Esther Catlin

Esther married Ebenezer Smead about 1694. Ebenezer (son of William Smead, Jr and Elizabeth Lawrence) was born on 9 May 1675 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 19 Jul 1753 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Ebenezer Smead was born on 5 Dec 1695; and died.
2. Esther Smead was born on 18 Oct 1696 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 17 Dec 1736 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA.
3. Elizabeth Smead was born on 24 Dec 1698 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 1 May 1774 in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA.
4. Thankful Smead was born on 23 Dec 1700 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 21 Apr 1760 in Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA.
5. Ruth Smead was born on 5 Sep 1702 in Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; died on 19 Jan 1765 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.
6. Ebenezer Smead was born on 12 Oct 1704 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 31 Oct 1783 in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA.
7. Jonathan Smead was born on 19 Jan 1707 in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 29 Apr 1783 in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA.
8. Joseph Smead was born on 25 Nov 1713 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 17 Sep 1783 in Conway, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA.
9. Abigail Smead was born on 29 Jan 1718 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 4 Dec 1755 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA.

Notes:

No family suffered more than his in the decimation of the town in 1704. His buildings were all burned and he and his son, Jonathan with them. One son was killed in the Meadows Fight, another saw three daughters captured - two of them killed on the march. The Deerfield massacre occurred as follows: In the middle of winter, the Governor of Canada sent a large war party towards the town of Deerfield, Massachusetts. It was sent, not because of any harm Deerfield could do Canada, but to keep the Indians in the Massachusetts area stirred up against the English and not allow them any time to develop any friendlier connections. The party was made up of 50-60 Frenchmen and 2-300 Indians. Deerfield had only 41 houses at the time, a population of 268 at the time of the attack. It had been a very cold winter and a recent heavy snow covered the ground. The river was frozen to a depth of 3 feet. The French and Indians came upon Deerfield in the early morning hours of the 28th. There was a patrol inside the little fort, but they were not professional soldiers and towards the morning, they went to sleep. It was two hours before dawn that the French leader, Hertel de ROUVILLE, took his men from hiding and descended upon the sleeping community.

They were inside the pallisade before anyone knew they were there. Within minutes buildings were ablaze and the shrieks of inhabitants filled the air. Two houses on the north end of Deerfield were well fortified and many] had gathered here for safety. The Stebbin and Sheldon houses were attacked and a hole was hacked in the Sheldon house and Mrs. Sheldon was shot and killed as she sat on her bed, and her two year old daughter, Mercy, had her head bashed on the door stone. It was in this house that John's wife, Mary, shown as a bright star in a black night. Her husband, son and grandson having been killed, Mary found it within herself to care for a wounded French officer. When he was brought to the house he was in great pain and cried out for a drink. It was Mary who responded to his call and did all she could to comfort him. It was probably because of this that she was allowed to remain behind when all the other prisoners were marched off to Canada. The march to Canada is fully chronicled by the Reverend John Williams in his book "The Redeemed Captive". Out of 120 captives who left Deerfield, only 60 were alive when they were

ransomed from Canada two years later.

John married Mary Baldwin on 23 Sep 1662 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Mary (daughter of Joseph Baldwin and Hannah Whitlock) was born on 23 Jun 1644; died on 9 Apr 1704. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Isabella Ward before 1643. Isabella was born about 1621 in Branford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died on 8 Dec 1676 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Hannah Whitlock. Hannah was born about 1613 in , , , England; died on 2 Nov 1684 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Richard married Isabell Harding. Isabell was born about 1582 in Cholesbury, Buckinghamshire, England; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Richard married Ellen Pooke in 1552 in Aston, Clinton, Buckinghamshire, England. Ellen was born in 1507 in Aston, Clinton, Buckinghamshire, England; died on 24 Nov 1565 in Aston, Clinton, Buckinghamshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Agnes Dormer. Agnes (daughter of William Dormer and Jane Launcelyn) was born about 1482 in Wycombe, Buckshire, England; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]