Ebenezer Moody, Jr., moved with his father to South Hadley between 1727 and June 1729 at which time his father’s house was built in South Hadley. In January 1731 the Hadley inner commons was divided. Ebenezer Moody, Jr., age 23, living in South Hadley, was listed as having no real estate. He was mentioned in the will of his father, Ebenezer Moody, dated 1757. He removed to Belchertown, Massachusetts and may have died there. ®656 He settled in Hadley, removed thence to Belchertown, from him has descended the elder Branch in South Hadley. ®408 He was a communicant of the Congregational Church of Belchertown. “Ebenezer Moody, from the church in Hadley, Rev. Mr. Hopkins, pastor. He died 1789, age 83” ®1250
“E. rec’d the Homestead in Hadley by deed of gift from his father. He also bought himself 140 acres in Belchertown nearby and built a house there which was still standing in 1857. It sets 12 rods north of Bachelor’s Brook where the grist mill was. E. was a miller and a carpenter.” ®8
“Mr. Moody, settled in Hadley, Mass. on the homestead of his father, which homestead was secured to him by deed of gift from his father who, some years previous to this time, had removed to what is now the north part of South Hadley, as above shown. From an old account book in my possession, it appears that he was a Miller, while in Hadley. I find charges of wheat, rye, meslin, etc. as early as 1758 and as late as 1765 - much of the book, however, is wanting. From Hadley, he removed with his family to Belchertown, Mass., having there purchased ‘one hundred and forty acres of land’ of Walter Fairfield for the sum of two hundred pounds, lawful money, which land was bounded west by the east line of South Hadley (now Granby) also ‘extending across a large meadow’. The deed is dated ‘the second day of October in the second year of his Majestys [sic] Reign Anno Dom. One thousand seven hundred and sixty-two. His name appears on the Church records of Belchertown (Rev. Justus Forward Pastor) with the date May 11, 1766 at which time he and his wife Joanna were received to that church by letter from the church in Hadley, Mass., then under the pastoral care of Rev. Samuel Hopkins. The house he built in Belchertown and occupied till his decease, yet remains. It is about twelve rods north of ‘Bachelder’s Brook’ and on the west side of the road, which leads from what is called ‘Dark Corner’ to the center of Belchertown. He united several trades or occupations in one as if often necessary in a new settlement, - was a carpenter, joiner and Mill Wright, while he also had the oversight of farming interests. Some of the tools with which he wrought, are in my possession. He md. 2nd in 1776 Anna Howard, who was at that time, the widow to Benjamin Chapin, Jr. of Springfield, Mass. She was received from the third church in Springfield to the church in Belchertown in 1776. As this Anna had a family by her first husband and as her present husband had children by his first wife, it was agreed that the children of each, should be entitled only to the property of their own parent, which agreement though verbal at first, was afterwards put in writing. Hence it bears even date with his Will, both executed, June 24, 1785 and both still preserved among his descendants. He bequeathed his homestead in Belchertown to his son Ebenezer, - certain sums of money to each of the children of his son Elijah who was then deceased- a certain amount to his daughter, Joanna who was at this time, the wife of David Warriner, Jr. of Wilbraham, Mass. and a less amount to Ann, whom he calls his ‘true and beloved wife’ she being according to declaration, comfortably provided for with the income of her own estate. The household furniture was to be given - one third part to his son Ebenezer - one third part to his daughter Joanna and one third part to the grand children, above specified. His son Ebenezer was appointed Executor. The Will was proved May 5, 1789. (Prob. Rec. Hampshire Co., Mass.) One of his grand children, now living, who recollects to have seen him says: He was of erect form - well proportioned and not quite six feet in height. He was buried by the side of his wife Joanna in the grave yard, a few rods north of where he lived. Slabs of red-sand stone mark the place, but the letters on them are much worn. The date 1790 on his, is incorrect. Anna, his widow, removed to South Hadley and lived with her daughter Bathsheba, who was at the time the wife of Jonathan Smith. (See marriage of Miriam Moody) She died in Oct 1793. (taken from ch. rec. in South Hadley). The births of the children were copied from the family records, all were born in Hadley, Mass. ” ®408