Ebenezer Webster (1739 - 1806)

Born 22 Apr 1739 in Kingston, Rockingham, New Hampshire

Ancestors

Husband of Mehetabel (Smith) Webster — married 18 Jan 1761 in Salisbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Husband of Abigail (Eastman) Webster — married 13 Oct 1774 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 22 Apr 1806 at age 67 in Salisbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States

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Biography

Judge Ebenezer Webster, son of Ebenezer & Susannah (Bachelder) Webster b. 22 April 1739; d. April 1806; he m1) 8 Jan 1761 to Mehitable Smith, in Salisbury, New Hampshire. ^[1] who b. at Kingston NH and d. 8 March 1774; He m2) 12 August 1774 to Abigail Eastman, daughter of Roger & Jerusha (Fitts) Eastman. [another source states she was dau of Thomas] She was b. 10 July 1737 at Salisbury MA and d. 14 Apr 1816 aged 78. As a child he was apprenticed or "bound out" to a man named Brown, from whom he ran away at the age of 14 and went to live with the family of Col. Ebenezer Stevens. He served with a company of rangers during the French & Indian War commanded by Major Robert Rogers. He participated in the invasion of Canada, led by Sir Jeffrey Amherst, and became captain. After the war Governor Benning Wentworth allowed him and others a grant of land they called Stevenstown but was changed to Salisbury in New Hampshire. Ebenezer's grant was 225 acres in the northern part of town along Punch Brook where in 1764 he built a log cabin. Seven years later he erected a one story house where his son Daniel Was born. "They endured together in this hut all sorts of privations and hardships." — Daniel Webster) He had no formal education, but he could read and write [despite the political "hype" that he could not]. Following the news of Bunker Hill he raised a company of militia in his town. He fought at Bennington under Stark, and at White Plains. He was at West Point when Arnold attempted to surrender to the British. In the militia he held the rank of colonel, but was generally called "captain." In 1768 he was chosen first moderator of Salisbury and he was elected 43 times afterward at different town-meetings, serving in March 1803 for the last time. In 1769 he was first elected selectman of Salisbury and held that office for the years 1770, 1772, 1774, 1776, 1780, 1785, 1786 and 1788, resigning in September 1777 to perform six months service in the army. He was town clerk for several years. In 1778 and 1780 he was elected representative for the towns of Salisbury and Boscawen, and just for Salisbury in 1785, 1786, 1788 and 1790. He was in the senate in 1786 at Exeter. In March 1778 the town chose him and Capt. Matthew Pettengill as delegates to the convention at Concord to form a permanent plan of government.

Children of Ebenezer & Mehitable (Smith) Webster:

1. Olive "Olle" Webster, daughter b 28 Jan 1762 Salisbury NH; died young

2. Ebenezer Webster, b. 16 July 1764 in Salisbury NH; died young

3. Susannah Webster, b. Oct 1766; married John Colby; died 23 March 1804 in Franklin NH [or Andover NH]

4. David Simon Webster, married Rebecca Huntoon; died in Stanstead, PQ, Canada; his son David Webster Jr. married Betsey Blake [per DAR patriot index, although the mother is incorrect]

5. Joseph Webster, b. 25 March 1772; d. 20 Jan 1810 in Salisbury NH

Children of Ebenezer & Abigail (Eastman) Webster:

6. Mehitable Webster, b. 21 Sep 1775; d. 1 July 1814; died unmarried; school teacher

7. Abigail Webster, b 13 Dec 1805; d. 13 Dec 1805; married William Hadduck/Haddock

8. Ezekiel Webster, b. 11 April 1780, d. 10 Apr 1829. He m1) 15 Jan 1809 Alice Bridge of Billerica MA, she d. 1821; he m2) 2 Aug 1825 Achsah Ballard who was b Nashua NH. They resided in Concord NH. Two children: 1) Alice Webster who m. 1 June 1836 Prof. Jarvis Gregg, the first preceptor of Boscawen Academy who d. at Western Reserve College in Ohio; she m2 Rev. George Whipple of Oberlin Ohio and she d. 6 Nov 1876 and 2) Mary Webster who m. 11 Dec 1837 to Prof. Edwin D. Sanborn LLD of Dartmouth College, and she d. 30 Dec 1864.

9. +Daniel Webster, second son of Ebenezer & Abigail (Eastman) Webster was b. Salisbury, N.H. [now Franklin NH], Jan. 18, 1782, d. Oct. 24, 1852 in Marshfield MA after a brief illness. He m. in 1808 to –. Statesman featured in this article (see above)

10. Sarah Webster, b. 13 May 1784; died 19 March 1811; she m. 21 Aug 1808 her cousin Col. Ebenezer Webster, son of William. He d. 31 June 1861

The book, "Life of Daniel Webster," by George Ticknor Curtis, on page 6 in the footnote states "Dr. Noah Webster, the eminent lexicographer, was of a collateral branch of this family.–Biographical Memoir, Works, i.) — Please note that this information is incorrect.

Birth

22 Apr 1739 Kingston, Rockingham, New Hampshire

Occupation

Tavern Keeper, Farmer, Local politician, Judge

Death

22 Apr 1806 Salisbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Burial

Webster Place Cemetery, Webster Place, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Sources

1. ↑ "New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLHH-2CM : 2 April 2020), Ebenezer Webster and Mehitable Smith, 08 Jan 1761; citing , Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 1,001,314.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #74698272
• Dearborn, John Jacob. The History of Salisbury, New Hampshire (W.E. Moore, Manchester, N.H., 1890) Page 829.
• Daniel Webster Birthplace: This is the location of Ebenezer's home, where he raised his 10 children, including his son Daniel Webster.