Captain Ephraim Sturdivant (February 14, 1782-August 30/31, 1868) was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 veteran of the War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

, namer of Cumberland, Maine

Cumberland, Maine

Cumberland is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,211 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...

, first person to bring merino sheep to Maine, a ship captain, and the first treasurer of Cumberland.

Early life

Sturdivant was born on February 14, 1782 in North Yarmouth, Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

 (now in the state of Maine

Maine

Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...

). He was the third son of David A. Sturdivant and Jane Greely. Both parents were descended from a Mayflower

Mayflower

The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...

 passenger; David being descended from Richard Warren

Richard Warren

Richard Warren was a passenger on the Mayflower in 1620. He settled in Plymouth Colony and was among ten passengers of the Mayflower landing party with Myles Standish at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620...

, and Jane descended from Stephen Hopkins

Stephen Hopkins (settler)

Stephen Hopkins , was a tanner and merchant who was one of the passengers on the Mayflower in 1620, settling in Plymouth Colony. Hopkins was recruited by the Merchant Adventurers to provide governance for the colony as well as assist with the colony's ventures...

.

By the age of 12, Ephraim spent most of his life at sea. This life continued for another 28 years, during that time he traded in the West Indies, Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

, and more. In 1810, he imported a cargo of merino sheep from Portugal

Portugal

Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

 to Sturdivant Island which is now named after his family. He became the first person to bring merino sheep to the state of Maine

Maine

Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...

.

On June 18, 1812, Ephraim received permission from President James Madison

James Madison

James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...

 to command a schooner, the Reaper, as a privateer for the War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

. It is also known that he commanded the Ilsley

Ilsley

Ilsley was a privateer schooner commanded by Captain Ephraim Sturdivant during the War of 1812. It was of 143 tons, six guns, and 75 men and was commissioned as a privateer on 20 April 1813.-References:*...

during the same war.

Marriage and family

Ephraim's first marriage occurred on January 12, 1809, to Rachael Drinkwater. This union produced nine children:

• Alvin Sturdivant
• Henry Sturdivant

His second marriage was to Dolly S. Taylor.

His third and final marriage was to Mary Thaxter Greely.

Later life

Capt. Sturdivant served as the first treasurer of Cumberland from 1820 to 1832. He was also a selectman from 1833 to 1834. He died on either August 30 or the 31 from natural causes.

Legacy

Cumberland still exists to this day under the same name. Ephraim Sturdivant's home on "Ephraim's Mount" had twelve tall pine trees called "The Twelve Apostles". These trees served as the second landmark for ships sailing into the Portland Harbor, although the last one fell in 1935.

External resources

• History of Cumberland
• Cemetery listing
• Cumberland information - from the Cumberland Historical Society