Ebenezer Eaton Jr (1760 - 1839)

Born 18 Dec 1760 in Ashford, Windham, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 10 Dec 1839 at age 78 in Sherburne, Chenango, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joan Stewart Smith [send private message]

Biography

Ebenezer Eaton Jr is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A035894.

Ebenezer Eaton Jr served with Connecticut Militia during the American Revolution.

Ebenezer Eaton, a farmer and U.S. Revolutionary War veteran, was born on 18 Dec 1760 at Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut Colony, the son of Ebenezer Eaton and his wife Mary Humphrey.^[1]

Marriage

After his military service in the U.S. Revolutionary War, Ebenezer Eaton married Mary "Polly" Berry about 1784. Polly was born in 1763, presumably in Connecticut Colony.^[2]

Ebenezer and Polly first made their home in the state of Vermont, where their children were born, per census records. The federal census records the household of Ebenezer Eaton in Winhall, Bennington County, Vermont in 1790;^[3] then in nearby Manchester, Bennington County in 1800. ^[4]

By 1810, they had moved 170 miles southwest to Sherburne, Chenango County, New York,^[5] where they spent the rest of their days.

Children

The children of Ebenezer Eaton and Polly Berry included the following 5 children. The 4 children still living in 1840 were recorded in their father Ebenezer's 1840 probate records.^[6] The census records that Berry, Horace and Elsa were born in Vermont. John and Susannah died before the census recorded places of birth, but they probably were also born there.

1. Berry Eaton (1785-1867), married Lydia Welch^[7]
2. John Eaton, (1786-1791), died young [from unsourced family tree]
3. Horace Eaton, (1790-1861), married Mary Scott, Clarissa Berry^[8]
4. Elsa "Elsey" Eaton (1793-aft. 1865), married Asa H. Hill (brother of sister Susannah's husband), Avra O. Austin^[9]
5. Susannah Eaton (1803-1849), married Ebenezer B. Hill (brother of sister Elsa's husband)^[10]

Census

1790

Winhall, Bennington, Vermont, United States.^[3]

1800

Manchester, Bennington, Vermont, United States.^[4]

1810

Sherburne, Chenango, New York, United States.^[5]

1820

Columbus, Chenago, New York, United States. ^[11]

1830

Sherburne, Chenango, New York, United States. ^[12]

U.S. Revolutionary War

Ebenezer Eaton served in the U.S. military for five years during the U.S. Revolutionary War.^[13] When first applying for a pension, Ebenezer had trouble convincing the federal government of his service, due to a lack of records.^[14]

Ebenezer Eaton, aged 68, of Sherburne, New York, submitted a statement on 10 Feb 1829 pertaining to his pension application. He first enlisted for a term of 15 months in the state of Rhode Island in the company of Capt. Malachi Hamet in the regiment commanded by Col. Barton. After 15 months, he was discharged at Tiverton, Rhode Island. In this term, he participated in the Battle of Newport.

In 1778, he then enlisted for a one-year term in the Connecticut Militia as a private under Capt. Squire Hill and Col. McLellan. The company was engaged until March 1779, when he was discharged at New London. ^[15]

In 1780, he enlisted for a 3-year term in the 6th regiment of the Massachusetts line commanded by Col. Smith. He served three years and was discharged at Newburgh, New York at the end of the war.

Ebenezer recalled that he made an earlier application in 1819 but did not receive a pension then due to lack of proof of service. He reported his property as 40 acres of poor quality land and an old dwelling house, and provided a list of his personal property. He reported that three years before he sold 22 acres to Horace Eaton for $200.

He provided another statement on 6 September 1832 and at that time the pension was allowed in the amount of $80 per annum. Ebenezer’s widow Polly received a pension after his death. In her statement, she reported she and Ebenezer married before 1 January 1784, and in another place the marriage was reported as 27 January 1783 (crossed out and changed to 1784). On 15 July 1851, daughter Elsy Austin made a statement that she, Berry Eaton, and Horace Eaton were the only surviving children of Ebenezer and Polly.

According to the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), Ebenezer's father of the same name served as a tithingman in 1776 in Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut, where he lived at the time.^[16]

Note: Neither Ebenezer or his father of the same name were their distant cousin Ebenezer Eaton (1750-1825) of Plainfield, Connecticut who served in the 1775 Lexington alarm and in Capt. Samuel Hall's Company in Maj. Backus' Light Horse Regiment in 1776.^[17]

Property

On 13 April 1827, Ebenezer Eaton and his wife Polly, for payment of $5, conveyed to Berry Eaton all a parcel of land in Sherburne known in the subdivision of said town as Farm No. 1. Also on 13 April 1827, for payment of $250, Ebenezer and Polly conveyed all of Farm No. 2 to Horace Eaton.^[18]

Death

Ebenezer Eaton, aged 78, died on 10 Dec 1839 at Sherburne, Chenango County, New York and was buried there in Sherburne Quarter Cemetery.^[19] At his side was buried his wife Polly, who died 10 years later on 24 Nov 1849 in Oxford, Chenango County.^[2]

Ebenezer's parents, Ebenezer Eaton^[20] and Mary (Humphrey) Eaton^[21] also died in Sherburne and are buried in the same cemetery.

Will and probate

Testator: Ebenezer Eaton of Sherburne, Chenango, New York

Will: 5 June 1838

Executor: Cyrus M. Dow

Beneficiaries (in order of will):
Wife Polly Eaton
Granddaughter Melissa Hill
Granddaughter Lydia Hill
Grandson Almira Hill
Grandson Horace Hill
Grandson Devillo
Granddaughter Diana
Daughter Elsy Austin
Daughter Susannah Hill^[6]

Probate: 24 Feb 1840

Death date: 10 Dec 1839

Heirs named:
Wife Polly of Sherburne
Son Berry of Sherburne
Son Horace of Sherburne
Daughter "Alce" Austin of Sweden, Monroe County, wife of Arba O. Austin who resides in Murray, Orleans County
Daughter Susannah Hill, wife of Ebenezer B. Hill, of Sweden, Monroe County

Research Notes

Conflicting info in Molyneux's Eaton Families book

The lineage in Nellie Z.R. Molyneux's 1911 book, History Genealogical and Biographical of the Eaton Families ^[22] for Ebenezer Eaton (b. 1733/34-1815), son of Thomas Eaton and Elizabeth Parker, and his children - including the Ebenezer, Jr. of this profile - conflicts with updated research.

The book does not name his wife, his death date, or death location. The only children's names that are correct are Ebenezer and Elizabeth. It appears to combine information for several men of the same name. I understand the challenges of writing such a book without access to sources that are readily available today.

Today, we have records of Ebenezer, Jr.'s father Ebenezer Eaton, Sr. and his marriage in Ashford, Windham, Connecticut; the births of his children in Ashford, listing their parents; and death and burial in Sherburne, Chenango Count, New York.

This notation is at the end of his section in the book: "Some of the descendants of Ebenezer Eaton live in Chenango County, N.Y. ..."

The book has a questionable description under his son Ebenezer Jr's name, with no vital records: "Ebenezer, jr. removed to Rome, N.Y., where in 1799, with Thos. Walker, he was editor of the Columbia Patriotic Gazette. In 1810 he retired..."

However, the census records the Vermont birthplace of several of Ebenzer, Jr's children, and his household was recorded in Bennngton County, Vermont in 1790 and 1800 before he moved to Chenango County, New York, where his father and mother also moved.

- Research notes by (Joan Stewart Smith)

Sources

1. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74N-RQ1 : 7 January 2020), Ebenezer Eaton, 1760.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #92835253 for Polly Eaton (1763–24 Nov 1849),Sherburne Quarter Cemetery, Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, USA; Maintained by NYGraveFinders (contributor 47079039).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States Census, 1790", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2M-6NN : Sat Mar 09 00:06:08 UTC 2024), Windhall, Bennington, Vermont, United States, household of Ebenezer Eaton, Total 5, 1 male above 16 (Ebenezer Sr], 3 males younger than 16 [Berry, John, Horace], 1 female above 16 [wife Polly],
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "United States Census, 1800", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRQ-D85 : Sun Mar 10 09:47:52 UTC 2024), Manchester, Bennington, Vermont, United States, Eben. Eaton household, Total 6, 1 male under 10 [Horace], 1 male 10-15 [Berry], 1 male 26-44 [Ebenezer head], 2 females under 10 [Elsa, Susannah?], 1 female 26-44 (wife Polly]
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "United States Census, 1810", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH23-QRF : Sat Mar 09 19:13:45 UTC 2024), Sherburne, Chenango, New York, United States., household of Ebenezer Eaton
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999. Ancestry.com. New York Wills and Probate, Chenango County, Wills Volume D, p 316. Ebenezer Eaton of Sherburne, Chenango County, New York
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #83950764 for Berry Eaton (1784–16 Jul 1867), Sherburne Quarter Cemetery, Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, USA; Maintained by MarDo74 (contributor 47693603).
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #83950664 for Horace Eaton (1790–13 May 1861), Sherburne Quarter Cemetery, Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, USA; Maintained by MarDo74 (contributor 47693603).
9. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #11846915 for Elsa Hill (1793–), Locust Hill Cemetery, Sweden, Monroe County, New York, USA; Maintained by Mount Hope NY (contributor 219).
10. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #11846923 for Susan Hill (1803–17 Jul 1849), Locust Hill Cemetery, Sweden, Monroe County, New York, USA; Maintained by Mount Hope NY (contributor 219).
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1820", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLD-MQ9 : Sat Mar 09 19:25:19 UTC 2024), Columbus, Chenango, New York, United States., household of Ebenezer Eaton
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPN-4CG : Fri Mar 08 19:18:32 UTC 2024), Sherburne, Chenango, New York, United States., household of Ebenezer Eaton
13. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A035894: accessed 14 Apr 2024), Record of Ebenezer Eaton, Jr., Ancestor #: A035894. Service: Connecticut. Rank(s): Private. Birth: 12-18-1760, Connecticut. Death: 12-10-1839, Sherburne, Chenango Co., New York. Service Description: 1) CAPT SQUIRE HILL, COL MCCLELLAN; MILITIA, Residence: Plainfield, Connecticut [?], Wife: Polly Berry
14. ↑ U.S. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, Case W7067
15. ↑ Johnston, Henry P. The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1788. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1889, p. 545 (https://archive.org/details/waroftherevolution00recorich/page/545/mode/1up : accessed 14 Apr 2024), Millitia Regiments 1778, Capt. Hill's Company, Private Ebenezer Eaton, arrived in camp 1 July 1778
16. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A035893: accessed 14 Apr 2024), Record of Ebenezer Eaton, Sr., Ancestor #: A035893. Service: Connecticut. Rank(s): Patriotic Service. Birth: 2-19-1734 , Tolland, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Death: 1-9-1815, Sherburne, Chenango Co., New York. Service Source: MULLEN, CT TOWN MEETING RECS, VOL 1, PP 5, 20, Service Description: 1) TITHINGMAN 1776; TOOK OATH OF FIDELITY 1780 , Residence: Ashford, Windham, Connecticut, Wife: Mary Humphrey
17. ↑ Johnston, Henry P. The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1788. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1889, pp. 20, 478
18. ↑ New York Land Records, Chenango County, KK:284, LL:270
19. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92835186/ebenezer-eaton: accessed April 13, 2024), memorial page for Ebenezer Eaton (18 Dec 1760–10 Dec 1839), Find a Grave Memorial ID 92835186, citing Sherburne Quarter Cemetery, Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, USA; Maintained by NYGraveFinders (contributor 47079039).
20. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #58293508for Ebenezer Eaton (19 Feb 1734–9 Jan 1815), Sherburne Quarter Cemetery, Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, USA; Maintained by Diane Clawson (contributor 47336299).
21. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #92835113 for Mary Humphrey Eaton (5 Jul 1734–20 Apr 1816), Sherburne Quarter Cemetery, Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, USA; Maintained by NYGraveFinders (contributor 47079039).
22. ↑ Molyneux, Nellie Zada Rick. History Genealogical and Biographical of the Eaton Families. Syracuse, N.Y.: C.W. Bardeen Publishers. 1911, p. 136 (https://archive.org/details/historygenealogi00inmoly/page/136/mode/1up : accessed 14 Apr 2024), p. 159 (https://archive.org/details/historygenealogi00inmoly/page/159/mode/1up : accessed 14 Apr 2024)