An American Family History

"[L]iberty must at all hazards be supported.
We have a right to it, derived from our Maker.
But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us,
at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood."

William Estey was born on August 2, 1748 in Topsfield, Essex County. Massachusetts. His parents were Aaron Estey and Esther Richards.

William served in the Revolution. He served in Joseph Gould's Company. He was also in Captain John Dodge's company, Colonel Jacob Gerrish's regiment of guards. He enlisted in that company on November 12, 1777 and served until April 3, 1778. He was at Cambridge and Charlestown. He was a sergeant in the same company and regiment according to the muster roll for February, 1778. At Winter Hill his company detached from the militia to guard Lieutenant General Burgoyne's army.

He married Phoebe Dwinnell. She was born in Topsfield in 1755 and was the daughter of Jacob Dwinnell and Kesiah Gould.

They moved from Topsfield to Keene and lived on Beech Hill. Their first six children were born in Topsfield and the last six in Keene. Their children were Ruth Estey Evelith (1774), Phoebe Estey Bane Tenney (1776), William Estey (1777), Deborah Estey Kimball (1779), John Dwinnell Esty (1781), Dorothy Estey Poole (1784), Aaron Estey (1786), David Estey (1788), Nancey Estey Crandal (1791), Solomon Estey (1793), Fanny Estey Davis (1796), and Jacob Estey (1798).

At the time of the 1790 census they were living in Keene. William died on November 17, 1819 in Keene, New Hampshire.