Holbrook line: Ephraim Wilson 1656-1733,

OK.  So here's another ancestor who lived through tough times, but of whom we know very little.  I've ordered a book about the history of Dedham, Massachusetts because we have so many ancestors there, but it's not here yet.  Perhaps it will tell us more about Ephraim and perhaps we will still not know much. 

First, the name Ephraim is unusual.  It was not carried down in our line; at least none of our later ancestors have that first name.  It comes from the Old Testament; Ephraim was a child of Joseph and Asenath, and the patriarch of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.  Biblical names were frequently used by the Puritans of Massachusetts, and Ephraim's parent qualified in that regard. 

Ephraim was a son of Henry and Mary Metcalf Wilson (sometimes spelled Willson),  His parents, both immigrants, married in 1642 in Dedham, Massachusetts Bay Colony, and Ephraim was born in 1656, the last of their five children. 

The first record I can find of Ephraim is during King Philip's War, when he was about 20 years old.  He earned twelve shillings for serving under Captain Jacob in Medfield, where native Americans attacked and destroyed about half the town despite there being a relatively large garrison there.  Because Ephraim's pay record is from June of 1676 and the attack occurred in February, it's possible that he was not there when the town was attacked, but was sent after the fact to guard against further attacks.  Interestingly, the towns were responsible for paying the soldiers and then were reimbursed by the colony.  So Ephraim's family, probably his father, received the pay and we don't know whether Ephraim received any of it or not.  The family may have used it to help replace whatever income was lost to them when Ephraim left his job and went to war.

I don't know what kind of job Ephraim had.  He didn't marry until 1681, when he married Rebecca Sumner, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Staples Sumner.  They had at least five children together-Samuel, Rebecca, Nathaniel, John and Ephraim.  Ephraim was a little older than was typical for the time and place, which could indicate that he was still busy establishing himself in his trade or on a farm prior to his marriage. 

He died February 20, 1733, a few months short of 77 years.  His stone is still standing and can be seen on his Find A Grave memorial.  Unfortunately, I've not found a will or inventory for Ephraim.  That could tell us a lot about what his occupation may have been, possibly his religion, perhaps items that would indicate a financial status.  The likelihood is that he was a Puritan, that he was a farmer, and that he worked hard for a living.  I can't wait till the Dedham book arrives to see if there are any gems there that will tell us more. 

The line of descent is:

Ephraim Wilson-Rebecca Sumner
Samuel Wilson-Elizabeth Hawes
Rebecca Wilson-Jonathan Wright
Molly Wright-Amariah Holbrook
Nahum Holbrook-Susanna Rockwood
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants