An American Family History

Ezekiel Collins was born February 17, 1697/98 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Joseph Collins and Maria Smith. He was a husbandman and housewright.

On 21 February 1721/2 Joseph Collins signed a deed of gift to his son Ezekiel in return for his caring for his parents.

Ezekiel married Rebecca Graves on May 12, 1721. Rebecca Graves was born on April 29, 1698. She was the daughter of Samuel Graves and Sarah Brewer.

Ezekiel and Rebecca had at least three children. William Collins date of birth is not known. Mark Collins was born about 1729.
Meriah Collins was born on November 3, 1739. She married Ebenezer Collins on April; 23, 1760.  

Ezekiel and Rebecca sold their considerable holdings in Lynn between 1724 and 1731/32. They sold land to Henry Silsbee on November 4, 1724, land and buildings with fruit trees, etc., to Samuel Graves on May 10, 1727, land to Crispus Graves on March 22, 1728/29, land to Nathaniel Collins on September 11, 1729 and 25 acres with buildings, ''on the road to Lynn North Precinct," on April 5, 1731 and for 150 pounds to Samuel Hallowell his house, barn and seven acres of land on the town Common on January 3, 1731/02.

They moved to Worcester County where he bought from Thomas Bellows of Southborough, housewright, for 50 pounds, about 13 acres of land in Southborough on August 25, 1733. In 1745 he bought land in Westborough for 400 pounds, and in 1750 he sold land in that town to William Upham for 600 pounds.

In 1765 Ezekiel Collins, yeoman, deeded to Mark Collins, yeoman, for 200 pounds, land "with dwelling house on same where said Ezekiel and Mark now dwell,"Mark was to "carry on the place" and "look after the old people," and

it is the design and true intent and meaning of said Ezekiel, Rebekah and Mark that the said Ezekiel and Rebekah shall have the full free and absolute liberty, privilege etc. during both and each of their natural lives.

from Henry Collins of Lynn

3. Ezekiel Collins (Joseph' Henry) was born at Lynn February 17, 1697-8. He married May 12, 1721, Rebekah Graves.  

The following abstracts show all his sales of land in Lynn:  

Ezekiel Collins, of Lynn, husbandman, with his wife Rebecca, sold land in Lynn to Henry Silsbee, November 4, 1724.

They sold to Samuel Graves land and buildings with fruit trees, etc., adjoining his own land, May 10, 1727: and another tract of land to Crispus Graves, March 22, 1728-9.

They sold to Nathaniel Collins a tract of land originally laid out to Joseph Collins, September 11, 1729.

"Ezekiel Collins, of Lynn, housewright," sold 25 acres of land with buildings, ''on the road to Lynn North Precinct," April 5, 1731.

Then, January 3, 1731-2, he sold for 150 pounds to Samuel Hallowell of Lynn, his house, barn and seven acres of land in Lynn, "bounded westerly on the town Common."  

Thus he disposed of all his holdings in his native place and prepared to remove to a point in the interior of the province. On the records of Worcester County we find a purchase deed which carries his history over from the shore to the highlands: "Ezekiel Collins of Lynn" bought of Thomas Bellows of Southborough, housewright, for 50 pounds, about 13 acres of land in Southborough, August 25, 1733.

This is the first of a number of real estate transactions, covering a period of more than twenty years, the records of which are found in Worcester County deeds. In 1745 he bought land in Westborough for 400 pounds, and in 1750 he sold land in that town to William Upham for 600 pounds and he and Rebekah signed the deed.

In 1765 Ezekiel Collins, yeoman, deeds to Mark Collins, yeoman, for 200 pounds, land "with dwelling house on same where said Ezekiel and Mark now dwell," and Rebekah's signature as well as his own is affixed to the deed. Mark was probably the son of Ezekiel and was going to "carry on the place" and "look after the old people," as it is stated in the deed that "it is the design and true intent and meaning of said Ezekiel, Rebekah and Mark that the said Ezekiel and Rebekah shall have the full free and absolute liberty, privilege etc. during both and each of their natural lives."

If we are right in concluding that Mark was the son of Ezekiel and Rebekah, they had at least three children. Children:  
4. i. William date of birth unknown, but he was probably older than Mark, as he had a son born in May, 1749.  
5. ii. Mark, died in Southborough Aug. 20, 1803, a. 74, so he was born about 1729.
iii. Meriah, b. Nov. 3, 1739; m. Apr. 23, 1760, Ebenezer Collins.  

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