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 colonial history. History Incorporated in 1639, the boundar ...

, 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 1675–1678 between a group of indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodland ...

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 the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the list of United States cities by population, 113th most populous city in the United States. Named after Worcester ...

. 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 Augus ...

, 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 improvem ...

, 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 United States census, 2020 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high ...

. 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 (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

1642 births 1680s deaths Year of death uncertain People from colonial Massachusetts Military and militia personnel of the Thirteen Colonies People of King Philip's War {{US-bio-stub