George Wilder (1823 - 1877)

Born 19 Jan 1823 in Bethel, Windsor County, Vermont, United States

Husband of Nancy J. (Washburn) Wilder — married 29 Jan 1850 in Alstead, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States

Died 17 May 1877 at age 54 in Alstead, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States

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Biography

Birth

George Wilder was born at Bethel, Vermont, on 19 Jan 1823.^[1] Multiple Ancestry.com profiles and his FindAGrave memorial say that George Wilder was the son of Jonas Wilder and Cynthia (Pond) Wilder, but none provides any evidence, and none has been found. Jonas and Cynthia (Pond) Wilder were both buried at the Alstead Center Cemetery in Alstead, New Hampshire, as were George and his wife and sons, so he may have been their son, but more evidence is needed to establish the relationship.

Name

Several seconday sources claim several different middle initials for George Wilder, but no primary sources have been found that give him a middle name or initial.

Marriage

George Wilder of Athol, Massachusetts, and Nancy J. Washburn of Alstead, New Hampshire, published at Athol on 26 Dec 1849 their intention to marry,^[2] and they married at Alstead on 29 Jan 1850.^[3]

In 1850, George Wilder, 26, born in Vermont, farmer, and Nancy J. Wilder, 23, born in New Hampshire, were living a Athol with Nancy's brother, Henry Washburn, 20, born in New Hampshire, and three other people, whose relationship is unknown.^[4]

In 1860, Geo. Wilder, 36, reported as born in New Hampshire, peg manufacturer, and Nancy J. Wilder, 32, born in New Hampshire, were living at Athol with Chas. H, Wilder, 8, Sarah A. Wilder, 5, and Geo. S. Wilder, 2, and Orrin V. Wilder, 1, all born in Massachusetts, and Edward Carpenter, 13, born in Massachusetts, relationship unknown.^[5]

In 1865, George Wilder, 43, peg manufacturer, and Nancy Wilder, 38, born in New Hampshire, were living at Athol with Charles H. Wilder, 13, Sarah A. Wilder, 10, George S. Wilder, 6, and Orrin V. Wilder, 5, all born in Massachuetts, and a domestic servant.^[6]

The George Wilder family moved from Athol to Nancy Wilder's hometown of Alstead, New Hampshire, in 1868, and they took up farming in the Alstead Center section of the town. The death record of Nancy Wilder says that she had come from Athol to Alstead 36 years before her death in April 1905,^[7] and their son Merill was born at Alstead in August 1868.^[8] In 1870, George Wilder, 47, farmer, and Nancy J. Wilder, 41 were living at Alstead with Charles H.Wilder, 18, farm laborer, Sarah J. Wilder, 15, George S. Wilder, 11, Orrin V. Wilder, 10, and Merrill J. Wilder, 1. All their birthplaces were recorded as Massachusetts except for Merrill's, which was shown as New Hampshire.^[9]

Children

George and Nancy (Washburn) Wilder were the parents of five children, the first four born at Athol, Massachusetts, and Merrill at Alstead, New Hampshire:^[1]

1. Charles Henry Wilder, born on 24 Sep 1851
2. Sarah Ann Wilder, born on 3 May 1855
3. George Sumner Wilder, born on 24 Aug 1858
4. Orrin V. Wilder, born on 29 Oct 1859
5. Merrill James Wilder, born on 5 Aug 1868

Death

George Wilder died at Alstead, New Hampshire, on 17 May 1877.^[1] His gravestone at the Alstead Center Cemetery is inscribed with the dates 1823-1877.^[10]

Probate

George Wilder died intestate, and on 1 Jun 1877, the Probate Court of Cheshire County appointed his widow, Nancy J. Wilder, to administer his estate.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} William Willis Hayward, The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889 (Lowell, Mass., 1889), pages 968-969
2. ↑ Transcription of the marriage intention of George Wilder and Nancy J. Washburn, in Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, Athol > Copy of Records: Proprietors of Pequoiag, Vital Records and Town Meetings, 1734-1863 > image 348 of 362, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image
3. ↑ Transcription of the marriage record of George Wilder and Nancy J. Washburn, in New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947, database, FamilySearch > FHL film #004243235 > images 799-800 of 4733; Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord.
4. ↑ George Wilder family, in United States Census, 1850, database with images, FamilySearch > Massachusetts > Worcester > Athol > household 12 > family 12 > image 2 of 49; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ Geo. Wilder family, in United States Census, 1860, database with images, FamilySearch > Massachusetts > Worcester > Athol > household 1337 > family 1516 > image 2 of 66; citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ George Wilder family, in Massachusetts State Census, 1865, database with images, FamilySearch > Worcester > Athol > household 196 > family 267 > image 15 of 39; State Archives, Boston.
7. ↑ Death certificate of Nancy J. Wilder in New Hampshire Death Records, 1654-1947, database with images, FamilySearch > FHL film #004243430 > image 579 of 3054; Bureau Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord.
8. ↑ Merrill J. Wilder in the Sumner G. Wilder family, in United States Census, 1900, database with images, FamilySearch > household 328 > family 336 > New Hampshire > Cheshire > ED 27 Alstead Town, Marlow Town > image 25 of 26; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ George Wilder family, in United States Census, 1870, database with images, FamilySearch > New Hampshire > Cheshire > Alstead > household 141 > family 135 > image 15 of 32; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
10. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #150132871 for George W. Wilder, with photo of Wilder family gravestone and grave marked for George Wilder
11. ↑ Probate file of George Wilder, in New Hampshire, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1643-1982, Probate Estate Files, 1769-1885; Author: New Hampshire. Probate Court (Cheshire County); Probate Place: Cheshire, New Hampshire, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8996 #436007, George Wilder probate in 1877 in Cheshire, New Hampshire, USA.