An American Family History

Daniel Powers was born on May 10, 1669 in Littleton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Walter Powers and Trial Shepard.

He was a business man of prominence in Shirley. He was a lieutenant in the French and Indian War.

He married his first wife, Elizabeth Whitcomb on April 8, 1702. Elizabeth was the daughter of Jonathan and Hannah Whitcomb. She was born in 1676 in Littleton. Her mother was killed by Indians in 1692.

Daniel and Elizabeth had five children. They were all born in Nashobe (Littleton), although some of them are recorded in Groton. Their children were Daniel Powers (1703), Jonathan Powers (1704), Oliver Powers (1705), Peter Powers (1707) and Hannah Powers (1709). 

Elizabeth died February 22, 1709 probably as a complication of childbirth.

He married Martha Bates in 1711. Martha and Daniel's children were William Powers (April 12, 1712), Sapheron Powers (1714), Timothy Powers (1716), and Jerahmeel Powers (February 18, 1718).

Oliver died in Cuba while fighting with England against Spain probably during the Seven Years War also known as the French and Indian War in America.

Later in life he moved to Leicester, Vermont, where he lived for many years, but he died at the home of the daughter in Seneca, New York, after he had passed the eighty-sixth year of his age.

Historic Homes and Institutions by Ellery Bicknell Crane

Jonathan Whitcomb, son of John Whitcomb (1), was born about 1630, in England, and died in February, 1690. He removed to Lancaster in 1655, and except during the war period lived there the remainder of his life. He shared the home lot there with his brother John until the death of John in 1683. He married, November 25, 1667, Hannah, who was killed by Indians at Lancaster, July 18, 1692.

Their children were:
Hannah, born September 17, 1668, died December 9, 1668;
Jonathan, Jr.,
Hannah, born August 29, 1671, married Joseph Blood, of Groton;
Abigail, born May 5, 1674. married William Kelsey, of Windsor, 1694:
Elizabeth, born 1676;
Katherine, born 1678; Ruth, born 1680;
Mary, born 1682;
John, born May 12, 1684.

Daniel [Powers], fourth son and fifth child of Walter and Trial (Sheppard) Power, and who adopted the spelling of the surname Powers, was born in Littleton, Massachusetts, May 10, 1669.

He married, April 8, 1702, Elizabeth [Whitcomb], daughter of Jonathan Whitcomb, by whom he had five children. He became owner of a piece of land on the westerly border of the town of Littleton about one mile in width and extending the whole length of the westerly line of the town. His children were probably all born in Nashobe or Littleton, although some of them are found recorded in Groton, the adjoining town.

The children of Daniel and Elizabeth (Whitcomb) Powers were:
1. Daniel, born April 21, 1703, married Mary, and died in 1789.
2. Jonathan, born 1704, married Hannah Sawyer.
3. Oliver, born 1705, died in the Cuban war.
4. Peter (q. v.), born 1707.
5. Hannah, born February 22, 1709, married Barnabas Davis.

His wife Elizabeth died after February 22, 1709, and he married as his second wife, in 1711, Martha Bates. Their children:
6. William, born April 12, 1712, lived in Woodstock, Connecticut.
7. Sepheron, born 1714.
8. Timothy, born 1716, died in the Cuban war.
9. Jerahmeel, born February 18, 1718, married Eunice Bennett.

He was a business man of prominence in Shirley, was commissioned by Governor Wentworth lieutenant and served in the French and Indian war, and later in life removed to. Leicester, Vermont, where he lived for many years, but died at the home of the daughter in Seneca, New York, after he had passed the eighty-sixth year of his age.