Samuel Wildes (1708 - bef. 1760)

Born 2 Mar 1708 in Topsfield, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Morgan) Wildes — married 24 Jul 1734 in Greenland, New Hampshire

Descendants

Died before 9 Jul 1760 before age 52 in Arundel, Maine

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Biography

SAMUEL WILDES (JOHN 1, EPHRAIM 2)

b. 2 Mar. 1708 Topsfield, Massachusetts

m. 24 July 1734 Greenland, NH ELIZABETH MORGAN (d. by 30 Dec. 1763 Arundel, Maine)

will 6 Mar.- 9 July 1760 Arundel, Maine

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:

I Jonathan Philbrook of Greenland… of New Hampsr Shipwright for… One Hundred & Forty Five Pounds… paid by Samuel Wildes of Arundel… do… sell… a certain Tract of Upland & Marsh… containing by Estimation One Hundred Acres which I the sd Philbrook bought of John Perkins of Arundel Bounded… at the Mouth of Turbets Creek… where the Tide flows… Together with all the Commons Right… this First Day of December One Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty & Eight…
Jonathan Philbrook
Elisebeth Philbrook
In Presence of us…
Richard Jannass
Joshua Jennes ^[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... do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament…

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
Samuel Wilds
Signed & Sealled in Presence of
Robert Cleaves
thomas huff
Caleb moodey Carr
his X 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]

Children

• I. Samuel- b. after 1739, m. Olive Deshon (d. after 1818 Arundel), d. before 24 Mar. 1788
• II. John- b. after 1739, d.s.p. Revolutionary War, div. 19 Dec. 1780
• III. Hannah- m. Sept. 1773 Peter 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

Sources

1. ↑ The History of the Colony and Province of Massachusetts Bay- Thomas Hutchinson, Vol.2, pp.234-5
2. ↑ A Wildes Genealogy- Douglas Cruger, Portland, 1990- p.16
3. ↑ History of Kennebunk Port- Charles Bradbury, Kennebunk, 1837, p.285
4. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. XIV, fol. 146
5. ↑ Kennebunkport Town Records- Book I, p.97
6. ↑ Kennebunkport Town Records- Book I, p.107
7. ↑ York Co. Deeds- Vol.19, p.69
8. ↑ Kennebunkport Town Records- Book I, pp.124,128,131
9. ↑ Kennebunkport Town Records- Book I, pp.132,134; History of Kennebunk Port- Charles Bradbury, Kennebunk, 1837, p.174
10. ↑ Kennebunkport Town Records- Book I, pp.131,149,155
11. ↑ Kennebunkport Town Records- Book I, pp.137,139,159
12. ↑ Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p.492
13. ↑ York County Registry of Probate- Docket No. 20405
14. ↑ A Wildes Genealogy- Douglas Cruger, Portland, 1990- p. 19

• 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