Ephraim Covell (son of Nathaniel Covell and Sarah Nickerson) was born about 1677 in Chatham, Barnstable, (then) Plymouth Colony, said to have been baptized on 1 July 1677 in Chatham.[1][2]
He married twice. His first wife was Mercy[3]/Marcy _____, the mother of his children. She died in Harwich on 01 February 1727/8.[4]
He married, secondly, Mrs. Mary Taylor of Chatham, after intentions were published on 20 September 1746.[5] Mary was named in his will, and based on the wording of his bequests to her, there was tension around her in the family when he wrote it.[6]
Ephraim Covell of Harwich, yeoman, made his will dated 14 Jul 1749,[6] proved 10 September 1753. He made bequests to his wife Mary Covell, ("all she brought ... when I married her... if she return to her friends att Chatham..."), four daughters Thankfull Nickerson, Sarah Nickerson, Mercy Burge, and Mary Burge. He left his daughter, Sarah, "all my lands lying eastward of the way that leads to the Oyster Bay (now Wychmere harbor) ...southerly to the beach...easterly by the sea...till my meadow fence comes to the Cold Brook (a tributary of Andres River)....that said Sarah Nickerson and her heirs shall always have a convenient way through gates and bars down to ye meadow for to cart hay or fencing stuff or to salt water to fetch fish or goods as they shall have occasion." Sarah and Benjamin "shall not come into possession of my land...until her heirs arrive at full age....to take possession of it. To his daughter Mary Burge he gave a parcel of land adjacent to that of her sister Thankful Nickerson, his dwelling house and barn, and his right in any land in the township of Harwich. He gave to her and her husband Thomas Burge his Cart and wheels, plows, etc.
He directed that his executors provide gravestones for himself and his two wives.[6]
Ephraim died, probably in Harwich, shortly before 10 Sep 1753 when his will was proved. The death date recorded on his tombstone, and repeated in the Harwich published Vital Records, is erroneous, as his will was dated July 14, 1749, and proved Sept. 10, 1753.[7]
A gravestone for Ephraim, erected by his grandson, Thomas Burgess, Jr., in the First Congregational church cemetery in Harwich reads erroneously that Ephraim d. Aug. 23, 1748 in his 73rd year. His will was dated July 14, 1749, and proved Sept. 10, 1753.[8][9] Photos of this gravestone can be viewed at Findagrave.com Memorial #41255438.
Children of Ephraim and Mercy (__?__) Covell (from his will, order uncertain):[10]
See also:
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"July 9th 1730 then Ephraim Covell & Mercy* Brown ware Married by Mr Benjamin Webb" (Intentions state clearly that they were both "of Eastham", this Ephraim was residing in Harwich.) If that were true, then there would need to be an earlier marriage to another Mercy, as his children were all born well before 1730. I've asked the PM of Mercy's profile for additional information.