| BIRTH | Ezekiel was born on 25 January 1614/15 in London, Hampstead, Middlesex, England[1]. |
| DEATH & BURIAL | He died in Boston, Suffolk co., MA on 21 August 1708; he was 94[2] and is buried in the Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Suffolk co., MA. His death record in the Boston vital records is most detailed: "Cheever, Ezekiel, schoolmaster, b. Jan. 25, 1614, in London, d. Aug. 21, 1708. M.C.". |
| OCCUPATION & FAMILY | Ezekiel is an example of how one could emigrate from England to America in the 17th century and rise far beyond what his station in life would have been had he remained in England. His grandfather was a Yeoman and father was a Skinner. But Ezekiel was most noted as Headmaster of the Boston Latin School. Boston Latin is the oldest public school in the country and still remains as a public school today. His sons graduated from Harvard College in Cambridge, Middlesex co., MA and became noted ministers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Quite a rise in a single lifetime. |
| EMIGRATION & RESIDENCES | He emigrated from London to Boston, Suffolk co., MA before 1637. The exact date and name of the ship is lost. In 1638, they moved to New Haven, New Haven co., CT, where his first wife died in 1649. In 1650, he moved the family back to Massachusetts, removing to Ipswich, Essex co., MA. Then, in November 1661, he was back in Charlestown, Suffolk co., MA. Finally, he removed to Boston, Suffolk co., MA by 6 January 1670, where he apparently remained until his death in 1708[2,3]. |
| LEGAL WRANGLINGS AND HIS SECOND WIFE |
Much is known of Ezekiel's second wife Ellen Lathrop's brother Thomas, but little of her. He was a hero of the
King Philip's War and was killed at the Battle of Bloody Brook. Having died intestate, the wrangling over his
estate provides much of the information on Ellen. Most of this information is from her husband's depositions, and
can be considered quite biased since the Cheevers were trying to get the courts to give Thomas' estate to them
instead of giving it to Thomas' wife, Bethiah. After nearly a decade of legal wrangling over the estate, the
estate was left to his wife Bethiah, going to his sister Ellen and her heirs after Bethiah's death.
According to her husband's testimony, she was brought over from England with her brother Thomas, arriving in Salem in 1633[20]. Ezekiel's testimony is as follows: "My brother, when he brought his sister from England with him from all her friends and relations very loathe to part with her, used this as a great argument with her mother to persuade her. Viz: That he had no children of his own, nor was likely to have any: and otherwise he must give what he had to strangers..."[21,22,23] |
| MARRIAGE #1 | Before 1638 when Ezekiel was 23, he first married Mary [surname not known], in Charlestown, Suffolk co., MA or Ipswich, Essex co., MA[1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Mary died on 20 January 1649 in New Haven, New Haven co., CT. |
| CHILDREN | i. | Samuel CHEEVER | Reverend Samuel was born on 22 September 1639 in New Haven, New Haven co., CT[24]. Samuel died in Marblehead, Essex co., MA on 29 May 1724 "in the 85th year of his age, and of his ministry the 50th."[24] Samuel graduated from Harvard College in 1659 and was ordained on 13 August 1684. He preached at Marblehead for 16 years before his death[24]. | |
| ii. | Mary CHEEVER | Mary was baptized on 29d:9m:1640. | ||
| iiI. | Ezekiel1 CHEEVER | He was baptized 12d:4m:1642 and died before 1 July 1655; he was 13. | ||
| iv. | Elizabeth CHEEVER | Elizabeth was baptized in New Haven, CT. on 6 April 1645 (6d:2m:1645)[2]. She married S. GOOLDTHIRT [GOLDTHWAITHE] and died young. | ||
| v. | Sarah CHEEVER | Sarah was baptized on 21d:7m:1646. | ||
| vi. | Hannah CHEEVER | Hannah was baptized on 25d:4m:1648. |
| MARRIAGE #2 | On 18 November 1652 when Ezekiel was 38, he second married Ellen LATHROP, in Charlestown, Suffolk co. or Ipswich, Essex co., MA[3,11,9,12,13,14,15,16,17,8,1,18,19,7,6,2]. Ellen was perhaps born in Beverly, Essex co., MA and died on 10 September 1706 in Boston, Suffolk co., MA. |
| CHILDREN | i. | Thomas CHEEVER | Please see his own page. | |
| ii. | Abigail CHEEVER | She was born on 20 October 1653. | ||
| iii. | Nathaniel CHEEVER | Nathaniel was born on 23 June 1657 in Ipswich, Essex co., MA as "Cheever, Nathaniell"[25]. Nathaniel died on 12 July 1657 in Ipswich, Essex co., MA[44]. | ||
| iv. | Susanna CHEEVER | Susannah was born on 5 June 1693. | ||
| v. | William CHEEVER | William was born on 23 January 1664, baptized on 29 January 1664 and died on 5 February 1664[2]. | ||
| vi. | Ezekial2 CHEEVER |
Ezekiel2 was born on 1 July 1655. This Ezekiel Cheever is the one who was the obsequious toady clerk during the Salem
Witch Trials of 1692. His unfortunate role was immortalized by Arthur Miller in "The Crucible". However, these
depositions give a fascinating insight into the events and minds of the time:
He gave a second version of the examination of Bridget Bishop, who was executed on 10 June 1692[45,46].
Ezekiel, Thomas Putnam, Peter Prescott & Robert Morrell vs. George Burroughs:
Ann Puttnam declared har above written avidence to be the truth:before the Jury of Inquest: August
3:92:upon her oath. He is listed as a witness on several indictments against Martha Corey, executed 22 September 1692[49,50]. He and Edward Putnam later gave the following deposition against Martha Corey: "The deposition of Edward Putnam aged about 36 years and Ezekiel Cheever aged about 37 years testifieth and sayeth that wee being often complained unto by An Putnum that goode Corie did often appear to her and tortor her by pinching and other ways thought it our duty to doe to her and see what shee would say to this complaint shee being in church covenant with us. And accordingly upon the 12th day of march about ten of the clock we appointed to goe about the midle afternoon, and wee desired An Putnam to take good notice of what cloathes good Corie came in that so we might see whither shee was not mistaken in the person, and according wee went to the house of Thomas Putnum before we went to goode Corie to see what An could say about her cloathes, and shee told us that presently after we had #[spoken] told her that we would goe and talke with goode Corie shee came and blinded her but told her that her name was Corie and that shee should see her no more before it was night because she should not tell us what cloathes shee had on and then shee would come again and pay her off. Then wee went both of us away from the house of Thomas Putnam to the house of Giles Corie where we found go the abovesaid Corie all alone in her house and as soone as we came in. in a smiling manner shee sayeth I know what you are come for you are come to talke with me about being a witch butr I am none I cannot helpe peoples talking of me Edward Putnum answered her that it was the afflicted person that did complain of her that was the occasion of our coming to her. she presently replied but does shee tell you what cloathes I have on we made her no answer to this at her first asking where upon shee asked us again with very great eagernes but does she tell you what cloathes I have on at which questions with that eagerness of mind.with which shee did aske made us to thinke of what An Putnum had told us before wee went to her. to which and wee told her no shee did not for shee told us that youcame and blinded her and told her that shee should see you no more before it was night that so shee might not tell us what cloathes you had on. shee made but litle answer to this but seemed to smile at it as if shee had showed us a pretty trick We had a great deal of talke with her about the complaint that was of her and how greatly the name of God and religion and thee church was dishonoured by this meanes but shee seemed to be no way conserned for any thing about it but only to stop the mouthes of people that they might not say thus of her shee told us that shee did not thinke that they were accused for shee said if there wee could not blame the devill for making witches of them for they were idle sloathfull persons and minded nothing that was good. but we had no reason to thinke so of her for shee had made a profession of christ and rejoyced to go and hear the word of god and the like. but we told her it was not her making an out ward profession that would clear her from being a witch for it had often been so in the wourld that witches had crept into the churches: much more discourse we had with her but shee made her profession a cloake to cover all she furder told us that the devill was come down amongst us i great rage and that God had forsaken the earth. and after much discourse with her being to much here to be related we returned to the house of the above said Thomas Putnum and we found that shee had done as shee said shee would for shee came not to hurt the above said Putnum as she Ann Putnam told us all this time but after we were gone we understand that shee came again as shee did use to doe before greatly afflicting of her. We doe furder testifie that upon her examination shee accordeng to what was said of her 6that shee would open thee eyes of the magistrates and ministers. so shee did for shee made a most clear discovery witchcraft for by biting thee eyes of the mafistrates and ministers. so shee did for shee made a most clear discovery witchcraft for by biting her lip it was observed that the afflicted #[children] persons were bit when that was discovered then we observed that shee would #[pinch] pinch them by niping her fingers togeather and when that was discovered then shee pressed upon the seate with her breast and mistress Pope was greatly afflicted by great pressure upon her stomack Jurat in Curia Sept. 8. 92 (Reverse) Mr Ezekell Cheevers: affimd: to the Jury of inquest: that he saw: Martha wife of Giles Cory examied before the majestrates: at which time he observed that the sŐd Cory: some times did: bite her lip: and when she bit her lip: Mercy Lewis and Eliza'th Hubbard and others of the afflicted persons: were bitten: also when sŐd Cory: pinched her fingers to gether: then mer Lewis & elizabeth Hubbard and others were pinched: and when according to: the motions of s'd martha Coryes body: so was the afflicted persons: afflicted: this he affirmd to be true according to the best of his observation: Mr Edward Putnam affirmd the same: to the Jury of inquest that : Mr Cheevers doth. Mr Thomas Putnam affirmed the same: all upon aothe all of them -- Ed Putman, Eliz. Cheever."[51,52] Ezekiel and Thomas Putnam also gave a deposition against Tituba on 23 May 1692[53,54]. On 17 June 1680 when Ezekiel2 was 24, he married Abigaile LIPPINGWELL, in Salem, Essex co., MA[55]. |
| GENERATION | G8 (Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great) Grandfather |
| FAMILY NUMBER | 1888 |
| SOURCES |
1. Wyman, Thomas Bellows,
The Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown, 2 vols.,
(Boston: D. Clapp and Son, 1879),
[Charlestown], 209. 2. Ibid. 206. 3. Torrey, Charles, New England Marriages Prior to 1700., (Boston: New England Historic and Genealogical Society). [Torrey]. 4. New England Historic and Genealogical Register. Vols. 1+, (Boston: New England Historic and Genealogical Register, 1845+), [NEHGR], 3:103; 33:164,170,182,192; 38:172. 5. Perley, Sidney, The History of Salem, Massachusetts, 3 vols., (Salem: Sidney Perley, 1924), [Salem], 3:141. 6. Booth, Charles Edwin, One Branch of the Booth Family, Showing the Lines of Connection with One Hundred Massachusetts Bay Colonists, (New York: privately printed, 1910), [Booth (1910)], 70. 7. Savage, James A., A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, 1860-1862., (Boston 1860-1862; rpt Baltimore 1955), [Savage], 1:371 8. DeForest, Louis Effingham, Our Colonial and Continental Ancestors: The Ancestry of Mr. and Mrs. Louis William Dommerich, (New York, N.Y.: The DeForest Publ. Co., 1930), [DommerichChart], 24. 9. Hassam, John T., The Cheever Family, (Boston: privately printed, 1896), [Cheever], 5. 10. Sibley, John Langdon, Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University, (Cambridge: C.W. Sever, 1873-85), [Sibley's Harv. Grad.], 2:38. 11. Ibid. 2:501. 12. [NEHGR], 33:170,192; 38:172. 13. Perley, Sidney, The History of Salem, Massachusetts, 3 vols., (Salem: Sidney Perley, 1924), [Salem], 1:283; 3:141. 14. Pope, Charles Henry, The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623 to 1660, (Boston: C.H. Pope, 1908), [PopesPioneersofMEandNH], 292, 96. 15. Johnson, Alvin Page, Franklin D. Roosevelt's Colonial Ancestors; Their Part in Making American History, (Boston: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., ca. 1933), [RooseveltAnc], 89. 16. Essex Institute Historical Collections, vol. 1+, (Salem, Mass., 1859+), [EIHC], 54:123. 17. The Genealogical Magazine, (Salem, Mass.: Salem Press, 1890+), [GenMag or Putnam's Mag.], 7:9; 3:27. 18. Huntington, Rev. E. B., A Genealogical Memoir of the Lo-Lathrop Family, (Ridgefield Conn.: privately printed, 1884), [Lathrop], 407. 19. Farwell, John Dennis, Jane Harter Abbott, and Lillian M. Wilson, The Farwell Family, A History of Henry Farwell and His Wife Olive (Welby) Farwell of Boston, England, and of Concord and Chelmsford, Mass., 1605 to 1927, with Twelve Generations of Their Descendants; Also Many Lineages of Allied Families, 2 vols., (Rutland, Vt.: F.H. Farwell, 1929), [Farwell(1929)], 281. 20. Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633., (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society), [GreatMig.], II:1204. 21. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686, 9 volumes, (Salem 1911-1975), [EQC], 6:93-7. 22. The Probate Records of Essex County, [Essex Prob or EPR], 3:25-32. 23. Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633., (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society), [GreatMig.], II:1203. 24. Marblehead, Essex co., MA Vital Records. [MarbleheadVR], 515 [C.R. 1] 25. Ipswich, Essex co., MA Vital Records, [IpswichVR], I:85 [Ct. R.]. 26. Shurtleff, Benjamin, The History of the Town of Revere, (Boston: 1937), [Shurtleff-Revere], 43. 27. Ibid. 427. 28. Chelsea, Suffolk co., MA Vital Records, [ChelseaVR], 464. 29. Ibid. 428. 30. [Shurtleff-Revere], 427-8. 31. Ibid. 428. 32. Ibid. 92. 33. Ibid. 42. 34. Ibid. 139. 35. [Sibley's Harv. Grad.], 2:505. 36. New England Historic and Genealogical Register. Vols. 1+, (Boston: New England Historic and Genealogical Register, 1845+), [NEHGR], 38:176. 37. Bill, Ledyard, History of the Bill Family, (New York, 1867), [Bill], 68. 38. Hassam, John T., The Cheever Family, (Boston: privately printed, 1896), [Cheever], 9. 39. [DommerichChart], 48. 40. Hudson, Charles, History of the Town of Lexington, Middlesex County, From its First Settlement to 1860, (2 vols.), (Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1913), [Lexington], 4:337. 41. Boston, Suffolk co., MA Vital Records, [BostonVR or BVR], 28:9. 42. [ChelseaVR], 463. 43. [BostonVR or BVR], 28:164. 44. [IpswichVR], I:521 [Ct. R.]. 45. Essex County Archives, Salem Witchcraft, 1:36. 46. The Salem Witchcraft Trials: A Documentary History of 1692, (Salem, MA: The Nova Anglia Company, 2001), [SalemWitch], 15-16. 47. Ibid. 58. 48. Essex County Archives, Salem Witchcraft, 2:11. 49. Ibid. Withchcraft, 1:12-13. 50. The Salem Witchcraft Trials: A Documentary History of 1692, (Salem, MA: The Nova Anglia Company, 2001), [SalemWitch], 104-105. 51. Ibid. 107-8. 52. Essex County Archives, Salem Witchcraft, 1:13. 53. Ibid. Witchcraft, 1:11. 54. The Salem Witchcraft Trials: A Documentary History of 1692, (Salem, MA: The Nova Anglia Company, 2001), [SalemWitch], 357. 55. Salem, Essex co., MA Vital Records. [SalemVR], III:208 56. [Shurtleff-Revere], 76,84. 57. Lynn, Essex co., MA Vital Records, [LynnVR], II:455. 58. [BostonVR or BVR], 28:95. 59. [Shurtleff-Revere], 83. 60. Lewis, Alonzo, The History of Lynn, Including Nahant, (Boston: Samuel N. Dickinson, second edition, 1844), [LynnHist(1844)], 269-270. 61. [BostonVR or BVR], 28:3. 62. [Shurtleff-Revere], 76. 63. [LynnVR], II:93. 64. [Shurtleff-Revere], 84. 65. [BostonVR or BVR], 9:173. 66. Ibid. 9:189. 67. Ibid. 9:195. 68. Ibid. 2:220 [First Church]. 69. Ibid. 9:200. 70. Ibid. 9:214. 71. [LynnVR], I:104. 72. Ibid. I:105. 73. Ibid. [P.R. 5 - Zaccheus Collins Diary]. 74. Malden, Middlesex co., MA Vital Records, [MaldenVR], 95 75. [LynnVR], I:103. 76. [IpswichVR], II:96 [Ct. R.]. 77. [Shurtleff-Revere], 85. 78. [LynnVR], II:151. 79. Beverly, Essex co., MA Vital Records, [BevVR], I:149 [C.R. 1 - First Parish Unitarian Church in Beverly]. 80. Commonwealth of MA Vital Records, [MAVR], Death Records 1880, Volume 319, Page 230, #5, Lynn [Maria A. Sweetser]. 81. [LynnVR], II:599. 82. Ibid. II:363. 83. Ibid. I:388.
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