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50. EPHRAIM MINOR (bp. 1642–1724) (Thomas)

Ephraim Minor was baptized on 1 May 1642 in Hingham, Massachusetts. He died on 16 May 1724, age 83. He married Hannah Avery on 20 June 1666 in Stonington. Ephraim and Hannah are buried in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery in Stonington. [1]

On 25 November 1656, Ephraim’s father wrote in his diary, “Ephraim was hurt with the Cart.” On 31 August 1657 he wrote that Ephraim had gone to Poquotucke. [2]

At a 10 May 1666 Court of Elections in Hartford, Mr. Thomas Stanton was asked to administer the freeman’s oath to Ephraim Minor and others of Stonington. [3]

In April 1666 Ephraim’s father wrote in his diary, “the match was made up between Ephraim and hanah Averie I gave the 2 horse to Ephraim and Joseph to buy their weding suts sabath day the 15 sabath day 22 Ephraim and hanah Averie was put over the meeting house dore.” In June he wrote, “wensday the 20. our Ephraim was maried.” [4]

On 10 May 1666 the court ordered that freeman’s oath be administered to Ephraim Minor in Stonington. Ephraim appears in a 1668 census conducted in Stonington. He is on a 5 October 1669 list of freemen in Stonington. He was one of the nine original members of the first church in Stonington on 3 June 1674. [5]

Ephraim was a deputy from Stonington in October 1676, October 1677, October 1681, April 1690, October 1690, October 1699, October 1700, May 1701, May 1704, October 1706, April 1707, October 1708, October 1709, April 1711, June 1711, May 1712 and May 1714. [6]

In May 1684 Cattapesett came to the court and requested that, “he and his men may not be interrupted in planting and dwelling upon some land in Stonington that they have fenced in of Ephraim Minors.” [7]

Ephraim was on a committee to run the boundary line between Preston and Stonington in May 1694. Deacon Palmer and Ensign Ephraim Minor were ordered to lay out 300 acres of land for the heirs of Captain John Gallup in October 1698. [8]

Ephraim was appointed Justice of the Peace for the County of New London every year from 1703 to 1711. [9]

In May 1704 Sergeant Ephraim Minor was confirmed lieutenant of the soldiers raised in the County of New London. [10]

51. HANNAH AVERY (1644–1721) (James)

Hannah Avery was born on 11 or 12 October 1644 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. She died on 22 August 1721, age 77, in Stonington. [11] She married Ephraim Minor.

Hannah Minor was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 14 March 1675. [12]

Children of Ephraim Minor and Hannah Avery: [13]

i. Unknown Daughter Minor died and was buried on 25 May 1667. [14]

ii. Captain Ephraim Minor was born on 22 June 1668 in Stonington. He died on 19 February 1740. He married Mary Stephens of Taunton on 24 May 1694 at Taunton. She died on 27 September 1748 in Stonington. Ephraim and Mary are buried in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery in Stonington. [15]

Ephraim Minor, Jr. owned the covenant at the first church in Stonington on 16 April 1689. Mary Minor owned the covenant on 18 April 1689. Captain Ephraim Minor was admitted to the church on 16 August 1719. [16]

The 3 October 1695 minutes of the Connecticut Court of Assistants say, “The Treasurer of this Colony made Complaint to this Court against Ephraim Minor Junr of Stonington, for falsifying his Accompts, and Charging the Colony debtor, with severall things that are very irregular and Unjust, for which the said Ephraim hath already been Imprisoned. This Court considering the Said Complaint, do Sentence the Said Ephraim Minor to pay a fine of Fifty Shillings money to the Treasury of this Colony.” [17]

On 13 October 1698 the General Court appointed Deacon Palmer and Ensign Ephraim Minor to lay out 300 acres of land granted to Captain John Gallup. [18]

Ephraim was appointed lieutenant of the north company in Stonington in October 1707 and he was appointed captain in October 1715. [19]

Ephraim Minor and Isaac Wheeler had a dispute over a piece of land in Ephraim’s possession. Isaac Wheeler prevailed and on 11 May 1708 the Court of Assistants granted an execution to Isaac. [20]

In May 1716 Captain Ephraim Minor and Lieutenant Palmer of Stonington were ordered to lead the upper company of Preston to a choice of officers. [21]

iii. Thomas Minor was born on 17 December 1669 in Stonington. He died on 8 September 1688 in Stonington.

iv.  Hannah Minor was born on 20 April 1671 in Stonington. She married Samuel Frink on 6 January 1691/2 in Stonington. Samuel, the son of John and Grace (Stevens) Frink and the grandson of John Frink, was born on 14 February 1668. [22]

Hannah Minor owned the covenant at the first church in Stonington on 18 April 1689. Hannah, the daughter of Ephraim Minor, was admitted to the church on 30 March 1690. [23]

v. Rebecca Minor was born on 17 September 1672 in Stonington. She was baptized on 15 November 1674 in Stonington. She died on 15 January 1747. She married Josiah Grant on 8 July 1696 in Stonington.  Josiah, the son of Samuel and Mary (Potter) Grant and the grandson of Matthew Grant, was born on 19 March 1668. Josiah died on 28 March 1732. Rebecca and Josiah are buried in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery in Stonington. [24]

Rebecca Minor owned the covenant at the first church in Stonington on 18 April 1689. [25]
 
vi. Elizabeth Minor was born on 30 April 1674 in Stonington. She was baptized on 15 November 1674 in Stonington. [26]

vii. Samuel Minor was born on 9 December 1675 in Stonington. [27]

viii. Deborah Minor was born on 15 April 1677 in Stonington. She was baptized on 3 June 1677 in Stonington. She died in August 1678 in Stonington. [28]

ix. Deborah Minor was born in April 1679 in Stonington. She was baptized on 30 March 169[7?] in Stonington. [29] She died on 8 September 1697 in Stonington. She married Joseph Pendleton on 8 July 1696. Joseph, the son of James and Hannah (Goodnow) Pendleton, was born on 29 December 1664 in Sudbury and died on 18 February 1706/7 in Westerly. He married second Patience Potts. [30]

Deborah Minor was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 21 June 1696. [31]

x. Ensign Samuel Minor was born on 28 August 1680 in Stonington. He was baptized on 13 March 1680[/1?] in Stonington. He died on 8 December 1717 and is buried in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery in Stonington. He married Ann Denison on 2 April 1702. Ann was the daughter of John B. and Phebe (Lay) Denison and the grandson of Captain George Denison (#66). Ann married second her cousin Edward Denison. Edward was the son of George and Mercy (Gorham) Denison and the grandson of Captain George Denison. [32]

On 22 April 1702, Manasseh Minor wrote in his dairy, “Samull minor killed Six wolves.” [33]

Samuel may be the Samuel Minor who was appointed ensign of the second company in Stonington in October 1715. [34]

xi. James Minor was born in November 1682 in Stonington. He was baptized on 9 April 1682 in Stonington. He died on 3 June 1736. He married Abigail Eldridge on 21 or 22 February 1704/5 in Stonington. She died in childbirth on 13 August 1720, age 32, in Stonington. James and Abigail are buried in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery. [35]

xii. Grace Minor (#25) was born in September 1683. She died after 27 May 1711. She married William Palmer.

xiii. John Minor was born on 19 April 1685 in Stonington. He was baptized on 7 June 1685 in Stonington. He died on 3 February 1717. He was buried on 10 February 1716/7 in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery. He married Mary Eldredge on 5 May 1709 in Stonington. [36]

xiv. Son Minor (twin) was born on 22 March 1687 in Stonington. He was buried on 23 March 1687 in Stonington.

xv. Daughter Minor (twin) was born on 22 March 1687 in Stonington. She was buried on 23 March 1687 in Stonington.

Endnotes

1. Ephraim’s death record and the record of his marriage (son of Thomas, daughter of James) are in CVR, Stonington 165. His baptism date and place is in in HTS, 466–8. “Here lieth interred the body of/Ephraim Minor Esq who/died May ye [ illegible],” digital image, “Ephraim Minor,” Findagrave, #95218188. “Here lyeth the/body of Hannah ye/wife of Ephraim/ Minor who / died [illegible],” digital image, “Hannah Avery Minor,” Findagrave, #17142544.

2. DTM.

3. PRC, vol. 2, 32.

4. DTM.

5. PRC, vol. 2, 32, 523 and FCC, 40–43.

6. PRC, vol. 2, 286, 318; 3, 86; vol. 4, 15, 23, 283, 327, 343, 461; vol. 5, 2, 17, 66, 114, 205, 245, 308, 424.

7. PRC, vol. 2, 144.

8. PRC, vol. 3, 424, 467, 500, 533;, vol. 4, 276.

9. PRC, vol. 4, 424, 467, 500, 533; vol. 5, 2, 62, 94, 145, 219.

10. PRC, vol. 4, 465.

11. Hanna, d. James and Joane, 12: 8: 16__, MVR, Gloucester, vol. 1, 72. Hannah’s birth record (daughter of James and Joan, not born in Stonington) is in CVR, New London, 8–9. Her death record (wife of Ephraim) is in CVR, Stonington, 166.

12. FCC, 189. Hannah’s birth date and place in HTS, 199–200.

13. The birth records of their children (children of Ephraim), except their first daughter (Rebecca is called Deborah in a duplicate record) the death records of Thomas and the two Deborahs, the burial records of the twins and the marriage records of Ephraim, Hannah, Rebecca, James and John are in CVR, Stonington, 164–71.

14. “saterday 25 day [May 1667] … the same day Ephraim his daughter died and was Buried,” DTM, 79.

15. Mary, wid. Capt. Ephraim, d. Sept. 27, 1748. CVR, Stonington, 165, 169. Ephraim’s death date in “Capt. Ephraim Minor,” Findagrave, #17142471. Mary’s death date in “Mary Stevens Minor,” Findagrave, #46944072.

16. FCC, 192–4.

17. “Connecticut: Minutes of the Court of Assistants, 1669–1711,” database with images, AmericanAncestors, image 178.

18. PRC, vol. 4, 276.

19. PRC, vol. 5, 33, 521.

20. “Connecticut: Minutes of the Court of Assistants,” AmericanAncestors, images 429, 516.

21. PRC, vol. 5, 559.

22.  20 Apr. 1671, “Ephraims daughter was born,” in DTM, 102. John’s parents and grandfather and his date of birth in HTS, 376.

23. FCC, 190, 194.

24. Nov. 15, 1674, Rebecca, and Elizabeth, daughers of Ephraim Minor. FCC, 195. Death dates in “Rebecca Minor Grant,” Findagrave, #46944072 and “Josiah Grant,” Findagrave, #26507039. Josiah’s parents and grandfather and birthdate in HTS, 400.

25. FCC, 194.

26. Nov. 15, 1674, Rebecca, and Elizabeth, daughters of Ephraim Minor. FCC, 195. “Thursday the 30 [April 1674] … Ephraims daughter was borne,” DTM, 122.

27. Dec. 1675, “The 9 day Ephraims 3d sonn was borne,” DTM, 133.

28. June 3, 1677, Deborah, daughter of Ephraim Minor. FCC, 195. “19 day Debrah was dead,” DTM, 150.

29. Mar. 30, 1679, Deborah, daughter of Ephraim Minor. FCC, 195.

30. Belcher, “William Reed of Weymouth and Boston,” 194–5.

31. FCC, 190.

32. Mar. 13, 1680, Samuel, son of Ephraim Minor.  FCC, 196. April 1702: 2 “Samuel minor maryed,” in DMM, 52. “28 of Agust. 1680 Ephraims his 4th sonn was borne,” DTM, 161. “Here lies ye/body of Ensign/Samuel Minor/who departed this/life ye 8 day of/December 1717/in ye 37 year/of his age,” digital image, “Ens. Samuel Minor,” Findagrave, #17142998. Ann’s parents and grandfather, her second husband and Edward’s parents and grandfather from HTS, 338–42.

33. DMM, 52.

34. PRC, vol. 5, 520.

35. Abigail, w. James, d. Aug. 13, 1720, a. 32 y. CVR, Stonington, 162. Apr. 9, 1682, James, son of Ephraim Minor. FCC, 196. Feb. 22, 1705, James Minor and Abigail Eldridge. FCC, 215. Feb. 1704/5: 21 “James minor maryed,” in Miner and Miner, Diary of Manasseh Minor, 75. Death date in “James Minor,” Findagrave, #17142561. “Here lyeth ye body / of Abigail Minor ye / wife of James Minor / & also a new born babe a daughter / who departed / this life ye 13th of / August 1720 / in ye 32 year / of her age,” digital image, “Abigail Eldredge Minor,” Findagrave, # 39073736.

36. Jun. 7, 1685, John, son of Ephraim Minor. FCC, 197. May 5, 1709, John Minor and Mary Eldridge. FCC, 215. May 1709: 5 “John minor was maryed”; Feb. 1716/7: 10 “John minor was buryed,” in DMM, 115, 135. Death date in “John Minor,” Findagrave #26523651.

Revised November 11, 2019

© 2019 A. Buiter