Holbrook line: Zachariah Eddy 1664-1737

 If this name seems familiar, it's because I've previously written about Zachariah's father, also named Zachariah Eddy.  But this Zachariah is also an ancestor, and he has his own story to tell.  I just wish I knew more of it!  

Zachariah was born April 10, 1664 at Swansea, Massachusetts, which is actually just 12 miles or so from Providence, Rhode Island.  His parents were Zachariah and Alice Paddock Smith, who were each born in the New World to immigrant ancestors.  Zachariah was the first of at least 8 children in his family, which is a good position to be in as the oldest child generally got a larger share of whatever estate there was, as well as being taught his father's trade.  Unfortunately, his father died with a small estate, but he had already given land to his children so the younger Zachariah may have had something to start with, anyway.  

Probably the stories that Zachariah would want to tell us about his youth would have revolved around King Philip's War.  He was about 11 years old when the war broke out, and Swansea was attacked by the native Americans very early in the war.  Most of the townspeople fled to local garrisons and then, as the war continued, many, including our Eddy family, went further east to Plymouth Colony where they found refuge, some with family members.  Zachariah would have probably been tasked with helping to care for the three brothers and sisters who were part of the family at this time (the others were born later).  He must have been very glad to return to Swansea, where the family picked up the pieces of their home and farm and continued their life.  

Zachariah married Mercy Baker on February 13, 1684 and had five children with her before her death.  He next married Amphillis (various spellings) Smith, daughter of Edward and Amphillis Angell Smith, a widow of Noah Whipple of Providence, about 1707.  (The two may not have lived far apart, as Providence covered a good deal of land at the point and so did Swansea.)  They are located in Providence for the next several years, where they had four children together. Amphillis' two children by Noah Whipple were probably also part of this household, as they went by the surname of "Eddy". Zachariah was admitted as a freeman on March 4, 1708, where he left records at least through 1716.  He was a waywarden in 1710 and had various other responsibilities during his time at Providence.

By 1731, when Zachariah would have been 65 years old, the couple had moved to Glocester, Rhode Island, which may have been as much as 20 miles from Providence.  Or, again, since the town was formed in 1731, it's possible that this is where the couple lived after their marriage and only the town name changed. Zachariah was the town's first constable.  It was considered frontier country at the time, so if this was a new location, it would have required considerable labor to clear land, build a home, and establish a farm.

We don't have a record of Zachariah's religion but his father had been a Baptist and it's likely that this couple also followed that religion.  I've not found his name on any military lists but it is more than possible that he was involved in one way or another in the ongoing conflicts that occurred during his likely period of military service.  

There is apparently a will for him at Glocester but I am unable to find a copy on line.  There are a lot of questions about Zachariah that a will or/and inventory might help answer.  For instance, was he literate? Did he have books in his home?  Did he have arms and ammunition other than a musket used for hunting?  And did he have a trade other than farming?

Amphillis died in 1726 and Zachariah died April 12, 1737.  The next generation in our story, Elisha Eddy, lived and died in Glocester, but that is a story for another time.  We have deep roots in Rhode Island, and the Eddy family is one of those rooted families.

The line of descent is:

Zachariah Eddy-Amphillis Smith

Elisha Eddy-Sarah Phetteplace

Enos Eddy-Sarah Brown

Enos Eddy-Deborah Paine

Joseph Eddy-Susan Lamphire

Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard

Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick

Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook

Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen

Their descendants