Ezra Ames America, through John, Henry, and Jesse." These men acquired and cleared land, developed homesteads, participated in community activities, and prospered in their small worlds. Ezra, in an urban setting, also acquired property, became a householder, took part in the civic affairs of his adopted city, and achieved fame and fortune in his larger sphere. Thomas Emes (1618-1680/1), Ezra's great-great-grandfather, who settled in America about 1634, probably came from England.8 In 1637 he fought in the Pequot Indian War. He was a brickmason. As a young man he lived in Dedham, Massachusetts; then in Medford, and in Cambridge, selling his property early in 1664/5, and moving to Sudbury where he leased "Mr. Pelham's Farm."7 About 1670, Thomas settled in Framingham,8 where: "He built his house on the southern slope of Mount Wayte, between the Sudbury river and Farm pond, at a distance of about seven miles S. W. from the ancient town of Sudbury. ..."" He now became a farmer and landholder on a large scale,10 and his holdings in 1677 are shown on a plan of Framingham Plantation, dated 1699.11 He was "received as an Inhab. [Inhabitant] of Sherb. [Sherborn] Jan. 4, '74-5, and early chosen a Selectman; was on the Com. [Committee] for building the Meeting House, and received a grant for building the same."12 In 1676, his farmhouse was attacked by a band of Indians. An inscription on a stone marking the site of this house at Mount Wayte, Framingham, reads: "Here stood the house of Thomas Eames burned by the Indians in King Phillips War Feb. 1, 1675-76. His wife and five children were slain and four carried. "Sutliff, 27-32. The name, standard- this would definitely locate the land ized as "Emes" by Miss Sutliff, is retained which Thomas Emes leased. See: Mid- in this account of the artist's forebears. dlesex County Map; Wayland V. _.., In- ' Ibid., 27. troduction. 7 Temple, 531. On an excellent map of s Barry, 227. Middlesex County, Massachusetts, dated ° Ibid., 24. 1857, a "Pelham Pond" is shown in Way- M Temple, 531. land, which was once part of Sudbury. nFraminghamMemorial,fiontispiect. Because of its name the pond may .have "Barry, 227. been on "Mr. Pelham's Farm" and, if so, 232