Esther (Ellis) Forbush (1758 - 1805)

Born 8 Apr 1758 in Wrentham, Norfolk, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Wife of Joseph Hills — married 7 Dec 1780 in Upton, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

Wife of Enoch Forbush — married 27 Jan 1793 in Upton, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

Descendants

Died 27 May 1805 at age 47 in Grafton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Benjamin Harrison [send private message]

Biography

Esther Ellis was born 8 April 1758 in Wrentham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts to Joseph Ellis (1717-1807) and Melethiah Metcalf (1722-).

Esther married 1st Joseph Hill(s) on 18 August 1780 at Upton, Worcester County,Massachusetts. Their marriage is recorded a second time at Franklin, Norfolk County on 7 Dec 1780. Esther and Joseph Hills had the following known children:

• Joel Hills, b. 1 Sep 1781, Upton, MA; d., Oneida, NY.
• Julia Ellis Hills, b. 26 Sep 1783, Upton, Worcester, MA.; m. Ezekiel Johnson Jr (1733-1848); she d. 30 May 1853, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa.
• Nancy Hills, b. 16 Jul 1785, Upton, Worcester, MA.; m. 21 Aug 1803, George W. Taft; d. 3 May 1847.

Esther's husband Joseph Hills died 1787.

Esther married 2nd on (i) 27 Jan 1793 at Upton and then (ii) 28 May 1793 at Grafton, Massachusetts, Enoch Forbush (1756-1825) (Samuel, Thomas, Thomas, Daniel) Enoch was born in Upton and had married 1st Mary Batcheler (-1791) on 14 Sep 1780 at Grafton and on 18 Aug 1780 at Upton.

Esther and Enoch had the following known children:

• Enoch Forbush Jr., b. 5 Jan 1794 at Grafton, MA; c. 5 Jan 1794.
• Joseph F Forbush, b. 4 Dec 1795; m. 5 Jul 1828, Harriet Arnold at Westmoreland, NH.; MA.; d. 19 Dec 1877
• Seneca Forbush, b. 19 Sep 1797, Grafton, MA.
• Diadama Forbush, b. 24 Oct 1798, Grafton, MA.; m. Antipas Wheeler, 7 Apr 1819 at Grafton, MA; d. 17 Feb 1869, Shrewsbury, MA.

Esther Ellis Hills Forbush died (ref 5) on the 27 May 1805 at Upton or Grafton, Worcester, Massachusetts. Her husband Enoch lived another twenty years. He was buried at the Old Oak St. Burial Ground, Grafton, Worcester County, Massachusetts.

Sources

(1) Birth: "Massachusetts, Town Birth Records, 1620-1850: Esther Ellis, birth 8 Apr 1758 at Wrentham, MA.; parents: Joseph and Melatiah Ellis."

(2) 1st M: "Massachusetts, Marriages, 1633-1850: Esther Ellis, m. 18 Aug 1780; spouse: Joseph Hill(s); Upton, Worchester Cty (sic); FHL #0758483."

(3) 1st M: "Massachusetts Compiled Marriages, 1633-1850: Esther Ellis m. 7 Dec 1780 at Franklin, Norfolk, MA., Joseph Hills

(4) 2nd M: "Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988: Esther Hills, m. 28 May 1793 at Grafton, MA. Spouse: Enoch Forbush."

(5) Death: Massachusetts, Town & Vital Records, 1620-1988: Miss Ester Forbush, d. 27 May 1805; Upton, MA., Note that no other death record can be found. This death record may be incorrect in that the 'Miss' annotation may or may not be correct in these old transcribed records.

(6) 2nd Husbands Death: "Massachusetts Town & VRs, 1620-1988: Enoch Forbush, birth 1756. Death 16 Nov 1825 at Grafton, MA." Enoch died at age 69.

All online images and/or electronic transcription records obtained thru: [www.Ancestry.com].

Research Notes

(a) Dau. Diadama Forbush Wheeler vital recording of mother Esther's birth:

Massachusetts Death Records for Shrewsbury, MA 1869: Esther is recorded as having been b. in Southbridge, MA. Wrentham VR's record Esther's birth and parents.

1800 US Federal Census, Southborough, Worcester Cty, MA: Enoch Fobush

(b) 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850 US Federal Census ea. records Enoch Forbush living in Grafton, Worcester, MA. The question of which generation is being recorded arises.

NOTE: Upton and Grafton are abt. 6 miles apart.

(c) 3 Enoch Forbush's:

• Enoch Sr. b. 1756, Upton and father of both Enoch Jr's.
• Enoch Jr. b. 1788, Grafton, mother Mary Batchellor Forbush; m. Margaret W. Cheney 8 Mar 1820, Sutton, MA. Enoch d. 18 Jan 1864, Grafton.
• Enoch III. b. 5 Jan 1794, Grafton, mother Julia Ellis Hills Forbush; d. 5 Jan 1794.

(d) Husband Enoch & His 1st wf. Mary Batcheler North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, pg.18: Incorrectly records Mary Batcheler as mother of Diadamia (sic) Forbush. Document should read Esther Ellis Hills Forbush as Diadama's mother. This is confirmed with Diadama's birth records and that Julia Ellis Hills Johnson named one of her daughters after her sister Diadama.

Acknowledgements

Sources, editing and analysis by direct descendant Johnson-43462. Corrections and/or editing are welcome.