Franklin County MA Archives Biographies.....Goodell / Goodale, Ezekiel 1747 - November 1, 1839 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ma/mafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com November 13, 2009, 1:10 pm Source: various books, town, county and state archives Author: Nancy Poquette, compiler of this data Ezekiel Goodell / Goodale Birth: 1747 in New Salem, Hampshire Co, MA. Year deduced from headstone, aged 92 in Nov. 1839, so 1839-92=1747 is the birth year. Residence: 1782 New Salem, Franklin Co, MA. There appear to be two Ezekiel Goodales who served in the American army of the Revolution; however one was already living in New Hampshire by the time of his service, so the man who served under Col. Benjamin Tupper is likely to be Ezekiel Goodale of New Salem, MA. [Col. Tupper was from Chesterfield, Hampshire Co, MA.] None of the other Ezekiel Goodales in my index of persons seems to be of a 'suitable age' for soldiering. The one born in 1727 would have been over 50 in 1782 when the service was performed. Deed 19 AUG 1783 Washington Co, NY , "Washington Co, NY, Deed Book B," pgs. 126- 127. Census: 1790 Westfield, Washington Co, NY, 2 males over age 16, 4 males under age 16, 3 females. Listed as Ezekiel Goodale Residence: AFT 1793 Hartford, Washington Co, NY, from: "The Story of Hartford: a History," by Isabella Brayton, 1929, pg. 17 Census: 1800 Hartford, Washington Co, NY, listed as Ezekiel 'Goodell' Census: 1810 Hartford, Washington Co, NY, aged 45 and over, listed as Ezekiel 'Goodell.' Census: 1820 Hartford, Washington Co, NY, listed as Ezekiel 'Goodell.' Census: 1830 Hartford, Washington Co, NY, listed as 'Eckiel Goodell' on Ancestry.com's index. Death: 1 NOV 1839 in Hartford, Washington Co, NY: Dates from headstone in Fort Ann, private property. Burial: AFT 1 NOV 1839 1292 Baldwin Corners Rd, Fort Ann, Washington Co, NY Father: Jonathan Goodale b: 19 APR 1724 in Marblehead, Essex Co, MA Mother: Elizabeth "Betsy" b: Marriage 1 Martha McComb (Macomber) b: 1747 in MA? Married: 25 APR 1772 in Warren, Worchester Co, MA, from: "Vital Records of New Salem, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, pg. 77: "Goodale (see also Goodall), Ezekiel, of Warren, and Martha McComb, int. at Warren, Apr. 25, 1772" From: "Vital records of Warren (formerly Western), MA, to the end of the year 1849," pg. 108: "Goodale, Ezekiel of New Salem and Martha McComb, int. Apr. 25, 1772." Children Joseph Goodale b: 2 MAY 1773 in New Salem, Hampshire Co, MA Ezekiel Goodale b: 31 JUL 1774 in New Salem, Hampshire Co, MA Elizabeth Goodale b: ABT 1776 in New Salem, Hampshire Co, MA Samuel Goodale b: 2 JUN 1778 in New Salem, Hampshire Co, MA Joel Goodale b: 6 JAN 1781 in New Salem, Hampshire Co, MA John Goodale b: 15 APR 1784 in Washington Co, NY Sally Goodale b: 31 MAR 1787 in Washington Co, NY James Goodale b: 14 DEC 1788 in Washington Co, NY To all descendants of this Ezekiel Goodale: I have succeeded in proving that the ladies of the DAR who claimed the Rev. War service of 9 months under Col. Benjamin Tupper used the wrong service record. They should be happy with the correct service that I did find, however, since their fellow was an officer :>) See the index in this same Rootsweb database for the 2nd Ezekiel listed as an Am Rev soldier to view my proofs. Now to the beginning for Ezekiel's birth. Proving the Parents of James Goodell were Jonathan and Betsy, not Ebenezer and Grace, or Lydia with Jonathan: There exists some difference of opinion concerning who the parents of this generation are. This researcher believes Ezekiel and his siblings were the children of JONATHAN and BETSY GOODALE. I gently disagree with other relatives in my branch that have misidentified us as being descended from Ebenezer. I understand that professional genealogists in Boston did part of the work from printed records, for the most part. My three sources are strong. The strongest one is the headstone of the daughter of Ebenezer and Grace Phelps Goodale. She died in 1792, and her headstone states: "In memory of Mrs. Grace, consort of Mr. John Chamberlain and only child of Capt. Ebenezer and Mrs. Grace Goodale, who died Jan. 10, 1792 age 37" In other words, Ebenezer had no children other than Grace. This headstone reads as if her father commissioned it, but if the information on his own headstone is accurate, he also died in the same year. Unfortunately it may not be accurate, for I have been reading materials which seem to indicate that he was still living into the 1800s. This 1800s death date interpretation may be right or wrong, because the later material may instead be referring to the nephew Ebenezer [son of James, JONATHAN's brother] living in Danvers. Another difficulty is that the headstone for our New Salem Ebenezer Goodale is missing. It had still existed into the early 1900's when it received its designation as a Revolutionary War national monument, but has likely suffered from the past prejudices against Captain Goodale. Equally as supportive of my argument is the marriage date between Jonathan and Lydia, which FOLLOWS the BIRTH DATES of all of his children, so they cannot be Lydia's children. My third source is David Kenneth Wetherbee, in his publication "Heare Lyes Salim New Grant," page 150. This source repeats the evidence for Grace as the only child of Ebenezer and Grace, and his primary source was the last will and testament of JONATHAN GOODALE, and the text of that will confirms that Ezekiel, Jonathan [II], James, Jacob Asa, RUTH, Deborah and Elizabeth were his children. [I now have a photocopy of the actual will.] Ezekiel Goodale was married to Martha McComb in Warren, Worchester Co, MA, on April 25, 1772. It is possible that he owned land there as well, since there are no records of him doing so in New Salem. Between the time of his marriage to Martha in Warren, and the birth of his first child, Joseph, it appears that he was again spending time back in New Salem, Hampshire [later Franklin] Co. In possession of the Unitarian Society, New Salem, Mass: "New Salem First Parish Church Society, (now Unitarian)": "Joseph, child of Ezekiel and Martha Goodale, baptized May 2, 1773." From: "An Account of Baptisms by Rev. Joel Foster, at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, in New Salem, MA:" "September 4, 1774 Ezekiel Goodall, son of Ezekiel and Martha, baptized." Did Ezekiel Goodell Serve in the Militia or Continental Army? Ezekiel Goodale was married to Martha McComb prior to the outbreak of the Revolution, in Warren, MA, on April 25, 1772. It is likely that he owned land there as well, since there are no records of him doing so in New Salem. They appeared to have moved back to New Salem for the period of the Revolution, perhaps a little prior to the birth of his first son, Ezekiel. There is a muster listing for a 'Goodale, Ezekiel. Private, Col. Benjamin Tupper's (10th) regt.; service from April 5, 1782, 8 mos. 26 days.' Col. Benjamin Tupper served in the northern frontier of New York during the rest of the war [1782] as commanding officer of the 10th Massachusetts Regiment, and then the 6th Massachusetts Regiment. [Wikipedia] At the close of the war Gen. Tupper returned to his family at Chesterfield [in then Hampshire Co], and became a member of the Massachusetts Legislature. This indicates that much of his regiment was probably raised in Hampshire County. The muster listing for men with similar enlistment dates shows that there were indeed, some men from the area around New Salem who had enlisted for a three- year term in the Continental Army in 1782, not knowing that the war was winding to a close. From the muster listing of Abel Fish (probably Fisk), we learn that a Captain Jacob Samson (probably Sampson) was a chairman of a class of the town of New Salem who raised a bounty for Abel Fish who enlisted on March 18th, 1782. Ezekiel Goodale enlisted on April 5th. Lt. Samuel Cook also served as a chairman of a class in New Salem, who paid a bounty to Peter Harvey, for enlisting on March 29, 1782. Joshua Putnam was the chairman of the class that paid a bounty to Reuben Ray, who enlisted on April 1, 1782, and Benjamin Hascall was the chairman of the class who paid the bounty to Jonas Rich, who enlisted on April 3, 1782. The first list is of those men who were definitely or probably from the area around New Salem, known family names: Baker, Sargent, New Salem, blacksmith Bates, Theodore, Athol Cady, Samuel, Montague, Shutesbury Church, Charles Fish, Abel, New Salem Goodale, Ezekiel, [8 mos. 26 days] Harvey, Peter, New Salem Holt, Jonathan, prob. New Salem Johnson, Ebenezer, probably Wendell Pratt, Tiras, Shutesbury Ray, Reuben, New Salem Savery, Jonathan, Warwick Stoddard, David, South Hadley Sawyer, Paul, Shutesbury/Ervingshire From: "An Account of Baptisms by Rev. Joel Foster, at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, in New Salem, MA," page 30: "May 26, 1781 Joel, son to Ezekiel Goodall." It is apparent from the following sentence found in a Washington Co, NY deed, that Ezekiel Goodell left New Salem, MA and moved to Washington Co, NY in 1783: "...and being the same lot and premises mentioned and intended by a deed from one Benjamin Hatch unto said Ezekiel Goodell bearing the date the 18th day of August 1783, recorded in the clerk's office for the said county of Washington Libris B book of deeds, page 126, 127, Nov. 19, 1784…" With his family in Hartford, Washington Co, NY, Ezekiel (II) Goodell, made his imprint on his community. From: "The Story of Hartford," by Isabella Brayton and John Norton, page 13: "During the early years, besides conquering the forests, there was a constant battle with the denizens of the uncleared lands. Ezekiel Goodell was particularly famed for his hunting exploits. On one occasion he boldly attacked a bear and had a 'hand-to-paw' encounter with him. Goodell was saved from being squeezed to death only by the timely arrival of a fellow hunter. The latter hesitated to shoot the bear for fear of killing his companion. He was however, urged by Goodell who shouted, 'Shoot, for God's sake, and kill either me or the bear.' The other obeyed and succeeded in slaying the animal without injury to the man. Goodell did not give up his habits as a hunter, but he had less confidence thereafter in his ability to cope with a bear in a regular scuffle." From: "The Story of Hartford: a History," by Isabella Brayton, 1929, pg. 17: "On Lot 19 lived Ezekiel Goodell, a man of considerable prominence among the pioneers." From: "The Story of Hartford: a History," by Isabella Brayton, 1929, pg. 17: "Some of the residents of the Provincial Patent who had held office in Westfield were: ...Ezekiel Goodell, collector, 1789." From: "The Story of Hartford: a History," by Isabella Brayton, 1929, pg. 17: "The patent becomes a town. The patent, by 1793, contained sufficient residents to be set off from Westfield as a separate town. This was done on March 23rd of that year..." "The electors of the newly organized town met at the house of Daniel Mason to hold their first town meeting. The following officers were elected:...fence viewers...Ezekiel Goodell..." From: "Early History of the Town of Hopkinton: History of East Village (Nicholville) and Vicinity; Diaries of Elisha Risdon and Artemas Kent…" by Carlton E Sanford, 1903, pages 8-14, Chapter 2, "The First White Men in Hopkinton to Settle… How the Goodells Came to Settle": Pg. 8: "This is the story which I can give. According to Dr. Hough's history, Roswell Hopkins, Esq, of Vicennes, VT, having bought a part of Islington, came into town in May 1802, accompanied by Samuel Goodell, Joel Goodell, BW Hopkins, his son, Jared Dewey, his brother-in-law (Mr. Hopkins having married Lydia, his sister) and Eliphalet Brush. This has been, and is universally accepted as the first appearance of white men in the town for the purpose of acquiring land for settlement, but to these should be added the name of Ezekiel Goodell…" Pg. 9: "The Goodell boys, Samuel and Joel, were sons of Ezekiel, of Hartford, NY, a thrifty farmer of that town. They were strong, vigorous young men, and looking, as was the custom in those days, for some forest land to take up for purposes of a home. Samuel was born in 1778, and was then twenty-four, or nearly that, and Joel twenty-one, having been born 6 Jan 1781. The latter survived until 21 Oct 1869, and was a vigorous man to the end, and took great delight in recounting his early experiences in town, and especially to his grandson, John Leach, in whom he was much interested. The story of the Goodells coming to town as often told to Mr. Leach and well remembered by him, is as follows:" "There being no desirable land about their home in Hartford for the sons to take up, the father started out on horseback, accompanied by the two sons, on foot, each with an axe. They must have crossed Lake Champlain on a ferryboat, as they reached Benison's Tavern, near Vergennes, that evening. At this place, they accidentally met Roswell Hopkins, who soon learning their errand, and no doubt that they had the cash with them, became greatly interested. He labored with them all that evening, to induce them to buy land of him, in township no. 15, very soon after called Islington, but, as it seems, with poor success." "They seemed to have had their minds fixed on looking for land about Plattsburg, and so set out for that place in the morning. Mr. Hopkins, nothing daunted, started for his [pg. 10] home, and securing his brother-in-law, Jared Dewey, and Eliphalet Brush, who was in his employ, and his son, BW Hopkins, pushed rapidly forward to overtake the Goodells at Plattsburg, which they did." "After much earnest pleading and positive assurances by Mr. Hopkins that he would build a sawmill and gristmill the following year in case they bought of him, they consented to come on and inspect his tract. They came through Malone and Bangor, where there were a few settlers, crossing Deer River just below Lawrenceville and following a slightly cut out trail or road westerly to Chesterfield or Stockholm, where there were seven families which had wintered there. From there Mr. Hopkins took them up through Stockholm to the north part of his tract, close to the present cemetery, and on easterly, as far as what is known as the Moses farm." "In that neighborhood they came to a fine spring and sat down to rest. Presently, Samuel got up and going to a knoll nearby began chopping down a tree. His father called to him to know what he was doing, and he replied that he was going to build a cabin on that spot. Ezekiel replied, "Well, if you do, I think you will stay here alone, for I don't think I shall purchase here." At this, Mr. Hopkins urged the party to take a little tramp southward and see what a great growth of timber there was and what rich, heavy soil, which they did, probably going as far as the present highway from Hopkinton to Nicholville and circling about." "Reaching the spring again which attracted the Goodells, they sat down to rest and eat a lunch, and to discuss the subject of purchase, which was the one topic before them. Samuel's argument seems to have won the decision in favor of the purchase, though Ezekiel was highly pleased with the soil and timber after the trip they had just made. Samuel had recently been to Ohio with a view to purchasing there, but found the land flat, low and wet, and the people suffering from fever and ague, which did not comport with his ideas of a place to settle. Here, as he told his father and the others, is just as good soil and timber as in Ohio, free from swales and swamps, miasma and ague, sparkling springs gushing from the earth here and there, and a great river close by ready to furnish all of the power that may be required. What more is needed and what more can be found anywhere?" [Page 10] "With his son's experience in Ohio, and the rich soil and fine timber about them, Ezekiel finally decided to purchase. Accordingly, he set about inspecting the land carefully for that purpose and selected the two farms extending southward from the north bounds of Islington one-half mile to the present highway, so long and still known as the Joel and Samuel Goodell farms. It was then understood that there would be a highway along the north bounds of Islington, and so there they built their first log cabins, the ruins of that of Joel's built near a spring, lasting till within the remembrance of several people still living." "Mr. Hopkins had now made a start. He had secured two robust settlers with the cash or quite a part of it for their farms. He was greatly encouraged in his project, but he must push matters thenceforth without abatement if he would keep them and get more in the way of roads, bridges, shops and mills. Accordingly, he and Joel Goodell started for Cornwall, Canada for supplies, using no doubt, the two horses which Mr. Hopkins and Ezekiel Goodell had rode into town. They went down through Stockholm to St. Regis, where they hired Indians to row them over the St. Lawrence to Cornwall. They were gone about a week, and brought back all they could bring of pork, meal, flour, molasses, and probably some rum. While they were gone, the others were at work chopping for a road and building cabins. Mr. Joel Goodell always, and to a great many asserted, among them, John Leach and Edward H Abram, that the tree cut at this time by Samuel Goodell, was the first one ever cut in town, at least for a habitation." "At this time, and while in Islington, Mr. Ezekiel Goodell paid over to Mr. Hopkins the sum of four hundred dollars on the purchase of the two farms. Dr. Hough says it was in silver, while J. Henry Henderson says it was in gold. His grandfather David was a neighbor of Ezekiel at Hartford, NY and Joel Goodell, Sr, in 1804, married Lydia, sister of his father. Owing to this close relationship of the families, Mr. Henderson claims that both his grandfather and father became very familiar with all of the incidents of the trip of 1802 and often heard them related by both, and his memory tells him the payment was in gold." "Dr. Hough says that Mr. Hopkins, after making arrangements for clearing land, started to return to Vermont on horseback by a line of marked trees, and in fording the St. Regis River, his horse partly fell, and his portmanteau, containing in one end the provisions for the journey and in the other, several hundred dollars in specie, was swept downstream and lost. The Joel Goodell, Eliphalet Brush and John Henderson families are all agreed that the sum so lost was four hundred dollars. Mr. Henderson and John Leach have the impression and are quite inclined to think that the crossing at the time of the loss of the money was at the ford just above Fort Jackson." "Eliphalet Brush was one of the party, and so often told the particulars of this episode that it has become an heirloom in his family. According to him, as given to me by his grandson, Charles H. Brush, whose recollection seems to be quite clear and distinct, He, Mr. Brush, was riding the mare and the others walking as they approached the river. The crossing at this time was at or near where the north line of Islington crossed the river, a half mile or so below Nicholville. Coming to the river, it was so high and strong, Mr. Hopkins said to Mr. Brush, "I guess I better ride the mare over." Mr. Brush at once dismounted, and Mr. Hopkins got on the nag. When in about midstream, the horse seemed to stumble, throwing the 'old man' as the story goes (he was only forty- five), and saddlebags into the river. The others went to his rescue and righted him up, but the saddlebags with provisions and coin were nowhere to be seen. The specie and saddlebags, as Mr. Leach recollects, and he is quite positive, weighted twenty-five pounds, and therefore would sink pretty readily. The party hung about there for a week, wading about the river and for some distance below, but no trace of the saddlebags or money could be found. The next year the river was searched thoroughly, down to the St. Lawrence, but with no success. As would be natural, there were some suspicions as to the recovery of this money, but they were only vague doubts. No clue to bags or specie was ever obtained by Mr. Hopkins. In some nook or deep hole, covered by the wash of a hundred years, the boys may find good fishing now if they be sufficiently lucky." "According to Dr. Hough, the others of the party remained and did some clearing, returning to Vermont on the approach of winter in 1802. This is no doubt the fact, except that the Goodell boys went home and helped their father in haying [page 14], returning to their work when that was done. In all probability, Ezekiel Goodell and BW Hopkins returned to Vermont with Judge Hopkins, leaving only the two Goodell boys and Jared Dewey and Eliphalet Brush to chop, clear land and build cabins." From: "The Story of Hartford, A History," compiled by: Mrs. Isabella Brayton, Town Historian in collaboration with John B. Norton, Hartford, NY 1929: "On Lot 19 lived Ezekiel Goodell, a man of considerable prominence among the pioneers." Ezekiel (II) did not leave a will. By the time of his death in 1839, he had already transferred ownership of his property to his grandsons Horace S. and Ezekiel (IV), sons of his son James, of Tyre, NY. Portions of the indenture are as follows: "This Indenture made the 20th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine [1839] between Ezekiel Goodell of Hartford in the County of Washington and the state of New York of the first part, and Horace S. Goodell and Ezekiel Goodell, being two sons of James Goodell of the town of Tyre in the county of _____ and state aforesaid of the second part. Witnesseth that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand dollars to in hand paid by the said parties of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath granted bargained and sold a liened _____ and _____ _____ _____ _____ and by these presents doth grant bargain and sell a lien ____ and confirm unto the said parties... Lot Number nineteen of the provincial patent in said town of Hartford supposed to contain two hundred and fifty acres to be the same more or less and being the same farm and lot on which said party of the first has lived for many years ____ _____ and being the same lot and premises mentioned and intended by a deed from one Benjamin Hatch unto said Ezekiel Goodell bearing the date the 18th day of August 1783, recorded in the clerk's office for the said county of Washington Libris B book of deeds, page 126, 127, Nov. 19, 1784… The said party of the first part hereby expressly reserves to himself the sole and entire use and occupation of said farm and premises during his natural life and also reserves five rods square of ground on the rise of ground a little south eastwardly from the Barn as a burying ground." In May 1964, that clause continues as a part of the deed to that lot of land, from the Indenture from George Stoddard to Thomas R. Neddo, (in what is now called Fort Ann), Book 393, page 120: "…Lot No. 19, …supposed to contain two hundred and fifty acres of land… by a deed thereof from Ezekiel Goodell… unto Horace Goodell and his brother… excepting and always reserving out of this conveyance five rods square of ground on a rise of ground a little southeasterly from the barn known as the burying ground…" Postscript to Ezekiel Goodell: This researcher has learned, by email from Todd Anderson, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, that a sword was discovered in the wall or flooring of the home of Ezekiel Goodell, in Hartford (now part of Fort Ann), NY, when it burned down. This Ezekiel Goodell is known to be the brother of Asa and James Goodell, as is indicated by the probate of James Goodell's estate. The sword could be of a construction from a later time period, but after visiting the site, on Baldwin Corners Rd, Fort Ann, NY, this researcher learned that when the property owner tried to extract the sword, it snapped in half. It remains in its location under a concrete foundation, at this date in September 2004. Of course, we must also be prepared for the possibility that the sword could be from a later war. The gravesites of Ezekiel and his wife, Martha are located on this same property, along with the headstones of four others. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ma/franklin/bios/goodellg116gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mafiles/ File size: 25.0 Kb