Person:Ephraim Hildreth (1)

Name Prefix:<NPFX> "Major" REFN: 15507 Major Ephraim Hildreth was a farmer by occupation but also had talents as a surveyor and was often so employed. The town of Dracut was set off from Chelmsford in 1701, and in 1711, he a resident of the new town, was selected to "lay off all country roads and all convenient ways which the town wants and stands in need of." In 1712, after he had made a survey, he made four reports to Colonel Tyng, Major Lane and Lieutenant Stearns on the proposed division and apportionment of the reserved lands in Dracut. Herevised the old roads and laid out need new ones in 1716. He was appointed to perambulate the lines between the towns of Dracut and Methuen and Dracut and Dunstable in 1728. In 1736, on 31 September, he passed on all of the bargains andsales made by the town of the reserved hands which he had previously surveyed,and finally in 1727 he was chosen surveyor to determine the rights and limitations of the original settlers of Dracut. In Dracut's local government Hildreth held all of the town offices at various periods. In addition to being surveyor of highways, tythingman, assessor, selectman, town treasurer and moderator, he served as town clerk almost continuously from 1713 until his death in 1740. In 1716 he was appointed to "go to Concord to wait upon ye court to try to get offfrom paying to Billerica about ye great bridge," and maintenance of which was apparently a joint obligation of several adjoining towns. He may have been successful for he was sent on the same errand in 1731, receiving £3: 5: 0 for entertaining the selectmen when he was on town's business. He was also active in the militia - Sergeant in 1712, Lieutenant in 1720, Captain in 1722 and Major in 1736. In 1708 as a young man, he was fined 20s for "reproachful speeches and actions." The means that he had the nerve to criticize the Dracut parson. Thereafter, however, he was active in church affairs. "Sergeant Hildreth was appointedby the town to treat with Mr. Wigglesworth about preaching" in 1712, and in 1718 he was voted room to construct a pew on the south side of the meetinghouse. Years before his death Ephraim had given land to the town to use as a graveyard. The gift was made verbally, so in 1752 his sons Ephraim, William and Elijah confirmed it by a deed to the town which was recorded in the Dracut records. Hiswill was proved 24 November 1740. He directs that "so much of my out Land at tyngs Town and Saw mill there and my Negro boy Cuffe and so much of my Stock as will make up enough to Pay all my Just Debts and Dues with what Bonds I have Due to me for sums of money Shall be Sould...to pay all my Just Debts and Dues and funeral charges." To his wife Mercy, one-third part of his movable estate anda third part of his real estate that he had not given to his sons by deed, during her natural life. To his daughter mercy, £100 in current money or bills ofcredit. To his fours sons, Thomas, William, Levy and Elijah Hildreth, all the remainder of his estate, both real and personal, and, after he decease, all thethird given to his wife, to be equally divided between them. "I have given to my sone Robert Hildreth four Hundred Pounds money which he hadth had in full ofhis Portion of my Estate. His sons Josiah, Zachariah and Ephraim Hildreth had had deeds of their full portions. Executor: his son Ephraim. Witnesses: RichardHildreth, Stephen Rusel, Josiah Richardson. The appraisal, in a total of £3179: 8: 0, included £390: 8: 0 of debts due to him. His lands comprised his homestead of 200 acres, 100 acres and two barns at the Merrimac river, 50 acres bought of Gov. Belcher, 150 acres at Winthrop's farm, an interest in the corn and sawmills on Beaver brook and the land, meadow and sawmill in Tyngs Town, all valued at £2250. His "apperill" was worth £22 and in the barns, besides the usual utensils, were 2 pairs of oxen, a pair of steers, 10 cows, 2 heifers, 8 yearlings and 5 calves, a horse and a mare, 8 sheep an