The Family Connection: Ezekiel Worthen Jr. and Abigail Carter of Amesbury, Massachusetts

This is a continuation of the Worthen Family which began with George Wathen in Bristol, England and his son Ezekiel Worthen, born in Salem, Massachusetts. Ezekiel and his wife lived a good long life in Amesbury, Massachusetts. This story is about their son, Ezekiel and his wife Abigail Carter.

Just for catch-ups, Ezekiel is the son of Ezekiel and Hannah Martin Worthen. See the two previous blogs about the Worthen/Wathen family. Abigail is the daughter of John and Martha Brown Carter, and the granddaughter of Thomas and Mary Carter of England and Salisbury, Massachusetts.

Ezekiel Worthen Jr. and Abigail Carter were married in Amesbury on 26 December 1704.

Ezekiel bought and sold land in Amesbury, he was given land from both his and Abigail's father. In 1711 he was described as a yeoman on a deed transaction. In 1725 Abigail's father gave them land, and in 1726, at the age of 76 he gave them, along with her brother Ephraim Carter a lease on his house and land in Salisbury, in return they would care for him for the rest of his life. John Carter's date of death is unknown.

Ezekiel Jr. and his wife were members of the church in Amesbury, he was baptized on 11 July 1731 at the First Church of Amesbury, Abigail renewed her covenant on 22 Feb. 1635/36. Together the couple had 11 children born between 1705 and 1728, all born in Amesbury. Our ancestor is yet another Ezekiel, born on 18 March 1709/10. Their children were:

1. Mary b. 1705 Amesbury
2. Jacob b. 21 Jan 1707/08 Stayed in Amesbury, m. Sarah Lancaster
3. Ezekiel b. 18 March 1709/10
4. Thomas b. 3 Feb 1711/12 d. Aug 1773 Chester,NH
5. Abigail b. 14 May 1714
6. Hannah b. 25 July 1716
7. Martha 1721/22
8. Mehetible b. 4 June 1722
9. Anne b. 24 Nov. 1724
10 Samuel b. 31 March 1727
11. Ephraim b. 28 Aug 1728 d. Concord, NH 1763 m. Johanna

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Ezekiel wrote his will in Chester New Hampshire in 1752, his will was proved and his estate inventoried in Oct of 1755. It is not known when Ezekiel and Abigail moved to Chester, I guess it would have to have been after 1736, when Abigail renewed her church covenant. It is entirely possible that as the couple aged they did as many others and moved in with an adult child, either not wanting to live alone or unable to. The date of Abigail's death is unknown, but she is named in his 1752 will, so she was alive then. Here is copy of his will:

EZEKIEL WORTHEN 1752 CHESTER
In ye name of God amen ye Second day of September In ye 26th year of his Majesties Reign: A: D: 1752 I Ezekiel Worthen of Chester In ye province of New Hampshire In New England yeoman
Item: I Give and bequeath unto my son Jacob Worthen all that my lands cituate in Salsbury In ye County of Essex which was Conveyed to me by my honored father John Carter Late of Salisbury a fores deceaced by deed bareing date March ye 29th 1726: I Say all Except four acres which my said son Jacob have here to fore purchased of me by deed of seal ye said Jacob paying unto four of my Daughters his sisters namely Mary, Abigail, Martha and Mehetabel forty five pounds apeice to each of them equal to bills of credit of ye old tenner.
Item: I Give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Worthen ten shillings old tenner ye reason is I Give to him no more is because I have other ways Given him here to fore Considerable of my Estate.
Item: I Give and bequeath unto my son Ezekiel Worthen twenty pounds Eaquel to bills of Credit of ye old tenner ye reason I Give no more to my said son Ezekiel is becaus I have Given him here to fore a Considerable part of My Estat with ye trade of a Joyner. Item: I Give unto my son Ephraim Worthen my best suite of apparrill from top to toe ye said Ephraim to pay unto my daughter Hannah his sister forty five pounds Eaquel to bills of ye old tenner and unto my son Ezekiel Worthen twenty pounds as afore mentioned Eaquel to bills of Credit of ye old tenner all to be payd by my said son Ephraim &c all ye before mentioned bequests to be pay with In three years next after my deceace In ye afores^ bills or in stock or other Good pay at ye Currant prise as it then Goes at. Item: I Give and bequeath unto my said son Ephraim Worthen whome I appoint My Executor to this my Last will and testament all that my homested Living where on I now dwell with all ye appurtenances there to belonging and also all ye remainding part of my whole real Estate in what place or places what so Ever with ye Addition of all my Emplements of Husbandry and all other out dore tools or matters what so Ever and also that bed where on y said Ephram Now Lodges on with the furneture,and also all my stock of Cratuers of all sorts reserving ye use and benefitt of ye one half of ye above mentioned premisses for and to ye use of my Loving wife Abigaill during ye term of her natural Life to be rendred to her yearly by my said son Ephraim and I do also Give and bequeath unto my s*^ son Ephraim all other my whole Incoms & proffitts of what kind name or nature so ever as bill bonds Credits &c Saveing all my Indoers Goods of all sorts I Give and bequeath unto my fore named Daughters to be Eaquelly divided in Eaquel proportion to and among them or their servivors that is to Say all that remains after my said wives deceace before bequeathed and I do hereby revoke and disallowe any other formor will by me here to fore mad rattifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and testament y^ day and year afore written

Ezekiel worthen

[Witnesses] Orlando Bagly, Theophilus Foott, Thomas Bagly.
[Proved Oct. 29, 1755.]

[Inventory, Dec. 19, 1755; amount, £3193. o. o; signed by
Ephraim Hazeltine and Daniel Webster.]
Ezekiel worthen
[Witnesses] Orlando Bagly, Theophilus Foott, Thomas Bagly. [Proved Oct. 29, 1755.]
[Inventory, Dec. 19, 1755; amount, £3193. o. o; signed by Ephraim Hazeltine and Daniel Webster.]