Ezekiel (1751) lived only a few miles from Bethia Guernsey and in May of 1772 fathered Ezekiel the younger. In support of this alleged indiscretion of Ezekiel Johnson is another record naming him as being the father of “at least one other (illegitimate) son by another woman.”
Apparently, once his transgression had become known Ezekiel either left the area or denied his relationship with Bethia and her child. In the Worcester County court archives there is a record of a “Bethiar Gansee” (Bethia Guernsey) paying a fine of five shillings for having borne an illegitimate child with “the act” having been committed on 31 May 1772 with “a male person being to the said jurors unknown.”
Perhaps Bethia chose not to reveal the name of the father to the authorities to protect him from prosecution and she possibly hoped that he would return and assume his proper role. This unfortunately never occurred.
When Ezekiel was about three, his mother married Jonathan King.
Bethia Garnsey King died at the age of eighty-eight and shortly thereafter both she and the truth were laid to rest at Ye Ancientest Burial Grounds in New London, Connecticut.
Ezekiel (1751) lived only a few miles from Bethia Guernsey and in May of 1772 fathered Ezekiel the younger. In support of this alleged indiscretion of Ezekiel Johnson is another record naming him as being the father of “at least one other (illegitimate) son by another woman.”
Apparently, once his transgression had become known Ezekiel either left the area or denied his relationship with Bethia and her child. In the Worcester County court archives there is a record of a “Bethiar Gansee” (Bethia Guernsey) paying a fine of five shillings for having borne an illegitimate child with “the act” having been committed on 31 May 1772 with “a male person being to the said jurors unknown.”
Perhaps Bethia chose not to reveal the name of the father to the authorities to protect him from prosecution and she possibly hoped that he would return and assume his proper role. This unfortunately never occurred.
When Ezekiel was about three, his mother married Jonathan King.
Bethia Garnsey King died at the age of eighty-eight and shortly thereafter both she and the truth were laid to rest at Ye Ancientest Burial Grounds in New London, Connecticut.
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