“Dr. Ephraim Ware, a physician of Groton, was married at Cambridge, on October 13, 1785, to Mrs. Abigail Gamage.  Dr. Ware was a native of Needham, and born on January 14, 1725. His first wife was Martha, daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth Parker, of Groton, where they were married on July 26, 1764. She was born on January 7, 1737, and died at Groton, on April 4, 1776.- After their marriage they went to Dedham to live, as the records of that town say: ‘The Selectmen on the 2d Day of Aug’ 1765. gave Orders to Israel Everett, Constable, to warn Ephraim Ware, Martha Ware [and three others] to depart this Town in 14 Days, or give Security to indemnify the Town.’ Such orders were in accordance with an old practice, then common throughout the Province, which aimed to prevent the permanent settlement of families in towns where they might become a public burden. Their two eldest children, both boys, were born at Dedham ; and three other children — a daughter Sarah, and two sons who both died in infancy — were born at Groton. Sarah, born on September 18, 1769, married Richard Sawtell, of Groton, on March 10, 1796, and died on March 23, 1851, having been the mother of nine children.”

Source:  Groton Historical Series, Vol. 3, by Samuel Green Abbott M.D., Groton, 1893, page 2