Priscilla Wilder

BIRTH: Compiled By Lucius A. Barbour And Lucius B. Barbour, Barbour Collection; Connecticut Vital Records Prior To 1850 (Salt Lake City; Filmed By The Genealogical Society Of Utah, 1949), Family History Library, FHL Film #0002929.

Marriage date if from Priscilla's petition for divorce. This record stated that the marriage was witnessed in Worcester, MA by Priscilla Clarks brother, Joseph Jr.of Worcester....Husbandman, and Abigail, his wife, each and both of them, made solomn oath that sometime in the fall ofthe year 1743, the Revd Mr. Isaac Burr, then the minister of the Town of Worcester, regularly settled and ordained there did join in marriage Aaron Wilder of Petersham and Priscilla Clarke of Worcester aforesaid. Now Priscilla Wilder said that the said Joseph and Abigail his wife, were present at the same time and saw the said Isaac Burr join the said Aaron & Priseilla in marriage as aforsaid. Sworn this day (18 Mar 1779) before me MYoung (Justice of the Peace). FHL film #1,639,453

Proposed date of death is the last date given in a very precise expense account of Aaron Wilder Jr. for the care of his mother; this is coupled with the date of administration on 7 Jul 1802; son Aaron Wilder, administrator of her estate. A letter to the town of Guilford VT states that there is no cemetery record there for Priscilla Wilder. Also a search of the Whitingham VT cemetery records revealed no record of death.

The probate record of her father, Joseph Clark of Worcester MA, dated 10 Jul 1772, names wife, Sarah Clark, daughter Priscilla, wife of Aaron Wilder of Killingly CT., daughter Sarah, wife of Jeretmeel Wilder of Petersham, MA, son Joseph Jr. of Petersham MA, daughter Ester, wife of Solomon Bixby of Petersham MA, daughter Mary, wife of Jonathan Stone; Case #12160; pgs 172, 403, 534 and 538; FHL film #856,281

The first 6 children of Aaron and Priscilla were born in Petersham MA. and Moses, their 7th child was born in Wrenthem MA and his birth is recorded there.

Soon after the birth of Moses, in 1756, Aaron Wilder "of Wrenthem" purchased from Samuel Hill of Bolton, Suffolk MA, 750 acres of land in Killingly, Windham, CT for the sum of 200 pounds. On this land was a dwelling house, a barn, a sawmill and a mill dam. Tamer and Elias, the last children of Aaron and Priscilla Clark were born in Killingly (Thompson Parish records; Killingly Deeds; Vol 6, pg 157; FHL film #4660)

5 Jul 1757, Aaron Wilder sold this same land (except for 50 acres) to Joseph Clark of Worcester MA, for the sum of 10 pounds. Joseph Clark was the father-in-law of Aaron. Joseph Clark then deeded "in consideration of the love, good will and affection which I have and do bear unto my beloved daughter, Priscilla Wilder, wife of Aaron Wilder" and to the "heirs of her body, lawfully begotten". (Killingly Deeds; Vol 6, pg 197)

Priscilla's father, Joseph Clark died 8 Jun 1772, in Worcester MA and his probate indicates that Priscilla was not able to receive her share of her fathers estate because her husband was not with her. She was obliged to petition the selectmen of Killingly and the House of Representives of Massachusetts in order to receive her legacy. (Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts 1773-1774; pg 105) Copy of record is in my possession and was received directly from the House of Representatives.

In September, 1779, Priscilla filed a petition for divorce which reads as follows: "To the Honorable Supr. Court, now sitting at Windham within and for the County of Windham, the petition of Priscilla Wilder, alias Priscilla Clarke of Killingly in said county to your Honr. humbly sheweth, that while she was .... sole (single?) and known and called by the name of Priscilla Clarke of Worcester Viz; in the year-day of-1743- she was lawfully joined in marriage with one Aaron Wilder, then of Petersham in the (then) Province of Massachusetts Bay--and with him your Petr lived and dwelt until sometime about the year 1771----in the full discharge of all the dutys of the Marriage Covenant on her part enjoined and on or about sd year 1771--the said Aaron without any just cause, and for reasons unknown to your Petr left your Petr and her children in sd Killingly and went into some part of the world unknown to your Petr and has never returned to dwell or provide for her...has wholly failed to comfort, reside with or support your Petr or his family in any measure or respect whatever, to this day. And your Petr hath more latterly been informed that said (Aaron) hath taken and cohabited with another woman and as in a married state, Whereupon your Petr saith that sd Aaron hath not kept but has unlawfully broken his Marriage Covenant and entered into with her as aforesaid and Whereupon she prays your Honr. to consider her case and grant to her a Bill of Divorcement as by ....your Honr are enabled to do and she as in duty bound shall ever pray." Dated in Windham this 22nd day of Sept 1779. This document is signed by Priscillas own hand.

In a deed dated Killingly, CT, 14 Sep 1786, Priscilla Wilder for 10 pounds, sells to "my son Moses Wilder" a parcel of land in Thompson...."reserving for my self the North Room of the dwelling house, one third part of the cellour, a conveniet door yard for wood and a priveledge in the well". This deed was not recorded until 19 Feb 1791.

In a deed dated Killingly, CT, 14 Sep 1786, Priscilla Wilder for 10 pounds, sells to "my son Moses Wilder" a parcel of land in Thompson....reserving for my self the North Room of the dwelling house, one third part of the cellour, a convenient door yard for wood and a priveledge in the well. This deed was not recorded until 19 Feb 1791.

In a deed in Killingly CT, dated 26 Nov 1779, Moses Wilder and Molly his wife, of Killingly, for fifteen hundred pounds received of Jonathan Nichols and Elijah Nichols of Killingly, for a tract of land in the Parish of Thompson in the town of Killingly, being the land which fell to the aforesaid Molly out of the real estate her honored father, Samuel Younglove, and contains 18 acres and 55 rods on the Quambag (sic) River with 1/3 part of the dwelling house and barn and out buildings. This deed was recorded 1 Sep 1783.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Dec 14 2020, 22:32:41 UTC