EZRA KING HOUSE

The King House, north of Middle Country Road, west of Church Lane, opposite the Presbyterian Church. Photo courtesy of Longwood Public Library, Thomas Bayles Collection CS 9-1

Reverend Ezra King, Longwood Public Library,
Thomas Bayles Collection CS 28A-9Thomas J. King house

According to my father, Thomas Bayles, a house was built on the northwest corner of the Country Road and Church Lane by Rev. Herman Daggett, who was minister of the Presbyterian Church from October 1801 to April 1807. In the spring of 1811 Rev. Ezra King received a call to become the pastor. Rev. King was born July 24, 1784 at East Marion and was master of the Oyster Ponds school 1805-07. On Oct.9, 1811 he married Lydia Youngs of East Marion and they moved into the Daggett house. Later he bought the house and the adjoining farm of about 100 acres that extended north to Half Mile Pond and included land on the east side of Church Lane adjoining the church. His wife Lydia died Sept.24,1814 and Sept.10,1816 he married Eliza Helme daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth Helme of Millers Place. Eliza died Dec.21,1833. The children of Ezra King are:

children born died married
Thomas J. - Born,Aug. 6,1812, died 1871. Married Dec. 13,1835 to Nancy Swezey

Lydia A. - Born, Aug.20,1814. Died, Dec. 15,1903. Married July 24,1835 to Noah Swezey

Caleb Helme - Born, Jan. 6,1818

Ezra Samuel - Born,Mar.25,1820

Joseph Newell - Born, Jun. 8,1823. Married to Therina

Elisha Elliot - Born, Dec. 30,1826

Hannah Youngs- Born, Mar.22,1830. Died, 1906. Married,1848 to Joseph Rowland

Maria Elizabeth - Born, Jun.22,1833

In 1844 Rev. King retired and moved to Millers Place where he died Feb. 7,1867 and was buried in the Middle Island cemetery. His son Thomas & Nancy lived in the house and had a daughter Lydia who married Joseph H. Randall of Middle Island July 5,1871. That same year Thomas died and his wife Nancy died Dec, 2,1891.

The following are notes from the diary of Richard Bayles.

Aug, 6, 1896 - delivered the deed of King farm to Thomas J. Dixon. Jan. 5,1900 - Dixon's barn burned this morning.

Jan. 9, 1906 - Dixon's house and contents burned 11 AM. Mrs. Dixon burned to death.

Thomas Dixon died in 1923 at the age of 76. A map in 1928 showed Felecia Kaminski as owner. In the late 1930s I believe Anthony Nowaski lived there after he married Alice Omar. In the 40s and 50s Martha Wissman lived in the house. Long before that time most of the acerage had been sold.

Written by,
Mr. Donald Bayles
December 1999