 1698. His mother was daughter of Thomas Loring of Hingham. His first wife was Hannah Doane of Plymouth, born in 1703, by whom he had the following children born in Provincetown: Loring, born 10 August 1721, who graduated at Harvard College, 1741, and died in 1778 ; Ezekiel, 3 June 1724 ; Jeremiah, 7 October 1729 ; Hannah, 9 February 1732 ; Lucia, 13 July 1734 ; Lucia, 27 December 1735 ; Phebe, 15 April 1738. He was coroner in 1727 and 1729. After 1738 he moved to Cape Elizabeth (then Falmouth), Maine and occupied Cushing's Point which has ever since borne his name, and where a portion of his house remains. He owned Cushing's Island in Portland Harbor, and sold it to Joshua Bangs, 14 September 1760, by whose name it was known until 1859, when it was purchased by Lemuel Cushing, of Montreal, Canada, who gave it its present name. He also owned the greater part of Long Island with Marsh and Overset Islands in Portland Harbor, and he bequeathed them in his will to his children. He was a merchant, and about 1719 went to Provincetown with his brother Jeremiah where they engaged in the fishing and whaling industry, owning many schooners and sloops. His large mercantile establishment was on the point bearing his name, a few rods east of the breakwater and at the western extremity of the sandy cove west of Fort Preble. It is authoritatively stated that during his time, there was more commercial business carried on in Simonton's Cove and on the Cape Elizabeth shore, than on the Falmouth side. He was active and prominent in the affairs of the settlement, and became one of the most respected as well as distinguished men in Portland neighborhood. Ezekiel was Commander of the County Regiment at that time, the highest office in Maine, and in 1757 was able to furnish 50 men from his regiment to defend the inhabitants against the Indians, and one hundred to protect the Commissioners while there were arranging the terms of peace. He was Selectman of the town nine years, and Justice of the Peace 1756, 1760 and 1761; Justice of the Court of Common Pleas 1760 to 1763, and filled other important offices. Gov. Shirley dined at Col. Cushing's 23 July 1754. He took a prominent part in the religious dissensions which broke out in the Church there, and in 1756 was a leader of the opposition to the installation of the Rev. Ephraim Clark over the Church. After the installation he was set off to the first parish where he afterwards attended, though just previous to his death he petitioned the General Court and was restored to his own precinct. In 1746 he married the widow Mary Parker of Boston, a daughter of Dominicus Jordan of Cape Elizabeth, by whom he had three children, John, Thomas, and Nathaniel. His second wife lead by her first husband, four children, one of whom, Mary, married Loring Cushing above named. His daughter Lucia, married James Otis of Scituate, and Hannah married Charles Robinson. His descendants are numerous both in the male and female lines. He was one of the most distinguished men in our neighborhood, and lived in high style. Ezekiel's will was made 11 April 1765. He died in 1765, aged sixty-seven. /ECN/

slave owner

Ezekiel Cushing first settled at Provincetown and became prominent in town affairs ; was treasurer in 1728 and there-after till his removal to Falmouth, Casco Bay, Me., about 1740. At Falmouth he lived in as much style as any person in the town, had a fine residence on the Point at Cape Elizabeth which still bears the name of "Cushing's Point." He had an extensive business both in the West India trade and in the fisheries; was Colonel of the regt., the highest military office in the district of Me., and from 1760 to 1764, was one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. He kept slaves, and is said to have given one to each of his children as a part of their marriage portion. ~• from: The Doane family and their Descendants

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Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Cape Elizabeth burying ground

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Ezekiel Cushing Hon. Colonel (1698 - 1765), was the son of Rev. Jeremiah Cushing of Scituate, where he was born 28 April 1698. His mother was daughter of Thomas Loring of Hingham. His first wife was Hannah Doane of Plymouth, born in 1703, by whom he had the following children born in Provincetown: Loring, born 10 August 1721, who graduated at Harvard College, 1741, and died in 1778 ; Ezekiel, 3 June 1724 ; Jeremiah, 7 October 1729 ; Hannah, 9 February 1732 ; Lucia, 13 July 1734 ; Lucia, 27 December 1735 ; Phebe, 15 April 1738. He was coroner in 1727 and 1729. After 1738 he moved to Cape Elizabeth (then Falmouth), Maine and occupied Cushing's Point which has ever since borne his name, and where a portion of his house remains. He owned Cushing's Island in Portland Harbor, and sold it to Joshua Bangs, 14 September 1760, by whose name it was known until 1859, when it was purchased by Lemuel Cushing, of Montreal, Canada, who gave it its present name. He also owned the greater part of Long Island with Marsh and Overset Islands in Portland Harbor, and he bequeathed them in his will to his children. He was a merchant, and about 1719 went to Provincetown with his brother Jeremiah where they engaged in the fishing and whaling industry, owning many schooners and sloops. His large mercantile establishment was on the point bearing his name, a few rods east of the breakwater and at the western extremity of the sandy cove west of Fort Preble. It is authoritatively stated that during his time, there was more commercial business carried on in Simonton's Cove and on the Cape Elizabeth shore, than on the Falmouth side. He was active and prominent in the affairs of the settlement, and became one of the most respected as well as distinguished men in Portland neighborhood. Ezekiel was Commander of the County Regiment at that time, the highest office in Maine, and in 1757 was able to furnish 50 men from his regiment to defend the inhabitants against the Indians, and one hundred to protect the Commissioners while there were arranging the terms of peace. He was Selectman of the town nine years, and Justice of the Peace 1756, 1760 and 1761; Justice of the Court of Common Pleas 1760 to 1763, and filled other important offices. Gov. Shirley dined at Col. Cushing's 23 July 1754. He took a prominent part in the religious dissensions which broke out in the Church there, and in 1756 was a leader of the opposition to the installation of the Rev. Ephraim Clark over the Church. After the installation he was set off to the first parish where he afterwards attended, though just previous to his death he petitioned the General Court and was restored to his own precinct. In 1746 he married the widow Mary Parker of Boston, a daughter of Dominicus Jordan of Cape Elizabeth, by whom he had three children, John, Thomas, and Nathaniel. His second wife lead by her first husband, four children, one of whom, Mary, married Loring Cushing above named. His daughter Lucia, married James Otis of Scituate, and Hannah married Charles Robinson. His descendants are numerous both in the male and female lines. He was one of the most distinguished men in our neighborhood, and lived in high style. Ezekiel's will was made 11 April 1765. He died in 1765, aged sixty-seven.

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