Ephraim ELSBREE, Jr.

Notes:

"The Luther Genealogy" says that Ephraim was killed in the French and Indian War.

The 1800 Federal Census has a listing for Ephraim Elsbree in Freetown, Bristol Co., MA. This may a relative who was named for our ancestor. The household consists of 1 male >45, 1 female <10, 1 female 10<16, and 1 female 16<26. It looks as if this Ephraim's wife is not there.

Ephraim married Jemima SHEPHERD 30 Mar 1749, Freetown, Bristol Co., MA. Jemima (daughter of Nathaniel SHEPHERD and Experience SPOONER) was born 4 Mar 1728/29, Dartmouth, MA; died Bef 1773. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

1749: ELEBURY, Ephraim [int. Elsbery] Jr. of Freetown and Jemima [int. Jemimah] Shepherd of D., Mar. 30, 1749, in Freetown. Marriage, Dartmouth.

1749: SHEPHERD, Jemima [int. Jemimah] of D. and Ephraim Elebury [int. Elsbery] Jr. of Freetown, Mar. 30, 1749, in Freetown. Marriage, Dartmouth.

At the time of their marriage, Jemima was of Dartmouth.

1. Boomer ELSBREE was born 1 Jan 1754, Freetown, Bristol Co., MA; died 5 May 1830.

Notes:

The surname has been spelled as: Elsbree, Elsbury, Elsberry, Elsbery, Elsbre, Elsbry, Elesbery, Ellbery, Elsbory, & Elsbara.

I have roughly estimated Ephraim's year of birth. Ephraim Elsbree's will was dated 27 Dec 1760, probated 3 Nov 1761 in Bristol Co., MA. It mentions wife Mary; grandson Boomer Elsbree; sons John, Thomas, William; dau's Rebecca Boomer, Mary Elsbree. The name is also spelled Elsbre and Elsbry in the probate records, as well as Elsberry.

Ephraim married Mary BOOMER 1726. Mary (daughter of Matthew BOOMER, Jr. and Hannah CHURCH) was born Abt 1705, Bristol Co., MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mary is mentioned in the will of her sister Lydia as sister Elsbury; in her brother Joshua's will dated 1 Feb 1772 he mentions his [living] sister Mary Elsbury. Mary is also mentioned by name in her father's will.

Some genealogies have Mary & Mercy as the same individual, marrying first to Nathaniel Luther and second to Ephraim Elsbree/Elsbury. However, Joshua Boomer's will mentions four sisters, including deceased sister Marcy Luther and the another sister Mary Elsbree.

Notes:

One family tree at Rootsweb's Worldconnect has Matthew's parents as Matthew & Eleanor.

Matthew's will, dated 8 Oct 1732, proved 20 Mar 1744. Mentions wife Hannah; eldest son Matthew, sons Caleb and Joshua; five surviving daughters: Lydia, Mercy Luther, Deboral Mason, Ruth Salisbury, and Mary; and children of deceased daughter Hannah Jenckes. (source: Payne-Joyce Genealogy online)

The following note is from the family tree of Peter Rogers at Rootsweb's Worldconnect:
Matthew Boomer d. bef 20 Mar 1743/4; son of Matthew Boomer. On 16 Nov 1724 Matthew Boomer of Freetown, yeoman, appointed his son "Joshuay" Boomer as his attorney regarding his mother's right in the estate of Caleb Church of Watertown. The will of Matthew Boomer of Freetown, yeoman, dated 8 Oct. 1732, sworn 20 March 1743, names wife Hannah; sons Joshua, Caleb and Matthew; eldest dau. Lydia not married; daus. Mercy Luther, Deborah Mason, Ruth Salsbury; also Benjamin Jenks, Lydia Jenks and Joseph Jenks, children of deceased dau. Hannah Jenks; grandson Matthew Luther; dau. Mary Elsberry. (needs research to verify)

The following notes are from [ http://www.harrold.org/familytree/webtree2/145.htm ]:

- Matthew and his [father] Matthew are on the 10/17/1688 tax list for Freetown, MA. The 6/25/1690 list gives only one Matthew Boomer - author cites Richard L. Bowen, Early Rehoboth , Rehoboth MA 1945, 1:86-88.
- On 1/5/1692, ack. 11/20/1694, "Matthew Bommer Sr. of Freetown sold to Matthew Bommer Jr. of Freetown one freeman's lot in Freetown where said Matthew Bommer Junr. now dweleth" - Bristol Co. LR 1:301.

One source says Matthew drowned in 1735 [http://www.keithminnion.com/boomer_page.html].

Matthew married Hannah CHURCH Abt 1688. Hannah (daughter of Caleb CHURCH and Joanna SPRAGUE) was born 1 Nov 1668, Hingham, Plymouth Co., MA; died Aft 8 Oct 1732. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Luther Genealogy gives her date of birth as 26 Dec 1668 and says she had a twin.

Notes:

Matthew's wife may have been Eleanor Peckham (source: http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr08/rr08_282.html#P15147)

For additional notes on the Boomer family, see: http://www.keithminnion.com/boomer_page.html

The "History of Fall River," p. 10, has Matthew Boomer as the first settler, in 1676. According to this book, the Freeman's Purchase was the first land purchased from the natives in the Fall River area. The deed, dated 2 Apr 1659, was signed by Wamsutta & Weetamoe. It included most of what is now Fall River and Freetown. There were 26 purchasers. "Matthew Boomer was probably the first settler in this tract, having bought a part of the fourth lot in March 1676, and erected a dwelling near the corner of North Main and Brownell streets soon after."

The following notes are from [ http://www.harrold.org/familytree/webtree2/145.htm ]:

The following is from "Additions and Corrections to Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island Matthew Boomer," published in the American Genealogist, April, 1984.
- Before court (servant of Edmond Nedum/Needham in Lynn, MA) 5/9/1647 and 12/26/1649 for striking his master with a pitchfork and lying - author cites Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex Co, MA; Salem 1911; 1:133, 184.
- Moved to Newport RI by 1655. Appears in list of Freemen of Newport - author cites John R. Bartlett, Records of the Colony of RI and Providence Plantations in New England; Providence RI 1856 rpt. New York 1968; 1:300.
- House burned by Indians during the late war. On 2/26/1676 Henry Stevens stated that he sold the 10 acres to Matthew Boomer about 18 years ago - author cites RI Land Evidences (RILE), Volume 1, 1648-1696; Providence RI 1921, rpt Baltimore 1970; pp. 95, 96 - probably burnt after he moved to MA.
- Sold the 10 acres to George Browne of Newport on 2/26/1676.
- Frequently in RI and Plymouth Colony courts as member of Petty Jury on 10/24/1666, but usually as a defendant - author cites RI Court Records: Records of the Court of Trials of the Colony of Providence Plantations, 1662-1670 2 vols.; Providence, 1922.
- Was sued by Nicholas Easton for damages 10/21/1668, charged with committing a riot.
- Wife charged with committing a felony.
- Jury found not guilty in all cases.
- He seems to have moved back to MA by 1675; a record in New Plymouth states, on 6/1/1675 "John Arthur, Mathew Boomer and John Leyton being sumoned to the court to answare for theire residing in the govment without order, and not attending the publicke worship of God, liveing lonely and in a heathenish way from good societie, this Court ordereth that they for the future shall frequent the publicke worship of [God], and live otherwise orderly, or that they depart the govment." (Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, [Boston 1856, rpt. New York 1968].
- On 3/6/1676/7 Henry Brightman of Portsmouth sold one half of a lot lying on the east side of "Tanton River in the collony of New-Plymouth" to Matthew Boomer of Newport. Matthew sold the half lot to John Reade of Newport on 6/22/1677 - author cites RILE, pp. 121-122.
- Matthew and his son Matthew are on the 10/17/1688 tax list for Freetown, MA. The 6/25/1690 list gives only one Matthew Boomer - author cites Richard L. Bowen, Early Rehoboth , Rehoboth MA 1945, 1:86-88.
- On 1/5/1692, ack. 11/20/1694, "Matthew Bommer Sr. of Freetown sold to Matthew Bommer Jr. of Freetown one freeman's lot in Freetown where said Matthew Bommer Junr. now dweleth" - Bristol Co. LR 1:301. LDS gives father as Joshua, of Essex, born about 1578, married about 1609 in Essex. LDS shows Matthew's marriage and death in MA - could be right. Matthew moved from Lynn, MA to Newport, RI, then to Freetown, MA.

Caleb married Joanna SPRAGUE 16 Dec 1667, Hingham, MA. Joanna was born Dec 1645; died 11 Jul 1678, Watertown, MA. [Group Sheet]