Eliphalet Hodges was born about June 27, 1762 in Pomfret, Connecticut, the son of David Hodges and his wife, Bethiah. [1] He married the widow Sybil Howe—her maiden name was Fuller–on September 11, 1785 in Wales, Massachusetts. [2] She was born May 27, 1756 in Newton, Massachusetts, the daughter of Abijah Fuller and his wife Lydia. [3] Eliphalet and Sybil Hodges together had three children – Oliver, Sybil, and Nabby.
During the Revolutionary War Eliphalet served as a private in three different units, in three different states—Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont—over a three year period. [4]
Following the war, Eliphalet lived in Wales, Massachusetts from 1785 to 1805. His homestead there stood on the east side of a pond, near where the road to Union, Connecticut, joined another road leading east. Family tradition holds he was “an excellent man“ and that his wife, Sybil, was “a smart, energetic, worthy woman likening her very much to Mr. Hodges himself.” [5] Sometime after 1805 Eliphalet and Sybil moved to Western New York and his will was signed on April 23, 1847 in Attica, Wyoming County, New York. In his will—which was proved on December, 24 1849—Eliphalet names his only son, Oliver, as executor.[6] He also names daughter Sybil, widow of David Beckwith and daughter, Nabby Gardener, wife of Russell Gardener. Eliphalet died at age 86 on March 13, 1849 and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Attica, Wyoming County, New York. [7]
[1] Pomfret, CT Vital Records from Ancestry.com
[2] Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 from Ancestry.com
[3] Massachuetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 from Ancestry.com
[4] Fold-3 Pension Record S13438
[5] Massachusetts, , U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 from Ancestry.com
[6] Will of Eliphalet Hodges. Attica, Wyoming County, NY Signed 23 April 1847, proved 24 December, 1849
[7] Find a Grave Memorial 64464913 with photo of flat tombstone.