1. JOHN
b.c.1618
m.1. 1645 Priscilla Gould (b.c.1625, d. 16 Apr. 1663
Topsfield, MA)
2. 23 Nov. 1663 SARAH (5) AVERILL (b.c.1635, executed 19
July 1692 Salem, MA)
3. 26 June 1693 Mary ______ (m.1. George Jacobs, hanged for
witchcraft 19 Aug. 1692)
d. 14 May 1705 Topsfield, MA
John and his brother William emmigrated from England on
the Elizabeth and settled in Rowley, MA before moving to
Ipswich. John gave his age as seventeen when he registered
with the authorities of the port of London for the voyage to
New England on 11 Apr. 1635. Also on the Elizabeth was
William Whitredd, his wife, son, and three other young men.
Whitredd was a carpenter as were the Wildes brothers. Perhaps
John was Whitredd's apprentice.(1) In 1646 William Whitredd
sued Michael Cartrick and the verdict was that the plaintiff
should pay John Wild 30/, the defendant 30/, and that John
Wild was to pay the other 20/ to himself.(2)
About 1645 he moved to Topsfield probably due to the
influence of his wealthy father-in-law Zaccheus Gould. His
house stood on Perkins St. at the fork in the road coming from
Mile Brook Bridge at a pear orchard. The house was demolished
in 1835. In 1660 he bought a 100 acre lot adjoining his land
from Richard and Jane Swaine of Hampton. Jane's first husband
had been John Bunker of Topsfield.(3)
In 1698/9 John testified that he had sold a parcel of
land to Francis Bates fifty years before (1649). He granted
20 acres of land to Robert Andrews in 1654. In 1663 John sold
to William Acie of Rowley 32 acres at Bushy Hill and 8 acres
of meadow, formerly Thomas Dorman's, at Snookes Hole in
Topsfield for £35. John French purchased 30 acres from him in
1672, Thomas Perkins 20 acres "in the first division of lots"
in 1674, and William Perkins Sr., 4 acres in 1685/6.(4) given
the above and the lack of many deeds to John, he must have had
grants from the town, but, the earliest book of town records
was destroyed by fire in 1658. However, on 7 Mar. 1664 the
town ordered that 500 acres of common land "on the other side
of the river which is to remaine common to perpetuity" be
divided "by John Wiles Willi Averill Thomas Baker & Edmond
Towne or either three of them" into three equal
proportions.(5)
In 1637, before the move to Topsfield, John was involved
in the Pequot war and received 3/ for his service from the
town of Ipswich. In 1639 he received 12/ per day for his
service during the war. John was one of twenty soldiers from
Ipswich who in Sept. 1642 were involved in an expedition to
disarm Passaconway, Sachem of the Merrimac.(6)
In 1659 and 1686 John was one of a committee to settle
the boundary between Salem and Topsfield, and in later years
he was often employed to decide town boundaries and lay out
lots. He was constable in 1661 and 1662, juryman in 1679-80
and tythingman in 1682/3. In 1669 the town owed its largest
debt to John, £14/16, probably for carpentry. Given John's
carpentry skills it is very possible that he was involved in
the construction of the Parson Capen House which is one of
the oldest surviving examples of 17th century English
architecture in the United States having been built in 1683.
John was on committees to negotiate with Mr. Danforth to
act as minister in 1680/1, "to discourse" with Mr. Capen in
1681, to lay out land for Mr. Capen and to seat the people in
the meetinghouse in 1682. In 1689/0 "father John Wilds" was
collecting the arrears in Mr. Capen's salary. John's second
wife Sarah is on Mr. Capen's list of those who were already
members of the church when he began his ministry. John,
however, was not admitted to full communion in the church
until 1697.(7) John testified against Thomas Baker for
"laughing in meeting" in 1678. In 1679 parson Jeremiah
Hubbard sued Judith Dorman for slander and Sarah Wildes
testified for the minister.(8)
William Paine, an Ipswich merchant, sued John for a shop
account in 1652 and attached his house.(9)
In 1654 the two younger children of widow Elithorp of
Rowley were to be paid their portions into the hands of John
Wyldes and John Picard, Thomas Elithorp's executor brought
John's receipt into court. This curious transaction indicates
that John was possibly related to Elithorp.(10)
John and his second wife began having problems with his
first wife's brother Lt. John Gould and her sister Mary
Reddington. This situation first became evident in the will
of John Wild Jr. regarding his inheritance from his
grandfather Zaccheus hoping that his father might not be
troubled by any claims made by his uncle Gould. The problems
worsened and in 1686 John Wild testified against Lt. John
Gould on the charge treason. This is an interesting fact
given that John Wild was one of five Topsfield men who signed
a declaration that they were uterly unwilling to yield either
to a resignation of the Massachusetts charter or anything that
should be equivalent, the same sentiments that Lt. Gould
expressed. Shortly after this episode Mary Reddington began
to spread witchcraft stories about Sarah throughout the town
and it is to her authority that most of the evidence against
Sarah may be traced. John threatened to sue John Reddington
for slander as he could not sue Mary as in that time the
husband was responsible for all his wife's actions. Mary
denied her previous statements but the damage had already been
done. Ann Putnam asserted that "a woman who told me hir name
was willds... has most grevously tortored and affected me with
a variety of tortureses as by pricking and pinching me and
almost choaking me to death..."(11) John was hated by the
Putnam's for his decision against them in surveying the
boundary between the Putnams' of Salem Village and the Townes
of Topsfield. On 21 Apr. 1692 a warrant was issued concerning
the charge of witchcraft:
"Warrant vs. Sarah wild and als.
Salem, April 21st 1692
There being complaint this day made by Thomas Putnam and
John Buxton of Salem Village Yeoman in behalfe of theire
Majes'ts for themselves and also for severall of theire
neighbours against William Hobs husbandman, Deliv'e his wife,
Nehemiah Abot junior weaver, Mary Eastey, the wife of Isaac
Eastey, and Sarah Wilds the wife of John Wilds, all of the
town of Topsfield or Ipswich, and Edward Bishop husbandman
and Sarah his wife of Salem Village, and Mary Black a negro
of Leut. Nath. Putnam's of Salem Village also, and Mary
English the wife of Phillip English merchant in Salem, for
high susption of sundry acts of witchcraft donne or committed
by them lately upon the body's of Anna Putnam and Marcey
Lewis belonging to the family of ye abovest Thomas Putnam
complaint and Mary Walcot ye daughter of Captain Jonathan
Walcot of sd Salem Village and others, whereby great hurt and
dammage hath benne donne to ye bodys of said persons above
named therefore craved justice. You are therefore in theire
Majes'ts names hereby required to apprehend and bring before
us William Hobs husbandman and his wife, Nehemiah Abot Junr
Weaver, Mary Eastey the wife of Isaac Eastey, and all of the
abovenamed tomorrow about ten of the clock in the forenoon at
the house of Lieut. Nath. Ingersolls in Salem Village in
order to theire examination relating to the premises
abovesaid and hereof you are not to faile. Dated Salem,
April 21st 1692.
Jonathan Corwin John Hathorne Assists
To George Herrick, Marshall of Essex, and any or all ye
Constables in Salem or Topsfield or any other Towne."
George Herrick arrested Sarah on the morning of 22 Apr.
and her son Ephraim, who was constable of Topsfield, arrested
William and Deliverance Hobbs, Mary Easty and Nehemiah Abbot.
In general the procedure used in witchcraft cases
involved the afflicted person complaining to the Magistrate
about a suspect sometimes doing so through another person. A
warrant was then issued for the arrest of the accused who
were brought before two or more Magistrates who examined the
evidence and sent the accused to jail where they were re-
examined. The case was then presented to the Grand Jury at
which time depositions were introduced as evidence by the
accusers. If the accused was indicted by the Grand Jury they
were tried before a jury sitting with the Court of Oyer and
Terminer, a special court commissioned on 25 May 1692 to try
the witchcraft cases. This court was set up by Sir William
Pitts the newly appointed governor of Massachusetts.
On the day of her arrest Sarah was examined by Justices
Hathorne and Corwin at the Salem meetinghouse. When she
entered the room the "afflicted" girls and women fell into
their usual hysterical fits, stating that she was not at the
bar but, "on the beam" which ran across the room. Abigail
Hobbs, daughter of William Hobbs of Topsfield, a juvenile
delinquent who had been arrested and examined and had
"confessed" several days before, said that Sarah had brought
her the Devil's book to sign. Sarah replied "I am not quilty,
sir... I never saw the book in my life and I never saw these
persons before".
On 13 May 1692 Sarah was sent to the Boston Gaol in
fetters and handcuffs to await further trial. During her
imprisonment John and Ephraim traveled back and forth to see
that Sarah was fed and clothed and to give her such comfort as
they could as the jail authorities supplied nothing.
She was returned to Salem and stood trial at the June
29th sitting of the Court of Oyer and Terminer. Deliverance
Hobbs testified that she was present at a meeting of witches
in Mr. Parris' meadow at which Mr. George Burroughs preached
and Goody Nurse and Goody Wildes administered a sacrament of
blood and red bread.
Elizabeth Symonds in her deposition said that Goodwife
Wilds in the shape of a cat had lain on her breast all of one
night and that the presence of Goodwife Wilds on a lecture day
had cause her so much pain that she fell down unconscious.
Lt. John Gould testified that when his sister Mary
Redington was coming from Salem about fifteen years ago
Goodwife Wilds, in spirit form, pulled her backward off her
horse, also that hens given to her by Goodwife Wildes "went
moping about till they died". He also testified that after
Zacheus Perkins, for whom he was fetching loads of hay, told
him to load it fast or else his Aunt Wilds would not let John
carry it for she was angry with him, the loads slipped off and
"I did thinke that it was done by Withcraft".
Thomas Dorman said that after Goodwife Wilds asked him
" How do your geese thrive?" they pined away so that they were
good for little.
Humphrey Clark told of a spectral visit at midnight by a
woman who seemed to be Goodwife Wilds.
John and Joseph Andrews of Boxford had borrowed young
John Wild's sythe in 1674 although his stepmother was
unwilling to lend it. Having cut and loaded their hay their
six oxen refused to draw, a wheel mired and they unloaded the
hay for they said to one another that it was vain to strive
for Goody Willes was in the cart.
Rev. John Hale of Beverly testified that Goody
Reddington "opned her griefs" to him, saying that Goody Wiles,
her neighbor, bewitched her and afflicted her many times, and
that Goody Wiles' stepson, John, had said that he believed his
mother Wiles was a witch.
Sarah's son Ephraim, the Topsfield Constable, testified
in her behalf telling the court that Deliverance Hobb's
testimony against his mother was motivated by spite since he
had arrested her and brought her to Salem. Elizabeth Symonds
who had signed a disposition against his mother did so because
he broke his engagement to her daughter several years before,
and that Mary Reddington, a sister of his father's first wife
Priscilla was still angry about the fact that his father had
married his mother before an appropriate year of mourning
after his first wife's death, and that she was a simpleminded
person. Also, upon hearing that Elizabeth Symonds believed
that his mother had done her a wrong he questioned her and she
replied that she had no reason to believe any harm of his
mother except what Goody Reddington had said. When faced with
a threat of a suit for slander by Ephraim and John Wild, Mary
Reddington stated at church services the following Sunday that
Sarah Wild was a fine Christian woman who had never been in
any way involved with the devil. Ephraim said of his mother:
"She hath awlwais instructed me well in the Christian religion
and the wais of God ever sence I was abell to take
instruction."
All of the efforts made by John and Ephraim to save her
went for naught. She was convicted of being a witch and the
warrant for her execution was signed on 19 July 1692. On the
same day she was driven from the jail to Gallows Hill,
standing in a cart along with Rebecca Nurse, Goody Good,
Elizabeth Howe and Susanna Martin, where they were hanged.
The persons who had entered evidence against her
eventually confessed in church that they had lied. This did
little good for Sarah except to clear her name. In 1711
£598/12 was appropriated by the court to recompense the
families of those who were executed for witchcraft. Ephraim
received £14 in compensation. He stated that this could not
compensate "for the los of so dere a friend which can not be
made up".(12)
John's son Jonathan was a somewhat peculiar person. His
uncle John Gould testified at the witchcraft trial that when
Jonathan was ill "in a straing maner" at the house of his aunt
Mary Reddington, she said he would go out at the chimney tips
into the barn where he would kill her hens. Rev. John Hale in
a deposition said that Jonathan "did act very strangly
Insomuch that I was invited to join Mr. Cobbet & others at
Ipswich to advise & pray for ye said youth, whom some thought
to counterfeit, others to be possessed by ye Devil. But I
remember Mr. Cobbet thought he was under Obsession of ye
Devil".(13)
On 9 Apr. 1690 John Wild, carpenter, transferred to his
son Ephraim his possessions as follows:
"In consideration of seven years service that I had of
him when he could have been for himself, I hereby transfer to
my son Ephraim Wild all my housing, lands and meadows
together with all my stock of cattle, sheep, swine, carts,
ploughs, household stuff of all sorts and kinds whatforever."
The farm was bounded as follows:
"With lands of John Ofrancher on ye west and lands of
Mr. William Perkins towards ye south and with lands formerly
John Reddington toward ye east and with lands formerly Robert
Andrews and Mr. Baker towards ye north."(14)
Issue- first eight children by Priscilla, last child by Sarah
I. John- b.c.1648, d.s.p. will 22 Oct. 1676-25 Sept. 1677
II. Jonathan- b.c.1651, d.s.p. 1676
III. Sarah- b.c.1651, m.c.1675 Edward Bishop of Beverly (d.
12 May 1711 Rehoboth) Sarah and Edward were
also accused of witchcraft, but they escaped
from the Boston jail and went to Rehoboth.
IV. Elizabeth- m. 22 Jan. 1678 Benjamin Jones of
Gloucester (adm. 6 July 1718 Enfield, CT)
V. Phoebe- b.c.1653, m. 24 July 1679 Timothy Day of
Gloucester, d. 8 Apr. 1723. Phoebe was
accused of witchcraft in 1692, but, was
released on bond and never tried.
VI. Priscilla- b. 6 Apr. 1658, m. 9 May 1681 Henry Lake of
Salem (d. 22 May 1733 Topsfield), d. 23 Mar.
1688 Topsfield
VII. Martha- b. 13 May 1660, d.s.p. after 1685
VIII. Nathan- b. 14 Dec. 1662, d. 17 Mar. 1663
2IX. EPHRAIM- b. Feb. 1665 Topsfield, m. 18 Mar. 1689/0
MARY (3) HOWLETT (b. 17 Feb. 1671, d. 17 May
1758), d. 2 Apr. 1725 Topsfield
Ref:
(1) The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes- p.7
(2) Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex
County- per index
(3) Ipswich Deeds- I, 649
(4) Ibid- IV, 271,376; V, 291
(5) The Averell, Averill, Avery Family- p.105
(6) The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes- p.7
(7) The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes- p.8
(8) Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex
County- per index
(9) Ibid
(10) Ibid
(11) In Essex County- Willard DeLue, The Boston Daily
Globe, 25 Jan. 1952, p.15
(12) Collections of the Topsfield Historical Society-
Vol. XIII, all surviving documents relating to Sarah will be
found here verbatim.
(13) The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes- p.14
(14) Essex Deeds- Vol.13, p.39
Additional Sources:
A Wildes Genealogy- Douglas Cruger, pp.1-4
The Wildes Genealogy- N.P. Apr. 1984, pp.1-5
Essex Institute Hist. Coll.- Apr. 1906, p.134ff
Averell, Averill, Avery Family- C.A. Avery, pp.104-14
Genealogical And Family History of the State of Maine-
Little, p.1522
New England Marriages- p.815
Return to Home Page
2IX. EPHRAIM (JOHN 1)
b. Feb. 1665 Topsfield, MA
m. 18 Mar. 1689/0 MARY (3) HOWLETT (b. 17 Feb. 1671, d.17 May
1758)
d. 2 Apr. 1725 Topsfield
Ephraim lived on the family homestead in Topsfield which
his father deeded to him in 1690 in consideration for his
services Most of his later purchases and sales of land were of
small parcels between him and his Perkins and French
neighbors. In 1718/9 he, along with three others, sold for
£40 to Jacob and Edmund Towne Jr., town grants which had been
made to their fathers in 1661 and 1664. In 1724 he and Daniel
Reddington sold to David Balch two "cottage lots" on the south
side of the Ipswich River in Topsfield which had been laid out
in 1722.(1)
Ephraim was one of the Selectmen of the town of Topsfield
in 1697/8, 1714, 1719/0 and 1721/2. He was the thythingman in
1702/3 and in 1714/5 and was overseer of the poor in 1719. He
was a juror in 1705/6 and in 1708, a grand juror in 1712,
1718, 1721, and 1722. Ephraim was a corporal in the train-
band in 1708 and was promoted to quartermaster by 1718. In
1718 he was on the committee to seat the people in the
meetinghouse. Ephraim, along with Mr. Isaac Peabody and Mr.
Simon Bradstreet, was paid £25 by the town for building the
bridge over the Ipswich River. In 1692 he became the town
treasurer and constable. Ephraim, as constable, had a
difficult time collecting the minister's rate from an Irishman
named Nealand who lived on the boundary line between Topsfield
and Ipswich. Whenever Ephraim called, Nealand was always
found in the Ipswich side of his house. Finally Ephraim and
several others visited Nealand's pig pen and the minister
received his rate in pork. Soon after this the town sued
Nealand for defaming the town of Topsfield.
The story of his connection with the witchcraft histeria
shows him to have been a man of truly noble character in
light of the fact that anyone taking part in defending those
accused of witchcraft were usually dragged into being also
accused.
In his will 2 Apr. 1725 Ephraim left his wife Mary all
his household goods, two cows, the use of one end of his house
and the improvement of one-third of all his land. If she
married again she whould be paid £20 by his sons and
executors, John and Ephraim, and resign her dower to them.
John and Ephraim received all his land and rights in common
land, the rest of his cattle, his sheep, tools of husbandry,
and his horses. They were to pay his debts and other
legacies. His son Elijah received a black colt. His sons
Jonathan, Jacob, Samuel, Nathan, Amos, and Elijah received £60
each to be paid two years after his decease. His daughters
Mary Perkins, Susannah Town, Dorothy Perkins, and Priscilla
received £20 each and his daughter Hannah received £30 at the
age of 21 years or upon her marriage. The will was witnessed
by John Howlett, Joseph Andrews, and Jacob Peabody.(2)
Mary made her will 28 Apr. 1758 and left her son Ephraim
her old loom, the cupboard and the great table as "he hath
ever found me with flax and wood". Her son Jonathan received
5/. Her daughters Priscilla Averell and Hannah Averell
received the residue of her estate. She also mentioned the
money she had lent to her son Nathan during his life. The
executor was her son-in-law Jacob Averell. The will was
witnessed by Elisha Wildes, Martha Wildes, and Zebulon
Wildes.(3)
Issue- all children born in Topsfield, MA
I. John- b. 25 June 1690, m.c.1714 Phebe Perkins (d. 30
Sept 1765), d. 27 Sept. 1750 Topsfield
II. Mary- bpt. 17 Mar. 1691/2, m. 26 Nov. 1719 Thomas
Perkins of Cape Porpoise (b. 15 Oct. 1681
Topsfield), d. 1 Apr. 1749 Arundel, ME, bur.
west slope of Stone Haven Hill, stone moved to
Arundel Cemetery by Frank Huff in 1896.
III. Ephraim- b. 3 Sept. 1693, m. 31 Jan. 1730/1 Hepsibah
Peabody (d. 23 Dec. 1783), d. 3 Apr. 1767
Topsfield
IV. Jonathan- b. 21 Oct. 1695, m.c.1725 Elizabeth ______,
Jonathan lived in Topsfield until the latter
part of his life when he moved to Arundel, ME.
V. Susanah- b. 20 Oct. 1697, m. 12 Apr. 1722 Benjamin
Towne (m.1. Katherine ______, 3. 2 May 1738
Mary Perkins, 4. 15 Apr. 1761 Mary Clark, d.
11 Feb. 1772), d. 5 July 1736 Topsfield
VI. Sarah- b. 27 Mar. 1699, m. 21 Jan. 1718/9 Jonathan
Perkins (b. 29 Jan. 1692/3 Topsfield), d. 21
Jan. 1719/0 Topsfield
VII. Dorothy- b. 15 Dec. 1700, m.c.1725 John Perkins, d.
before 1736
VIII. Jacob- b. 31 Aug. 1702, m. Ruth Foster (b. 23 Jan.
1709/0 Ipswich, living in 1790 Arundel) Adm.
10 Oct. 1774 Arundel, ME
IX. Priscilla- b. 2 Aug. 1704, d. 3 Aug. 1705
X. Priscilla- b. 3 Mar. 1706, m.c.1728 Jacob Averill (b.
17 Aug. 1702 Topsfield, d. 15 June 1791
Topsfield), d. 17 May 1799 Topsfield
3XI. SAMUEL- b. 2 Mar. 1708, m. 24 July 1734 Greenland, NH,
ELIZABETH (3) MORGAN (d. by 3 Jan. 1764
Arundel), will 6 Mar.- 9 July 1760 Arundel
XII. Hannah- b. 8 Oct. 1709, m. 24 Nov. 1734 Nathaniel
Averill (d. 17 Aug. 1751), d. 22 May 1790
Topsfield
XIII. Amos- b. 28 June 1712, d. 25 July 1726
XIV. Nathan- b. 6 Aug. 1713, d.s.p. 10 July 1783
XV. Juleena- b. 21 Feb. 1716, d. 21 Mar. 1716
XVI. Elijah- b. 4 June 1717, m. 15 May 1744 Anna Hovey
(d.16 Mar. 1806 Shirley, MA), d. 6 Apr. 1791
Shirley. When the Shaker religion was
introduced into America by Mother Ann Lee,
this family, among others in Shirley, was
converted and the Shaker Village was built on
his farm.
Ref:
(1) Essex Deeds- Vol. 35, p.270; Vol. 42, p.264
(2) Essex Co. Probate- Vol.315, pp.235-6
(3) Ibid- No. 29842
Additional Sources:
A Wildes Genealogy- pp.5-10
The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes- pp.16-9
Essex Institute Hist. Coll.- July 1906, p.277
New England Marriages- p.815
Return to Home Page
3XI. SAMUEL (JOHN 1, EPHRAIM 2)
b. 2 Mar. 1708 Topsfield, MA
m. 24 July 1734 Greenland, NH ELIZABETH (3) MORGAN, d. by 30
Dec. 1763 Arundel, ME
will 6 Mar.- 9 July 1760 Arundel, ME
Samuel was at the capture of Norridgewock in 1724 with
his brothers Ephraim, Jacob and Jonathan. The Norridgewock
under the influence of the French Jesuit Fr. Sebastian Ralle,
had become a threat to the English settlements. In August
1724 four companies of men including Samuel and his brothers,
went from Fort Richmond up the Kennebec River to attack the
village. Forty men were left to guard the whaleboats at
Taconick and the rest marched to the village. Capt. Moulton
and his men marched directly into the village and Capt. Harman
and his company went by way of the Indian's fields. Moulton's
company did the fighting with Harman's company arriving after
it was over.
" The 23d of August 1724 (12 Aug. OS), eleven hundred men,
part English, part Indians, came up to Norridgewock. The
thickets, with which the Indian village was surrounded, and
the little care taken by the inhabitants to prevent a
surprize, caused that the enemy were not discovered, until the
very instant when they made a general discharge of their guns
and their shot had penetrated all the Indian wigwams. There
were not above fifty fighting men in the village... The noise
and tumult gave Father Ralle notice of the danger his converts
were in. Not intimidated, he went to meet the enemy, in hopes
to draw their attention to himself... As soon as he appeared,
the English set up a great shout, which was followed by a
shower of shot, and he fell down dead near to a cross which he
had erected in the midst of the village, seven Indians, who
accompanied him to shelter him with their own bodies, falling
down dead around him. Thus died this kind shepherd, giving
his life for his sheep, after a painful mission of thirty
seven years... The English, finding they had nobody to resist
them, fell first to pillaging and then burning the wigwams.
They spared the church, so long as was necessary for their
shamefully profaning the sacred vessels and the adorable body
of Jesus Christ, and then set fire to it..."(1)
On 16 Aug. 1724 the English arrived back at Fort Richmond
and Harman went to Boston and received a promotion for what
Capt. Moulton evidently had accomplished!(2)
Jacob, Jonathan and Samuel stopped in Arundel on their
return to Topsfield to visit their sister Mary Perkins and
settled there. Arundel had a large colony of people from
Topsfield.(3) Samuel purchased 100 acres of land in Arundel
from Jonathan Philbrook in Dec. 1728.(4)
"At a Generall Town Meeting at Arundall March ye 25
1732... Samll Wildes & George March was Chosen Haywards or
field Drivers for the year Ensuing..."(5)
"At a Lawfull Town Meeting September ye 2d 1734... the
following bills of Charge was allowed for work Don abought
Mr. Prentises Garrison viz... Samll Wildes three days work
of himself at 6/day 00=18=00"(6)
On 15 Dec. 1736 Samuel Wildes of Arrundel,
housecarpenter, sold for £10 to Jonathan Stone of Arundel,
marriner, one acre of Salt marsh "on the west Side of Turbots
Creek Joyning to a great Rock that lays by Said Creek... with
a Convenient Way from the County Road to said Marsh to Carry
off the Hay..." The deed was witnessed by Jesse Town and
Simon Larett.(7)
Samuel was employed as the schoolmaster in 1741, 1743,
1745 and 1746.(8)
"At a Lawfull Town Meeting April ye 24th 1746 Then mr.
Samuel Wildes was Chosen Moderator for that Meeting and Then
voted the swine goe at Large for the year Ensuing, Voted mr.
Samuel Wildes Twenty Shillings old Tenner for his serving as
Scoole Master for the year 1745.." He was given another 20/
on 17 Mar. 1746/7 for his services for 1746.(9)
Samuel was elected one of the Surveyors of the highways
11 Mar. 1745/6 and again in 1752, and 1753.(10) He was a
tithingman in 1749, fenceviewer and sealer of weights and
measures in 1750, and constable in 1755.(11)
Samuel purchased land on the Saco Road in Arundel in
July 1748 from his sister-in-law Rebecca Morgan (see Huff)
which belonged to her brother Samuel Morgan who died in the
Portsmouth Gaol before Jan. 1731/2.(12)
"In the Name of God Amen, the 6th day of March 1760- I
Samuel Wildes of Arundel... yeoman...
first I Do give to my two sons Samuel & John Wildes all
my Real Estate both Lands & marsh Except six acers of Land to
be Equally Divided between them when they come to the age of
twenty one years, only I do order my son Samuel to pay out of
his part what I owe to Rishworth Jordan, Esq.
2dly I do give to my three Daughters mary Hannah & Sarah
Eight pounds a peice Lawfull money out of my Estate to be
paid them when they come of age by my two Sons Samll & John
the one to pay the one half & th other the other half
and I do ordan my Sons Samuel & John to pay Equally
between them four pound Lawfull money to my grand child
Susanna Weeks when she comes of age
3dly I give to my Daughter Elisabeth Deshon Six acers of Land...
4thly I do give & bequeath to my Dear & Loving Wife
Elisabeth (During her widowhood) all my moveable Estate both
within doors & without that is the Improvement of it for the
Bringing up my children & paying my just Depts & if my Pasnal
Estate will not pay my just Depts then my will is that my two
sons Samuel & John pay them out of the Real Estate & my will
is that my wife have the Improvement of one third of all my
Real Estate (Durring her widowhood) and I do hearby make &
appoint my Dear & well Beloved Wife Executrix & Thomas
Perkins of Arundel aforsd Executer to this my Last Will &
Testament...In witnes Whareof I have heerunto set my hand &
Seal
Signed & Sealled in
Presence of Samuel Wilds
Robert Cleaves
thomas huff
his
Caleb X moodey Carr
mark"
"By vertue of a warrent from the Honorable Jeremiah
Moulton Esqr Judge of the Probate... for Devideing the Real
Estate of Samuel Wilds Late of Arundell Deceast Equilly
Between his two sons Both Land and marsh Except Six acers of
Land Given his Daughter Elisabeth Deshon we have accordingly
Lett to the eldest Son Samuell wilds forty five acers of Land
and marsh Bounded as followeth.... to a Burch tree Near
turbitts Bridge So Called then Running as the Crick Runs...
near the thatch Islands... and three acers and half of a
Grant Laid out in a place Called Button wood Swamp with all
the Buildings Belonging to Sd Estate...
2dly Sett of to John wilds the youngest Son fifty five
Acors of Land Beginning att the Norwest Corner of Nathaniel
Wilds... then Running... by the Land of Samuel wilds... in
the marsh by the Side of a Crick Near the thatch Islands then
as the Crick Runs to the marshs of Jonathan Stone Late of
Arundell Deceast... with twelve Acers of a Grant Laid out att
a place Called Button wood Swamp...
Dated Arundel March ye 28 1764
Samuel Robinson
Gideon Walker
Abner Perkins
Gideon merrill"(13)
On 30 Dec. 1763 John told the court of his mother's
deathbed wish that he be brought up in the household of his
cousin Nathaniel Wilds.(14)
Issue-
4I. SAMUEL- b. after 1739, m. OLIVE (2) DESHON
II. John- b. after 1739, d.s.p. Revolutionary War, div. 19
Dec. 1780
5III. HANNAH- m. Sept. 1773 PETER (2) DESHON (d. before Aug.
1816 Arundel)
IV. Sarah- m.1. ______ Rust, 2. before 1787 William Pitts,
d. before 3 May 1822(11) Sarah and William
kept an inn at Wiscasset.
V. Elizabeth- m.1. before 1760 James Deshon, 2. 30 Mar.
1780 Samuel Watson, living 18 Mar. 1784
Arundel
VI. Mary- m.c.1769 Dagger Mitchell (d. before 19 Dec.
1780)
VII. Susannah- m. Nicholas Weeks of Kittery (m.2. Phoebe
Averill), d. 1757
Ref:
(1) The History of the Colony and Province of
Massachusetts Bay- Thomas Hutchinson, Vol.2, pp.234-5
(2) A Wildes Genealogy- p.16
(3) History of Kennebunk Port- Charles Bradbury,
Kennebunk, 1837, p.285
(4) York Deeds- Vol.15, p.211
(5) Kennebunkport Town Records- Book I, p.97
(6) Ibid- p.107
(7) York Co. Deeds- Vol.19, p.69
(8) Kennebunkport Town Records- Book I, pp.124,128,131
(9) Ibid- pp.132,134; History of Kennebunk Port- Charles Bradbury, Kennebunk, 1837, p.174
(10) Kennebunkport Town Records- Book I, pp.131,149,155
(11) Ibid- pp.137,139,159
(12) Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire-
p.492
(13) York Probate- No. 20405
(14) A Wildes Genealogy- p.19
Additional Sources:
York Deeds- Vol.48, p.19; Vol.90, p.186; Vol.112,
pp.1,107
The Wildes Genealogy- N.P. Apr. 1984, pp.13-4
Essex Institute Hist. Coll.- July, 1906, p.288
Return to Home Page
4I. SAMUEL (JOHN 1, EPHRAIM 2, SAMUEL 3)
b. after 1739
m. OLIVE (2) DESHON, d. after 1818 Arundel, ME
d. before 24 Mar. 1788
Samuel was a proprietor in Arundel in 1763. On 14 Dec.
1771 Samuel sold to Thomas Wiswall, mariner, for £1/6 an acre
and 100 rods of land bounded by Gideon Walker and Samuel
Perkins. The deed was witnessed by James Deshon Jr. and John
Lewis.(1)
Samuel was elected field driver and hog reeve in 1771, 1772 and 1774.(2)
Samuel was in the Revolutionary War and was drafted in
Oct. 1776. He served in the 3rd Regiment of the
Massachusetts Militia commanded by Col. Israel Chapin. He is
listed on the muster roll for October and November 1779 at
Albany, NY having re-enlisted on 15 Oct. 1779 for a term of
one month and six days.(3)
On 8 August 1782 an English brig with 18 guns and an
English schooner with 10 guns came into Kennebunkport harbor
and seized an American schooner and sloop owned by a man
named Newbury. Samuel was outraged. He jumped into his
canoe, paddled out to the side of the British brig and
demanded that the English captain surrender the captured
vessels and leave. Sam may have been out of his mind making
such a demand but he had lost his brother John and also a son
in the war. When the British mocked the wild man in his
canoe and ordered him to come aboard, Samuel cursed the
British and their cause and paddled away. The English shot
him in the knee leaving him lame for life. When he got
ashore he was unable to stand from loss of blood and he
remained in critical condition for some time. While Sam had
been harrasing the British other citizens went to Goat Island
which was in range of the British ships. The English sent a
17 man landing party to capture the rebels and the island,
however the Kennebunkport men killed 16 of the 17 with a
barrage of musket fire. They then brought up two cannons and
commenced firing upon the British ships which were about 70
yards away, driving them out of the harbor.(4)
At a town meeting 24 Mar. 1788 it was: "Voted that the
Town Pay the taxes of Samuel Wields Estate untill Further
order of the Town".(5)
On 1 May 1808 Olive Wildes, widow of Samuel Wildes,
deceased, and her living children, sold 3/4 acre in Arundel
to Ebenezer Perkins, mariner for $15.00(6)
"Know all men by these Presents that we Olive Wildes,
widow of Samuel Wildes late of Arundel, deceased, Rufus Russ
of said Arundel, mariner, attorney to Samuel Wildes of
Georgetown... mariner, John Wildes and Jacob Wildes Jr. of
said Arundel, mariners, Henry Flanders of said Arundel and
Olive his wife in her right, John Rhodes Jr. and Persis his
wife in her right, Benjamin Adams Jr. and Sarah his wife in
her right, Hannah the wife of said John Wildes, Elizabeth the
wife of said Samuel and Hannah the wife of said Jacob in
consideration of one dollar to us paid by Isaac Wildes of
said Arundel... lot #4", 25 Dec. 1818. The date on this deed
is probably in error as Olive and Henry Flanders had died by
1808. The deed was not recorded until 3 Nov. 1849 and I
suspect that the date should read 1808 instead of 1818.(7)
Olive died before 5 June 1819 when her son John sold
land adjoining land "set off to the widow Olive Wildes, now
deceased".(8)
Issue- all children baptized in Arundel
I. Mehitable- bpt. 27 Mar. 1772, int. 27 Aug. 1796 Daniel
Hogan, d. before 1 May 1808
II. Samuel- bpt. 15 Nov. 1772 Arundel, m. 23 Sept. 1786
Georgetown, Elizabeth Wyman (b. 26 Apr. 1768
Georgetown, d. 10 May 1852 Phippsburg), ?d.
15 Jan. 1836 Phippsburg
III. John- bpt. 15 Nov. 1772 Arundel, m.1. 14 June 1795
Hannah Deshon, 2. 1 Dec. 1836 Waterboro, Nancy
Deshon, d. 1 Jan. 1845 Kennebunkport
IV. Ephraim- bpt. 15 Nov. 1772 Arundel, d.s.p.?
V. Persis- bpt. 19 Dec. 1774, d.s.p.
VI. Olive- bpt. 22 Dec. 1774, m.1. 27 Dec. 1798 Arundel,
John Lowland, 2. 28 Dec. 1799 Arundel, Henry
Flanders (m.2. 3 Mar. 1814 Arundel, Martha
Goodwin (b.c.1785, m.1. 5 Nov. 1807 Arundel,
Rufus Russ, 3. int. 6 Sept. 1817 Arundel,
James Young, 4. int. 15 Jan. 1820 Arundel,
Thomas Huff (b.c.1778, m.1. 14 Dec. 1800
Kennebunkport, Anna Hutchins, d. 17 May 1866
Kennebunkport)), d. war of 1812)
6VII. JACOB- bpt. 3 Dec. 1775 Arundel, m.18 June 1795 HANNAH
(2) LEWIS, d. before 1820
VIII. Persis-bpt. 3 Dec. 1775, m.18 Aug. 1796 Arundel, John
Rhodes Jr. (b.c.1774, living in 1850)
IX. Sarah- bpt. 3 Aug. 1777, m. 18 Dec. 1794 Benjamin
Adams Jr.
X. Isaac- bpt. 25 Oct. 1783, m. 29 Apr. 1800 Polly Chatman,
(b.c.1783, living in 1860), d. 2 Mar. 1856
Kennebunkport
XI. Jane- bpt. 25 Oct. 1783, d.s.p.?
Ref:
(1) York Deeds- Vol.42, p.43
(2) Kennebunkport Town Records- Book II, pp.161,166,174-5
(3) Military service records- National Archives, card
number 37100180
(4) History of Kennebunk Port- Charles Bradbury,
Kennebunk, 1837, pp.170-2
(5) Kennebunkport Town Records- Book II, p.259
(6) York Deeds- Vol.137, p.80
(7) Ibid- Vol.208, p.392
(8) Ibid- Vol.112, p.106
Additional Sources:
The Wildes Genealogy- N.P. Apr. 1984, pp.15-6
Essex Institute Hist. Coll.- July 1906, p.295
Arundel V.R.
Return to Home Page
6VII. JACOB (JOHN 1, EPHRAIM 2, SAMUEL 3, SAMUEL 4)
bpt. 3 Dec. 1775 Arundel, ME
m. 18 June 1795 Arundel, HANNAH (2) LEWIS
d. before 1820
Jacob was elected hog reeve on 4 Apr. 1796.(1)
Hannah renewed her covenant in the Arundel church 19 Aug. 1803.
Jacob is listed as head of the household in the 1810
census for Arundel. Hannah is listed as head of the
household for 1820.
"Know all men by these Presents that we Ephraim, Samuel,
Jacob and Benjamin Wildes all of Kennebunkport... mariners,
Benjamin Tarbox and Sophia his wife and Esther Wildes of
Roxbury in the state of Mass. in consideration of $14 dollars
paid by James Wildes of said Kennebunport, mariner... by the
widow Hannah Wildes dower... containing one acre... the same
lot on which said James Wildes house and barn now stands." 25
Dec. 1833.(2)
Issue- all children born in Arundel
I. Ephraim- b. 14 Oct. 1797, m. 12 Mar. 1823
Kennebunkport Mary Ann Deshon (b. 19 June 1805
Arundel, d. 5 May 1892 Kennebunkport), d. 17
Aug. 1885 Kennebunkport, bur. Wildes Cem.
II. Samuel- b. Dec. 1802, m.1. int. 13 Oct. 1827
Kennebunkport, Betsey Wakefield (b.c.1809, d.
26 June 1840 Kennebunkport), 2. 7 Dec. 1841
Kennebunkport, Olive Hall (b.c.1809, d. 17
Feb. 1871), 3. 15 Oct. 1871 Kennebunkport,
Sarah J. Newbury (b.c.1830, living 14 Jan.
1884), d. 9 Oct. 1882 Kennebunkport
7III. JACOB- bpt. 12 June 1807 Arundel, m. 1 Sept. 1827 MARY
(6) MADDOX (d. 7 Jan. 1869 Kennebunkport), d.
before Apr. 1877
VI. Sophia- bpt. 12 June 1807 Arundel, m.1. 17 May 1818
Arundel, Horatio Huff (d. 8 Dec. 1870 Needham,
MA), 2. 2 Dec. 1830 Arundel, Benjamin Tarbox
(b. 3 July 1794 Biddeford, d. 24 July 1848
Kennebunkport), d. 10 Nov. 1863 Kennebunkport
VIII. Eliphalet- bpt. 12 June 1807 Arundel, d. young?
IV. Benjamin- m. 4 Mar. 1832 Edith Huff (b.c.1806, m.2. 17
Nov. 1842 Benjamin McKenney (b. Nov. 1815
Limington, d. 5 Mar. 1898 Kennebunkport)),
drowned off Bunkin Island, Cape Porpoise, 7
June 1841
V. James- b. 8 Nov. 1805, m. 1 July 1830 Hannah Deshon,
(b.c.1810, d. 21 Apr. 1890 Kennebunkport),
d. 1 Sept. 1889 Kennbunkport
VII. Esther- bpt. 14 Aug. 1808, int. 26 Oct. 1838 Thomas
King (b.c.1814 England, living in 1860).
Esther was living in Roxbury, MA in 1833.
Ref:
(1) Kennebunkport Town Records- Book II, p.294
(2) York Deeds- Vol.147, p.14
Additional Sources:
The Wildes Genealogy- N.P. Apr. 1984, p.20
Arundel V.R.
Return to Home Page
7III. JACOB (JOHN 1, EPHRAIM 2, SAMUEL 3, SAMUEL 4, JACOB 5)
bpt. 12 June 1807 Arundel, ME (b.c.1800)
m.1. 22 Sept. 1827 Limerick, MARY/POLLY (6) MADDOX (b. 1801,
d. 7 Jan. 1869 Kennebunkport)
2. 25 June 1870 Elizabeth Eldridge of Wells (d.10 Apr. 1876
Kennebunkport)
d. before Apr. 1877 Kennebunkport
Susanna Burnham of Saco sold to Jacob and his brother
Ephraim 6 or 7 acres on the north side of the road from
Kennebunkport harbor to Cape Porpoise which was bounded by
Thomas Huff, Jacob and Ephraim Wildes. The deed is dated 9
Oct. 1830.(1)
On 12 Nov. 1833 Ephraim, Samuel, Benjamin and Jacob
Wildes, mariners, Sophia and Benjamin Tarbox, and Esther
Wildes sold to their brother James Wildes, mariner, for
$14.00, land in Kennebunkport next to Jason N. Langdon and
widow Hannah Wildes' dower land.(2)
On 10 Feb. 1837 Jacob and Ephraim Wildes of
Kennebunkport sold to James Wakefield Jr. of Kennebunkport,
fisherman for $7.50 a lot on the north side of the road from
Kennebunkport harbor to Cape Porpoise bounded by the land of
Benjamin Lewis. The deed was signed by Jacob and Mary Wildes
and Ephraim and Mary Ann Wildes.(3)
In the 1860 census Jacob, age 60, farmer, and Mary, age
59, were living next door to their son Loren along with their
daughter Sarah D., age 20, a factory operator and Jacob T.,
age 18, fisherman. His real estate was valued at $700.00 and
his personal estate at $70.00.(4)
On 1 Nov. 1866 Samuel and Olive Wildes, James and Hannah
Wildes, Ephraim and Mary A. Wildes, Cynthia J. Wildes, Jacob
and Mary Wildes, Joseph and Eunice Adams, Benjamin Rhodes,
Esther King, Joseph Wildes, Jesse T. Adams, Sarah Bickford,
and Harriet Worth all of Kennebunkport sold for $1725.00 to
John B. Hughes, John H. Williams, George Smith, John E. Dow,
John Stinchcomb, Edward Goodwin and Jott Grant all of
Portland and Sylvestor Brown of Kennebunkport two lots on New
Cape Road bounded by Samuel Wildes in Buttonwood Swamp. The
deed made reference to the division of the estate of John
Wildes.(5)
Jacob sold to his son Jacob T. Wildes a house lot on the
Old Cape Road for $50.00 which was bounded by Ephraim Huff
and Jacob T. Wildes. The deed is dated 24 Dec. 1873.(6)
Jacob and Elizabeth Wildes sold to William H. Cluff,
carpenter for $150.00 the field bordered by Cluff, Jacob's
home, Jamess Wakefield, Ephraim Huff, and Enoch Cousens. The
deed is dated 22 Jan. 1874.(7)
Jacob and Elizabeth sold their house on the Old Cape
Road to their daughter Sarah Hutchins for $1.00. Jacob and
Elizabeth were to be able to live there for the rest of their
lives. Signed Jan. 1874.(8)
Issue-
8I. LOREN- b. Oct. 1828, m. 25 Nov. 1852 HANNAH (7) FRYE,
d. 9 Mar. or May 1896
II. Oliver- b. 1831, d. 14 Oct. 1862 Kennebunkport
III. Pamela A.- b.c.1834, m. 4 Jan. 1857 Kennebunkport,
Stephen F. Frye (b. 24 Feb. 1824 Fryeburg, d.
6 Apr. 1867 Fryeburg), d. 28 Nov. 1864
Fryeburg
IV. Sarah D.- b. 17 July 1838, m. 10 Jan. 1863
Kennebunkport, Samuel Hutchins (b.c.1838, d.
15 Apr. 1898 Kennebunkport), d. 11 Sept. 1925
V. Jacob Townsend- b. 14 Sept. 1843, int. 31 Dec. 1866 Lucy
Huff (b. Feb. 1847, d. 14 Mar. 1913
Kennebunkport), d. 22 Sept. 1897 Kennebunkport
Ref:
(1) York Deeds- Vol.157, p.234
(2) Ibid- Vol.147, p.14
(3) Ibid- Vol.157, p.233
(4) 1860 Census for Kennebunkport- pp.11-12, house 93
(5) York Deeds- Vol.301, p.360
(6) Ibid- Vol.337, p.466
(7) Ibid- p.505
(8) Ibid- Vol.345, p.498
Additional Sources:
The Wildes Genealogy- N.P. Apr. 1984, pp.21-2
Kennebunkport V.R.
Return to Home Page
8I. LOREN (JOHN 1, EPHRAIM 2, SAMUEL 3, SAMUEL 4, JACOB 5, JACOB 6)
b. Oct. 1828 Kennebunkport, ME
int. 25 Nov. 1852 HANNAH (7) FRYE (b. 28 Apr. 1829 Fryeburg,
d. 31 Jan 1895 Kennebunkport)
d. 9 May 1896 Kennebunkport
bur. Turbatts Creek Rd. Cemetery, moved to Arundel Cemetery
Loren, age 31, carpenter, and Hannah F., age 31, are
listed in the 1860 census for Kennebunkport along with their
children Ellen, Maryetta and Rosella. Their real estate was
worth $150.00 and their personal estate $50.00.(1)
On 2 Mar. 1865 Jacob and Loren Wildes of Kennebunkport
mortgaged the house and barn Loren was living in which was
bounded by the highway, the land of James Wakefield and the
lane which led to the home of Ephraim Wildes. Jacob was
considered the owner of all the land as Ephraim had taken up
more than his share in the land of his father. The deed was
signed by Jacob and Mary Wildes, and Loring and Hannah F.
Wildes with Jacob signing by mark.(2) The mortgage was
released by Ira and Mary M. Grant of Kennebunkport 26 Oct.
1868.(3) Evidently Jacob assisted his son Loren by cosigning
the mortgage but it is implied that there was some difficulty
with Jacob's brother Ephraim concerning ownership of the
property.
Loren then mortgaged his house again on 4 Dec. 1868 to
William F. Moody for $200.00.(4) On 25 May 1871 Loren and
Hannah mortgaged their property to Alfred G. Prentiss.(5)
The family evidently moved to Saco as they are listed in
the 1870 census for that town with Loren listed as being a
carpenter and their daughter Ellen was working in the cotton
mill. Charles and Anna Pierce were also living with them.(6)
Issue- all children b. in Kennbunkport
I. Ellen Frances- b. 28 Dec. 1853, m. Martin Van Buren
Wildes (b. 22 Jan. 1849, d. 11 Jan. 1934),
d. 12 Apr. 1935
II. Maryetta- b. 6 Apr. 1856, m. 5 Oct. 1875 Kennebunkport
George Fred Seavey (b. 2 Nov. 1855, d. 31 July
1918), d. 4 Oct. 1934
III. Eunice Rosella- b. 29 Aug. 1858, m. 1 May 1877
Kennebunkport Washington Monroe Griffin (b. 27
May 1853, d. 28 Feb. 1923), d. 26 Aug. 1934
Kennebunkport
9IV. BRADBURY DAY- b. 10 Jan. 1861, m. 1 May 1882 ELLA MAY (3) FLETCHER (b. 27 Sept. 1860, d. 18 Apr.
1943), d. 9 Aug. 1933
V. Emma Jane- b. 24 Nov. 1865, m.1. 20 Dec. 1883
Kennebunkport, Charles E. Bryant (b. 9 Jan.
1852, d. 2 June 1923), divorced, m.2. 10 Apr.
1898 Charles William Bent (b. 24 Oct. 1862, d.
7 Feb. 1921), m.3. 8 Dec. 1923 Charles Brown
(b. 1856, d. 6 Aug. 1930), d. 2 Aug. 1936
Norwood, MA
VI. Walter Fred- b. Mar. 1867, m. 31 May 1911 Margaret
Ferguson (b. 1862, d. 8 Apr. 1922), d. 29 Jan.
1920 Norwood, MA
Ref:
(1) 1860 Census for Kennebunkport- pp.11-12, house 92
(2) York Deeds- Vol.312, p.68
(3) Ibid- p.69
(4) Ibid- Vol.311, p.285
(5) Ibid- Vol.326, p.248
(6) 1870 Census for Saco- p.22, house 150
Additional Sources:
The Wildes Genealogy- N.P. Apr. 1984, pp.24-33
Kennebunkport V.R.
Return to Home Page
9IV. BRADBURY DAY (JOHN 1, EPHRAIM 2, SAMUEL 3, SAMUEL 4, JACOB 5,
JACOB 6, LOREN 7)
b. 10 Jan. 1861 Kennebunkport, ME
m. 1 May 1882 ELLA MAY (3) FLETCHER (b. 27 Sept. 1860 Saco,
d. 18 Apr. 1943 Kennbunkport)
d. 9 Aug. 1933 Kennebunkport
bur. Arundel Cemetery
Bradbury was a shipbuilder and carpenter and worked at
the Kittery Naval Shipyard as well as at a shipyard in
Kennebunkport. He and Ella owned a country store next to
their home in Kennebunkport which was built by his father
Loren. Bradbury built the Wildes District School as well as
several houses in Kennebunkport.
Bradbury and Ella May (Fletcher) Wildes
In his will 16 Mar. 1922 Bradbury left his whole estate
to his wife Ella. He mentions his children Eugene A. of 6
Montvale Rd., Wellsley, MA; Frederick H. of 1365 E. 35th St.,
Brooklyn, NY; Hartley J. of 24 Adamson St., Allston, MA;
Richard C. of Braintree, MA; Bradbury Jr. of 20 Goodnough
St., Brighton, MA; Leslie A. of 61 Whitmore St., Hartford,
CT; Violet Perry of 30 Ross St., Medford, MA; and Mary Perry
and Gertrude Nunan of Kennebunkport. His real estate was
worth $1250.00.(1)
Issue-
I. Minnie F.- b. 13 Jan. 1883, d. 26 Apr. 1889
II. Violet Day- b. 25 May 1884, m. 9 Feb. 1903 Charles
Perry (d. 14 Oct. 1949), d. 7 June 1974
III. Eugene Amasa- b. 28 June 1886, m. 22 June 1910 Celia
May Whipple (b. 1 May 1890, d. 13 Apr. 1944
Lowell, MA), d. 5 Aug. 1934 Lowell, MA
IV. Mary Ellen- b. 14 May 1888, m. 14 Nov. 1910 Stephen
Perry (b. 7 Dec. 1884, d. 19 Apr. 1950), d.
22 Sept. 1968
V. Frederick Henry- b. 30 Oct. 1889, Dover, NH,m. 21 June
1911 Lillian Blanche Ladd (b. 12 Nov. 1891, d.
4 Nov. 1976), d. 18 July 1972
VI. Hartley Josiah- b. 14 Oct. 1892, m.1. 5 Sept. 1910
Helen Prescott Seavey, m.2. 1936 Barbara S.
Fielding (b. 11 Jan. 1898), d. 19 June 1955
VII. Richard Clyde- b. 20 Dec. 1895, m. 11 Dec. 1920
Winnifred Whitcomb (b. 5 Apr. 1896, d. 1981),
d. 1 Nov. 1963
10VIII. GERTRUDE SUSIE- b. 1 Dec. 1897, m. 25 Aug. 1920 ERNEST
HOWARD (4) NUNAN (b. 28 Sept. 1896, d. 10 Sept.
1976), d. 3 Mar. 1993 Biddeford, ME
IX. Clifford Bradbury- b. 26 May 1901, m. Evelyn Albano
Boyd (b. 17 June 1901, d. 2 Aug. 1949), d. 11
Oct. 1972
X. Leslie Albert- b. 24 Feb. 1903, m. 6 May 1926 Ethel
Mae Sheldt (b. 20 Apr. 1905), d. 6 July 1973
Ref:
(1) York Co. Probate- #65472
Additional Sources:
The Wildes Genealogy- N.P. Apr. 1984, pp.34-45
Kennebunkport V.R.
1900 Census for Kennebunkport- house 367
Return to Home Page