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Richard Hildreth (c. 1604–1693)
Sarah Unknown (d. 1644)
Elizabeth Unknown (d. 1693)
Richard was born about 1604, based on his age at death. He died on 23 February 1692/3 in Chelmsford. [1, 403] He married first Sarah ___. She died on 15 June 1644 in Cambridge. [2, 2: 600] He married second Elizabeth ___. Elizabeth, the wife of Richard, died on 3 August 1693 in Chelmsford. [1, 402]
Richard's gravestone in Chelmsford says, "Richard Hildreth, age 88 years, died February 23, 1693." [3, 717]
Richard "Hildrick" is on a 10 May 1643 list of freemen. [4]
Richard sued Samuel Eldrid on 7 (8) [October] 1651, claiming that Samuel's swine had destroyed his corn. [5, 1: 2]
In 1652 some residents of Woburn and Concord petitioned the General Court to examine a tract of land on the other side of the Concord River. This was followed by a petition for a grant of land for a plantation. Nine of the petitioners made their home in the new plantation of Chelmsford and remained for life: Benjamin Butterfield, Isaac Learned, William Chamberlain, William Fletcher, Thomas Adams, Robert Proctor, Richard Hildreth, and Daniel Blodgett. [3, 2–3, 9]
Richard was one of the trustees to order the affairs of Chelmsford in 1656. [3, 754]
On 23 (3) [June] 1663 Richard Hildreth, husbandman of Chelmsford, petitioned the General Court. He said that he was "greatly disadvantaged, partly by ye hand of the Lord depriving mee some few years since of the use of my right hand, whereby I am wholly disabled to labor." He said that he had a wife and many small children and no other means of support. [6] The court granted him 150 acres on 12 October 1669. [7]
Richard disliked the minister, Mr. Fiske, in Chelmsford. He was used to better preaching in Cambridge. In 1670 he obtained the signatures of those who wanted him removed. This caused a furor in the town and in April he was called before the county court in Cambridge to answer for this. [3, 412]
Richard Hildreth of Chelmsford made his will in February 1686/7; it was proved in May 1693. He said that he had lost the use of his hand and had been constrained to use what he had to maintain himself and his wife, and had no lands to leave his children. He said that he had obliged his son Ephraim to care for his wife Elizabeth. He also mentioned his son James. Inventory was presented by his executor, Ephraim Hildreth, on 19 May 1693 and included books. [8, 11376]
Children of Richard Hildreth and Sarah Unknown:
i. Jane Hildreth was born say 1627. She married Robert Proctor.
ii. Lieutenant James Hildreth was born about 1631. He died on 14 April 1695 in Chelmsford. [1, 402][8, 11331] He married Margaret Ward on 1 June 1659 in Dorchester. [1, 248]
James, the son of Richard, deposed that he was 20 years old on 7 October 1651. [5, 1: 2]
James Hildreth was chosen constable in Chelmsford in 1661. [3, 22] He was chosen lieutenant on 29 June 1689. [3, 128] He was a selectman from 1692 to 1694. [3, 754–6]
James apparently died intestate. Inventory on his estate amounted to £286-10-00. Israel Proctor, administrator, attested to it on 24 May 1695 and posted bond the same day. [8, 11316]
Children of Richard Hildreth and Elizabeth Unknown:
iii. Elizabeth Hildreth was born on 21 September 1646 in Cambridge. [2, 1: 352] She married John Stephens on 15 December 1664 in Chelmsford. [1, 251][9] John, the son of Henry and Alice Stevens, was born on 10 September 1637. [9] He was baptized on 18 June 1643 in Boston. [9]
iv. Sarah Hildreth was born on 8 August 1648 in Cambridge. [2, 1: 352] She married David Stone on 31 December 1674 in Cambridge. [2, 2: 196] David was born about 1650. He died on 21 August 1679, age 29, in Cambridge. [2, 2: 751]
v. Mary Hildreth was born about 1650. She died on 17 December 1730 in Chelmsford. She married Jacob Warren.
vi. Ephraim Hildreth was born say 1654. He died on 5 April 1731 in Westford. [1, 404] He married first Dorothy Barnes on 11 June 1685 in Stowe. [10, 162] Dorothy, the daughter of Thomas and Abigail Barnes, Sr., was born on 6 February 1664 in Marlborough. [11, 18] She died on 17 June 1686 in Stow. [10, 249] He married second Ephraim married second Anna Moore of Sudbury on 8 October 1686 in Stow. [10, 163]
Ephraim Hildreth of Westford made his will on 5 March 1730. His heirs were his wife Anne, his eldest son Joseph Hildreth, and his other children, Ebenezer Hildreth, James Hildreth, David Hildreth, Anne Butterfield, Jonathan Hildreth, and Jacob Hildreth. His witnesses testified on 12 April 1731 and the will of Ephraim Hildreth, yeoman, was proved on 20 April 1731. [8, 11316]
vii. Abigail Hildreth was born say 1656. She died before 3 August 1728. married Moses Parker.
viii. Joseph Hildreth was born on 16 April 1658 in Chelmsford. [1, 80–82] He died on 28 January 1706 in Chelmsford. [1, 401][8, 11354] He married Abigail Wilson on 25: 12m: 1683 [February 1683/4] in Woburn. [1, 250]
Joseph, yeoman of Chelmsford, died intestate. His estate was appraised on 4 April 1706, and included half a sawmill. Administration was granted to his widow, Abigail Hildreth, on 10 May 1706. [8, 11354]
ix. Persis Hildreth was born on 8 February 1659/[60?] in Chelmsford. [1, 80–82] She died on 22 February 1698 in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut. [12] She married Samuel Cleveland as his second wife on 23 May 1682 in Chelmsford. [1, 251] Samuel, the son of Moses Cleveland, was born on 9 June 1657 in Woburn. [13, 1: 51] He married first Jane, the daughter of Solomon Keyes, on 17 May 1680 in Woburn. [13, 3: 55] She died on 14 November 1681 in Chelmsford. [1, 379] He may be the Samuel who married [third] Margaret Fish on 25 July 1699 in Canterbury. [12]
x. Thomas Hildreth was born on 1 February 1661 and died on 28 May 1662 in Chelmsford. [1, 80–82, 403]
xi. Isaac Hildreth was born on 20 July 1661 (1663?) in Chelmsford. [1, 80–82] Isaac, Sr. died on 15 April 1730 in Chelmsford. [1, 402] He married Elizabeth Wilson of Woburn on 12 November 1685 in Chelmsford. [1, 250] She died on 4 January 1743 in Chelmsford. [1, 402]
References:
1. Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1914).
2. Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital Records of Cambridge, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1915), vol. 1, vol. 2.
3. Wilson Waters, History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts (Lowell, MA: Courier-Citizen, 1917).
4. Lucius R. Paige, "List of Freemen," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3 (1849): 190.
5. "Middlesex County, MA: Abstracts of Court Records, 1643–1674," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org.
6. "Heldrith, Richard," Items, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 10 (1856): 284.
7. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay, vol. 1, 1628–1641, vol. 2, 1642–1649, vol. 3, 1644–1657, vol. 4 , 1650–1660, vol. 5, 1661–1674, vol. 6, 1674–1686 (Boston: William White, 1853, 1854): vol. 5: 441.
8. "Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648–1871," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org.
9. "Great Migration 1634–1635, R–S," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally published as: Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634–1635, Volume VI, R–S (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009), 508.
10. Vital Records of Stow, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1911).
11. Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester: F.P. Rice, 1908).
12. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," online database, AmericanAncestors.org > Canterbury, image 55–56.
13. Edward Francis Johnson, Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Part 1 (births), Part 2, (deaths) Part 3 (marriages) (Woburn: Andrew Cutlery & Co., 1890).
03-Jun-2023