Ebenezer Nims

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact 1: 29 Feb 1704, Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; Ebenezer & stepmother captured and taken to Canada by indians.
• Fact 2: Mar 1704, Lorette, Quebec, Canada; Stepmother was killed on march to Canada & he was adopted by a squaw.
• Fact 3: 1710, Lorette, Quebec, Canada; Ebenezer was married and had first child while in captivity
• Fact 4: 1714, Lorette, Quebec, Canada; Released from captivity

Notes:

Source: Nims Family Association:

Ebenezer Nims, captured in 1704, was then 17 years old and made the march to Canada, was adopted by a squaw and lived at Lorette. Of his romantic marriage to Sarah Hoyt (born May 6th 1686, to David & Sarah Wilson Hoyt). Mr. Sheldon says:

"The priest urged her to marry. They pertinaciously, insisted upon it as a duty, and had a French officer selected as her mate, thus assuring themselves of permanent resident and popish converts. Professing to be convinced of her duty in ther, Sara declared one day in public that she would be married, if any of her fellow-captives would have her. Ebenezer Nims, a life-long companion, at once stepped forward and claimed her for his bride. The twain was made one upon the spot. The wily priests had met their match, for it is easy to believe that this was a prearranged issue on the part of the lovers."

Gazeteer of Cheshire County N.H.
1704-1737

Part First, Gazeteer of Towns , Page 378

John and Ebenezer Nims were the sons of Godfrey Nims of Deerfield, Mass. Godfrey had eleven children, all of whom, with the exception of the two sons mentioned and one daughter, were destroyed while captives after the raid on Deerfield, in 1704. Ebenezer married Sarah Hoyt while both were captives in Canada, and their eldest son, Ebenezer, was born there Feb 14, 1713. They returned to Deerfield to help his brother John rebuild the house Godrey had built and that had been destroyed by the natives. David, second son of Ebenezer, was born in Deerfield, Mass. March 30, 1716, came to Deerfield 1737 and was probably the first one of the family there. He married Abagail Hawks and was the first town clerk.

Ebenezer and Sarah had 5 children; Ebenezer Jr. (1712), David, Moses, Elisha and Amasa.

He is believed to be buried in the Old Deerfield burial ground near his family.

Ebenezer married Sarah Hoyt in 1710 in Lorette, Quebec, Canada. Sarah (daughter of David Hoyt and Mary Wilson) was born on 6 May 1686 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 11 Jan 1761 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Ebenezer Nims was born on 14 Feb 1712 in Lorette, Quebec, Canada; died in 1777 in Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire, USA.
2. David Nims was born on 30 Mar 1716 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 21 Jul 1803 in Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire, USA; was buried in Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire, USA.
3. Moses Nims was born on 9 May 1718 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 27 Aug 1772 in Conway, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA.
4. Elisha Nims was born on 20 Jul 1720 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 10 Jun 1746 in Fort Massachusetts, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA.
5. Amasa Nims was born on 31 Jan 1724 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1767 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact 1: Godefrois Nismes
• Fact 2: Huguenot?
• Fact 4: Soldier in King Phillip's War.
• Fact 3: 1667; Northampton, Massachusetts
• Fact 5: 18 May 1676; Engaged in the "Falls Fight".
• Residence: 1679, Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA

Notes:

The background of Godfrey Nims of Deerfield, Massachusetts is a mystery. One family tradition has it that he was a Huguenot, came to America as a lad, at first spelled his name Godefroi de Nismes, but changed the spelling to suit the colonial pronunciation. Others suggest he was of English birth with French ancestry. No documentary evidence has been found to verify any country of origin despite the efforts made over the years by The Nims Family Association.

The first official record of Godfrey Nims appears on September 24, 1667, in a Springfield, Massachusetts, court record. The transcript follows:

James Bennet, Godfrey Nims & Benoni Stebbins, young lads of Northampton being by Northampton Commissionrs bound over to the Corte to answer for diverse crimes & misdemeanors committed by them, were brought to this Corte by ye Constable of yt Towne wch 3 lads are accused by Robert Bartlett for that they gott into his house two Sabbath dayes when all the family were at the Publike Meeting: On ye first of wch tymes, the vizt. 24 shillings in silver & 7s in Wampum with the intention to run away to the French: Al which is by them confessed, wch wickedness of theirs hath also been accompanyd with frequent lying to excuse & justify themselves especially on Nims his pt, who seemes hath been a ringleader in their vilainys: ffor all wch their crimes and misdemeanors this Corte doth Judge yt the said 3 lads shalbe well whipt on their naked bodys vist, Nims & Bennet with 15 lashes apiece & Bononi Stebbins with 11 lashes. And the said Nims & Stebbins are to pay Robert Bartlett the summe of 4L being counted treble according to law for what goods he hath lost by their meanes.?

History tells us Godfrey Nims was off to a rough start in America, as all of us have had occasions in our life that we had to rise above, and better ourselves. This is exactly what Godfrey Nims did over 300 years ago. The records of Massachusetts list Godfrey Nims as one of many from Northampton who signed a petition in 1668 requesting relief from taxation on goods brought into the colony?s ports. He also appears with others when taking the Oath of Fidelity to the government on March 25, 1672/3, at the County Court at Northampton.

Family folklore tells us that Godfrey soon came to Deerfield, Massachusetts around 1670, possibly being one of the third to settle here. A deed dated 1679 gives the first written confirmation that Godfrey settled at Deerfield. He later shared in the holding of public offices, including constable, tax collector, selectman and a member of the school committee.

In 1677 he married Mary Miller Williams a widow. Her husband Zebediah had been killed by Indians. After Mary?s death in 1688, Godfrey married Mehitable Smead Hull in 1692, another widow. Godfrey had six children with Mary and five with Mehitable, in addition to caring for two stepchildren each that the widows brought to the marriages.

The records reveal, Godfrey Nims joined the Puritan society in the Connecticut Valley. He learned to make his living as a cordwainer, (shoemaker) as well as a farmer. The present day White Church, town office, town hall and Memorial Hall all stand on land formerly owned by Godfrey. J.R. Trumbull?s History of Northampton, Massachusetts describes Godfrey as ?the owner of considerable property and an honored and respected citizen.?

Godfrey Nims grew up from being a young lad in trouble with the law to having a good life in Massachusetts, with a family of 15 children. Godfrey Nims bought land in Deerfield in 1674. He was among the first earlier permanent settlers here. In 1692 he bought lot No. 27 and November 21, 1694 he bought lot No. 28. These two lots united became the Nims home lot, and has never been out of the family. The present house standing is more than two hundred years old.

He endured grave hardships in his life. May 19,1676 he served in the Falls Fight against the Pocumtuck Indians. Approximately 140 settlers marched into the dead of night into the wilderness to surprise the Indians at the salmon fishing falls near the mouth of Fall River. Some 400 Indians were killed, and 40 settlers were lost in this fight. Of them was James Bennett, friend of Godfrey's and Captain Turner. January 4, 1694 his home was destroyed in a fire, and four year old Jeremiah Hull died in the fire. Godfrey's son Henry, about 10 years old, accidently caused the fire, and was able to save one child from the room where Jeremiah slept. Henry tired to get Jeremiah from the room but the flames would not allow it.

He worked and faced tragedies and dangers common of that time. March 3, 1701 Godfrey Nims, Sergant Allyn, and Corporal Wells were chosen to lay a road to the land on the west side of the river. This led through to the present Main street of Greenfield, and northerly through Greenfield Meadows. In 1702 Godfrey and Benoni Stebins were on the school committee.

The worst tragedy was on February 29, 1704, the French & Indian 1704 massacre of Deerfield, Massachusetts. The French and Indians attacked about two hours before day break. The attackers burned most buildings and killed or took captive most of the settlers. It left him with no wife, and at the time with only a daughter, 20 year old Thankful Nims, Munn. Her home was dug into the side of a mountain, and the opening was concealed by the deep snow drifts. Godfrey?s family members were killed or taken captive in the 1704 raid on Deerfield, his second wife captured, dying on the forced march to Canada. One son killed, and one captured to be released ten years later; four daughters killed that day; one daughter captured and taken to Canada, never to return. A step-daughter, Mary Williams Brooks and a son-in-law, Phillip Mattoon, captured and killed on the march; a grandchild, infant Mattoon killed in the attack.

Prior to the 1704 attack, on October 8, 1703 a son, John 24 years old and Godfrey?s stepson Zebediah Williams, age 28, were captured by Indians and taken to Canada. John escaped May 14, 1705 after his father had passed away and Zebediah died a captive in 1706. Godfrey died without knowing the fate of his these surviving children.

According to the Nims Family Association, it is from the four surviving children, of Godfrey Nims, John, Ebenezer, Thankful and Abigail that members of the Nims family are descended.

Godfrey married Mary Miller on 26 Nov 1677 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. Mary (daughter of William Miller and Patience Bacon) was born on 24 Dec 1653 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 27 Apr 1688 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1648, Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA

William married Patience Bacon on 3 Mar 1641 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. Patience (daughter of William Bacon and Martha Worchester) was born in 1631 in Ipswich, Essex, England; died on 29 Mar 1716 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact 1: 84T6-M7

John married Mary Pylston on 21 Nov 1585 in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. Mary (daughter of William Pylston and Agnes Elliot) was born in 1564 in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England; died on 6 Apr 1621 in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact 1: 84T6-ND
• Fact 3: Of Bishops, Stortford, Herts, Eng
• Fact 2: 6 Apr 1621; Bishops, Stortford, Hertfordshire, England

William married Martha Worchester. Martha was born in 1600 in Suffolk, Suffolk, England; died in 1666 in , , , England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Joan Thurgood about 1558. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact 1: 1GHD-HTX

William married Agnes Elliot about 1560 in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. Agnes (daughter of John Elliott and Margaret Sheppey) was born about 1534 in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England; died about 1564 in , , , England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact 1: 1GHD-LZ9

Samuel married Margaret Low. Margaret was born on 16 Apr 1564 in Suffolk, Suffolk, England; died in 1627 in Caernarvonshire, Gwynedd, Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Katherine. was born in 1505 in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Margaret Sheppey in 1549 in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. Margaret (daughter of Jonas Gedge) was born in 1516 in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England; died on 21 May 1588 in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]