1Thomas Waln-Morgan Draper, The Bemis History and Genealogy: Being an Account, in Greater Part of the Descendants of Joseph Bemis of Watertown, Mass., p. 37 (1900).
"386. EPHRAIM BEMIS. (9. Ephraim. 1. Joseph.) m. Oct. 1736. Lydia Thomas.
There is not much to be said of Ephraim Bemis, because little is known. He resided in Ashford, and the church records of that town state; "at one time (1728) in Ashford Church, discipline was so strict, yet with all this, when it was put to a vote of the Association, whether Ephraim Bemis was guilty of a confessable fault in selling strong liquor, in samll quantities, on a certain occasion, the church decided in the negative."
The rigid church party in Ashford were very bitter agianst the Baptists and Separatists, and the preaching of Solomon Paine was especially obnoxious, so that on Feb. 15, 1745. Justice Tiffany gave a warrant to Constable Ephraim Bemis to arrest Paine, who resisted; whereupon he was forcibly placed on a horse and conducted to the Justices, where he was properly rebuked, and apparently dismissed. Constable Bemis and his assistants had been very forbearing and gentle with the Exhorter Paine, but in spite of that, they themselves indicted for riot, but on trial, declared not guilty, yet had the costs to pay, which later were also remitted.
Ephraim Benis was baptized, as an adult, at the same time as his son James, namely Sept. 29, 1737.
CHILDREN.
404-- I. James b. Asford Aug. 6, 1737.
405-- II. Jotham b. Ashford 1738 d. 1786.
406-- III. Mary b. in Windham Co. May 15, 1739.".
1Royal Ralph Hinman, A Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut, p. 86 (1852).
"AVERILL, (Averil) WILLIAM, was the first of that name in Connecticut. He first came to Pomfret, and was probably a grandson of William Averill, of Ipswich, who paid 3s. tax towards the slary of Maior Denison, the leader of Ipswich, in 1648. His wife was Ruth, by whom he had children, recorded at Windham, Ct., viz., James, b. Oct. 2, 1722, d. Dec. after; Ephraim, b. July 3, 172-, d. Aug. 8, 1743; Mary, b. May 24; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 17, 1725; Stephen, b. Aug. 24, 1729, d. Nov. 6, 1729; 2d Stephen, b. Oct. 18, 1730; Ruth, b. July 2, 1733; 2d James, b. Feb. 23, 1734-5. The last James removed and settled in the town of Preston, Ct., in that part of the town which is now Griswold, where some of his descendants yet remain. . . .".