Epaphras Hoyt
(1765-1850)

Epaphras Hoyt of Deerfield, Massachusetts, was the son of tavern keeper David Hoyt. He grew up in Deerfield's Old Indian House, a legendary building that had survived the 1704 raid on Deerfield during Queen Anne's War (1701-1713). Epaphras was a man of many talents and accomplishments. He was a surveyor, postmaster, justice of the peace, register of deeds, High Sheriff, and member of the 1820 constitutional convention. He was a major-general in the Massachusetts militia and published a "Treatise on the Military Art" in 1798. He published other military and genealogical articles, and left manuscripts on Burgoyne's campaign as well as notes on various aspects of the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Four of the five children of Epaphras and Experience (Harvey) Hoyt (1772-1833) grew to adulthood.