Ezekiel Gomer (1786 - 1852)

Born 24 Apr 1786 in Bristol, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 16 Sep 1852 at age 66 in Salem Township, Meigs, Ohio, United States

Biography

Ezekiel Gomer is a part of US Black heritage.

Ezekiel "Zeco" Gomer was born on 24 Apr 1786 in Bristol, Massachusetts, United States. His father was Ezekiel Gomer (~1760 - >1790) and Rosanna Pine.

He married Phebe Stevens. Their children were...

1. Phebe (Stevens) Smith (1826 - 1914)
2. Laura B. (Gomer) Norman (~1836 - ).

Zeco later married Malissa Emmons. Among their children are:

• Edward "Ed", b. 15 Mar 1844; d. 18 Feb 1916^[1]

The 1840 U.S. Census recorded Ezekiel Gomer in Salem Township, Meigs County, Ohio. His household consisted of eight free colored persons: one male age 55 to 99, one female age 36 to 54, two males and one female age 10 to 23, and three females under age 10. His was the only household "of color" listed in Salem Township (seven enumeration sheets).^[2]

In 1850, Ezekiel Gomer, a farmer, was recorded as 66 years old and living in Salem, Meigs County. Ohio, with Malissa Gomer (age 56), Sarah Gomer (16), Malissa Gomer (14), Laura Gomer (12), Edwin Gomer (6), and 20-year-old Phebe Stevens. Alll were described as mulatto. Ezekiel was born in Massachusetts, and the elder Malissa was born in Virginia. The birthplace of the five children is not distinct; it might be "Va" for Virginia or "O" for Ohio. Ezekiel reported $5000 in real estate. All five children had attended school within the past year. ^[3] The 1850 Census of Agriculture listed Ezekiel Gomer as the owner of 150 acres of improved land and 430 acres of unimproved land, for a total value of $5000. He also had farming implements valued at $100. On the farm, he had 2 horses, 9 milch cows, 11 "other cattle," 100 sheep, and 14 swine. During the prior year, the farm had produced wheat, Indian corn, oats, wool, peas and beans, Irish potatoes, orchard produce, butter, cheese, flax, and flaxseed.^[4]

Ezekiel died on 16 Sep 1852 in Salem Township, Meigs County, Ohio; aged 66. He is buried in Gomer Cemetery, Meigs County, Ohio.^[5]

He left a will, which was proved in Meigs County, Ohio, on 9 November 1852. Norman Grandison was granted letters of administration.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Certificate of Death, Ed Gomer. "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPK3-ZYZ?cc=1307272&wc=MD96-RTL%3A287599001%2C293171501 : 21 May 2014), 1916 > 11381-14220 > image 1915 of 3277.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBQ-24T?cc=1786457&wc=31S2-STH%3A1588669308%2C1588669974%2C1588666797 : 24 August 2015), Ohio > Meigs > Salem Township > image 13 of 14; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ United States Census, 1850. Enumeration sheet for Salem, Meigs, Ohio; Roll: 710; Page: 3a. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4204495_00011 . Note: It is unlikely that Malissa was age 56 and was the biological mother of the youngest of these children.
4. ↑ United States Census, 1850, Schedule 4: Productions of Agriculture, Census place: Salem, Meigs, Ohio. Archive Collection Number: T1159; Roll: 7; Line: 1; Schedule Type: Agriculture. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1276/images/32804_241762-00480
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79677570/ezekiel-gomer : accessed 23 November 2021), memorial page for Ezekiel “Zeco” Gomer (24 Apr 1786–16 Sep 1852), Find a Grave Memorial ID 79677570, citing Gomer Cemetery, Meigs County, Ohio, USA ; Maintained by 47117651 (contributor 47117651) .
6. ↑ Letter Testamentary for Ezekiel Gomer. Meigs County, Ohio. Executors Bonds and Letters Testamentary, Vol 1-2, 1822-1917. Accessed on Ancestry.com in database Ohio, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998, at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8801/images/005873751_00055

• Worthington, Massachusetts, tax record for Ezekiel Gomer, date not found. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2495/images/40168_271152__0014-00011 (State Tax and Minister Tax Records)
• Marriage of Ezekiel Gomer and Miss Melissa Stevens, both of Marietta, in Marietta Township, Washington County, Ohio, 4 July 1833. Accessed in Ancestry.com. Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61378/images/TH-1-18084-89421-11
• Obituary, Meigs County Telegraph. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038183/1852-09-28/ed-1/seq-1/ Note: This indicates that he was born in New York state on 19 April 1786; was raised in the household of Major Buffington, in Worthington, Massachusetts; and inherited his Ohio farm from Major Buffington. It says he had 3 daughters and one son, a small boy.
• https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/104373721/person/210039227092/media/e019a1db-87ea-4540-8736-9824b07c63aa?_phsrc=qz7-1273086&_phstart=successSource - Page from will
• https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/104373721/person/210039227092/media/e04bf1f2-8dae-4374-86f3-04096ca79d9d?_phsrc=qz7-1273086&_phstart=successSource - Last page of will

See also:

• Death of son Ed Gomer: "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953"
  citing Salem Twp., Meigs, Ohio, reference fn 13071; FHL microfilm 1,983,644.
  FamilySearch Record: X8NM-SCQ (accessed 20 October 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GPK3-ZYZ
  Ezekial Gomer in death record for son Ed Gomer, 18 Feb 1916 in Salem Twp., Meigs, Ohio.