Martha Wilder

http://nealsgenealogy.awardspace.info/wilder.htm

"But one thing appears now established: Mrs. Martha Wilder's maiden surname was NOT Higgs as has been long reported. From the Wilder book (revised): Also a notion has circulated that our widow Martha Wilder of Shiplake was Martha Higgs. This was apparently based on a statement in the Higgs genealogy to the effect that the family of Thomas Wilder of Shiplake had, in earlier chapters, intermarried with the Higgs family. Martha was not found in that family. Careful reading of that statement shows that it referred to Thomas's Aunt Eleanor Wilder who married a Higgs and not to Thomas himself. So we are still without a maiden name for Martha, thanks, not doubt, to whoever tore out the pages of the Shiplake register." Research into the Higgs family conducted in 1984 in England by a professional genealogist from London did not reveal any Martha Higgs and concluded no Martha Higgs was part of that family. (I do not have any further details about that.) There is, of course, a chance that her surname still MIGHT have been Higgs, but until some evidence is presented, the claim should be presumed NOT correct."

comments

Given name has also been reported to be:

• Margaret
• Mary

Date of birth has also been erroneously reported to be 1621.

Place of death has also been (erroneously?) reported to be Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

links

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125544620
• FamilySearch AFN 785D-JP

maybe:

• http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wilder/499/mb.ashx

invalid

• http://ralphinla.rootsweb.ancestry.com/wildrevi.htm
• http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr01/rr01_320.html#P6562

content to clean up

The family name "Higgs" for Martha has been advanced in the past, especially in tabulations of early mormons, plus others. More recently, in 1984, Grenice Disher hired a professional genealogist in London, England to investigate the origins of Martha with specific instructions to look for evidence linking her to the Higgs family. After some ten months of extensive research, it was concluded Martha's maiden name of Higgs could not be confirmed. Colleen Nielson, a Wilder descendant and careful researcher, quotes Savage's Genealogical Dictionary, page 373, and the History of Hingham, Massachusetts, LDS Family History Library, book 974.48/H1 V2h Vol. 2, and the LDS Archival Record as her sources to support her acceptance of Martha's maiden name as Higgs.

In Jun 1614 Thomas married Martha Higgs, daughter of Griffin Higgs & Sarah Payne, in Shiplake, Oxford, Eng. Born ca 1590 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire. Martha died on 20 Apr 1652 in Hingham, MA.33

“Wid. Martha Wilder was an inhabitant of Hing. as early as 1638, when she had a grant of five acres of land for a house-lot on Main, near Pleasant St.; also other lots at subsequent dates of planting, pasture, and meadow lands. She prob. came from Shiplock, Oxfordshire County, Eng., with her dau. Mary, and perh. Eliza, who m. Jan. 17, 1638 or 1638-39, Thomas Ensign of Scit. It may have been her dau. mary who m. ___ Cudworth of Scit.”33

Widow Martha Wilder of Shiplake, Oxford, England, sailed on the Confidence, of London, from Southampton, 30 Apr 1638, with one or two of her daughters. She was given a house lot of five acres on Main Street, newar Pleasant St., South Hingham.7

Their children include:

2353 i. John Wilder (ca 1616-1688)

2354 ii. Thomas Wilder (ca 1618-23 Oct 1667)

2355 iii. Edward Wilder (ca 1619-18 Oct 1690)

2356 iv. Elizabeth Wilder (ca 1621-bet. 1 Nov 1676 and 19 Nov 1686)

2357 v. Mary Wilder (1623-13 Dec 1658)

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In 1638 the ship Confidence sailed from Southampton with emigrants for Massachusetts Bay. In the list of passengers were widow Martha Wilder and her daughter Mary. It is represented that they landed at Hingham. The town records show that the town made grants of land to Martha and Edward.

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Note: Martha Wilder, widow of Thomas, left Shiplake in May 1638 for the colonies with daughter Mary on the ship Confidence. It was a time of persecution in England and the religious character of the emigrant Wilders shows very clearly they were of the persecuted class. It is believed after the death of her husband she sent the children, Thomas, Elizabeth and Edward with friends to America while she disposed of her effects and after a short time was able to follow them. "There was a tradition in Hingham as late as 1802, That widow Martha sold the entailed estate, and would never tell her children where it was located and to whom it was sold. She might have sold, and probably did sell, the Shiplake House to her son John, the heir of Sulhma." There is a saying "Dukes don't emigrate," which would account for the eldest son John remaining in England even though he did not have high title.

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After her husband, Thomas of Shiplake's, death, she and her children (except for John) came to Higham Massachusetts Colony on the good ship Confidence in 1638.

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As a widow, Martha sent children Thomas, Elizabeth and Edward to New England with friends. She settled affairs, left son John in charge in England, and with daughter Mary, sailed from Southampton on ship "Confidance" to Hingham, MA.

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The family name "Higgs" for Martha has been advanced in the past, especially in tabulations of early mormons, plus others. More recently, in 1984, Grenice Disher hired a professional genealogist in London, England to investigate the origins of Martha with specific instructions to look for evidence linking her to the Higgs family. After some ten months of extensive research, it was concluded Martha's maiden name of Higgs could not be confirmed. Colleen Nielson, a Wilder descendant and careful researcher, quotes Savage's Genealogical Dictionary, page 373, and the History of Hingham, Massachusetts, LDS Family History Library, book 974.48/H1 V2h Vol. 2, and the LDS Archival Record as her sources to support her acceptance of Martha's maiden name as Higgs.

In Jun 1614 Thomas married Martha Higgs, daughter of Griffin Higgs & Sarah Payne, in Shiplake, Oxford, Eng. Born ca 1590 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire. Martha died on 20 Apr 1652 in Hingham, MA.33

“Wid. Martha Wilder was an inhabitant of Hing. as early as 1638, when she had a grant of five acres of land for a house-lot on Main, near Pleasant St.; also other lots at subsequent dates of planting, pasture, and meadow lands. She prob. came from Shiplock, Oxfordshire County, Eng., with her dau. Mary, and perh. Eliza, who m. Jan. 17, 1638 or 1638-39, Thomas Ensign of Scit. It may have been her dau. mary who m. ___ Cudworth of Scit.”33

Widow Martha Wilder of Shiplake, Oxford, England, sailed on the Confidence, of London, from Southampton, 30 Apr 1638, with one or two of her daughters. She was given a house lot of five acres on Main Street, newar Pleasant St., South Hingham.7

Their children include:

2353 i. John Wilder (ca 1616-1688)

2354 ii. Thomas Wilder (ca 1618-23 Oct 1667)

2355 iii. Edward Wilder (ca 1619-18 Oct 1690)

2356 iv. Elizabeth Wilder (ca 1621-bet. 1 Nov 1676 and 19 Nov 1686)

2357 v. Mary Wilder (1623-13 Dec 1658)

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In 1638 the ship Confidence sailed from Southampton with emigrants for Massachusetts Bay. In the list of passengers were widow Martha Wilder and her daughter Mary. It is represented that they landed at Hingham. The town records show that the town made grants of land to Martha and Edward.

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Note: Martha Wilder, widow of Thomas, left Shiplake in May 1638 for the colonies with daughter Mary on the ship Confidence. It was a time of persecution in England and the religious character of the emigrant Wilders shows very clearly they were of the persecuted class. It is believed after the death of her husband she sent the children, Thomas, Elizabeth and Edward with friends to America while she disposed of her effects and after a short time was able to follow them. "There was a tradition in Hingham as late as 1802, That widow Martha sold the entailed estate, and would never tell her children where it was located and to whom it was sold. She might have sold, and probably did sell, the Shiplake House to her son John, the heir of Sulhma." There is a saying "Dukes don't emigrate," which would account for the eldest son John remaining in England even though he did not have high title.

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After her husband, Thomas of Shiplake's, death, she and her children (except for John) came to Higham Massachusetts Colony on the good ship Confidence in 1638.

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As a widow, Martha sent children Thomas, Elizabeth and Edward to New England with friends. She settled affairs, left son John in charge in England, and with daughter Mary, sailed from Southampton on ship "Confidance" to Hingham, MA.

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Founding Mother of the Wilder and Ensign families of Hingham.

Widow of Thomas Wilder, Esq, of Shiplake England, Martha emigrated with her daughter Mary on the ship Confidence from Southampton, England to New England on 24 April 1638. At Hingham she joined her son Edward, who had emigrated earlier that year. Martha owned land in Hingham on Main, near Pleasant St, also other lots, at subsequent dates: planting, pasture, and meadow lands. Her daughter Elizabeth married Deacon Thomas Ensign. Her son Edward (#73351660) married Elizabeth Eames. These Wilder and Ensign descendants were prominent in the Hingham history. Martha died on 20 Apr 1652 at Hingham and was buried there on 1 May 1652.

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Martha's husband Thomas Wilder died in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England on Oct. 23, 1634. About four years later in May of 1638 she and a daughter named Mary left England for the colonies on board the ship "Confidence" bound for Massachusetts Bay and landed at Hingham the fall of that year. The Wilder family had endured religious persecution in England and it's believed she sent her children ahead with friends to the new colonies while she disposed of most of her effects and followed later. The list of passengers for the "Confidence" shows: "Martha Wilder, Shiplake, Oxfodshire, spinster and Mary Wilder her daughter". Nothing further is known about this daughter named Mary Wilder, she can't be found in new world records. They landed at Hingham in November of 1638 and were met by the children who had gone on before her. Town records show grants for a house, planting, pasture and meadow for Martha and her family, and it appears she spent the rest of her life there. (wab)

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Founding Mother of the Wilder and Ensign families of Hingham.

Widow of Thomas Wilder, Esq, of Shiplake England, Martha emigrated with her daughter Mary on the ship Confidence from Southampton, England to New England on 24 April 1638. At Hingham she joined her son Edward, who had emigrated earlier that year. Martha owned land in Hingham on Main, near Pleasant St, also other lots, at subsequent dates: planting, pasture, and meadow lands. Her daughter Elizabeth married Deacon Thomas Ensign. Her son Edward (#73351660) married Elizabeth Eames. These Wilder and Ensign descendants were prominent in the Hingham history. Martha died on 20 Apr 1652 at Hingham and was buried there on 1 May 1652.

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brief biography

executrix of her husband's will

notes

possible sister or other close relative of John Keene

links

invalid

• http://ralphinla.rootsweb.ancestry.com/wildrich.htm#i5991m