Ebenezer Alden (1720 - 1810)

Born 8 Oct 1720 in Middleborough, Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 24 Feb 1810 at age 89 in Ashfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Birth

8 Oct 1720 Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts^[1]

In 1732, Mr. David Alden of Middleborough was appointed to be Ebenezer's guardian.^[2]

"At the age of twenty, Ebenezer went to Cuba with many others from New England, where he was taken prisoner and suffered great hardships, not being released for ten years" (Alden Mem, 18). Because of this absence, it was thought that he died, and on 2 September 1748, his brother John was appointed administrator of his estate.^[3]

Then in 1750, his real estate was divided between the heirs of Hannah Wood, "a sister of the deceased", Joseph Alden, "one of the brothers", David Alden, John Alden, Mary Thomas, Lydia Eddy, the heirs of Abigail Thomas, late wife of Nathan Thomas, and the heirs of Thankful Eaton.^[4]

On Tuesday, 6 october 1752, Rev. Isaac Backus recorded "Last night Ebenezer Alden (David Alden's brother) came home, who has been gone about 12 years, into the Wars and in the Kings Armey: which caused great joy to his Friends as well as others" (Backus Diary, 251).

On 8 November 1753, John Alden gave up his right to his brother Ebenezer Alden in land that his father had given to Ebenezer and that "We the Brethern had made Division of amongst ourselves in his long absence from us". Ebenezer paid John 18 pounds 15 shillings for the improvements that John had made to the land. Two days later Ebenezer Alden of Stafford, yeoman, sold all the land he had been given by his father to David Alden of Middleborough. (Plymouth County Land Records, 42:152-53)

He first married Anne Whitaker on 30 July 1755 in Stafford, Connecticut.^[5]

Together they had 8 children:

1. Joseph Alden
2. Hannah Alden b. 1758 in Stafford
3. Anne Alden, b. 1760 in Stafford
4. Ebenezer Alden, b. 1761 in Stafford
5. Abigail Alden, b. 1764 in Stafford
6. John Alden, b. 1765 in Stafford
7. Henry Alden, b. 1767 in Stafford
8. Lemuel Alden

He married a second time to Rebecca Smith on 13 December 1781 in Ashfield.

He passed away on 24 February 1810 in Ashfield. He was 91 years, 5 months in age (perhaps Sep 1718 birth based on age at death).

Sources

1. ↑ AGBI
2. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-NHD4 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1730-1733 and 1839-1845 vol 6-6U > image 147 of 589; State Archives, Boston.
3. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97D-NNKM?cc=2018320&wc=M6BX-3ZQ%3A337796801 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1748-1750 and 1841-1848 vol 11-11B > image 54 of 642; State Archives, Boston.
4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-NFD5 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1748-1750 and 1841-1848 vol 11-11B > image 285 of 642; State Archives, Boston.
5. ↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP3R-LCD1 : 15 April 2022), Ebenezer Alden in entry for Anne Whitaker, ; citing Marriage, Stafford, Tolland, Connecticut, United States, Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008272249.

• Genealogies of Connecticut Families (Genealogical Publishing Company, 1983) Vol. 1, Page 11
• Esther Littleford Woodsworth-Barnes, Mayflower Families through Five Generations, Vol 16, Part 1, The Descendants of John Alden, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2002. "The Silver Book" Page 384
• "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97D-FX7D?cc=2018320&wc=M6BX-3NT%3A337796401 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1749-1752 and 1848-1853 vol 12-12C > image 72 of 596; State Archives, Boston.