Esther “Hester” Shaw Dow

Biography

Esther Shaw was born in Hampton, on the coast of present-day New Hampshire, on November 17, 1666, a daughter of Benjamin Shaw. Her name also appears as Hester. She married Jabez Dow on March 24, 1693, and their first child, Benjamin, was born that December. Lucy followed in 1695, then Ezekiel, Lydia, Esther, Patience, and Comfort.

Esther lived through the years in which Jabez became involved in Hampton's land committees and property assessments. Meanwhile, their children began forming households of their own. Lucy married James Hobbs in 1720; Lydia married Philip Towle in 1724; and Ezekiel's family was associated with Kensington.

Their youngest daughter, Comfort, died on June 20, 1736. Esther died on March 25, 1739, just after the forty-sixth anniversary of her marriage. Jabez survived her for nearly thirteen years.