Ebenezer Thayer, Jr. (August 21, 1746 – May 30, 1809) was a Massachusetts farmer, military officer, town official, and politician who served in both branches of the Massachusetts legislature, as a member of the

Massachusetts Governor's Council The Massachusetts Governor's Council (also known as the Executive Council) is a governmental body that provides advice and consent in certain matterssuch as judicial nominations, pardons, and commutationsto the Governor of Massachusetts. Council ...

; and, from 1793 to 1794, as the first sheriff of Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The Braintree Instructions, drafted by

John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Befor ...

, were addressed to Thayer's father, Ebenezer Thayer, Esq., from his constituents in Braintree.

Military service

During the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

Thayer was active in recruiting men in his home town and in leading them in the war.

Family

His half-brother was

Atherton Thayer Atherton Thayer was a Massachusetts farmer, military officer, town official, who served as the second sheriff of Norfolk County, Massachusetts from 1794 to 1798. Overview He was appointed to fill the vacancy upon resignation of his half-brother ...

. Over a number of generations the Thayer family became known as a Boston Brahmin family and descended from early settlers and brothers Thomas Thayer (1596–1665) and Richard Thayer (1601–1664).

References

Members of the Massachusetts Governor's Council 1746 births 1809 deaths Politicians from Braintree, Massachusetts Massachusetts militiamen in the American Revolution Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Massachusetts state senators High Sheriffs of Norfolk County {{US-law-enforcement-bio-stub