Ephraim Wetherbee (abt. 1689 - 1745)

Born about 1689 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Hall) Wetherbee — married 20 Apr 1721 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Husband of Joanna (Bellows) Wetherbee — married 18 Sep 1732 (to 7 Nov 1745) in Lunenberg, Worcester, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 7 Nov 1745 at about age 56 in Boston, Middlesex, Massachusetts

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Biography

Ephraim Wetherbee was born about 1675 in Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusettts. He was the son of John Wetherbee and Lidia Moore.

Ephraim was named in the Last Will and Testament of his father John Witherby on 13 October 1707.^[1]

His first wife Elizabeth Hall was the dau. of Samuel and Hannah (Sawtell) Hall.

Their children were: #1 and #2 b. at Stow, Massachusetts. #'s 3-5 b. at Lunenberg.

1. Ruth, b. 28 Feb 1722/23, Stow.
2. Ephraim, b. 1724, Stow.
3. Paul, b. 20 Jun 1726, Lunenberg.
4. Mary, b. 6 Jan 1729/30, Lunenberg.
5. Elizabeth (Betsy), b. 15 May 1732, Lunenberg.

Captain Wetherbee m. Joanna Bellows, September 1732 at Lunenberg, Massachusetts. They initially settled in Charlestown, New Hampshire and later in Lunenberg, Worcester, Massachusetts. She was the dau. of Benjamin Bellows and Dorcas (Willard) Bellows. She d. August 26, 1762 at Charlestown, New Hampshire.

Their children were: all b. Lunenberg, Massachusetts.

1. Rachel, b. 3 Apr 1733, Lunenberg.
2. Jonathan, b. 14 Oct 1734, Lunenberg.
3. Abigail, b. 13 Feb 1735/36, Lunenberg.
4. Susannah, b. 27 Mar 1738, Lunenberg.
5. Abijah, b. 24 Apr 1740, Lunenberg.
6. Joanna, b. Sep 1742, Lunenberg.
7. Captain Samuel, b. Apr 1745, Lunenberg.
8. Sampson, b. unknown (the only place his name appears is in Joanna's will)

Captain Wetherbee died while en route to Cape Breton Island.

Probate

The will of Ephraim Witherbee of Lunenburg, gentleman, "about to go on the expedition" to Cape Breton, was dated 2 July 1745 and proved on 28 November 1745 in Worcester. He mentioned his wife Joanna (executor), and his children, Ephraim Witherbee (executor), Paul Witherbee, Jonathan Witherbee, Abijah Witherbee, Samuel Witherbee, Ruth Woods, Mary Witherbee, Betty Witherbee ("if provided for by her grandfather Hall"), Rachel Witherbee, Abigail Witherbee, Susannah Witherbee, and Joanna Witherbee.^[2]

His inventory was taken on 18 August 1746 in Lunenburg.^[3]

In 1747, an account of his estate by his widow Joanna was recorded which included debts paid, legacies paid, and administration fees.^[4]

In 1748, Benjamin Bellows of Lunenburg was appointed guardian of his minor children, Hannah Witherbee, aged 5 years, Jonathan Wetherbee, aged 13 years, Abigail Witherbee, aged 12 years, Abijah Witherbee, aged 8 years, Samuel Witherbee, aged 3 years, and Susannah Witherbee, aged 10 years. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Probate Court, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Probate records 1648--1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts), Probate papers 24074-24181; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9D5-FSCD?cat=263304), images 1162-1166.
2. ↑ "Probate records v. 2 1739-1748, 1790-1827" database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YY-KF3C : 3 March 2024), Film# 007704427, Worcester, Massachusetts, image 231-232, Vol 2, Page 418-421.
3. ↑ "Probate records v. 2 1739-1748, 1790-1827" database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YY-KFMG : 10 March 2024), Film# 007704427, Worcester, Massachusetts, image 281-282, Vol 2, Page 510-511.
4. ↑ "Probate records v. 2 1739-1748, 1790-1827" database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YY-KXYB : 13 March 2024), Film# 007704427, Worcester, Massachusetts, image 355-356, Vol 2, Page 648-649.
5. ↑ "Probate records v. 101-105 1737-1758" database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YY-S998-N : 21 March 2024), Film# 007704228, Worcester, Massachusetts, image 334-237, Vol 101, Page 279-284.

See also:

• The book, "John Wetherbee of Marlboro and Stow, Massachusetts, Vol. 1" by Ethel Wetherbee Mazza, 1991, pp. 6-8.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHV2-NYQ : 18 October 2017), Ephraim in entry for Ruth Wetherbee Or Wetherby, 28 Feb 1721; citing Birth, Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 815,613.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1K-XLF3 : 29 November 2018), Ephraim Wetherby and Elizabeth Hall, 20 Apr 1721; citing Marriage, Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm .

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TPK8 : 3 November 2017), Ephraim Wetherbe in entry for Mary Wetherbe, 06 Jan 1729; citing Birth, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 861,119.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TP2L : 3 November 2017), Ephraim Wetherbe in entry for Bette Wetherbe, 15 May 1732; citing Birth, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 861,119.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TRJF : 3 November 2017), Ephraim Wetherbe in entry for Elizabath Wetherbe, 17 Jun 1732; citing Death, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 861,119.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TPLR : 3 November 2017), Ephraim Wetherbe in entry for Rachel Wetherbe, 03 Apr 1733; citing Birth, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 861,119.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TPPM : 3 November 2017), Ephraim Wetherbe in entry for Jonathan Wetherbee, 14 Oct 1734; citing Birth, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 861,119.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TPPK : 3 November 2017), Ephraim Wetherbe in entry for Abigail Wetherbe, 13 Feb 1735; citing Birth, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 861,119.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TP51 : 3 November 2017), Ephraim Wetherbe in entry for Susannah Wetherbee, 27 Mar 1738; citing Birth, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 861,119.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TPTY : 3 November 2017), Ephraim Wetherbe in entry for Abijah Wetherbe, 24 Apr 1740; citing Birth, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 861,119.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TPYB : 3 November 2017), Ephraim Wetherbe in entry for Johannah Wetherbe, 13 Sep 1742; citing Birth, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 861,119.

• "New Hampshire Birth Records, Early to 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL5T-Z5J : 10 March 2018), Ephraim Wetherbe in entry for Samuel Wetherbe, 03 Apr 1745; citing Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 1,001,057.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TRVK : 3 November 2017), Ephraim Capt. Wetherbe, 07 Nov 1745; citing Death, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 861,119.

• Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.); case 63055

• Early Vermont Settlers, 1700-1784. (Original Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. (By Scott Andrew Bartley, Lead Genealogist.); p. 1

• Colonial Soldiers and Officers in New England, 1620-1775. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013).; p. 263, p. 248