Parents Newton & Sarah Jones Ransom

EZEKIEL RANSOM, of Colchester, Conn., was the twelfth son of Newton and Sarah Jones Ransom of Colchester, Conn., where he was born Oct. 1, 1763. He went with his father, Newton, and most of the family, a short time previous to the outbreak of the American Revolution, to Shelburne Falls, Mass., which place had been selected as their future home.
He enlisted in a Vermont militia company commanded by Capt. Samuel Fletcher, afterwards his father-in-law, when only 14 years of age. He continued in that service, (participating in the expedition against Crown feint and in the battles of Bennington and Saratoga, being present at the surrender of General Burgoyne) until after the latter event, when he returned to his home at Shelburne Falls and soon after enlisted with the Massachusetts troops of the Continental Line. He continued in the army under several subsequent enlistments until the close of the war. For a time he was on the non-commissioned staff of General George Washington. He fought in most of the battles of the Virginia campaign and was present at the execution of Major John Andre, the British spy.
At the close of the war he went back to his paternal home, where he remained until 1790, when he moved to Townshend, Windham Co., Vt., and there bought himself a farm, and on the 25th of March, 1791, he was married to Lucinda Fletcher, a daughter of General Samuel and Mehitable Fletcher. He continued to reside upon and work the farm he first purchased for several years, when he exchanged it with his father-in-law for a larger one near West Townshend, to which he removed about 1800, where he lived for a long period subsequently and reared a family of twelve children, six boys and six girls. While on that farm he also engaged in several other lines of business, blacksmithing, shoe making, saddle and harness shop, tannery and tin shop, all of which were requisite to the needs of a pioneer people, and were lucrative as well.
In 1825 he sold his farm to his son-in-law, John P. Marsh, and removed to East Townshend, and was there engaged as a sort of general trader with the Boston market until 1835, when he emigrated to Michigan, to which territory four of his children, Roswell, Mrs. Marsh, Epaphroditus and Samuel had preceded him and located at or near the incipient town of Bronson, now Kalamazoo. At that place he bought himself a home at the southeast corner of Park and Academy streets, where he lived until his death, which occurred Nov. 1, 1838.
Major Ransom was always largely interested in educational matters and he at once turned his attention to that subject after being settled in his new home. He was also a devoted member of the Baptist church. In conjunction with his son-in-law, Rev. Jeremiah Hall, and others he was active and instrumental in the founding of the Michigan and Huron Literary Institute, which in after years became the Kalamazoo College.
Major Ransom was a tall, muscular man of great strength and activity. Dark eyes and hair and of commanding presence, and to his last days showing in his ways the effects of his long military training. He was dignified in his conversation and inclined to be reticent of habit, but was liberal and charitable in relations with his fellow citizens, and greatly beloved and esteemed by all his friends. Historical outline of the Ransom family of America

Places of residence:--Colchester, Conn.; Shelburne Falls, Mass. Revolutionary Service:--Enlisted, 1777, with Vt. militia; fought at Crown Point and in battles of Bennington and Saratoga; present at Burgoyne's surrender; non-com. officer on the staff of Gen. George Washington. Major Ezekiel Ransom distinguished himself in the war of 1812. Occupation:--Farmer and general trader. Remarks:--1st deacon of Baptist church, Kalamazoo, and was instrumental in founding Huron Literary Institute, afterward Kalamazoo College. Came to Michigan., 1835; owned a farm, the dwelling now on Park and Academy St.

Children:
Miranda B-Sept. 6, 1792, Newfane, Vt., d. Jan., 1872, Mooers, N. Y., m. Elijah Ransom

Philanda B-Feb. 23, 1794, Townshend, Vt., d. Sept., 1847, Middleburg, Vt., m. Jonathan Allen

Fanny Jones B-Jan. 7, 1796, Shelburne Falls, Mass., d. Jan. 16, 1878, Chicago, Ill., m. John P. Marsh, Dec. 7, 1817

Epaphroditus Ransom (FAG #6246099)b- Mar. 24, 1798, Shelburne Falls, Mass., d. Nov. 12, 1859, Fort Scott, Kansas, m. Almira C. Ransom, Feb. 21, 1827

Fletcher, b. Aug. 22, 1800, Townshend, Vt., d. June 3, 1867, m. Elizabeth Noves, June 28, 1831

Roswell, b. Nov. 21, 1802, Townshend, Vt., d. Nov. 17, 1877, Galesburg, Mich., m. Wealthy I. Shafter, 1830

Alexis, b. July 21, 1805, Townshend, Vt., d. Jan. 15, 1888, Kalamazoo, Mich., m. (1st), Lois H. Stone, Nov. 15, 1835, (2nd), Mrs. Nancy Brown, Warren, Ohio

Sophia, b. Feb. 15, 1807, Townshend, Vt., d. Aug. 19, 1887, Kalamazoo, Mich., m. Amariah I. Prouty, Nov. 28, 1828

Clarissa, b. Dec. 30, 1808, Townshend, Vt., d. June 23, 1840, Kalamazoo, Mich., m. Rev. Jeremiah Hall, D.D., Sept. 28, 1830

Samuel, b. Dec. 23, 1810, Townshend, Vt., d. June 21, 1876, Waukesha, Wis., m. Eleanor B. Goddard, July, 1839

Lucinda Laurette b. Dec. 7, 1812, Townshend, Vt., d. Dec. 28, 1899, Highland Park, Ill., m. Allen Goodridge, Nov. 9, 1833

James Wells, b. Aug. 8, 1816, Townshend, Vt., d- Feb 18 1940, Kalamazoo, Mich.