Ebenezer Nims

Ebenezer Nims, along with several of his siblings, was taken captive by Indians at Deerfield Massacre 1704, marched to Canada through winter, escaped and returned. He married one of his fellow captives, Sara Hoyt, and they had a child, Ebenezer, during their captivity.

He returned to Deerfield to help his brother, John, rebuild their family home on the original foundation built by Godfrey Nims and build one for himself and his family nearby. (This home still is standing and used by the Nims Association during family reunions.)

Godfrey Nims was the first one of the Nims family known in this country, the earliest record extant giving his marriage, in Northampton, Mass., November 28, 1677.

His son Ebenezer removed to Deerfield, Mass., a short time previous to 1702, and at the destruction of that town, February 29th, 1703-04, he and Sarah Hoit were among the captives taken and carried to Canada, where they were kept prisoners for about ten years. The Indian chief desired Sarah Hoit to marry him, but she declined, promising to marry any one of the captives, and subsequently became the wife of Ebenezer Nims. Ebenezer and Sarah (Hoit) Nims had five sons; the first one was born in Canada.

Ebenezer Nims, son of Godfrey Nims and Mary Miller, was born Mar. 14, 1687 in Deerfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts. He was abducted during the DEERFIELD attack of 1704 and marched to Canada by his captors along with his sister.

He married fellow captive, SARAH HOYT, and they had a small son before their freedom was purchased. They returned to Deerfield to help his brother John rebuild the house his father had built and that had been destroyed by the natives.

He died 1760 in Wapping, Deerfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts; she died Jan. 11, 1761 in Deerfield. Both believed to be buried in the Old Deerfield Burying Ground, Deerfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts.

Ebenezer and Sarah had 5 children: Ebenezer Jr. (1712), David (1717-1803), Moses, Elisha (1720-1746), and Amasa.

He is believed to be buried in the Old Deerfield Burial Ground near his family.

• Find a grave
• NOTE: The Nims Family Seven generations of Descendent from Godfrey Nims, by Susan Outhout, John Schultz and Elizabeth Suddaby (Nims Family Association) 1990 Southern Historical Press, SC pg. 527

List of all Deerfield victims:

• http://www.babcock-acres.com/Misceallaneous/deerfield_captives_of_1...