Ezekiel Goldthwait

Ezekiel Goldthwait (July 19, 1710 – November 27, 1782) was an American merchant and landowner. Born in Boston, the capital of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, he rose to become on the city's leading citizens in the years leading to the American Revolution. Biography Ezekiel Goldthwait was born in the North End of Boston on July 19, 1710, and was baptized at the Second Church on July 23. A member of a merchant family originally from Salem, Massachusetts, Goldthwait was quite prosperous. He lived on Hanover Street in a "Mansion House". He also owned houses on State and Ann streets, a country estate in Roxbury, Massachusetts, a chaise, considerable china, silver, glassware and furniture, over 30 paintings/drawings, several hundred books and pamphlets, and a gold watch. He married Elizabeth Lewis on November 2, 1732, and they had thirteen children. Goldthwait held a number of positions of trust. He served as executor of the wills of numerous prominent Massachusetts citizens of the time, including Governor William Dummer. He served on a committee relating to the British occupation of Boston, as well as many other colonial committees, and was appointed to meet with the governor on business for the town of Boston. He served as Town Clerk of Boston for 20 years. He was Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and Clerk of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, and was Register of Deeds for Suffolk County for 30 years. At various times he also held the posts of Selectman, Town Auditor, and Town Meeting Moderator. In 1771, he was challenged by Samuel Adams for the position of Register of Deeds, but beat Adams in the election by a margin of over two-to-one.