Frugal Farmers
Elizabeth Danforth Abbott (1768-1856) and Ephraim Lane (1767-1837)
Generation Five Family 838
ELIZABETH DANFORTH ABBOTT (Solomon4, David3, Benjamin2, George1), b. at Dracut, 11 Oct 1768 daughter of Solomon and Hannah (Colbe) Abbot; d. at Walpole, NH, 5 Jul 1856; m. 18 Sep 1793, EPHRAIM LANE, b. at Bedford, 11 Mar 1767 son of Samuel and Ruth (Davis) Lane; Ephraim d. 15 Aug 1837.
Elizabeth Danforth Abbott is reported to have come from poor economic circumstances and as a child worked out as a servant for 25 cents per week. (1) The reason for the dire financial circumstances is not clear. Her father Solomon Abbot had owned 110 acres of land in Dracut as well as a ferry and fishing rights. Solomon, however, sold 57 acres of his property as well as the ferry in 1761. (2)
Elizabeth’s husband, Ephraim Lane, is described in Aldrich’s Walpole history as a frugal man who loaned money at high rates of interest. He was not a believer in education beyond the very basics. He is reported to have left a considerable estate, although I could not locate the inventory of the estate.
In his will written 19 November 1830, Ephraim Lane left to beloved wife Elizabeth D. Lane the use and improvement of the homestead farm in Walpole consisting of about 50 acres, the use of all the household furniture, and the use of all the sleighs and horses. She is also to be paid sixty dollars per year by the executor. These bequests are to continue as long as she remains a widow. Eldest son George Lane and his other son Lewis Lane each receive seven hundred-fifty dollars. George Lane also receives 100 acres of land in the town of Peacham, Vermont. Lewis Lane will receive the homestead farm in Walpole contingent on the allowance of his mother's use of the property during her widowhood. Daughters Rebecca Pulsipher, Susan Pulsipher, Betsey Lane, Mary Hooper, Phebe Wise, Sophia Lane, and Almira Lane will divide the household furniture after the decease of their mother. All the residue of the estate is to be divided equally among his nine children, although several daughters have already received amounts that are to be accounted for in the division of the property. Captain James Hooper of Walpole and son Lewis Lane were named executors. (3) James Hooper was the husband of daughter Mary.
Elizabeth and Ephraim reared their nine children, seven daughters and two sons, in Walpole, New Hampshire. The children were all born at Walpole. (4) As was common, two of the daughters married two Pulsipher brothers and two of the other daughters married two Hooper brothers. Several of the children relocated to Vermont.
1. REBECCA LANE, b. 7 Apr 1794; d. at Rockingham, VT, 5 Feb 1847; m. at Walpole, 15 Mar 1815, DAVID PULSIPHER, b. at Rockingham, VT, 6 Dec 1791 son of David and Priscilla (Russell) Pulsipher; David d. 14 Dec 1865.
2. SUSAN LANE, b. 1 Oct 1796; d. at Rockingham, VT, 7 Jun 1880; m. at Walpole, 30 Jan 1820, ELIAS PULSIPHER, b. at Rockingham, 20 Jun 1794 son of David and Priscilla (Russell) Pulsipher; Elias d. at Rockingham, 1858.
3. BETSEY LANE, b. 25 Jan 1799; d. at Westmoreland, NH, 1886; m. at unknown date, HORACE REYNOLDS, b. at Putney, VT, about 1803 son of Benjamin and Mary (Sheffield) Reynolds; Horace d. at Putney, 27 Apr 1882. Betsey was living with her son Horace in Westmoreland in 1880.
4. MARY LANE, b. 3 Sep 1801; d. at Cambridge, MA, 31 Mar 1895; m. at Walpole, 19 Jan 1826, JAMES HOOPER, b. at Walpole, 31 Aug 1803 son of James and Eleanor (Wellington) Hooper; James d. at Cambridge, 31 Dec 1877.
5. GEORGE LANE, b. 25 Nov 1803; d. at Putney, VT, 21 Jun 1878; m. 1st, at Walpole, 4 Apr 1831, SARAH DUNSHEE, b. at Walpole, 6 Oct 1805 daughter of Hugh and Cynthia (Allen) Dunshee; Sarah d. at Putney, 21 Sep 1841. George married second ELIZABETH BAILEY, b. at Coventry, VT, 14 Dec 1823 daughter of Hosea and Susan (Hodgson) Bailey; (5) Elizabeth d. at Brattleboro, 14 Apr 1895.
6. PHEBE LANE, b. 25 Jan 1806; d. at Walpole, 24 Sep 1880; m. 3 Mar 1829, CHESTER WIRE, JR., b. at Kirby, VT, 9 Dec 1804 son of Chester and Affie (Lumbad) Wire; Chester d. at Walpole, 22 Jan 1837. Phebe did not remarry after the death of her husband.
7. SOPHIA LANE, b. 10 Jul 1808; d. at Rockingham, VT, 3 Jul 1890; m. at Walpole, 31 Mar 1835, OLIVER HUNTINGTON, b. at Walpole, 24 Oct 1795 son of Gamaliel and Keturah (Armstrong) Huntington; Oliver d. at Walpole, 27 Jan 1857.
8. ALMIRA LANE, b. 8 Jan 1811; d. at Walpole, 18 Jan 1891; m. 23 May 1839, CHARLES HOOPER, b. at Walpole, 16 Dec 1809 son of James and Eleanor (Wellington) Hooper; Charles d. at Walpole, 25 Dec 1890. Almira and Charles were married 50 years and died three weeks apart.
9. LEWIS LANE, b. 22 Apr 1813; d. at Keene, NH, 17 Mar 1886; m. at Walpole, 20 Oct 1841, MARY PHILENA ANGIER, b. at Walpole, 20 Nov 1820 daughter of Elisha and Sally (Russell) Angier; Mary d. at Keene, 12 Nov 1891.
Notes:
1) Aldrich, Walpole as It Was and Is, p. 309
2) Coburn, History of Dracut, p. 365
3) New Hampshire, County Probate Records, 1660-1973, Cheshire, Wills 1799-1848 vol 76-78, 78:104, will of Ephraim Lane, accessed through familysearch.org.
4) “New Hampshire, Birth Records, through 1900.” Online index and digital images. New England Historical Genealogical Society. Citing New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records, Concord, New Hampshire.
5) The names of Elizabeth Bailey’s parents are given on her death record. Her maiden name is confirmed by the death records of several of her children.
