Person Page - 487

     Ezekiel Dow was born on 27 September 1747 at Plaistow, Rockingham Co., NH.¹ He was the son of Timothy Dow and Judith Worten.² Ezekiel Dow married Sarah Merrill.¹ Ezekiel Dow died on 4 April 1832 at Plaistow, Rockingham Co., NH, at age 84.¹

     Sarah Merrill married Ezekiel Dow, son of Timothy Dow and Judith Worten.¹

     Timothy Dow was born on 10 May 1700.¹ He was the son of Samuel Dow and Ruth Johnson.² Timothy Dow married Judith Worten, daughter of Samuel Worten and Deliverance Heath, on 13 June 1723.¹ Timothy Dow died on 22 July 1777 at age 77.¹

Timothy had a farm on Sweet Hill, a pleasant spot with a wide outlook in east parish, Haverhill, transferred to Plaistow by the relocation of the Sate boundary. ³

     Judith Worten was born on 7 February 1703/4.¹ She was the daughter of Samuel Worten and Deliverance Heath.¹ Judith Worten married Timothy Dow, son of Samuel Dow and Ruth Johnson, on 13 June 1723.¹

     Samuel Worten was the son of Ezekiel Worten.¹

     Samuel Dow was born on 22 January 1665/66.¹ He was the son of Stephen Dow and Ann Storey.² Samuel Dow married Ruth Johnson, daughter of John Johnson and Eliza Maverick, on 5 May 1691.¹ Samuel Dow died on 30 December 1749 at age 83.¹

Samuel was a lifelong resident of east parish, Haverhill, presumably inheriting the homestead. He served in Lieut. Saltonstall's Snow Shoe Men, organized Haverhill 1710. Widow Ruth Ayer had three children by her 1st husband, 2 of whom lived with Samuel. He was a substantial citizen, but dos not appear in public life. ³

     Ruth Johnson was the daughter of John Johnson and Eliza Maverick.¹ Ruth Johnson married Timothy Ayer.¹ Ruth Johnson married Samuel Dow, son of Stephen Dow and Ann Storey, on 5 May 1691.¹

     Timothy Ayer married Ruth Johnson, daughter of John Johnson and Eliza Maverick.¹ Timothy Ayer died.¹

     Stephen Dow was born on 29 March 1642 at Newbury, MA.² He was the son of Thomas Dow and Phebe (?)³ Stephen Dow married Ann Storey on 13 September 1663.¹ Stephen Dow married Johannah Corliss, daughter of George Corliss and Johanna Davis, on 7 February 1716.⁴ Stephen Dow died on 3 July 1717 at age 75.¹

Stephen, admitted freeman 1668, lived and died in Haverhill. His parents being very poor, he was apprenticed at age of 9. When he was 15, in 1657, an interesting lawsuit throws more light than all other records on the status of this family. He was bound out to Thomas Davis and wife, who agreed to teach him the stone mason's trade, to read and write. The testimony of his mother showed that this was a verbal agreement and that finding a home for Stephen was a great relief to herself and her husband. A neighbor she testified, previously promised to take the boy but was dissuaded by his wife, who pointed out that the boy was weak, undersized and sickly, sure to become a burden. Kemp, the defendant to the suit, was charged with taking the boy away from Davis and attempted to justify his action by alleging that the boy was not properly treated. The neighbors were all agreed that the boy was unpromising, was unable to take off or put on his own clothes, and gave little promise of growing to manhood. The boy's own testimony is ingenuous and illuminative. He had run away a number of times but for no definite reason, except possibly once to see his mother, and always intended to come back. He admitted that his master and mistress were good and kind, but he did 'acknowledge that it was a good while before he could eat his master's food viz. Meate and milk or drink beer, saying he did not know it was good, because he was not used to eat such victual, but to eate bread and water porridge and to drink water.'


While the food of the Haverhill pioneers was simple in the extreme, even bean porridge not to be freely used, an exclusive diet of bread and water was not the usual fare. It is not unlikely that the death of Thomas Dow at 39 was due to this undernourishment, coupled with hard work and other privation. The symptoms of little Stephen, unable to put on his own clothes, indicate conclusively an undernourished, rickety condition, and surely the future Indian fighter owed his life to the victuals, viz: Meate, milk and beer furnished by master and goodwife Davis, who seem to be worthy people. The jury took this view and there was no further complaint of Kemp's intervention or Stephen's runaways. Shortly afterwards Phoebe Dow married John Eaton and moved to Salisbury. Stephen's apprenticeship was to last until he was 18, and it probably did. Nothing more appears about him until he was 22, a healthy, vigorous man, able to do his fighting share. He soon came to own a goodly piece of land, his neighbor to the southeast being Capt. John White. Its exact site has not been determined, but it was over the border, into what is now Plaistow. It faced the commons, and when that land was fenced in, he was ordered by the selectmen to erect a gate thereto by the side of his house. From 1690 to 1697 he was a minor officer in the 6th garrison, on what is now Mill St., its captain being John White. This blockhouse still stands. He was a member of Haverhill first church; selectman 1682, 1685, 1690 and 1697; grand juror 1692. He died July 3, 1717, his will dated 2 days previously. His posterity includes a majority of all the Dow 'b' family, the Dows of Plaistow, Salem, Windham, Atkinson, etc.


Stephen married Sep 13, 1663, Ann St-y d Feb 3, 1715, and must have been born by 1646. Altho the marriage is recorded in Haverhill, it is improbably that it took place there. If she had been a Haverhill resident, her parents would have been known. Next to Thomas Dow himself, no search in the family has been carried on with more assiduity than for Ann, and the results are far from conclusive. Her name appears many times but as Story and Stacy, about equally divided. Genealogical authorities do not give reasons for their choice. Hoyt, Old Families, gives: "Story (or Stacy)." Titcomb seems sure of Story, but that author took almost all her early data at second hand. Others have merely jumped at conclusions. As there was an Ann Stacy, most have used her name without searching for proof. A little investigation shows that no possible Ann Stacy is known. Simon Stace, immigrant, came with wife Elizabeth and children, -- Thomas, Sarah, Ann and perhaps others. They located in Ipswich. Elizabeth was the survivor and Mch 1670 (probated Mch 29) made a nuncupative will, --"as reced from her own mouth by Simon Stace, Sarah Stace, Ann Stace," in which she left to "my daughter Ann in consideration of her care of me in my old age all my other household stuff." Ann Stacy, therefore, was of Ipswich, living with her mother seven years after Stephen Dow was married and set up his Haverhill home. A Susannah Stacy, probably dau of simon, married Ipswich 1653 Joseph French (Edward 1) of Salisbury. Thomas Stacy, the first mentioned in the will, married Oct 4, 1663, Susannah, daughter of Rev. William Worcester of Salisbury. This couple moved to Salem, had 11 chcildren, but none was named Ann.


While there are many Mass towns whose vital statistics have not been published, there is none whose records prior to 1675 have not been exhaustively studied. In none occurs any Ann, Anna, Anne, Annie, whose last name can be distorted into St-y. There are but two logical conclusions, -- either she was born in Europe and her name is not found in any list of immigrants, or her birth record is not extant. We know that few early records of Ipswich exist.


The Author's belief is that she was Ann Story. In the list of passengers of the Rose & Dorothy from Yarmouth 1737(sic), incidentally shipmates of Henry Dow, there is a Samuel Dix, with wife, two daughters, two servants. One of these is William Storey born 1614. As Dix was a joiner, presumably Story was an apprentice in that trade. The Dix family has not been located. No other can well lbe the William Story, carpenter of Ipswich and Dover. He might have married a Dix; there was plenty of time to find a wife and raise a family in Ipswich, which has no records until 1648. The children of William Story are not all known, so there might have been an Ann among them. Deacon Seth Story, a son, became quite prominent in Ipswich. William himself moved to Dover 1648, but Dover records are as defective as Ipswich. He appears there in a deed as William Storer. He married 2nd, when both were too old for children, Sarah Starbuck of Dover. Incidentally it may be noted that Ann's oldest daughter married a Dover man. ⁵

     Ann Storey married Stephen Dow, son of Thomas Dow and Phebe (?), on 13 September 1663.¹ Ann Storey died on 3 February 1715.¹

     Johannah Corliss was born on 28 April 1650.¹ She was the daughter of George Corliss and Johanna Davis.¹ Johannah Corliss married Joseph Hutchins.¹ Johannah Corliss married Stephen Dow, son of Thomas Dow and Phebe (?), on 7 February 1716.¹ Johannah Corliss died on 29 October 1734 at age 84.¹

     Joseph Hutchins married Johannah Corliss, daughter of George Corliss and Johanna Davis.¹

     Johanna Davis married George Corliss.¹

     Thomas Dow was born circa 1615.¹ He married Phebe (?)¹ Thomas Dow died on 31 May 1654 at Haverhill, MA.¹

     Phebe (?) married Thomas Dow.¹ Phebe (?) married John Eaton.² Phebe (?) died on 3 November 1672.¹

     Josiah B. Dow was born on 29 May 1838 at Dover, Piscataquis Co., ME.¹ He was the son of Lyford Dow and Mary Sutherland.¹ Josiah B. Dow married Maria E. Waldron.¹

Josiah was a farmer of St. Albans. ²

     Maria E. Waldron married Josiah B. Dow, son of Lyford Dow and Mary Sutherland.¹

     Lyford Dow was born on 8 April 1802.² He was the son of Lyford Dow and Eunice Parsons.² Lyford Dow married Mary Sutherland.¹ Lyford Dow died on 29 May 1871 at age 69.¹

Lyford and Mary were enumerated in the 1850 Dover, Piscataquis Co., ME, federal census. He was a farmer age 48, she was 40. Children in the household were D. Jane 20, Cornelius 18, Hulda J. 16, Jas D. W. 14, Josiah 12, Pembroke 10, Mary 6, and Hannah M. 2.


Lyford and Mary were enumerated in the 1860 (East) Dover, Piscataquis Co., ME, federal census. He was a farmer, age 58; she was 50. Children in the household were Pembroke 20, Mary 16, Hannah 14, Josephine 12, Calista M. 8, Henrietta 5, and Charles Haywood 8.

     Mary Sutherland was born on 16 April 1810.¹ She married Lyford Dow, son of Lyford Dow and Eunice Parsons.¹ Mary Sutherland died on 20 September 1877 at Dover, Piscataquis Co., ME, at age 67.¹

     Lyford Dow was baptized on 4 September 1763.² He was the son of Daniel Dow.² Lyford Dow married Eunice Parsons on 11 November 1783.¹ Lyford Dow died on 7 April 1841 at age 77.¹

     Eunice Parsons was born circa 1770.¹ She married Lyford Dow, son of Daniel Dow, on 11 November 1783.¹ Eunice Parsons died in 1862 at Dover, Piscataquis Co., ME.¹

     Daniel Dow was born in 1737.² He was the son of Benjamin Dow.³ Daniel Dow died on 18 September 1816.¹

So far no tone of Daniel's children's birth records have been found in Epping, altho he lived there all his life except for a hiatus of about 12 years. Apparently, he married away from Epping and returned there just before the war, receiving the 70-acre gift of his father. Gov. Plumer in his ms notes; 1780 (year not certain), age conjectured, the first wife of Daniel Dow. The ms notes that the original entries are not wholly legible and it is evident that the ms entry was after the 2nd marriage. If she had been an Epping girl, her name might not have been given, but surely her age would not have been conjectured. He did not stay long to cultivate his patrimony, for he appeared in Haverhill, Mass, to enlist Aug. 1, 1775, 5th Reg, Capt. Jeremiah Gilman, Col. John Nixon; at Winter Hill Dec 1775; re-enlisted twice; finally discharged Nov. 30, 1777. Plumer ms notes his death Sept. 18, 1816, -- Daniel Dow, son of the late Benjamin Dow, Baptist Society, age disagreeing 2 years with enlistment papers, which gave him b. 1737. Plumer ms is quite prone to such minor errors.


Soon after his discharge Daniel returned to his Epping farm; married 2nd Mary Grant of Exeter, d. Jun 4, 1831. She was considerably younger than Daniel, and it is doubtful whether she had more than one child, altho the Epping baptism record attributes some to her, now known to be born before 1780.


The homestead has never left the family, -- it is now the 400-acre nursery farm of D. Webster Dow. Daniel was not satisfied with his old house and built a new one. He was his won architect, not even consulting his wife, for the house had not as much as a single window and wives generally demand plenty of windows as well as closets. The whole family moved in, but, happily for the health of all, it soon got the reputation of being haunted. The former house had been demolished, so a third had to be built in a hurry. After Daniel died his children altered the haunted house, putting in extra windows to make up for lost time. This structure with massive timbers was the homestead until about 1900, when a more modern house was built alongside, the old timbers being used. Daniel had not eye for architectural beauty, only a keen sense of stability.


His will dated Mch 3, 1816, made his son Noah executor, names 9 children, 3 grandchildren. Family tradition, surely correct, says there were 12 children. Baptism record finds 3, the rest from family records or from subsequent records.


Epping church has a record not easily explicable: Nov 6, 1773, Daniel Dow, son of Daniel, baptized on his own account only. A family tradition says that Noah Dow had an illegitimate son, whom he recognized. This is unlikely of Noah (q v), and it is not improbable that Daniel was the father of this youngster, who died in young manhood.⁴

     John Remington married Desire Patience Mason.

     Desire Patience Mason married John Remington.

     Elphalet Remington III was born on 12 November 1828 at Ilion, Herkimer Co., NY. He was the son of Eliphalet Remington Jr. and Abigail Paddock. Elphalet Remington III died on 2 April 1924 at age 95. He was buried at Ilion Cemetery, Ilion, Herkimer Co., NY; Remington Plot.

     Benjamin Dow was born on 27 April 1712.¹ He was the son of John Dow and Mary (?)^2,3 Benjamin Dow died in 1786.¹

     John Dow was born on 24 April 1685.¹ He was the son of Thomas Dow and Susannah (?)² John Dow married Mary (?)² John Dow died in 1738.¹

     Hendrick Dow was born in 1761.² He was the son of Daniel Dow and Elizabeth Marsh.² Hendrick Dow married Hannah Gilbert, daughter of Deacon James Gilbert and Eunice Nichols, on 4 April 1792 at New Haven, New Haven Co., CT.¹ Hendrick Dow died on 4 January 1814.¹

     Hannah Gilbert was born on 12 February 1765.¹ She was the daughter of Deacon James Gilbert and Eunice Nichols.¹ Hannah Gilbert married Hendrick Dow, son of Daniel Dow and Elizabeth Marsh, on 4 April 1792 at New Haven, New Haven Co., CT.¹ Hannah Gilbert died on 27 November 1850 at age 85.¹

     Deacon James Gilbert married Eunice Nichols.¹

     Eunice Nichols married Deacon James Gilbert.¹

     Daniel Dow was born on 13 May 1723.¹ He was the son of Ebenezer Dow and Martha Harris.¹ Daniel Dow married Elizabeth Marsh on 4 July 1751.¹

     Elizabeth Marsh married Daniel Dow, son of Ebenezer Dow and Martha Harris, on 4 July 1751.¹

     Ebenezer Dow was born on 26 May 1692.² He was the son of Thomas Dow and Susannah (?) Ebenezer Dow married Martha Harris, daughter of Ebenezer Harris and Rebecca Clark, on 29 December 1720.¹ Ebenezer Dow died on 2 October 1775 at age 83.¹

     Martha Harris was born on 27 October 1696.¹ She was the daughter of Ebenezer Harris and Rebecca Clark.¹ Martha Harris married Ebenezer Dow, son of Thomas Dow and Susannah (?), on 29 December 1720.¹ Martha Harris died on 4 February 1791 at age 94.¹

     Ebenezer Harris married Rebecca Clark.¹

     Rebecca Clark married Ebenezer Harris.¹

     Joseph Wise was born in 1617. He married Mary Thompson, daughter of John Thompson, on 3 December 1641 at Roxbury, MA.¹ Joseph Wise died on 12 September 1684 at Roxbury, MA.¹

     Mary Thompson was born on 14 November 1619 at Preston Capes, Northamptonshire, England.¹ She was the daughter of John Thompson.¹ Mary Thompson married Joseph Wise on 3 December 1641 at Roxbury, MA.¹ Mary Thompson died on 27 November 1651 at Roxbury, MA, at age 32.¹

     Jonathan Higgins was born in July 1637 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA.² He was the son of Richard Higgins and Lydia Chandler.² Jonathan Higgins married Elizabeth Rogers, daughter of Joseph Rogers and Hannah (?), on 9 January 1660 at Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.³ Jonathan Higgins died after 21 May 1711.²

     Elizabeth Rogers was born on 29 September 1639 at probably Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA.³ She was the daughter of Joseph Rogers and Hannah (?)^4,5 Elizabeth Rogers married Jonathan Higgins, son of Richard Higgins and Lydia Chandler, on 9 January 1660 at Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.³ Elizabeth Rogers died between 2 January 1677/78 and 4 July 1679 at Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.³

     Joseph Rogers was baptized on 23 January 1602/3 at Watford, County Northamptonshire, England.^1,3 He was the son of Thomas Rogers and Alice Cosford.^4,3,5 Joseph Rogers died between 2 and 15 Jan 1677/8.¹ He was buried at Old Cove Burial Ground, Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.¹

I, Joseph Rogers senir; of Eastham of Good Understanding and prfect memory being weake in body; and not knowing the the day of my departure out of this life, doe thinke meet to Leave this as my Last will and Testament.
Impr: I Comend my soule to God that Gave it; whoe is my God, and father in Jesus Christ, and my body to the earth by decent buriall;

firstly And Concerning my temporall estate that God hath posessed me off; I doe make my son Thomas Rogers whole and sole executor which I will should be disposed of as followeth;

Impr I doe Give unto my Loveing son James Rogers and his heires Lawfully begotten of his body: or the next of kinn; my house and housing and Land with ffences or the like appurtenances, that I now dwell in and Improve adjoyning to my house be it more or lesse; as it is Recorded & bounded on the Towne book, I say I doe Give it to him and to his heires Lawfully begotten of his body forever or the Next kinred;

Item I doe give To my sonnes John and James Rogers all my meadow Ground that I bought of the Indians ffrancis and Josiah, Lying att Pottammacutt and therabouts; I say I doe give and will it to them and theire heires forever equally to be devided

Item I do Give to my sonnes Thomas and John Rogers and theire heires all my meadow and sedge lying on the otherside of the Cove, on keeskagansett syde; I say I doe Give it to them and theire heires Lawfully begotten of theire bodys forever;

I doe Give to my Daughter Elizabeth higgens the wife of Johathan higgens six acrees of Land lying Neare the Barly necke, by the swamp Called Ceader swamp; as it is Recorded and bounded in the Towne book, I say I give this six acrees To her and her heires of her body for ever; shee nor they shall not sell hier farm it out, directly nor Indirectly to any prson whatsoever, except in Case of Removal it shalbe lawfull for my sonnes or their heires to buy or purchase it;

Item I Give to Benjah higgens my Grandchild on Condition hee live with mee untill I die; I say I Give to him and his heires, one third prte of all my upland and meddow att Paomett, purchased and unpurchased

Item It is my will That the Remainder of my lands or marshes, both att the barly necke, Pochett Iland Paomett Billingsgate or elswher purchased or unparchased not disposed of prticularly in my will; I say it is my will that all those lands be equally devided betwixt my three sonnes Thomas John and James Rogers; and the heires lawfully of theire bodyes for ever; Noteing that my son Thomas his twenty acrees of upland that already hee hath in the barly necke be prte of his devision of my land in the barly Necke;

Item I doe Give unto my daughter Hannah Rogers, if shee be not disposed of in Marriage before my decease, and my wifes deceasse, then I say I doe Give to her my bed and beding with all the furniture therto belonging or that shall belonge therto att our decease;

Alsoe it is my will that shee shall have her Choise of one Cow before my Cattle be distributed, and the use of three acrees of Tillage Ground; ffenced in, with the arable Ground of her bretheren in the barly necke if shee desire, it soe longe as shee lives unmarryed;

Item it is my will tha Benjah higgens shall have one of my Cowes after mine and my wifes decease

Item it is my will Concerning my Loveing wife hannah Rogers that shee live in My house as longe as shee lives, and shalbe Comfortably maintained by my stocke and to have the use of all my househoud stuffe, That shee Needs as longs as shee lives for her Comfort and that none of my household furniture of stocke be disposed of, as longe as shee lives, save onely hannahs Cowe

Item I will that ten shillings of my estate be disposed off for the Use of the Church of Christ in Eastham as shalbe Judged most Nessesarie

Item I will that the Remainder of my Stocke estate houshold furniture that my wife shall Leave att her decease Not disposed of in my will before written; be equally devided between all my Children; and Benjah higgins to have an equall share with each of them; This is my Last will and Testament as witnes my hand and seale this 2cond of January 1677,

Witnes Joseph Rogers and A seale
Signed and sealed in
the prsence of us
William Twining

John Banges made oath to this Will att the Court holden att Plymouth the 5th of March Anno Dom 1677:78.