Ephraim Curtis (March 31, 1642 – c. 1684) was an American colonial military figure from

Sudbury, Massachusetts Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 18,934. The town, located in Greater Boston's MetroWest region, has a rich colonial history. History Incorporated in 1639, the bou ...

, during

King Philip's War King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1676 between indigenous inhabitants of New England and New England coloni ...

Biography

Ephraim Curtis was born in

, the son of Henry Curtis, a carpenter who had migrated from England during the Great Puritan Migration to New England. He is considered the first Purtian settler in what is now

Worcester, Massachusetts Worcester ( , ) is a city and county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, the city's population was 206,518 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the second-List of cities i ...

. As such, he became intimate in the customs of local Native Americans and was able to interact with them. However, when King Philip's War broke out in 1675, he was forced to leave the area. He was soon commissioned as a lieutenant.

King Philip's War

In August 1675, he was present at the siege of Brookfield, also known as

Wheeler's Surprise Wheeler's Surprise, and the ensuing Siege of Brookfield, was a battle between Nipmuc Indians under Muttawmp, and the English colonists of the Massachusetts Bay Colony under the command of Thomas Wheeler and Captain Edward Hutchinson, in August ...

, and was the officer that escaped under the cover of darkness and found Major

Simon Willard Simon Willard (April 3, 1753 – August 30, 1848) was a celebrated American clockmaker. Simon Willard clocks were produced in Massachusetts in the towns of Grafton and Roxbury, near Boston. Among his many innovations and timekeeping improvement ...

, who then brought his company to relieve Brookfield. On March 26, 1676, a band of Native Americans attacked

Marlborough, Massachusetts Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 41,793 at the 2020 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the ...

. Curtis led troops, which held off the attackers, but the town soon had to be abandoned, except for military personnel.

Legacy

Ephraim Curtis had a brother, Joseph Curtis, who named his son,

Ephraim Curtis Ephraim Curtis (March 31, 1642 – c. 1684) was an American colonial military figure from Sudbury, Massachusetts, during King Philip's War. Biography Ephraim Curtis was born in Sudbury, Massachusetts, the son of Henry Curtis, a carpenter who had mi ...

(1680-1759), after this hero of the King Philip's War. This nephew would himself become a military figure, as well as a local politician.Woods, Henry Ernest. (1907). The Family of Henry Curtis. Boston, Ma: NEHGS. Ephraim Curtis Middle School in Sudbury, Massachusetts is named after him.

References

1684 deaths 1642 births People of colonial Massachusetts Military history of New England Military and militia personnel of the Thirteen Colonies King Philip's War {{US-mil-bio-stub