Richard Hildreth

Genealogical and Personal Memoris of Worchest County MA Vol 1 byCrane: Richard Hildreth was an early settler in Cambridge and Woburn.Richard was admitted a Freeman to the Massachusetts Bay Colony on 10May 1643. He was one of the founders of Chelmsford, MA and had aspecial grant of land in 1663 on account of having lost his righthand. "Massachusetts and Maine Families, Vol II, Hildreth of Dracutand Lewison" Shows Richard Hildreth came to Massachusetts Bay Colonysometime before 1642 with his wife Sarah and their two children. "TheFirst Settlers of New England" Richard Hildreth, Cambridge, freeman1642, was a petitioner for the grant of Chelmsford in 1653, where manyof his descendants have resided. Sarah, his wife, d. 15 June 1644, andby another, Elizabeth, he had Sarah, b. 8 Aug 1648 "Guide to the EarlySettlers of America" Hildreth, sometimes Hildrick: Richard Hildreth,Cambridge, freeman, 1643, had wife Sarah, who died 1644; by wifeElizabeth, who died at Malden, 1693, age 68, had Elizabeth, 1646, andSarah, 1648. He was serg. of the grantees of Chelmsford, 1653; therehad Joseph 1658; Persis, 1660; thomas, 1662; Isaac, 1663' besidesAbigail, who married Moses Parker of the same. The father died atChelmsford, 1688, age 83. "Hildreth Family" by Philip Hildreth Reade1909 39 pages Richard's will dated 11 Feb 1686/7 and Probated 26 May1693 Chelmsford, MA. Middlesex Probate Office of the Register,Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Mass. Probate Records 1692 to 1696. vol. 8Pages 186--188. File No. 11971, No. 8004. Richard Hildreth, 1693.Probate Vol 8-185. Will Vol 8-186. Proved 26 May 1693 Quoted aswritten: "Know ye that I Richard Hildrith of ye towne of Chelmsford inye County of Middlesex in ye Massachusetts Colony in New England,being aged, sick and weakly in body, tho sounde in mind, Judgement andunderstanding, taking into Consideration my own mortality, do here inmake known my minde and will in the disposall of myself, and Estatethat Remaineth to be my own to Dispose. First, I beqbeath my preciousand Immortall Soul unto Christ yt hath Redeemed it and my body to yeGrave till Christ shall raise it. And for my beloved wife Elizabeth Ihave obliged my naturall son Ephraime Hildereth for her maintainancein all respects so long as shee remaineth with him: and as for my Sonsand Daughters children god hath given to me I have discharged my dutyin som measure in all respects so that they are disposed in marriageand I have doone for them all as I could but now my hand is as cut ofbecause of inpotency and infirmyty I have been constrained to make useof what I hade for the relief of my self and my wife so that I haveneither house nor lands to bequeath to them but after my deceasecredtors being payed and debts discharged what so ever shall be fondto be my estat I will that it be equally divided to all my childrenthat each one may have a token of their fathers love after his death,they or theirs, and after my desease my son Ephraim shall pay or causeto be payed to my eldest Son James Hildreth out of his own estat thesume of twenty Shillings or one pound as a full fee and part orportion more than the rest of my children. I have betrusted my sonEphraim with the use of my estat whilst I live and after my death toexecut this my las will and testament." witnesses: Peeter Talbott,John Butterick, Sarah Steevens, Ely Fostere, . Proved May, 26, 1693,and an inventory of £17:3:6 entered, the "prizers, " Samuel Foster andEliazar Brown, having listed the small possessions on May 19, 1693.There were "four Books at five shillings, " two cows and a calf,simple furniture including the three chests, one being a wainscotchest, four chairs including a table chair, a few pieces of pewter andironware and seven trenchers which would have been the wooden platescommonly in use.