Abijah Draper

Major Abijah Draper (May 10, 1737 – May 1, 1780) was a military officer under George Washington and prominent resident of Dedham, Massachusetts. Personal life Draper was born in Dedham, Massachusetts on May 10, 1737. On the death of his father, James, he inherited an estate at Green Lodge. He married Alice Eaton on April 8, 1762. She was the daughter of John Eaton and Elizabeth Lovering of Purgatory in Dedham. She was born January 31, 1741, and died January 22, 1777. He then married Desire ( Metcalf), the widow of Nathaniel, March 25, 1778. Her parents were Ebenezer and Desire Cushman Foster. Desire was born at Attleboro, Massachusetts on August 12, 1746, and died at Dedham on October 23, 1815. Draper and both his wives are buried in the Old Village Cemetery. With Alice, he had children, Abijah, Ira, Rufus, James, Alice, and Abijah. With Desire, he had Lendamine. Draper died May 1, 1780, in Dedham. He was a member of the Sons of Liberty.