Individual Details

Hartshorn Families in America
Published 1997, Page 50

Four of Ebenezer's children died during an epidemic. He is the best known of all the Norwich Hartshorns. As Justice of the Peace, he performed most of the marriages in that locality for more than thirty years. As Town Clerk, the records are in his handwriting for a very long period, and he is responsible for their careful arrangement. The old Probate files in the State Library at Hartford contain many wills drawn in his hand; he apparently did such work for a large acquaintance. Most contemporary files have Ebenezer as appraiser, witness, or executor.

He met his future wife, Miriam Gregory, at the home of her aunt, Mrs. Johanna Rudd of Norwich. He was described as "talented," she as "accomplished." Their correspondence is preserved by descendants (150th Anniversary Celebration of the Franklin Congregational Church). In extreme age, he felt an urge to write a genealogy for the instruction of posterity. Therefore at ninety-one years he made the poem which his descendants still cherish. As here given, it may not be complete. Parenthesis indicates torn portion.

Hartshorn Genealogy Poem
by Ebenezer Hartshorn

"Thomas Hartshorn - old England born,
There he drew his native breath.
To stay there - he could not bear,
So much it seemed like death.
The Civil War he did abhor,
The troubles were so great.
Amongst them all, both great and small,
In City, Church, and State.
In Charles' day he came away,
To see what he could find.
So he came o'er and found a shore,
A people free and kind.
In Boston State, so-called of late,
He got a settlement.
In Reading Town he settled down,
And there he was content.

He had good luck - he married a Buck,
a wife most free and kind.
She did her part with all her heart,
Thus, well she pleased his mind.
Six sons to him she bear,
And now you shall hear;
Thomas, his first strength,
(Then) came John at Length.
(Josep)h and Benjamin then came on,
(Jona)than and David his youngest son.
(Next) by her he had a daughter,
(And) by her had none thereafter.
(Su)sanna he her name did call,
(She) was the youngest of them all.
(In) widowhood he then was left,
(Of) this good wife he was bereft,
For her turn was now to die,
And pass into Eternity.
At length a second wife was won,
And by her he had a son.
This son to him was very nigh,
His name was called Timothy.

This man a tailor was by trade,
And for his neighors clothes he made,
And by this and other ways,
He spent his time and all his days.
Then this good man at length,
Grew old and lost his strength.
Then came the fate of death,
His body cold and void of breath.
Of this good man all Hartshorns came,
I ever knew called by that name.
(And) by descent I am one,
(Call'd) Ebenezer his grandson.
(Norwi)ich is my native place,
(I ha)ve almost run my race.
(Now) my story I have done,
(I am) David's youngest son.
(Have) many a day I've lived on Earth,
(Ever) since I've had my birth.
(Until) nine years above four score,
(And) also more than two years more."

(This copy, lower edge torn, was presented to Mrs. Celeste Pember Hazen, compiler of the Hartshorn Genealogy by the late Mrs. Cecil E. Lundy of California, a descendant of the David branch.)

Birth	8 Jun 1702	Norwich, New London, Connecticut
Marriage	2 Nov 1732	Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut - Miriam Gregory
Death	1 Feb 1795	Franklin, New London, Connecticut

Spouse

Miriam Gregory (1713 - 1794)

Father	David HARTSHORN (1657 - 1738)
Mother	Rebecca BATCHELDER (1663 - 1742)
Sibling	Rebeckah Hartshorn (1683 - 1688)
Sibling	Jonathan Hartshorn (1685 - 1749)
Sibling	David HARTSHORN (1688 - 1779)
Sibling	Samuel Hartshorn (1692 - 1784)