Ebenezer Eaton (1756 - 1841)

Born 22 Aug 1756 in Kingston, Rockingham, New Hampshire

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 15 Jun 1841 at age 84 in Sedgwick, Hancock, Maine, United States

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Biography

Ebenezer Eaton is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A202969.

Ebenezer Eaton is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 152629
Rank: Private  

Private Ebenezer Eaton served with Capt. Nathaniel Fales' Company, Massachusetts Militia during the American Revolution.

Reverend Ebenezer Eaton, the son of Theophilus Eaton and Abigail Fellows, was born 22 August 1756^[1] in Kingston, Rockingham, New Hampshire.^[2] With his parents, Ebenezer moved to Deer Isle and later went to Sedgwick, where he was settled before 1797. A search of the Hancock County deeds shows that Reverend Ebenezer Eaton purchased this 270 acres for the sum of $70.^{[citation needed]} He married Abigail Herrick about 1777.^{[citation needed]}

They had the following children together:

1. Amos Eaton b. 28 Sep 1777^[3]
2. Mary Eaton b. 29 Sep 1779^{[citation needed]}
3. Abigail Eaton b. 28 Jan 1781^[4]
4. Ebenezer Eaton b. 8 Feb 1783^[5]
5. David Eaton b. 6 Feb 1787^[6]
6. Joanna Eaton b. 20 Nov 1791^[7]
7. Joshua Eaton b. 20 Sep 1795^[8]
8. Sophia Eaton b. 20 Sep 1795^[9]
9. Clarissa Eaton b. 29 May 1798^[10]

Ebenezer passed away on June 15th, 1841^[11] in Sedgwick, Hancock, Maine. He is buried in Sedgwick Rural Cemetery.

Ebenezer Eaton is discussed at length in Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938:^[12] She says,
" The Mount Desert Congregational Church was organized Oct 17, 1792, being the first regular church on Mount Desert Island. The church in this new land where money was very scarce indeed, could not afford to employ a pastor, and yet they were eager for the services of a minister in their midst. Ebenezer Eaton of Sedgwick was a man of natural ability, very religious and had conducted ‘meetings' He came to Southwest Harbor and preached several times and was pleasing to the people. He keenly felt his lack of education and refused ordination because of it, but a letter written by Rev. Peter Powers in 1799 says, "In 1798 with the assistance of Rev. Powers, thirty-two persons were added to the church; in 1799 ten more joined and in 1800 eighteen persons became members.

"With this increase, it was felt that a full time minister should be induced to settle in the place and take charge of religious affairs. Mr. Eaton seems to have been the man whose presence was desired and a call was extended to him in the spring of 1801. Mr. Eaton has been serving as ‘stated supply' since 1793 according to Duren's Ministers and Churches of Maine.

"In October of 1801 the town voted to ‘give Mr. Eaton $250 per year and four Sabbaths in the year for himself', and also 'That the town assist Mr. Eaton in moving his family.' Just when the town meeting took place we do not know, but at the March town meeting in 1803 it was voted that the town allow John Manchester ten dollars for moving Mr. Eaton from Sedgwick to Mount Desert.

"Mr. Eaton bought 270 acres of land which included all of Clark Point and extended north along the shores of the Mill pond, built his house on the lot now owned by Harvard Beal (as of 1937) and allowed his parishioners to bury their dead on the sunny hillside on his land, first without regard to plan, but later arranged with some design and being the first public burial place on Mount Desert Island.

"Any account of the Congregational Church of Mount Desert would not be complete without a full tribute paid to the memory of Ebenezer Eaton, the beloved minister who served the church, the community, and the whole Island for nearly half a century. That he was not as severe toward the erring ones as most ministers of that day is inferred from a record in the time-stained pages of the first clerk's book where it is noted that on July 5, 1803, the church, after a day of fasting and prayer, felt called upon to censure Brother Eaton for 'not having dealt with (a certain member of the church) so seasonably as he ought.' But it generously admits that the fault was not intentional and the church takes upon itself equal responsibility. Perhaps this leniency brought him more of the affection of his people and accounted for his long pastorate among them.

"Mr. Eaton was the son of Theophilus and Abigail Eaton of Deer Isle. They came in 1768 from Haverhill, Mass., where Theophilus was born in 1720. He first moved to Sandown, N.H., [Editor's note: This is incorrect. Theophilus Eaton and his wife resided in Kingston, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. XAH] then to Brunswick and from there to Deer Isle. Mrs. Eaton, mother of Ebenezer, died in 1824, aged 102 years, 8 months, at the home of her son James Eaton in Prospect, Maine.

"Ebenezer's educational advantages in youth were very limited, but he was a close student and his principal books, according to a letter written by his grandson, Herrick Eaton, were the Bible and Henry's Commentary. His days when home were spent in study, and he preached entirely without notes. He always rode horseback. He began preaching when 26 years of age.

"In 1823 he yielded to the wishes of his people and consented to be ordained. After this, records refer to him as Reverend or Father Eaton.

"In these days the church acted as a court and was often called upon to settle difficulties between neighbors and sometimes between members of the same household. Once it was obliged to act between the minister and some of his parishioners. The cases of church discipline were many: some for telling a lie, for disorderly walking, for strong language, or excess of anger, for being overcome by strong drink, for swearing, for breach of the seventh commandment, etc.

"Some were dealt with severely, some censured publicly, some excommunicated, and others ‘set aside for a time.' Some fell from grace many times and were many times forgiven.... "When Elder Eaton was sent to talk with the accused ones, he was frequently able to report that ‘All was settled in love and harmony.'

"In 1831 as Elder Eaton advanced in years and the task of riding over his wide territory was taxing his strength, it was decided to obtain an assistant for him, and the Rev. George Brown came to fill that office.

"Soon difficulties arose and the upheaval among the people became so great that a company of ministers was called to hear both sides of the question and decide what was to be done. The language of their report as recorded on the yellowed pages of the ancient record books is dignified and eloquent. The Rev. Mr. Brown was mentioned as ‘a Christian and an Christian minister' but he was advised that his usefulness in this parish was impaired and that he had better seek employment elsewhere. The people were advised to "seek and obtain some other gentleman of approved piety and talents" to labor among them and urged that ‘the Brethren abstain entirely from bringing up past difficulties touching the ministry among them,' and that they ‘carefully and prayerfully cultivate Christian harmony, love and goodwill among each other.' The report is signed by John Sawyer, Mighill Blood, and Stephen Thurston.

"Elder Eaton now wished to resign his pastorate. His wife had died and was buried in the little burying ground on their land with a son and a daughter, and the health of the old man was failing. So a call was issued on May 24, 1834, to Rev. Micah W. Strickland to become pastor of the church.

"Mr. Eaton soon after went to Sedgwick to visit his daughter, Mrs. Currier, and died while their in 1841, at the age of eighty seven. The older people of the church hoped that his body might be brought back to the town where he labored so many years, to rest by the side of his wife, but the years passed and it was not done.

"Mr. Strickland...imposed severe penalties upon them [the congregation}, believing that the example of the punishment was necessary to preserve the standing of the church He was a thoroughly upright man and one who took his calling seriously, but one wonders if the people did not sometimes look back with affection to the days of the more gentle Father Eaton."

Revolutionary War Service

Private, Capt. Nathaniel Fale's co; enlisted Aug. 3, 1779; discharged Aug. 15, 1779; service, 13 days; company marched on expedition to Majorbagaduce by order of Gen. Lovell^{[13][14][15][16]}

Research Notes

Among my notes (no source given) I found the following: "There was a grandfather clock bought by Reverend Ebenezer Eaton of Southwest Harbor about 1810. It descended to his son Joshua whose widow married David Minzey. And after her death, Minzey sold it to S.W. Herrick. His daughter, Myra Herrick, sold it to Nettie D. Thornton in 1942." It is my understanding that this clock is at present in the basement of the Congregational Church in Southwest Harbor. XAH.

Sources

1. ↑ FamilySearch: "New Hampshire Birth Records, Early to 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLLP-B29 : 23 February 2021), Ebenezer F Eaton, 22 Aug 1756; citing Kingston, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 1,000,500. New Hampshire Birth Records Early to 1900:

   Name:	Ebenezer F Eaton
   Birth Date:	22 Aug 1756
   Birthplace:	Kingston
   Father's Name:	Theophilus Eaton
   Mother's Name:	Abigal Fellows

2. ↑ FamilySearch: "New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDJN-G6X : 18 January 2020), Ebenezer F. Eaton, 1756. New Hampshire Births and Christenings 1714-1904:

   Name:	Ebenezer F. Eaton
   Sex:	Male
   Birth Date:	22 Aug 1756
   Birthplace:	Kingston, New Hampshire, British Colonial America
   Father's Name:	Theophilus Eaton
   Father's Sex:	Male
   Mother's Name:	Abigal Fellows
   Mother's Sex:	Female

3. ↑ "Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4C4-ZY5 : 14 January 2020), Ebenezer Eaton in entry for Amos Eaton, 1777.
4. ↑ "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21S-3VD2 : 22 July 2021), Ebenezer in entry for Abigail, Birth 1781; multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm 12,248.
5. ↑ "Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4C4-DRV : 14 January 2020), Ebenezer Eaton in entry for Ebenezer Eaton, 1783.
6. ↑ "Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4C4-DWG : 14 January 2020), Ebenezer Eaton in entry for David Eaton, 1787.
7. ↑ "Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4C4-ZL4 : 14 January 2020), Ebenezer Eaton in entry for Joanna Eaton, 1791.
8. ↑ "Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F44S-VQD : 14 January 2020), Ebenezer Eaton in entry for Joshua Eaton, 1795.
9. ↑ "Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4C4-CNR : 14 January 2020), Ebenezer Eaton in entry for Sophia Eaton, 1795.
10. ↑ "Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4C4-ZY9 : 14 January 2020), Ebenezer Eaton in entry for Clarissa Eaton, 1798.
11. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9011245/ebenezer-eaton : accessed 9 March 2022), memorial page for Rev Ebenezer Eaton (22 Aug 1756–15 Jun 1841), Find A Grave: Memorial #9011245, citing Sedgwick Rural Cemetery, Sedgwick, Hancock County, Maine, USA ; Maintained by wvy (contributor 46555353) . Death:

    Name:	Rev Ebenezer Eaton
    Birth Date:	22 Aug 1756
    Birth Place:	Kingston, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA
    Death Date:	15 Jun 1841
    Death Place:	Sedgwick, Hancock County, Maine, USA
    Cemetery:	Sedgwick Rural Cemetery
    Cemetery Address:	Sedgwick, Hancock County, Maine, USA

12. ↑ Thornton, Nellie C. Traditions and records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert island, Maine. Auburn, Maine: Merrill & Webber Company, 1938.
13. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers Sailors Rev. War: Vol. 5, Page 395. Image 396 of 970.
14. ↑ "Massachusetts, Revolutionary War, Index Cards to Muster Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGKH-KBKZ : 19 February 2021), Ebenezer Eten Or Eaton, 3 Aug 1779; citing Military Service, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm .
15. ↑ Payroll: Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War (Massachusetts and Rhode Island). Vol. 37, Sea coast defense, Penobscot Expedition 1775-1781. A Pay Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Fales and his Company in the State pay on the Expedition to Penobscot from the 6th of July 1779 to the 26th of August following. Film #008092198. Image 171-72 of 628.
16. ↑ Muster roll: Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War (Massachusetts and Rhode Island). Vol. 37, Sea coast defense, Penobscot Expedition 1775-1781. A Pay Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Fales and his Company in the State pay on the Expedition to Penobscot from the 6th of July 1779 to the 26th of August following. Film #008092198. Image 118 of 628.
17. ↑ Pierce, William Macbeth. Old Hancock County families: containing genealogies of families resident in Hancock County in 1933, whose ancestors of their surnames settled in the town in which they live in or before 1790. Ellsworth, Maine: Hancock County Publishing Company, 1933. Pg. 61-62. Image 65 of 137.

• Noyes, Benjamin Lake. Sedgwick, Hancock County, Maine vital records volumes 1-2, cemetery & valuation records. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. Vol. 1, Pg. 28. Film #008140089. Image 673 of 966.