There is much conjecture about the origins of William Eager (alternate spellings Auger, Augur, Eger, Agar, Ager). William's ancestry is believed to be from England, who then settled on their estates in Ireland, and married into a Scottish family. There is no record of his birth or his arrival in New England. He was deposed in 1689/90 as being age 60, making his birth year about 1629 (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol 85 p 453-454, pub Boston, MA 1931.)
There is strong evidence that he was one of 10,000 Scottish soldiers captured at the Battle of Dunbar September 3, 1650, by Oliver Cromwell of England, and taken to New England on the "Unity" as one of 150 Scottish Prisoners of War, who were sold as indentured servants upon arrival in December 1650. The usual term of indentured servitude was 7 years.
He is first found in any New England records in 1659 when he married in Malden, MA - just after his indenture would have ended. He was mentioned in the will of William Godden (Gooden), written in 1663, which stated, "There were sums of money due him [Godden] from Edward Wiar and William Egar, Scotchmen..." Both of these men were included on a list of probable Unity passengers in 1650, compiled by Elizabeth French Bartlett, one of the most esteemed genealogists of her time, doing English research in England and America between 1908 and 1917.
William removed from Malden to Cambridge about 1672, where his first wife died in 1679. He married his 2nd wife in Cambridge 1680, and moved to Marlborough about 1682 in the earliest days of that settlement. He was one of the original proprietors of Marlborough, and was instrumental in the purchase of the Ockoocangansett Plantation from the Indians in 1684. He settled in that colony, where he died 4 Apr 1690.
He was married by Captain Marshall on October 7, 1659 in Malden MA to 1) Ruth Hill (daughter of Abraham and Sarah Long Hill) born 1640 in Malden. (Malden, MA Vital Records to 1850, p. 199) Ruth died in Cambridge 6 Jan 1679 and is buried there. Her headstone is inscribed "Ruth wife to William Eger, aged 39 year, Dec Jan y 6 1679".
William married in Cambridge, MA, on 13 Apr 1680: 2) Lydia Cheever Barrett Cole, widow of Thomas Barrett and Arthur Cole (Coale).
The names of his wives and 14 children are listed in the Malden church records and/or the will of William Eager, which was probated in 1690.
His children with Ruth Hill:
i. William b. and d. 1661 Malden
ii. William b. 30 Nov 1662 Malden; d. after 1690
iii. Zachariah b. October 1667 Malden; d. 5 Jul 1742 Marlborough
iv. Captain Abraham Eager b. 11 July 1670 Malden, MA; d. 25 Oct 1734 Shrewsbury, MA; m. Lydia Woods dau. John and Lydia Rice Woods
v. Zerubbabel b. 8 Jun 1672 Cambridge; d. 9 Jan 1746/47 Marlborough m. Hannah Kerley 23 Mar 1698, dau. Henry and Elizabeth Ward Howe Kerley.
vi. Martha b. 26 Oct 1674 Cambridge
vii. Ruth b. 1 Feb 1677 Cambridge; d. 25 Dec 1768 Marlborough; m. John Banister
viii. Sarah b. 25 Jun 1679 Cambridge
His children with Lydia Cheever Barrett Cole**:
ix. Margaret b. 25 May 1681, d. 1725 Cambridge. m. Isaac Manning
x. Mercy b. 20 Oct 1682 Marlborough, m. David Morse of Newton, MA
xi. Lydia b. 20 Jun 1684 Marlborough, m. Samuel Johnson
xii. Capt. James b. 21 Sep 1686 Marlborough, m. Tabitha Howe
xiii. Jacob b. 1688 Marlborough
xiv. John b. 6 Jun 1689 Marlborough, d. 18 Jan 1756
**Esther, mentioned in his will, is believed to be the dau. of Lydia Cheever and her 1st husband Thomas Barrett.
Very few of William's children have memorials in Find-A-Grave. Apparently there was a family burial ground somewhere - as yet to be found.
Sources:
-Vital records of Malden, Cambridge, & Marlborough, MA
-New England Historic and Genealogical Society
-George Eager, desc. of Abraham Eager; Peter Eager, desc. of Zerubbabel Eager 1996; Family records for nine generations to 1996
-History of Eager Family; Susie Eager Trotter, pub 1952 (w/ errors)
There is strong evidence that he was one of 10,000 Scottish soldiers captured at the Battle of Dunbar September 3, 1650, by Oliver Cromwell of England, and taken to New England on the "Unity" as one of 150 Scottish Prisoners of War, who were sold as indentured servants upon arrival in December 1650. The usual term of indentured servitude was 7 years.
He is first found in any New England records in 1659 when he married in Malden, MA - just after his indenture would have ended. He was mentioned in the will of William Godden (Gooden), written in 1663, which stated, "There were sums of money due him [Godden] from Edward Wiar and William Egar, Scotchmen..." Both of these men were included on a list of probable Unity passengers in 1650, compiled by Elizabeth French Bartlett, one of the most esteemed genealogists of her time, doing English research in England and America between 1908 and 1917.
William removed from Malden to Cambridge about 1672, where his first wife died in 1679. He married his 2nd wife in Cambridge 1680, and moved to Marlborough about 1682 in the earliest days of that settlement. He was one of the original proprietors of Marlborough, and was instrumental in the purchase of the Ockoocangansett Plantation from the Indians in 1684. He settled in that colony, where he died 4 Apr 1690.
He was married by Captain Marshall on October 7, 1659 in Malden MA to 1) Ruth Hill (daughter of Abraham and Sarah Long Hill) born 1640 in Malden. (Malden, MA Vital Records to 1850, p. 199) Ruth died in Cambridge 6 Jan 1679 and is buried there. Her headstone is inscribed "Ruth wife to William Eger, aged 39 year, Dec Jan y 6 1679".
William married in Cambridge, MA, on 13 Apr 1680: 2) Lydia Cheever Barrett Cole, widow of Thomas Barrett and Arthur Cole (Coale).
The names of his wives and 14 children are listed in the Malden church records and/or the will of William Eager, which was probated in 1690.
His children with Ruth Hill:
i. William b. and d. 1661 Malden
ii. William b. 30 Nov 1662 Malden; d. after 1690
iii. Zachariah b. October 1667 Malden; d. 5 Jul 1742 Marlborough
iv. Captain Abraham Eager b. 11 July 1670 Malden, MA; d. 25 Oct 1734 Shrewsbury, MA; m. Lydia Woods dau. John and Lydia Rice Woods
v. Zerubbabel b. 8 Jun 1672 Cambridge; d. 9 Jan 1746/47 Marlborough m. Hannah Kerley 23 Mar 1698, dau. Henry and Elizabeth Ward Howe Kerley.
vi. Martha b. 26 Oct 1674 Cambridge
vii. Ruth b. 1 Feb 1677 Cambridge; d. 25 Dec 1768 Marlborough; m. John Banister
viii. Sarah b. 25 Jun 1679 Cambridge
His children with Lydia Cheever Barrett Cole**:
ix. Margaret b. 25 May 1681, d. 1725 Cambridge. m. Isaac Manning
x. Mercy b. 20 Oct 1682 Marlborough, m. David Morse of Newton, MA
xi. Lydia b. 20 Jun 1684 Marlborough, m. Samuel Johnson
xii. Capt. James b. 21 Sep 1686 Marlborough, m. Tabitha Howe
xiii. Jacob b. 1688 Marlborough
xiv. John b. 6 Jun 1689 Marlborough, d. 18 Jan 1756
**Esther, mentioned in his will, is believed to be the dau. of Lydia Cheever and her 1st husband Thomas Barrett.
Very few of William's children have memorials in Find-A-Grave. Apparently there was a family burial ground somewhere - as yet to be found.
Sources:
-Vital records of Malden, Cambridge, & Marlborough, MA
-New England Historic and Genealogical Society
-George Eager, desc. of Abraham Eager; Peter Eager, desc. of Zerubbabel Eager 1996; Family records for nine generations to 1996
-History of Eager Family; Susie Eager Trotter, pub 1952 (w/ errors)
There is much conjecture about the origins of William Eager (alternate spellings Auger, Augur, Eger, Agar, Ager). William's ancestry is believed to be from England, who then settled on their estates in Ireland, and married into a Scottish family. There is no record of his birth or his arrival in New England. He was deposed in 1689/90 as being age 60, making his birth year about 1629 (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol 85 p 453-454, pub Boston, MA 1931.)
There is strong evidence that he was one of 10,000 Scottish soldiers captured at the Battle of Dunbar September 3, 1650, by Oliver Cromwell of England, and taken to New England on the "Unity" as one of 150 Scottish Prisoners of War, who were sold as indentured servants upon arrival in December 1650. The usual term of indentured servitude was 7 years.
He is first found in any New England records in 1659 when he married in Malden, MA - just after his indenture would have ended. He was mentioned in the will of William Godden (Gooden), written in 1663, which stated, "There were sums of money due him [Godden] from Edward Wiar and William Egar, Scotchmen..." Both of these men were included on a list of probable Unity passengers in 1650, compiled by Elizabeth French Bartlett, one of the most esteemed genealogists of her time, doing English research in England and America between 1908 and 1917.
William removed from Malden to Cambridge about 1672, where his first wife died in 1679. He married his 2nd wife in Cambridge 1680, and moved to Marlborough about 1682 in the earliest days of that settlement. He was one of the original proprietors of Marlborough, and was instrumental in the purchase of the Ockoocangansett Plantation from the Indians in 1684. He settled in that colony, where he died 4 Apr 1690.
He was married by Captain Marshall on October 7, 1659 in Malden MA to 1) Ruth Hill (daughter of Abraham and Sarah Long Hill) born 1640 in Malden. (Malden, MA Vital Records to 1850, p. 199) Ruth died in Cambridge 6 Jan 1679 and is buried there. Her headstone is inscribed "Ruth wife to William Eger, aged 39 year, Dec Jan y 6 1679".
William married in Cambridge, MA, on 13 Apr 1680: 2) Lydia Cheever Barrett Cole, widow of Thomas Barrett and Arthur Cole (Coale).
The names of his wives and 14 children are listed in the Malden church records and/or the will of William Eager, which was probated in 1690.
His children with Ruth Hill:
i. William b. and d. 1661 Malden
ii. William b. 30 Nov 1662 Malden; d. after 1690
iii. Zachariah b. October 1667 Malden; d. 5 Jul 1742 Marlborough
iv. Captain Abraham Eager b. 11 July 1670 Malden, MA; d. 25 Oct 1734 Shrewsbury, MA; m. Lydia Woods dau. John and Lydia Rice Woods
v. Zerubbabel b. 8 Jun 1672 Cambridge; d. 9 Jan 1746/47 Marlborough m. Hannah Kerley 23 Mar 1698, dau. Henry and Elizabeth Ward Howe Kerley.
vi. Martha b. 26 Oct 1674 Cambridge
vii. Ruth b. 1 Feb 1677 Cambridge; d. 25 Dec 1768 Marlborough; m. John Banister
viii. Sarah b. 25 Jun 1679 Cambridge
His children with Lydia Cheever Barrett Cole**:
ix. Margaret b. 25 May 1681, d. 1725 Cambridge. m. Isaac Manning
x. Mercy b. 20 Oct 1682 Marlborough, m. David Morse of Newton, MA
xi. Lydia b. 20 Jun 1684 Marlborough, m. Samuel Johnson
xii. Capt. James b. 21 Sep 1686 Marlborough, m. Tabitha Howe
xiii. Jacob b. 1688 Marlborough
xiv. John b. 6 Jun 1689 Marlborough, d. 18 Jan 1756
**Esther, mentioned in his will, is believed to be the dau. of Lydia Cheever and her 1st husband Thomas Barrett.
Very few of William's children have memorials in Find-A-Grave. Apparently there was a family burial ground somewhere - as yet to be found.
Sources:
-Vital records of Malden, Cambridge, & Marlborough, MA
-New England Historic and Genealogical Society
-George Eager, desc. of Abraham Eager; Peter Eager, desc. of Zerubbabel Eager 1996; Family records for nine generations to 1996
-History of Eager Family; Susie Eager Trotter, pub 1952 (w/ errors)
There is strong evidence that he was one of 10,000 Scottish soldiers captured at the Battle of Dunbar September 3, 1650, by Oliver Cromwell of England, and taken to New England on the "Unity" as one of 150 Scottish Prisoners of War, who were sold as indentured servants upon arrival in December 1650. The usual term of indentured servitude was 7 years.
He is first found in any New England records in 1659 when he married in Malden, MA - just after his indenture would have ended. He was mentioned in the will of William Godden (Gooden), written in 1663, which stated, "There were sums of money due him [Godden] from Edward Wiar and William Egar, Scotchmen..." Both of these men were included on a list of probable Unity passengers in 1650, compiled by Elizabeth French Bartlett, one of the most esteemed genealogists of her time, doing English research in England and America between 1908 and 1917.
William removed from Malden to Cambridge about 1672, where his first wife died in 1679. He married his 2nd wife in Cambridge 1680, and moved to Marlborough about 1682 in the earliest days of that settlement. He was one of the original proprietors of Marlborough, and was instrumental in the purchase of the Ockoocangansett Plantation from the Indians in 1684. He settled in that colony, where he died 4 Apr 1690.
He was married by Captain Marshall on October 7, 1659 in Malden MA to 1) Ruth Hill (daughter of Abraham and Sarah Long Hill) born 1640 in Malden. (Malden, MA Vital Records to 1850, p. 199) Ruth died in Cambridge 6 Jan 1679 and is buried there. Her headstone is inscribed "Ruth wife to William Eger, aged 39 year, Dec Jan y 6 1679".
William married in Cambridge, MA, on 13 Apr 1680: 2) Lydia Cheever Barrett Cole, widow of Thomas Barrett and Arthur Cole (Coale).
The names of his wives and 14 children are listed in the Malden church records and/or the will of William Eager, which was probated in 1690.
His children with Ruth Hill:
i. William b. and d. 1661 Malden
ii. William b. 30 Nov 1662 Malden; d. after 1690
iii. Zachariah b. October 1667 Malden; d. 5 Jul 1742 Marlborough
iv. Captain Abraham Eager b. 11 July 1670 Malden, MA; d. 25 Oct 1734 Shrewsbury, MA; m. Lydia Woods dau. John and Lydia Rice Woods
v. Zerubbabel b. 8 Jun 1672 Cambridge; d. 9 Jan 1746/47 Marlborough m. Hannah Kerley 23 Mar 1698, dau. Henry and Elizabeth Ward Howe Kerley.
vi. Martha b. 26 Oct 1674 Cambridge
vii. Ruth b. 1 Feb 1677 Cambridge; d. 25 Dec 1768 Marlborough; m. John Banister
viii. Sarah b. 25 Jun 1679 Cambridge
His children with Lydia Cheever Barrett Cole**:
ix. Margaret b. 25 May 1681, d. 1725 Cambridge. m. Isaac Manning
x. Mercy b. 20 Oct 1682 Marlborough, m. David Morse of Newton, MA
xi. Lydia b. 20 Jun 1684 Marlborough, m. Samuel Johnson
xii. Capt. James b. 21 Sep 1686 Marlborough, m. Tabitha Howe
xiii. Jacob b. 1688 Marlborough
xiv. John b. 6 Jun 1689 Marlborough, d. 18 Jan 1756
**Esther, mentioned in his will, is believed to be the dau. of Lydia Cheever and her 1st husband Thomas Barrett.
Very few of William's children have memorials in Find-A-Grave. Apparently there was a family burial ground somewhere - as yet to be found.
Sources:
-Vital records of Malden, Cambridge, & Marlborough, MA
-New England Historic and Genealogical Society
-George Eager, desc. of Abraham Eager; Peter Eager, desc. of Zerubbabel Eager 1996; Family records for nine generations to 1996
-History of Eager Family; Susie Eager Trotter, pub 1952 (w/ errors)
Gravesite Details
Although there is no surviving gravestone, Spring Hill was the only cemetery in Marlborough at the time of Eager's death in 1690.
Family Members
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