Person Page - 486

     Tabitha Parker married Humphrey Bean Dow, son of Ephraim Dow and Elizabeth Clark, on 8 October 1767.¹ Tabitha Parker died in 1804.¹ She was buried at Nathan Hale Cemetery, Coventry, Tolland Co., CT.¹

     Ephraim Dow was born on 26 January 1701/2.¹ He was the son of Thomas Dow and Susannah (?)^2,3 Ephraim Dow married Elizabeth Clark, daughter of Rev. Humphrey Clark and Elizabeth (?), on 8 November 1726.¹ Ephraim Dow died in 1750.¹

Ephraim Dow was the financier of his family, when with his brothers to Voluntown, Conn, and established a home. The death of his father required his presence in Ipswich, for he was executor and residuary legatee. In 1735 he got possession of some unexpected land, -- the Narragansett grant to his late father, situated in Buxton, Me. Whatever it realized, it was part of the residuary estate, for all legacies to the other children had been met. It was almost 1740 before he was able to settle down, and he then bought the Coventry farm. Its price then was thrice as great as its present value, but it came at a time of depreciated currency. This did not worry Ephraim, whose assets were land, rather than cash. He lived about ten years to enjoy his new home. His estate (will probated Mch 12, 1750) inventories £3,588-7-6. ⁴

     Elizabeth Clark was born in 1704.¹ She was the daughter of Rev. Humphrey Clark and Elizabeth (?)¹ Elizabeth Clark married Ephraim Dow, son of Thomas Dow and Susannah (?), on 8 November 1726.¹ Elizabeth Clark died on 26 March 1790.¹

     Rev. Humphrey Clark married Elizabeth (?)¹

     Elizabeth (?) married Rev. Humphrey Clark.¹

     Thomas Dow was born after 1644.¹ He was the son of Henry Dow and Margaret Cole.² Thomas Dow married Susannah (?) in 1684.³ Thomas Dow died on 12 July 1728.¹

Thomas Dow, Ye Wheelwright of Ipswich, was a prolific ancestor equal to his half brother Joseph. The two have a much larger posterity than all other Dows of eight families combined. The brothers differed much. Henry was a public character always, Joseph devoted his best self to his religious association. Daniel did nothing. Thomas built his life closely around his home and his business, avoiding publicity either civil or church. He was a soldier when required, publicly unknown otherwise, except as occasionally surveyor of highways and for ten years tything man. He went to church, as did every one; no one could afford to stay away. He and Jeremiah had seats together in the new meeting house 1710. Ipswich commons were divided 1693, the share of Thomas being 6 acres. He was a keen judge of real estate and a successful speculator. His name appears often as witness to deeds and to wills. Of 9 children, he lost but 2, and many grandchildren were maintained under his roof.


Twenty-seven years ago his shop, then a crumbling ruin, existed on the edge of present Ipswich City. It was then visited by Joy W. Dow and Arthur W. Dow, both descendants, driven to the spot by Harvey Nourse, authority on Dow temperament. Said Joy, many years subsequently: "I had studied genealogy hard for over 20 years, Arthur never except when I stirred him up. I took a very little piece, but Arthur took a whole brick."


Thomas is noted in all the genealogical compendiums, his career well known, yet almost no one has noted the discrepancies in his vital statistics. Hoyt, Old Families, noted but offered no correction. Hampton rec is clear that he was b Apr 28, 1653. Savage Genealogical dictionary gives him m 1663. Original entry of m not found. Hall Gen gives 1675; N E Gen Reg (vol 6, p 250) 1673. The actual date was prior to June 1668. It may be noted that in the list of children of Henry Dow, there is a gap of nearly ten years. Herein is the error. The date is not wrong by a single figure; it could not be 1643 for instance. Men of his time married mostly when 21 to 24. He was born soon after 1644. The name of his 1st wife is given Wall as frequently as Hall. James Hall of Hampton m 2nd wid Mary Tuck, dau of James Philbrick. His homestead adjoined the Tuck lot to the north and that of Thomas Webster, subsequently sold to Oliver Towle. His farm was west of Robert Page's north of Taylor's River. He d Oct 3, 1659, leaving 4 dau, --Mary m. John Marston, Elizabeth m Thomas Harvey, Hannah m Benjamin Moulton, Sarah m Thomas Dow. In Exeter Registry of Deeds: Tho Harvey and wife Elizabeth and Sarah Wall, sister of said Elizabeth, convey land in Hampton Aug 20, 1663. Acknowledged by Sarah Wall, now wife of Thomas Dow June 25, 1668. Another: Apr 3, 1669; Tho Harvey & wife Elizabeth, dau of said James Wall, and by Sarah Wall, ye present wife of Tho Dow. Savage's error lies clearly in taking the date of the deed, not its acknowledgment. These acknowledgments were made when Sarah came of age, this was 1668, she having been married just previously.


No doubt, they lived in Ipswich from the first. When she d is uncertain. Ipswich earliest rec are almost nil. Early Inhabitants of Ipswich gives Feb 14, 1680. Hoyt, Old Families, Feb 7, 1680-1, and Hoyt is as careful as any one. No authority is quoted. There was only 1 child. Thomas m 2nd in 1684, name of bride being Susannah. This is only known from the mention in his will. Her identity is the subject of many queries for over 30 years in the genealogical periodicals. If the rec is extant, which is more than doubtful, it is too garbled for recognition.


He enlisted, Capt Samuel Appleton, for the Narragansett war; was in camp when it burned, losing his belongings. For this he was indemnified in £2-10-0, paid May 1676, or over a year later. For the attack on the swamp fort he was in the center of the line. He charged with the rest but fell with a bullet through the knee. The fort was carried. He and 20 others were taken by boat to Road Island to recuperate. There-after he was always lame but it was not until Apr 1684 that he filed a petition to be excused from drill on this account.


Thomas was impressed with the conviction that land of his choosing was the best form of property for his posterity. For many years he traded actively in Ipswich, often together with Jeremiah, a less venturesome speculator, but more often alone. Not only Ipswich town lots, but farms, water front, shares in new tracts, anything promising. A farm in Rowley is notable, for when he sold it he reserved the right to cut firewood for his own and children's lifetime. This incident served to locate his son John, genealogically missing, who availed himself of the privilege in 1729. In 1715 the proprietors of a large tract in Windham Co, Conn, advertised very low prices for bona fide settlers, with long credit. It is probable that Thomas himself visited the place, which became the home of three of his sons.


He d July 12, 1728, will probated 13 days later. It had been made Nov 15, 1720, and provided for wife Susannah, who had d Aug 29, 1724. Most of the property had been distributed as land before he died. The whole property was about £4,000. Sister Mary was to be maintained for life. Dau Hannah was to have the household goods, but she had married and moved away 7 years previously. Legacies of £50 in corn or cattle were made payable 1, 3, 5, and 7 years later to John, Ebenezer, Thomas, Jeremiah. John received a special legacy of £10 payable in 10 years. Ephraim was executor and residuary legatee.


A crown act resulted unexpectedly to Ephraim's benefit. In 1730 grants of land were made, after many years delay, to veterans of King Philip's War, or their heirs. Five or six such tracts were granted, as more and more claimants were proved. The allotment for Thomas Dow was in what is now Buxton, Me. Ephraim Dow proved his claim and in 1735 the land was in the name of Nathan Simonds. Probably Ephraim sold it without ever seeing it.⁴

     Susannah (?) married Thomas Dow, son of Henry Dow and Margaret Cole, in 1684.¹ Susannah (?) died on 29 August 1724.¹

     Henry Dow was born in 1606.¹ He married Joan (?)¹ Henry Dow married Margaret Cole.² Henry Dow died on 21 April 1659.¹

     Polly Storrs was born on 28 October 1801.¹ She was the daughter of Augustus Storrs.¹ Polly Storrs married Agrippa Dow, son of Salmon Dow and Luna Benton, on 7 January 1823.¹ Polly Storrs died on 6 November 1885 at age 84.¹

     Salmon Dow was born on 28 April 1762.¹ He was the son of Lemuel Dow and Anna Millarton.¹ Salmon Dow married Luna Benton, daughter of Stephen Benton, on 3 March 1785.¹ Salmon Dow died on 28 September 1838 at age 76.¹

     Luna Benton was born on 21 November 1764.¹ She was the daughter of Stephen Benton.¹ Luna Benton married Salmon Dow, son of Lemuel Dow and Anna Millarton, on 3 March 1785.¹ Luna Benton died on 28 March 1817 at age 52.¹

     Lemuel Dow was baptized on 29 May 1737.² He was the son of Ephraim Dow and Elizabeth Clark.² Lemuel Dow married Anna Millarton on 27 April 1758.¹ Lemuel Dow died on 23 January 1818 at age 80.¹

     Anna Millarton married Lemuel Dow, son of Ephraim Dow and Elizabeth Clark, on 27 April 1758.¹ Anna Millarton died on 17 October 1793 at Hanover, NH.¹

     William Roberts Baker married Olive Abigail Case, daughter of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow, on 9 February 1853.¹

     Ellis Tyler married Sophia Dimmick Case, daughter of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow, on 2 July 1859.¹

     Jasper J. Savory married Sophia Dimmick Case, daughter of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow, on 15 August 1868.¹

     Luther Carpenter married Philena Melita Case, daughter of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow.¹

     Anna R. Moore married George William Case, son of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow, on 19 March 1862.¹

     Olive J. Carpenter married Charles Joseph Case, son of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow, on 12 August 1867.¹

     Content Ferris married Robert Bruce Case, son of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow, on 18 October 1880.¹

     Adele (?) married Virgil Tallman Case, son of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow.¹

     Kenia Arvilla Bryant married Horace Riley Case, son of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow, on 24 March 1880.¹

     Edson A. Barrett married Ella Louise Case, daughter of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow, on 22 August 1875.¹

     Charles D. Corey married Eva Elouisa Case, daughter of Elam Treadwell Case and Melita Dow, on 27 September 1877.¹

     Joseph Dow was born on 11 June 1741.¹ He was the son of James Dow and Mary Nichols.² Joseph Dow married Elizabeth Cummings.¹ Joseph Dow married Sarah Pepper on 30 April 1782.¹ Joseph Dow died on 2 April 1814 at New Braintree, Worcester, MA, at age 72.¹

     Elizabeth Cummings married Joseph Dow, son of James Dow and Mary Nichols.¹ Elizabeth Cummings died on 27 August 1781.¹

     Sarah Pepper was born on 24 December 1748.¹ She married Joseph Dow, son of James Dow and Mary Nichols, on 30 April 1782.¹ Sarah Pepper died on 10 February 1818 at age 69.¹

     James Dow was born on 8 October 1693.² He was the son of Joseph Dow and Mary Challis.^3,2 James Dow married Mary Nichols, daughter of John Nichols and Abigail Sargent, on 24 May 1721.¹ James Dow died on 11 December 1773 at New Braintree, Worcester, MA, at age 80.¹

James and Mary soon left Salisbury, in 1726 settled in west parish, Amesbury, paying the minister's tax; 1741 they were in east parish, freed from the tax as being quakers. They were old when they went to New Braintree, where their children had located. ⁴

     Mary Nichols was born on 19 October 1702.¹ She was the daughter of John Nichols and Abigail Sargent.¹ Mary Nichols married James Dow, son of Joseph Dow and Mary Challis, on 24 May 1721.¹ Mary Nichols died circa 1790.¹

     John Nichols married Abigail Sargent.¹

     Abigail Sargent married John Nichols.¹

     Joseph Dow was born on 20 October 1663.² He was the son of Sgt. Joseph Dow and Mary Sanborn.³ Joseph Dow married Mary Challis, daughter of Lt. Philip Challis and Mary Sargent.² Joseph Dow died on 6 February 1734/35 at Seabrook, Barnstable Co., MA, at age 71.¹

Joseph was in young manhood sgt of militia and saw considerable Indian fighting. He made a rather brilliant marriage, --to Mary Callis (one of 12 children), of Amesbury. Philip Challis came from England to Ipswich 1637; received allotment of land in Salisbury 1640; representative to General Court 1662. Mary Challis readily joined the Friends and one of her brothers had preceded her. Joseph continued Quaker after his 2nd marriage, altho laxly.


Left a widower, Joseph Dow could not expect to make a second marriage as brilliantly as his first, for the Quaker colony was then holding very much aloof. Nevertheless, he was in the prime of manhood, of promise, and, as times went, of considerable property. That he sank into obscurity is partly due to the surrender of his own ambition, partly to the Seabrook environment. Seabrook had few records of its own and was becoming forgotten by the rest of the world. Joseph's 2nd marriage and 2nd family were unknown until 1918, altho a number of Dow were known, unplaced but near to him. A recent search of court records in Salem cleared up a mystery which has been the despair of Dow genealogists for forty years. It is now known that Joseph lived in his own home until his death in 1734. His farm was near those of his brothers Jeremiah and Henry, the three being parts of a single property owned by their father. It was he who first spied the Indians in the great raid of Aug 17, 1703, and ran giving the alarm to the nearest blockhouse. While this raid was engineered by the French government of Canada, it is worthy of note that Joseph's family did not suffer from it. Perhaps this was due to Joseph's Indian wife.


The second marriage took place between 1698 and 1703. It is a vague tradition that Joseph Dow had disapproved and would not recognize the bride. However, Joseph Jr. soon received his full share of inheritance. The bride was Hannah, a child taken from her Indian parents with full permission by a Seabrook Quaker family to be brought up and educated as a Christian. Such were becoming quite customary, and as a rule the girls became valuable members of the community. This, however, is the only recorded mixed marriage in Seabrook. Hannah proved a good wife and mother; as widow Hannah Dow she appears on the Hampton Falls tax books, paying on a small piece of real estate until 1751. This date probably marks her death. Vague tradition has it that she had two daughters, besides the known four sons, and that a daughter was 1st born. It appears that (page 40 of Dow) Abraham Sanborn married Abigail Dow, daughter of Joseph. This may be error, and not Dow at all. If correct, she can only be a daughter of Joseph. The matter is too uncertain to appear in our letter key.


The four sons, known always as individuals, altho unplaced, are proved by Salem court records, birthdates conjectured from various sources.


Joseph managed to keep his full share of his inheritance, his estate, 787 £ 8 s being about its equal. To him belongs the Seabrook record: d Feb 6, 1734-5, but earlier genealogists stumbled because no death record had appeared for Joseph Dow (his son b. 1688), whose estate was administered in 1738, it being guessed that three years might have intervened. Salem court records set the matter right. Joseph died intestate and his son John applied promptly for letters of administration. By this time the children by the 1st marriage all had homes of their own. Administration was granted Feb 21, 1734-5, and the administrator had trouble in making an inventory of the property, so complaining to the court alleging that Noah, Eliphaz and Bildad were withholding oxen and other personal property from the estate. This was followed by a citation Mch 4, 1734-5, to Eliphaz, Noah and Bildad. Judah was not cited because he was not of age. The matter was speedily adjusted. ⁴

     Mary Challis was born on 27 August 1668.¹ She was the daughter of Lt. Philip Challis and Mary Sargent.¹ Mary Challis married Joseph Dow, son of Sgt. Joseph Dow and Mary Sanborn.¹ Mary Challis died on 14 May 1697 at age 28.¹

     Lt. Philip Challis married Mary Sargent, daughter of William Sargent.¹ Lt. Philip Challis died circa 1681 at Amesbury, Essex Co., MA.¹

     Mary Sargent was born circa 1652.¹ She was the daughter of William Sargent.¹ Mary Sargent married Lt. Philip Challis.¹ Mary Sargent died on 27 September 1716.¹

     Sgt. Joseph Dow was born on 20 March 1639 at Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.¹ He was the son of Henry Dow and Joan (?)² Sgt. Joseph Dow married Mary Sanborn, daughter of William Sanborn and Mary Moulton, on 17 December 1662.¹ Sgt. Joseph Dow died on 4 April 1703 at age 64.¹

     Mary Sanborn was the daughter of William Sanborn and Mary Moulton.¹ Mary Sanborn married Sgt. Joseph Dow, son of Henry Dow and Joan (?), on 17 December 1662.¹ Mary Sanborn died on 21 January 1732/33.¹

     William Sanborn married Mary Moulton.¹

     Mary Moulton married William Sanborn.¹

     Joan (?) was born circa 1606.² She married Roger Nudd.¹ Joan (?) married Henry Dow.¹ Joan (?) died in 1640.²

     Roger Nudd married Joan (?)¹ Roger Nudd died in 1629.¹

     Margaret Cole married Henry Dow.¹ Margaret Cole married Richard Kimball on 23 August 1661.¹

     Richard Kimball married Margaret Cole on 23 August 1661.¹

     Ezekiel Dow was born on 26 November 1789.¹ He was the son of Ezekiel Dow and Sarah Merrill.² Ezekiel Dow married Elizabeth Bradley, daughter of John Bradley and Elizabeth (?), in 1807.¹

Ezekiel inherited the Plaistow homestead bu tyears later sold it and bought a farm in Hopkinton, conducted as a model, taking first prize as the best farm in the county. This he exchanged for real estate in Chelsea, Mass, but finally went back to Plaistow; for several years helpless form paralysis; an ardent prohibitionist, Baptist. ³

     Elizabeth Bradley was born in 1790.¹ She was the daughter of John Bradley and Elizabeth (?)¹ Elizabeth Bradley married Ezekiel Dow, son of Ezekiel Dow and Sarah Merrill, in 1807.¹ Elizabeth Bradley died on 30 October 1872.¹