Ephraim Fellows (1679 - 1726)

Born 3 Sep 1679 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Warner) Fellows — married 19 May 1703 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 12 Mar 1726 at age 46 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut Colony

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Biography

Ephraim Fellows, a blacksmith who later owned a saw mill,^[1] was born on 3 Sep 1679, in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, the son of Isaac Fellows^[2] and his wife, Joanna Boreman.^[3] His grandfather, William Fellows, emigrated from England in 1635 and settled in Ipswich.^[4]

Marriage

Ephraim Fellows and Hannah Warner were married on 19 May 1703, in Ipswich.^[5] Hannah was born on 28 Aug 1684 in Ipswich, the daughter of Nathaniel Warner and his wife Hannah Boynton.^[6][7]

After their first two children were born, Ephraim and Hannah moved about 130 miles southwest of Ipswich to the coastal town of Stonington, New London County, Connecticut Colony, in June 1709.^[1]

Children

Ephraim Fellows and Hannah Warner had the following 8 children, 6 of whom lived to adulthood.^[8] The first two were born in Ipswich, and the rest born in Stonington.

1. Hannah Fellows (1705–aft. 1730), married Thomas Hall^[9][10]
2. Ephraim Fellows Jr. (1707–1780), married Prudence Plumb^[11][12]
3. Sarah Fellows (1710–), married Samuel Holdredge^[13][14]
4. Nathaniel Fellows I (1713–1800), married Hopestill Holdredge^[15][16]
5. Isaac Fellows Sr (1719–1806), married Mary Want<^[17][18]
6. John Fellows (1722–1723), died young^[19]
7. Joanna Fellows (1724–), married William Brown^[20][21]
8. Mary Fellows (1726–1726), died young^[22]

Death

Ephraim Fellows, aged 46, died on 12 Mar 1726 in a hunting accident in Stonington.^[8] He was hunting seabirds at a seaside spot called Otter Point, when Thomas Stanton mistook Ephraim's otter hat for a living otter and accidentally shot him.^[1] His widow, Hannah, was left with a houseful of children – their youngest, Mary, still to be born and die as an infant, and their eldest child, Hannah, about 21 years old.

On 12 Apr 1726, Hannah Fellows, administratrix, and Ezabar Brown, both of Stonington, signed the bond of administration for the estate of Ephraim Fellows, late of Stonington, and an oath to provide inventory of the estate by 2nd Tuesday of April 1727. Inventory was made 6 May 1726, with real estate including house, smith shop, saw mill and land. Papers included promissory note signed by Ephraim Fellows, locksmith, on 7 Dec 1725 to pay a debt of 8 pounds, 12 shillings to Thomas Wells of Westerly, Rhode Island. List of debts were paid out from the estate, signed by Hannah Fellows. ^[23]

His wife, Hannah, died 32 years later on either the 9 Mar or 19 Mar 1758 in Stonington. The original town clerk record image of her day of death could be interpreted as either the 9th or 19th.^[24][25] She was buried there in Great Plain Cemetery.^[26]

Account of Ephraim Fellows' Death

The following is an account of Ephraim Fellows' move to and early days in Stonington, Connecticut and his death by accidental gunfire in 1726, said to be written by his eldest son, Ephraim Fellows. Called "The Story," it was included in a 1985 self-published family history book, The Many Branches; ; Genealogy of These Families, Fellows, Woolsey, Stewart, Ellsworth, Towslee, by my late paternal great aunt, Phebe May (Fellows) Ellsworth.

Unfortunately, my great aunt did not provide her source, whether it was a document passed down in our branch of the family, or from another source. Phebe included a sentence in the text toward the end, “Ephraim Fellows, the compiler of these memoirs died April 28, 1780 at 72 years." If another researcher knows anything more, please add the source here and let me know.^[1]

- (Joan Stewart Smith), Ephraim Fellows' 7th great granddaughter, through his son Nathaniel Fellows

Ephraim, the fourth child of Isaac, with his wife Hannah and children moved from Ipswich, Massachusetts to Stonington, Connecticut in 1709 in the month of June. They abode in the house of Ben Adam Gallup about two weeks.

They then hired a house and smith shop from the widow of William Thompson. Soon after he bought three acres of land from Captain Joseph Sexton, south of the country road, east of a lane called Wickiticaulk [Wequetequock] Lane. Where he built a house and shop thereon and moved from William Thompson’s to his own home.

While living in that house his family were more or less subject to fits of sickness and himself was troubled with catarrh. He was advised by his physician to stop working at blacksmithing business at least not so constantly. This put him in search for some other method of a living, accordingly, he bought a saw mill in the woods, about five miles south easterly from his former home. He built a house there and moved in.

About these days, the people in the north part of Stonington began to meet for religious worship on the Sabbath day at the house of Mrs. Anna Richardson. Mr. Treat was their Pastor. Soon after they were by the General Court formed into a society. The first committee was Benjamin Hevit, Ephraim Fellows, and Henry Stevens.

Anno Domino 1726 March 9 aforesaid Ephraim Fellows, went from his home near the saw mill on horseback taking his gun with him intending to go to William Stanton near the seaside to pay him a sum of money he owed him. He rode that day to Deacon John Noyes and lodged there.

On March 10, 1726 he left his horse there and went on crossing the fields and meadows by the side of the Paucatuck River to William Stanton’s and paid him, then went out by the river, until he came to the seaside with the intention of shooting sea fowl, if he could find any.

He then returned to Samuel Stanton’s, the nearest house to the river. And lodged there that night.

On March 11, 1726 he set out in the morning to go home. He went as far as Thomas Stanton’s, brother to William Stanton. When he arrived there, he said he must carry the man’s servant back, meaning a dog, that belonged to Samuel Stanton, where he had stayed all night, which had followed him. He went back and being close to the seaside he said he had a mind to go again to get some seafowl to carry home with him.

He went to the seaside to a place called the Otter Rocks. (As a bird hasteneth to the snare and knoweth not it is for its life) for it came to pass that Thomas Stanton who had been unwell for several days, but now was better, was minded to walk out and look over his lands and see his cattle. He took his gun with him and went from one place to another until he came to Otter Rocks, for one or more otters had been killed there lately.

He was inclined to go further thinking he might find one. Coming near the place, he saw the hat of the aforesaid Fellows, supposed to be sitting waiting for a shot at a flock of seafowl, then some distance from the shore Stanton judged his hat to be an otter. He crept behind the high grass until he thought he was near enough to his, supposed, game. He rose up aimed at the fore part of his hat, which he thought to be the otter’s nose. Firing the shot hitting Fellows in the head and face. One or more of his teeth were broken, some struck his nose, chin and other places. But the shot that proved to be fatal, struck him in the forehead and temple. When he was first wounded, he arose or started up, fell forward on his hands and feet. Stanton seeing his mistake ran to him, Fellows knew him and asked why he shot him.

Stanton replied he had no idea of any man being there, but thought he had shot an otter. Desiring he would forgive him, Stanton said that Fellows did forgive and prayed that God would forgive him saying, “I am mortally wounded. I shall die. My wife and children are undone. Get me to some house if you can. Be kind to my wife and children when I am dead, be kind to me while I live.”

He walked with Stanton’s help, by taking him under the arms and leading him about fifty rods to an Indian wigwam, making several stops by the way to pray and so, Stanton expressed it. The substance of his prayer was for forgiveness and acceptance through Christ. At the wigwam he prayed again and still expressed deep concern for his family.

After sometime, he rose up to go, if it might be, to Mr. Stanton’s house, but could not walk. After his speech failed him, his senses gradually failed, he died.

He was carried by four men to Mr. Stanton’s house about a mile from the wigwam. He had sent tidings to his family that he was wounded. His wife and oldest son, Ephraim, came to Stanton’s a little after dark, soon after, he was brought in. He died March 11, 1726 and was buried the thirteenth, it being the Lord’s day.

Ephraim Fellows, the compiler of these memoirs died April 28, 1780 at 72 years..."

The following added by (Joan Stewart Smith):

According to the diary of Ephraim's friend, Joshua Hempstead, the shooter Thomas Stanton was acquitted and Ephraim's death was judged to be an accident. Joshua's exact written words were: “Mond 28 [Mar, 1726] fair. I was at the Supr Court al day on the grand jury about Thos S [ ] Killing Ephraim Fellows. he Acknowledged he Shot him on the head but Supposed itt to be an Oator & So it appearing to be Ignorantly don he was acquitted.”^[27]

Church Membership

It is curious that the records of the First Congregational Church of Stonington include a notation that Ephraim and his wife were examined for admission and then admitted on 1 Nov 1724.^[28] The same church already had recorded baptisms for 4 of their children, Sarah, Nathaniel, Isaac and Joanna, before that date.

The notation may have been referring to admission to an additional meeting house, established in 1721 north of Stonington, in what would later be officially called the town of North Stonington in 1807. "An ecclesiastical line of division was established by the Connecticut General Assembly and the first North Society meeting was held on January 18, 1721," according to the History web page of the First Congregational Church of North Stonington, United Church of Christ. A new house of worship was created a mile north of the village at "Meeting House Corner" at the intersection of Wyassup and Reutemann Roads. It was called "the old black church" because of its weathered, unpainted wood. The North Society appointed Ebenezer Russell its first permanent minister in 1727.^[29]

At that time, a year after Ephraim died, the "widow Fellowes" was dismissed from the Congregational Church of Stonington and recommended to ye communion of ye Church of Christ in North Stonington on May 07, 1727.^[30] It appears that it became too difficult for Hannah, aged 43, to make the longer trip without Ephraim to "the road church" on Pequot Trail. The First Congregational Church of Stonington was then called "the road church" because it was located midway on the Pequot Trail, an old Indian trail from the head of Mystic River to what is now Westerly, Rhode Island.^[31]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Ellsworth, Phebe May Fellows. The Many Branches; Genealogy of These Families, Fellows, Woolsey, Stewart, Ellsworth, Towslee. Compiled and self-published, Monroe, Green, Wisconsin, 1985. The Story, pp. 29-31 [This is an account of time in Stonington and the death of Ephraim Fellows, husband of Hannah Warner, attributed to “Ephraim Fellows, the compiler of these memoirs died April 28, 1780 at 72 years", the eldest son of Ephraim Fellows and Hannah Warner]
2. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DZM9-BRN2 : Wed Oct 25 13:01:51 UTC 2023), Marriages, Births & Deaths, County of Essex, 1654-1691, from Essex County Court House, Births in Ipswich, Exact transcription from handwritten image: “Ephraim son of Isaac Fellows, borne 3rd September 1679”
3. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles; Sanborn Jr., George F.; Sanborn, Melinde Lutz. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, v. 1, A-B, Great Migration Study Project, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1999. Thomas Boreman, pp. 352-355. “V. JOANNA, b. say 1650 (under age 22 in 1670 when her father made his will); m. Ipswich 29 January 1672/73 Isaac Fellows.” [cited as daughter of Thomas Boreman and Margaret Offing, Joanna mentioned in father’s will, Joanna Fellowes mentioned in her mother’s will]
4. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles; Sanborn Jr., George F.; Sanborn, Melinde Lutz. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635. Vol. II: C-F, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Great Migration Study Project, Boston, 2001. William Fellows. pp. 507 - 512
5. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCC3-WJP : 4 December 2014), Ephraim Fellowes and Hanah Warner, 19 May 1703; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 0547505 IT 1.
6. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DCY4-Z4N2 : Wed Oct 25 12:58:03 UTC 2023), Hanah, daughter to Nath and Hanah Warner born 28 Aug 1684, Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony.
7. ↑ Boynton, John Farnham and Boyton, Caroline (Harriman). "The Boynton family. A genealogy of the descendants of William and John Boynton, Who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in 1638, and settled at Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts.” 1897. Part 2. Comprising the Family of John. (http://archive.org/stream/boyntonfamilygen00boyn#page/43/mode/2up : 15 Nov 2023), pp. 44-45. First Generation. 1. John Boynton, the emigrant, younger brother of William, was born at Knapton, Wintringham, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, in 1614. He came to America with his brother, and settled at Rowley, Mass., in 1638. He was a "tailor" by trade, but tilled the "acre and a half of land" that was assigned him in 1640 next to his brother William's. He m. Ellen ("Eleanor," "Hellen") Pell of Boston. He d. Feb. 18, 1670. Children born in Rowley: 2. I. Joseph, b. 1644; m. 1st Sarah Swan; m. 2d. Elizabeth Wood. 3. II. John, b. Sept. 17, 1647; m. 1st, Hannah Keyes; m. 2d Mary, wid. of Simon Wainwright. 4. III. Caleb, b. about 1649; m. Hannah Harriman. IV. Mercy, b. Dec. 5, 1651; m. 1st Josiah Clark, Dec. 14, 1670. m. 2d, ___ Hovey. She d. Dec. 22, 1730. 'V. Hannah, b. March 26, 1654; m. Nathaniel Warner, Nov. 29, 1673. She d. in Feb. 1694. Children: I. Nathaniel, b. Mar. 28, 1676; d. Dec. 8, 1697. II. Daniel, b. Jan. 11, 1678; killed by a horse, Aug. 2, 1686. III. John, b. Oct. 12, 1679; d. Nov. 19, 1679. IV. Hannah, b. Feb. 13, 1681; d. y. V. Hannah, b. Aug. 28, 1684; m. Ephraim Fellows, May 19, 1703. VI. Sarah, b. April 19, 1658. Probably this was the Sarah who m. Hopewell Davis in 1682, and d. Dec. 14, 1704. 5. VII. Samuel, b. about 1660; m. Hannah Switcher, Feb. 17, 1686.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLMM-SR8D : 22 July 2021), Stonington Town Clerk Record. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BP-Q3BM-5?i=153&cc=2448940), Family of Ephraim Fellows and Hannah Warner, including death dates of Ephraim and Hannah
9. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1K-Q45M : Wed Oct 25 23:48:02 UTC 2023). Ipswich Town Records. Book No. I. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Page 44. Image 50. Births in Ips. [Ipswich] anno. 1705. “Hannah, da. to Ephra. and Hannah Fellows, Bapd. Augs. 12, 1705”
10. ↑ Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920. Ancestry.com. Book source: Connecticut Church Records, State Library Index, Stonington, First Congregational Church (“The Road Church”) 1674-1925, Connecticut State Library, Vol. 111, Stonington, 1961, p. 160. “Fellows…Hannah, m. Thomas Hall, July 10, 1730, by Rev. Ebenezer Rosseter”
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #20784507, memorial page for Ephraim Fellows (1705–28 Apr 1780), Great Plain Cemetery, North Stonington, New London County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by C•P The LaPlante Files (contributor 46814587).
12. ↑ "Births, Marriages, Deaths, No. 3" in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut. Town Clerk, Stonington. Book filed under ”Connecticut Marriages, 1640-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BP-QQ4P-N?cc=2448940 : 11 April 2017), Connecticut State Library, Hartford. Ephraim Fellows and Prudence Plumb marriage 13 May 1731 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, includes names and birth dates of 9 children, Hannah, Ephraim, George, Samuel, Warner, John, Prudence, Sarah, Joseph. From old handwritten book entitled "Births, Marriages, Deaths, No. 3" in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut. Town Clerk, Stonington, Connecticut.
13. ↑ Schott, Nancy E. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Stonington Vital Records 1658-1854. Genealogical Publishing Co. 2000, p. 146. “Fellows … Sarah, d. Ephraim, b. Jan. 3 1710/71”
14. ↑ Connecticut Church Records, Stonington, First Congregational Church (“The Road Church”) 1674-1925, Vol. 111, Stonington, Connecticut State Library 1961, p. 162. “Fellows … Sarah, m. Samuel Holdridge, Sept. 23, 1731, by Rev. Ebenezer Rosseter.
15. ↑ Schott, Nancy E. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Stonington Vital Records 1658-1854. 2000, p. 146, “Fellows… Nathan, s. Ephraim, b. June 22, 1714”
16. ↑ Schott, Nancy E. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Stonington Vital Records 1658-1854. 2000, p. 146, “Fellows… Nathaniel, m. Hopestill Holdredge, Mar. 2, 1736/37, by Rev. Joseph Fish
17. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74J-M4R : 7 January 2020), Isaac, son of Ephraim Fellows, born 19 Feb 1719 in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut
18. ↑ “Connecticut, Church Records, 1660-1955," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGRS-8TLK : 3 October 2019), New London, Connecticut, First Church of Christ Records 1670-1916, Vol. II. p. 169. Slide 102. Isaac Fellows and Mary Want married 30 Sep 1742 in New London, Connecticut, British Colonial America
19. ↑ Schott, Nancy E. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Stonington Vital Records 1658-1854. Genealogical Publishing Co. 2000, p. 145. “John, s. Eph[rai]m, b. Oct. 8, 1722, d. Apr. 2 [—]”
20. ↑ Schott, Nancy E. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Stonington Vital Records 1658-1854. Genealogical Publishing Co. 2000, p. 145. “Fellows … Joanna, d. Ephraim, b. Apr. 4, 1724
21. ↑ Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920. Ancestry.com. Book source: Connecticut Church Records, Stonington, First Congregational Church (“The Road Church”) 1674-1925, Vol. 111, Stonington, Connecticut State Library 1961, p. 161. “Johanna [Fellows], m. William Brown, July 1, 1742
22. ↑ Schott, Nancy E. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Stonington Vital Records 1658-1854. 2000, p. 146, “Fellows, Mary, d. Ephraim, b. Aug. 16, 1726; d. Sept. 16
23. ↑ Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999. Ancestry.com. Probate Packets, Ely, E-Fitch, J, 1675-1850. New London Probate District, Hartford, Conn. No. 1985. Multiple documents. Probate: 1726. Ephraim Fellows, late of Stonington, New London County, Colony of Connecticut. No will included in packet. On 12 Apr 1726, Hannah Fellows, administratrix, and Ezabar Brown, both of Stonington, signed the bond of administration for the estate of Ephraim Fellows, late of Stonington, and an oath to provide inventory of the estate of Ephraim Fellows by 2nd Tuesday of April 1727. Inventory made 6 May 1726, with real estate including house, smith shop, saw mill and land. Papers include promissory note signed by Ephraim Fellows, locksmith, on 7 Dec 1725 to pay a debt of 8 pounds, 12 shillings to Thomas Wells of Westerly, Rhode Island. List of debts paid out from the estate, signed by Hannah Fellows.
24. ↑ "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLMM-SR8R : 22 July 2021), Town Clerk, Stonington, New London, Connecticut, Birth, Marriage, Death. Page 6, Image 154. “Widow Hannah Fellows Dyed March the 19th [or 9th] 1758” [The original town clerk record image of her day of death could be interpreted as either the 9th or 19th. Click link to review.]
25. ↑ Schott, Nancy E. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Stonington Vital Records 1658-1854. Genealogical Publishing Co. 2000, p. 145. “Hannah, wid., d. Mar. 9, 1758”
26. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #157781557, memorial page for Hannah Warner Fellows (28 Aug 1684–19 Mar 1758), Great Plain Cemetery, North Stonington, New London County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by Mookie (contributor 47515129).
27. ↑ Hempstead, Joshua, 1678-1758. Diary of Joshua Hempstead of New London, Connecticut, covering a period of forty-seven years, from September 1711, to November, 1758. Collections of the New London County Historical Society Vol 1. 1901 (https://archive.org/details/diaryofjoshuahem00hemp/page/n11/mode/2up : 7 Nov 2023), “Mond 28 [Mar, 1726] fair. I was at the Supr Court al day on the grand jury about Thos S [ ] Killing Ephraim Fellows. he Acknowledged he Shot him on the head but Supposed itt to be an Oator & So it appearing to be Ignorantly don he was acquitted.”, p. 167
28. ↑ Connecticut Church Records, Stonington, First Congregational Church (“The Road Church”) 1674-1925, Connecticut State Library 1961, p. 160. “Fellows … Eph[rai]m and w. Hannah, examined for admission [ ] 1724 “ [page torn]” “Fellows…Ephraim and w. Hannah, adm. ch. Nov. 1, 1724”
29. ↑ "Congregational Church of North Stonington History. The Congregational Church of North Stonington, United Church of Christ. (https://www.nostoucc.org/about-3-1 : 15 Nov 2023)
30. ↑ Connecticut Church Records, Stonington, First Congregational Church (“The Road Church”) 1674-1925, Connecticut State Library 1961, p. 162. Widow Fellows, dismissed & recommended 7 May 1727 to Christ Church, North Stonington
31. ↑ Wheeler, Richard Anson. History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut, The Day Publishing, Co., New London, Conn., 1900.