SOME DESCENDANTS OF RICHARD HILDRETH


© Copyright 2002 by Virginia Deagan. However material on these pages may be freely used for personal research. Please contact me before using the material on other web pages.

This is the line from Richard & Elizabeth Hildreth of Chelmsford, MA that I descend from. I have some information on the other families in this file and will be glad to share anything I have with others who are interested in this family. Feel free to let me know of any corrections or additions to this family. I have placed some of my sources at the end of this page. E-mail to Ginny Deagan (NEW E-MAIL:[email protected]) /i>

1. Richard Hildreth was born about 1605, possibly in Gainford Parish, Durham, Norfolk County, England. His parents are not known. He was married about 1627 to Sarah (surname unknown) who died on 15 June 1644 at Cambridge, MA. They had two children who were both born in England. Richard was married again in 1645 to Elizabeth [Hinchman?]. She was born in England about 1625 and died 3 August 1693 at Chelmsford, Middlesex County, MA. Richard and Elizabeth were the parents of nine children.

It is not known when Richard Hildreth came to New England, but he was chosen as a Selectman of Cambridge, MA in 1645. He was appointed through the years to look after the Common, to view the fences, and to collect fines. He was also a Sergeant in the Militia. He moved to Woburn, MA and was one of the grantees of Chelmsford, MA. In 1663, he petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts for more land, stating that he had "a wife and many small children" and being a husbandsman that he was greatly disadvantaged since he did not have the use of his right hand and was unable to work. The following year, the Court granted him an additional 105 acres.

Richard Hildreth died on 23 February 1693 at Chelmsford, MA. He is buried in the Forefather's Burial Ground in Chelmsford. His will (#11376 Middlesex County, MA) states that he has little to leave to his children since "now that my hand is as cut off" and he has had to make use of what he owned for himself and his wife and that he now has neither house or lands to bequeath. The total sum of his inventory was 17 Pounds, 3 Shillings and 6 Pence.

Children of Richard and Sarah Hildreth:

  1. Jane Hildreth , b. abt. 1628. Marr. 31 Dec 1645, Robert Proctor in Concord, MA.

  2. James Hildreth , b. abt. 1631. Marr. 15 Dec 1659, Margaret Ward in Dorchester, MA (recorded in Chelmsford, MA.

    Children of Richard and Elizabeth Hildreth:

  3. Elizabeth Hildreth , b. 21 Sep 1646 in Cambridge, MA. Marr. 15 Dec 1664, John Stevens of Boston and Chelmsford.

  4. Sarah Hildreth, was born 8 Aug 1648 in Cambridge, MA. Marr. 31 Dec 1674, David Stone in Chelmsford.

  5. Mary Hildreth was born abt. 1650. Marr. 21 Jun 1667, John Warren . Died 17 Dec 1730 prob. at Plainfield, Windham Co. CT.

  6. Ephraim Hildreth b. abt. 1655. Marr. #1, 11 Jun 1685, Dorothy Barnes in Stow, MA.; marr. #2, 8 Oct 1686, Anna Moore in Stow, MA. Died 1730 at Westford, Middlesex Co. MA.

  7. Abigail Hildreth , b. abt. 1656. Marr. 19 Jun 1684, Moses Parker in Chelmsford, MA.

  8. Joseph Hildreth , b. 16 Apr 1658 in Chelmsford, MA. Marr. 25 Dec 1683, Abigail Wilson of Woburn, MA.

  9. Thomas Hildreth , b. 1 Feb 1661. Died 28 May 1662.

  10. Isaac Hildreth , b. 20 Jul 1661 in Chelmsford. Marr. 1685, Elisabeth Wilson of Woburn, MA. Died 15 Apr 1730 at Chelmsford, MA.

2. Ephraim Hildreth was born about 1655 at Cambridge, MA. He was the son of Richard and Elizabeth (Hinchman?) Hildreth. He was married first at Stow, Middlesex County, MA on 11 June 1685 to Dorothy Barnes. She died on 17 June 1686, a week after her first child, Ephraim, was born. The baby also died the following November. Ephraim was married again at Stow on 8 October 1686 to Anna Moore. They lived in Stow where in 1685 he had been granted a license to be an innkeeper.

Anna Moore was born 17 May 1666 at Lancaster, Worcester County, MA. She was the daughter of John and Ann (Smith) Moore. Anna died at age 94. Her funeral was held at Littleton, MA on 8 April 1760.

In 1687 Ephraim and Anna Hildreth moved to Chelmsford, MA where his father who was in his eighties needed the help of his son to manage his properties. He was given eight parcels of land in Chelmsford from his father. In Chelmsford, he held town office of Constable, Surveyor of Highways and was a Selectman for 18 to 20 years. His father's will obliged Ephraim to care for his mother, Elizabeth and pay for her maintenance. Ephraim died in 1730/31 in Westford, MA. (Westford was formed from Chelmsford in 1729). His will is #11316, probated in Middlesex County, MA.

Child of Ephraim and Dorothy (Barnes) Hildreth:

  1. Ephraim Hildreth , b. 10 Jun 1686 at Stow, MA. Died 26 Nov 1686 at Stow.

    Children of Ephraim and Anna (Moore) Hildreth : All born in Chelmsford, MA.

  2. Ephraim Hildreth , b. 28 Oct 1687. Marr. Priscilla Barron . Died Mar 1730/31 at Westford, MA.

  3. Joseph Hildreth , b. 22 Feb 1688/89. Marr. Deliverance Barrett . Died 17 Nov 1764 at Westford, MA.

  4. Richard Hildreth , b. 17 Apr 1691. Not named in father's will of 1730.

  5. James Hildreth , b. 19 Apr 1692. Died 11 Dec 1696.

  6. Ebenezer Hildreth , b. 22 May 1696. Marr. 13 Dec 1719, Sarah Swallow .

  7. James Hildreth , b. 23 Dec 1698. Marr. 20 Dec 1721, Dorothy Prescott (intention). Died 25 Feb 1761 at Westford, MA.

  8. Anna Hildreth b. 3 Sep 1705. Marr. 10 Dec 1721 (intention), James Butterfield Died Feb 1784 at Chelmsford, MA.

  9. Thomas Hildreth , b. 25 Sep 1707. Died 7 Oct 1707.

  10. Jacob Hildreth, b. 18 Jul 1709. Died bef. 1754 at Litchfield, CT [?].

  11. David Hildreth , b. 16 Aug 1711. Named in father's will - no further information.

3. James Hildreth was born 23 December 1698 at Chelmsford, Middlesex, MA. He was the son of Ephraim and Anna (Moore) Hildreth. He was married 20 December 1721 at Concord, MA to Dorothy Prescott . Dorothy was the daughter of Samuel and Esther (Wheeler) Prescott. She was born 1702 in Acton, Middlesex County, MA. She died 3 Sep 1774 at age 72 in Westford, MA.

James and Dorothy Hildreth moved from Chelmsford to Westford, MA in 1732. On 28 June 1755, a letter was written to the Judge of Probate of Westford requesting a guardian be put over James Hildreth "who is sometimes quarrelsome, mischievous and the neighbors will no longer suffer him at large. Someone is needed to take care that he will not eat out his estate and ruin the family who are “at present in very good circumstances" It was requested that his wife or eldest son be appointed guardian. James died 25 February 1761, age 62 at Westford, MA..

Children of James and Dorothy (Prescott) Hildreth:

  1. Oliver Hildreth , b. 11 Jul 1723 in Chelmsford, MA. Marr. 26 Oct 1744, Anna Blaisdell in Andover, Essex Co. MA. Died Feb 1793 in Townsend, Middlesex County, MA.

  2. Rebecca Hildreth , b. 31 Mar 1726 in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, MA. Marr. 29 Jun 1750 James Dutton in Westford, MA.

  3. Dorothy Hildreth , b. 18 Jan 1732/33 in Westford, MA. Died 12 Oct 1735 at Westford.

    Dorothy Hildreth , b. 26 Aug 1736 in Westford, MA. Marr. 14 Jun 1782 Pelatiah Fletcher in Westford. Died 14 Jun 1782.

  4. Amos Hildreth , b. 1 Nov 1738 in Westford, MA. Marr. 21 May 1765, Priscilla Hildreth in Westford. Died 28 Sep 1807 in Westford.

  5. Lucy Hildreth b. 28 Mar 1742 in Westford, MA. Marr. 9 Jul 1763 (intention), Aaron Parker, Jr. . Died 9 Oct 1763.

  6. Samuel Hildreth , b. 20 Jan 1743/44 in Westford, MA. Died 17 Jul 1748 in Westford.

3. Oliver Hildreth was born 11 July 1723 at Chelmsford, Middlesex County, MA. He was the son of James and Dorothy (Prescott) Hildreth. He was married 26 October 1744 to Anna Blaisdell.

Anna was born 3 March 1727 at Chelmsford, Middlesex County, MA. She was the daughter of Dr. Henry Blaisdell and his second wife, Lydia Parker. Anna was described by her grandson, as a woman "of large frame, tall and commanding in personal appearance. For the last few years of her life, she became Avery corpulent and unwieldy, weighing no less than four hundred pounds". She had to turn sideways to pass through doors and she visited neighbors on a sled or a cart drawn by a yoke of oxen. She was the mother of sixteen children. She died in 1800 at age 73

Oliver was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. He died intestate on 1 February 1793 at Townsend, Middlesex, County, MA at age 69. The Middlesex County Probate #11370 refers to him as "Gentleman". He is buried in the Old Burial Ground at Townsend, MA.

His widow said he had deeded away his real estate and disposed of his stock before his death and since their house had been consumed by fire a few years ago, they had few belongings. The inventory of his estate was taken 3 April 1793 and included an old greatcoat, 6 handkerchiefs, Old Bible and 3 other books, beds, bedding, utensils, "cyder" barrels and farm tools.

Children of Oliver and Anna (Blaisdell) Hildreth: All born in Townsend, Middlesex County, MA

  1. Sarah Hildreth , b. 10 Oct 1745. Died 17 Sep 1747.

  2. James Hildreth , b. 30 Sep 1746. Marr. 20 May 1772 in Westford, MA, Esther Fletcher . Died 02 Dec 1818 in Stanstead, Quebec, Canada.

  3. Mary "Molly" Hildreth , b. 23 Jul 1748. Marr. 30 May 1771 in Townsend, MA, Edmund Tarbell . Died 9 Feb 1785 in Mason, Hillsborough County, NH.

  4. Samuel P. Hildreth (Dr.), , b. 1 Feb 1749/50. Marr. 21 May 1776, Abigail Bodwell . Died 7 Aug 1823 in Belpre, Washington Co. OH.

  5. Oliver Hildreth Jr., , b. 20 Oct 1751. Marr. 22 Apr 1773, Mary Wright . Lived in Billerica, Middlesex Co. MA.

  6. Jonathan Hildreth , b. 9 Apr 1753. Marr. 14 Aug 1779, Eunice Warren . Died 14 May 1825, prob. in Concord, MA.

  7. Abijah Hildreth , b. 5 Jun 1755. Marr. 3 Jun 1779 in Westford, MA, #1, Joanna Keyes ; #2, Hannah Smith . Died 21 Apr 1837 in Henniker, Hillsborough Co. NH.

  8. Dorothy "Dolly" Hildreth , b. 5 Feb 1757. Marr. 13 Jul 1780 in Townsend, MA, Oliver Green . Died 18 Mar 1845 prob. in Ashburnham, Worcester Co. MA.

  9. Lucy Hildreth , b. 14 Oct 1758. Marr. 11 Dec 1783, Josiah Barnes of Concord, MA.

  10. Sarah Hildreth , B. 1 Nov 1760. Marr. 27 May 1779 at Townsend, Job Brooks . Died 21 Sep 1828 at Stoddard, Cheshire Co. NH.

  11. Anna Hildreth , b. 9 Jun 1762. Marr. Samuel Tarbell of Mason, Hillsborough Co. NH.

  12. Rebecca Hildreth , b. 5 Oct 1764. Marr. 20 Mar 1787, Rev. William Eliot , a Baptist minister. Died 18 Oct 1828 in Mason, Hillsborough, NH.

  13. Joanna Hildreth , b. 12 Dec 1766. Marr. Reuben Davis Died probably in Chelsea, Orange Co. VT.

  14. Rachel Hildreth , b. 12 Dec 1766. Marr. 14 Dec 1786 in Townsend, Edward Tarbell .

  15. Abigail Hildreth , b. 24 Mar 1770. Marr. 25 Nov 1790, Jabez Green . Probably died in Henniker, NH.

4.

Mary "Molly" Hildreth was born 23 July 1748 at Townsend, Middlesex County, MA. She was the daughter of Oliver and Anna (Blaisdell) Hildreth. Molly died 9 February 1785 at Mason, Hillsborough County, NH at age 37 about a week after the birth of her youngest son, Oliver.

Molly's husband, Edmund Tarbell was born 4 April 1747 at Groton, Middlesex County, MA. He was the son of Thomas and Esther (Smith) Tarbell. Edmund lived in Mason, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. He served during the Revolutionary War as a Private in Capt. Benjamin Mann's Company, Col. James Reed's New Hampshire Regiment from 20 April 1775 to 12 October 1775 and from 8 August 1778 to 28 August 1776. After the death of his first wife, Molly, he was married again to Mary Elliot. Edmund died 3 April 1800, age 53 at Cavendish, Windsor County, VT and is buried in Morgan Bridge Cemetery at Cavendish.

Children of Mary "Molly" Tarbell and Edmund Tarbell: All born in Mason, Hillsborough Co. NH.

  1. Mary "Polly" Tarbell , b. 19 Feb 1772. Marr. 31 Dec 1789 in Pepperell, Middlesex Co. MA, Solomon Shattuck . Died 2 Oct 1854 in Burlington, Chittenden Co. VT.

  2. Dorothy "Dolly" Tarbell b. 29 Dec 1773. Marr. abt. 1790, James Kendall Died 19 May 1856 in Cotton Twp., Switzerland Twp., Indiana. See Kendall Family

  3. Sibbel Tarbell , b. 6 Mar 1775. Marr. (Unknown) Wheeler. .

  4. Sarah "Sally" Tarbell b. 25 Mar 1777. (twin). Marr. 1797, Stephen Dutton . Said to have lived in Iowa.

  5. Edmund Tarbell , b. 25 Mar 1777 (twin). Marr. 3 Mar in Cavendish, Windsor Co. VT, .

  6. Lucy Tarbell , b. 21 Nov 1780. Marr. [Isaac?] Eddy.

  7. Hannah Tarbell , b. 12 Feb 1782. Marr. 15 Oct 1812 in Wilton, Hillsborough Co. NH, >b> Abner Blanchard .

  8. Oliver Tarbell , b. 2 Feb 1785. Marr. abt. 1806, Sally Grout . Died 7 Mar 1860 in Cavendish, Windsor Co. VT.

SOME OF MY SOURCES FOR THE HILDRETH FAMILY:

  1. "First, Second, Third and Fourth Publication of the Hildreth Family Association.
  2. History of the Family of Hildreth in America by Henry Austin Hildreth, Oct 1856.
  3. Genealogical & Biographical Sketches of the Hildreth Family Vital Records of Chelmsford, MA
  4. DAR Patriot Index (Oliver Hildreth).
  5. The Early Hildreths of New England by Arthur Hildreth, privately printed. June 16 1894.
  6. Graves of Revolutionary Patriots (Oliver Hildreth)
  7. Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors Volume 7, page 859
  8. "Middlesex County Mass. Probate Records" Family History Library Film #0397094. #11376 - Richard Hildreth Will; #11316 - Ephraim Hildreth Will; #11299 - James Hildreth (guardian request); #11370 - Oliver Hildreth inventory.
  9. Vital Records of Townsend, Mass. (marriage of Mary Hildreth to Edmond "Terble" of Mason).