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Ephraim Minor (bp. 1642–1724), son of Thomas Minor and Grace Palmer

Hannah Avery (1644–1721), daughter of James Avery and Joanna Greenslade

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Ephraim Minor was baptized on 1 May 1642 in Hingham, Massachusetts. [1, 466–8] He died on 16 May 1724, age 83 in Stonington. [2] Ephraim, the son of Thomas Minor, married Hannah, the daughter of James Avery, on 20 June 1666 in Stonington. [2]

Hannah, the daughter of James and Joan Avery, was born on 11 or 12 October 1644 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. [2][3} Hannah, the wife of Ephraim, died on 22 August 1721, age 77, in Stonington. [1, 199–200][2]

Ephraim and Hannah are buried in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery in Stonington. The inscriptions say: [4]

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. [5]

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. [6, 2: 32]

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.” [5]

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. [6, 2: 32, 523][7, 40–43]

Hannah Minor was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 14 March 1675. [7, 189]

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, 2:, 286, 318; 3, 86][8, 4: 15, 23, 283, 327, 343, 461; 5: 2, 17, 66, 114, 205, 245, 308, 424]

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.” [6, 2: 144]

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. [6, 3: 424, 467, 500, 533; 7, 4: 276]

Ephraim was appointed Justice of the Peace for the County of New London every year from 1703 to 1711. [8, 4: 424, 467, 500, 533; 5: 2, 62, 94, 145, 219]

In May 1704 Sergeant Ephraim Minor was confirmed lieutenant of the soldiers raised in the County of New London. [8, 4: 465]

Children of Ephraim Minor and Hannah Avery: Births, as children of Ephraim, except their first daughter were recorded in Stonington. Rebecca is called Deborah in a duplicate record. Deaths of Thomas and the two Deborahs, burials of the twins and marriages of Ephraim, Hannah, Rebecca, James and John were also recorded in Stonington. [2]

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

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “saterday 25 day [May 1667] … the same day Ephraim his daughter died and was Buried.” [5, 79]

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. [1, 376]

On 20 April 1671 Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “Ephraims daughter was born.” [5, 102]

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. [7, 190, 194]

v. Rebecca Minor was born on 17 September 1672 in Stonington. She was baptized on 15 November 1674 in Stonington. [7, 195] She died on 15 January 1747. [9] 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. [1, 400] Josiah died on 28 March 1732. [9] Rebecca and Josiah are buried in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery in Stonington. [9]

Rebecca Minor owned the covenant at the first church in Stonington on 18 April 1689. [7, 194]
 
vi. Elizabeth Minor was born on 30 April 1674 in Stonington. She was baptized on 15 November 1674 in Stonington. [7, 195]

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “Thursday the 30 [April 1674] … Ephraims daughter was borne.” [5, 122].

vii. Samuel Minor was born on 9 December 1675 in Stonington. He apparently died young.

On 27 December 1675 Thomas Minor wrote in his diary “The 9 day Ephraims 3d sonn was borne.” [5, 133]

viii. Deborah Minor was born on 15 April 1677 in Stonington. She was baptized on 3 June 1677 in Stonington. [7, 195] She died on 19 August 1678 in Stonington.

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary “19 day Debrah was dead.” [5, 150]

ix. Deborah Minor was born in April 1679 in Stonington. She was baptized on 30 March 169[8?] in Stonington. [7, 195] 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. [10]

Deborah Minor was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 21 June 1696. [7, 190]

x. Ensign Samuel Minor was born on 28 August 1680 in Stonington. He was baptized on 13 March 1680[/1?] in Stonington. [7, 196] 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 . Ann married second her cousin Edward Denison. [1, 338–42] Edward was the son of George and Mercy (Gorham) Denison and the grandson of Captain George Denison. [1, 338–42]

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “28 of Agust. 1680 Ephraims his 4th sonn was borne.” 4, 161]

Samuel is buried in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery in Stonington. HIs inscription says: [4]

On 2 April 1702, Manasseh Minor wrote in his dairy, “Samull minor maryed.” [11, 52]

On 22 April 1702, Manasseh Minor wrote in his dairy, “Samull minor killed Six wolves.” [11, 52]

Samuel may be the Samuel Minor who was appointed ensign of the second company in Stonington in October 1715. [PRC, 5: 520]

xi. James Minor was born in November 1682 in Stonington. He was baptized on 9 April 1682 in Stonington. [7, 196] He died on 3 June 1736. [4] He married Abigail Eldridge on 21 or 22 February 1704/5 in Stonington. [7, 215] She died in childbirth on 13 August 1720, age 32, in Stonington. [2]

James and Abigail are buried in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery. Abigail's inscription says: [4]

On 5 February 1704 Manasseh Minor wrote in his dairy, “James minor maryed.” [11, 75]

xii. Grace Minor 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. [7, 197] He died on 3 February 1717. [4] He was buried on 10 February 1716/7 in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery. [4] He married Mary Eldredge on 5 May 1709 in Stonington. [7, 215][46]

On 5 May 1709 Manasseh Minor wrote in his dairy, “John minor was maryed.” On 10 February 1716/7 he wrote, “John minor was buryed.” [11, 115, 135]

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. Richard Anson Wheeler, History of the Town of Stonington (New London: Press of the Day, 1900).

2. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > Stonington, 164–71; New London, 8–9.

3. Vital Records of Gloucester, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield: Topsfield Historical Society, 1923), vol. 1, 72.

4. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 26 June 2023), memorial pages for

5. Sydney H. Miner and George D. Stanton, Jr., The Diary of Thomas Minor, Stonington Connecticut, 1653 to 1684, New London: Press of the Day, 1899.

6. J. Hammond Trumble, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, vol. 1 (Hartford: Brown & Parsons, 1850; vol. 2 (Hartford: F.A. Brown, 1852), vol. 3 (Case, Lockwood, & Co., 1859).

7. Richard A Wheeler, History of the First Congregational Church, Stonington, Conn., 1674–1874 (Norwich, T.H. Davis and Co., 1875).

8. Charles J. Hoadley, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, vols. 4–12 (Hartford: Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard Co., 1868–1890).

9. “Connecticut: Minutes of the Court of Assistants, 1669–1711,” database with images, AmericanAncestors, image 178, 429, 516.

10. Jane Belcher, “William Reed of Weymouth and Boston, and Some of His Descendants,” Connecticut Nutmegger 40 (2007): 194–5.

11. Manasseh Minor, The Diary of Manasseh Minor: Stonington, Conn., 1696–1720 (n.p: published by Frank Denison Miner with the assistance of Hannah Miner, 1988).

Revised June 29, 2023

© 2019 A. Buiter