Ebenezer Bird and Priscilla Tolman

Citing this biography: Boyd, Michelle, "Ebenezer Bird and Priscilla Tolman," article, Olive and Eliza, last accessed [current date]."

Ebenezer Bird was born 5 March 1708 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts to James Bird and Miriam --. His birth record notes that he "was Born march the 5th 1708 unsesonable." While I do not know for certain what this unusual term means, unseasonable could mean either premature or illegitimate (either born before or curiously close after his parents' birth date). As Ebenezer had a number of older siblings, illegitimacy is not likely. Perhaps, Ebenezer was born prematurely and survived.

Ebenezer married Priscilla Tolman 20 Nov 1733 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts (marriage intention 12 October 1733). Priscilla was born 31 August 1715 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts to John Tolman and Elizabeth White.

Ebenezer was a weaver. He wrote his will 13 January 1753. Ebenezer died 17 January 1753 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts at age 45. His will was proved 29 January 1753 and was buried at Dorchester North Burying Ground, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts.

Priscilla died 5 October 1760 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts at age 45. She was buried at Dorchester North Burying Ground, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts.

Ebenezer and Priscilla’s children are:

1	Elizabeth Bird, born 23 Sep 1734 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, mentioned in her father's will when she was 18.
2	Ebenezer Bird, born 9 Aug 1736 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, married 1) Jane Clapp 8 Feb 1759 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, moved to Williamsburg, Hampshire, Massachusetts after 7 January 1780, possibly married 2) Sarah? --? (though the clerk may have made an error, writing Sarah, instead of Jane), listed in Williamsburg in 1790 and in Conway, Franklin, Massachusetts in 1800, married 2 or 3) Molly Ripley 23 Jan 1794 in Williamsburg, Hampshire, Massachusetts, a housewright, will written 4 Mar 1807 and proved 5 Apr 1810, died 23 Feb 1810 in Williamsburg, Hampshire, Massachusetts. Wife 1: Jane Clapp, b. 5 Jun 1739 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts to Jonathan Clapp and Jane Tucker. Wife 2?: (Sarah --?), d. 20 Mar 1793 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts (the clerk could possibly have made an error, writing Sarah, instead of Jane). Wife 2 or 3: Molly Ripley, m. 1) Nehemiah White, listed as the head of household in Williamsburg, Hampshire, Massachusetts in the 1810 census.
3	Priscilla Bird, born 13 Oct 1738 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, died 20 Nov 1738 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts.
4	James Bird, born 7 May 1740 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, mentioned in his father's will when he was 12.
5	Priscilla Bird, born 6 Mar 1743 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, mentioned in her father's will when she was 9.
6	Mary Bird, born 25 Dec 1745 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, mentioned in her father's will when she was 7.
7	Miriam Bird, born 13 May 1749 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, mentioned in her father's will when she was 3.

Summary of Sources

Suffolk County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, 1636-1899; Author: Massachusetts. Probate Court (Suffolk County); Probate Place: Suffolk, Massachusetts. Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data:Massachusetts County, District and Probate Courts.
Probate Records, Vol 25-26, 1807-1810, part of Probate Records, 1660-1916; Index, 1660-1971; Author: Massachusetts. Probate Court (Hampshire
County); Probate Place: Hampshire, Massachusetts. Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data:Massachusetts County, District and Probate Courts.
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data:Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).
Dorchester Antiquarian: Marriages and Intentions, 1733-1836. Manuscript. R Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2019) The Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society Papers, Subgroup III, folders 35-41, https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2765/i/55385/5/1425506940, last accessed 30 June 2021.
First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Second Census of the United States, 1800. NARA microfilm publication M32 (52 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Fallon, William J. (chair), Annual Report of the Cemetery Department for the Year 1904-1905, Boston, 1905, p. 69.
Gravestones of Ebenezer Bird and Priscilla Bird, Dorchester North Burying Ground, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts.

Source Materials

Click on each category below to expand and see the copies of sources used to create the biography above (copyrighted and other restricted items are listed in the summary of sources above but not included below). Click again to close.

Will of Ebenezer Bird, 1753

Will of Ebenezer Bird, page 1 — Will of Ebenezer Bird,
Page 1

Source: Suffolk County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, 1636-1899; Author: Massachusetts. Probate Court (Suffolk County); Probate Place: Suffolk, Massachusetts. Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data:Massachusetts County, District and Probate Courts.

Will of Ebenezer Bird, written 1807, probate 1810

Source: Probate Records, Vol 25-26, 1807-1810, part of Probate Records, 1660-1916; Index, 1660-1971; Author: Massachusetts. Probate Court (Hampshire
County); Probate Place: Hampshire, Massachusetts. Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data:Massachusetts County, District and Probate Courts.

Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts

Births:

Birth record of Ebenezer Burd — Ebenezer Bird, son of
James and Miriam
Bird
5 Mar 1708

Birth record of Precilla Toleman — Precilla Toleman,
daughter of John
and Elizabeth
Toleman
31 Aug 1715

Birth record of Elizabeth Bird — Elizabeth Bird,
daughter of
Ebenezer and
Priscilla Bird
23 Sep 1734

Birth record of Ebenezer Bird — Ebenezer Bird, son
of Ebenezer and
Priscilla Bird
9 Aug 1736

Birth record of Priscilla Bird — Priscilla Bird, daughter
of Ebenezer and
Priscilla Bird
13 Oct 1738

Birth record of Jane Clap — Jane Clap, daughter
of Jonathan and
Jane Clap
5 Jun 1739

Birth record of James Bird — James Bird, son of
Ebenezer and
Priscilla Bird
7 May 1740

Birth record of Mary Bird — Mary Bird,
daughter of
Ebenezer and
Priscilla Bird
25 Dec 1745

Birth record of Miriam Bird — Miriam Bird,
daughter of
Ebenezer and
Priscilla Bird
13 May 1749

Marriages:

Marriage record of Ebenezer Bird and Priscilla Tolman — Ebenezer Bird and
Priscilla Tolman
20 Nov 1733

Marriage record of Ebenezer Bird and Jane Clap — Ebenezer Bird and
Jane Clap
8 Feb 1759

Deaths:

Death record of Priscilla Bird — Priscilla Bird,
daughter of
Ebenezer and
Priscilla Bird
20 Nov 1738

Death record of Ebenezer Bird — Ebenezer Bird
17 Jan 1753

Death record of the widow of Ebenezer Bird — The relict widow of
Ebenezer Bird
5 Oct 1760

Williamsburg, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Marriages:

Marriage record of Ebenezer Bird and widow Molly White — Ebenez^r Bird and
widow Molly White
23 Jan 1794

Deaths:

Source: Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data:Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).

Dorchester Marriage Intentions:

Marriage intention of Ebenezer Bird and Priscilla Tolman — Ebenezer Bird and
Priscilla Tolman
12 Oct 1733

Source: Dorchester Antiquarian: Marriages and Intentions, 1733-1836. Manuscript. R Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2019) The Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society Papers, Subgroup III, folders 35-41, https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2765/i/55385/5/1425506940 , last accessed 30 June 2021.

Copies of census records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.

1790

Williamsburgh, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Name:   Ebenezer Bird
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):   Williamsburgh, Hampshire, Massachusetts
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16:   1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:   1
Free White Persons - Females:   2
Number of Household Members:   4

Source: First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

1800

Conway, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Name:   Ebenezer Bird
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):   Conway, Hampshire, Massachusetts
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:   1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:   1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:   1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:   1
Number of Household Members Under 16:   1
Number of Household Members Over 25:   2
Number of Household Members:   4

Source: Second Census of the United States, 1800. NARA microfilm publication M32 (52 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

1810

Williamsburg, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Name:   Molly Bird
Home in 1810 (City, County, State):   Williamsburg, Hampshire, Massachusetts
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15:   1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:   1
Number of Household Members Under 16:   1
Number of Household Members Over 25:   1
Number of Household Members:   2

Source: Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Photos are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the photo in another tab.

Dorchester North Burying Ground, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts

Gravestone of Ebenezer Bird — Ebenezer Bird
Photo credit: Jeffrey
James,
findagrave.com

Gravestone of Priscilla Bird — Priscilla Bird
Photo credit: Jeffrey
James,
findagrave.com

HERE LIES Ye BODY OF | Mr EBENEZER BIRD | WHO DIED JANy. 17th I 1753; | IN Ye 45th YEAR | OF HIS AGE

Source: Fallon, William J. (chair), Annual Report of the Cemetery Department for the Year 1904-1905, Boston, 1905, p. 69.