Ezekiel Colby

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Ezekiel COLBY was born on 16 MAY 1796 in Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. Occupants listed at this residence: Name Age/Sex Occupation Worth Birth School ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ezekiel Colby 53 M Farner $5,000 NH Tabithy 47 F NH Charles 24 M NH Hiram 18 M NH Y Martha 9 F NH Y

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He appeared in the census in 1860 in Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. He signed a will on 6 MAY 1879 in Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire.
Ezekiel Colby Will

Be it remembered that I, Ezekiel Colby of Franklin, in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory, make this my last will, and herein dispose of my worldly estate as follows:

First: I give to my grandchildren, Webster E. Colby , Ernest Thompson and Gracie Thompson, the sum of one dollar each.

Second: I give and bequeath unto my grandson, Harry E. Colby, all the shares of Stock in the Northern Railroad of which I may die possessed.

Third: I give, bequeath and devise to my Son, Hiram Colby, a certain tract of land in said Franklin, containing about fifty acres, and being the same conveyed to me by Joseph Gerrish and others by deed dated September 25, 1845, recorded in Merrimack County Records, Book 112, Page 178; also another tract of land in said Franklin, containing about seventy three acres, and being the same conveyed to me by Joseph Gerrish and John C. Gage by deed dated May 8, 1843, and recorded in Merrimack County Records, Book 112, Page 177; also another tract of land in said Franklin, and being the same conveyed to me by Josiah Sawyer and wife, by deed dated October 31, 1848, recorded in said Merrimack County Records, Book 112, Page 181; also another tract of land in said Franklin, containing about thirty-five acres, and being the same conveyed to me by Joseph E. Fellows and wife by deed dated December 3, 1850, and recorded in Merrimack County Records Book 115, Page 55; also another tract of land in said Franklin, containing forty acres, more or less, and being the same conveyed to me by James Morse and Samuel Pike by deed dated November 6, 1833 and recorded in Merrimack County Records Book 52, Page 40; also another tract of land in said Franklin, containing twelve acres, more or less, and being the same conveyed to me by Sargent Bennett and Lucretia A. Danforth by deed dated October 16, 1869, and recorded in said Merrimack County Registry, Book 198, Page 513; also forty-two acres off the South East Corner of the old home farm, bounded East by land of G. W. Simonds and land of Elmer French, South by land of Lester Collins, West by land of said Collins and the Tuck lot, so called. To have and to hold the same to him the said Hiram Colby, and his heirs and assignees forever, provided and upon condition that he pay the debt to Hiram S. Gordon now due from me to said Gordon, and mounting at this time to about eight hundred and forty dollars, if said debt remains sue at my decease.

Fifth: All the rest and residue and remainder of my estate I give and bequeath and devise to and unto my daughter Martha A. Thompson, wife, of Silas Thompson, to have and to hold the same to her and to her heirs and assignees forever, provided and upon condition that she pays or causes to be paid all debts I may be owing at my decease except the said Gordon debt above referred to.

Sixth: I hereby appoint Alexis Proctor of said Franklin Executor of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal May 6, 1879. Ezekiel Colby Signed, sealed and declared by the above named Ezekiel Colby as his last will and testament, in presence of us, who at his request and in his presence, have subscribed our names as witnesses. Isaac N. Blodgett Levi Richardson Nathaniel M. Colby

He appeared in the census in 1880 in Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. Census Place: Franklin, Merrimack, New Hampshire Source: FHL Film 1254766 National Archives Film T9-0766 Page 291B Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace Ezekiel COLBY Self M W W 84 NH Occ: Farmer Fa: NH Mo: NH Addie D. SMITH Other F S W 21 --- Occ: Keeping House Fa: --- Mo: ---

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He died on 18 APR 1883 at Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire.
Ezekiel Colby Took His Own Life by Hanging.
It is evident that Ezekiel had trouble with his mind and his health the last few years of his life. His son, Charles had died on December 27, 1855, and his wife, Tabitha died November 12, 1869. It appears that on April 18, 1883, at about ten o'clock in the morning, he was in the house and spoke of feeling hungry and ate a lunch. The family, who were in the garden, supposed he had gone to his room to rest, as was his custom.

It seems that he went to the barn, cut a piece from a ¾" rope, went up on the scaffold an tied his feet together. He then put the rope around his neck, fastening it with a slipknot and passed the other end around a beam just above his head , thence around a brace and securely tied it to rope below the beam, giving about one foot of slack rope. Thus prepared, he had only to step off from the scaffold. He was discovered about noon. He was survived by his son, Hiram and his daughter, Martha Colby Thompson.

Parents: John COLBY and Susannah WEBSTER.

Spouse: Tabitha SMITH. Ezekiel COLBY and Tabitha SMITH were married on 2 FEB 1825 in Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. Children were: Charles COLBY, Hiram COLBY, Infant COLBY, Martha A. COLBY.