Ephraim (Covill) Covell (bef. 1677 - bef. 1753)

Born before 1 Jul 1677 in Chatham, Barnstable, Plymouth Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Taylor) Covel — married after 20 Sep 1746 in Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died before 10 Sep 1753 at about age 76 in Harwich, Barnstable, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

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]

1. Thankful, m. Edward Nickerson, son of Thomas of Chatham, 24 Feb 1724-5
2. Mercy, m. Samuel Burge, son of Samuel of Yarmouth, 25 Sep 1730
3. Sarah, m. Benjamin Nickerson, son of Samuel of Harwich, 30 Oct 1741
4. Mary, b. ca. 1716 m. Thomas Burge, son of Samuel of Yarmouth, 28 Jul 1742

Sources

1. ↑ Cape Cod Library of local history and genealogy: a facsimile edition of 108 pamphlets published in the early 20th century, Vol. 1:24 March 2012; 575-577. However, this record is not found in Chatham published Vital Records.
2. ↑ Early Vital Records of Barnstable Co., MA to about 1850, Harwich Vital Records; CD Publication: (Wheat Ridge, CO: Search & Research, 1997), headstone, "died in his 73d year".
3. ↑ Clarence A. Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (CD version) (Boston, MA: NEHGS, 2001),

   "COVELL, Ephraim (1677?-1753?) & 1/wf Mercy (_____) (-1728); ca 1700; Chatham {[citing] Chatham Settlers 7; Covel (1912) 3; Cram 47; Cape Cod Lib. 36:5, 90-3}"

4. ↑ Louise H. Kelley & Dorothy Straw, Vital Records Town of Harwich, Massachusetts 1694-1850 (Harwich, MA: Harwich Historical Society, Inc., 1982), p. 28, citing original records p. 115.

   "marcy Covel the wife of Ephiram Covel died the first day of febuary 1727/8."

5. ↑ Sheila M. D. Westgate and Anna L. Tomlinson, compiler, Vital Records Town of Chatham, Massachusetts 1696-1850 (Chatham, MA: Chatham Historical Society, Inc., 1991), p. 113.

   "These Are to Enter ye Intentions of Marriage between Mr Ephraim Covil of Harwich & Mrs Mary Taylor of Chatham Septr 20th A Dom 1746"

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Barnstable County Probate records, 1686-1894,Vol. 9:12 (Will 9:12, Let. Test. 9:18, Inv 9:10, Acct 9:188)
7. ↑ Katherine W. Hiam, Burgess Genealogy, Descendants of the Four Sons of Thomas and Dorothy (Waynes) Burgess (Boston, MA: NEHGS, 1997), p. 106, citing Cape Cod Library 2:1301
8. ↑ Katherine W. Hiam, Burgess Genealogy, Descendants of the Four Sons of Thomas and Dorothy (Waynes) Burgess (Boston, MA: NEHGS, 1997), p. 106, citing Cape Cod Library 2:1305
9. ↑ Early Vital Records of Barnstable Co., MA to about 1850, Harwich Vital Records; CD Publication: (Wheat Ridge, CO: Search & Research, 1997), Original record from Cemetery at Harwich Centre
10. ↑ Leonard H. Smith, Jr., Cape Cod Library of Local History, "Early Chatham Settlers," Vol. 1:578

See also:

• The Walter & Bertha Nickerson of Lynn, Mass:Information about Ephraim Covell
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Volume: 140
• Smith, Jillaine S., The Two Richard Taylor Families of Early Yarmouth, Massachusetts, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2011) Vol. 165, WN 659, Page 195.
• Ancestral File Number: MJLM-8L