Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post Challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog. I am extending this theme in 2016 to 156 Ancestors in 156 Weeks. Here is my ancestor biography for week #121:
Zachariah Hildreth (1728-1784) is #144 on my Ahnentafel list, my 5th great-grandfather, who married #145 Elizabeth Prescott (1734-1812) in 1753.
* their son, #72 Zachariah Hildreth (1754-1829), who married #73 Elizabeth Keyes (1759-1793) in 1777.
* their son, #36 Zachariah Hildreth (1783-1857), who married #37 Hannah Sawtell (1789-1857) in 1810.
* their son, #18, Edward Hildreth (1831-1899), who married #19 Sophia Newton (1834-1923) in 1852.
* their daughter, #9 Hattie Louise Hildreth (1847-1920) , who married #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) in 1874.
* their son, #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942), who married Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.
* their son, #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983), who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
* their son, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)
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1) PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Name: Zachariah Hildreth[1–8,17]
* Alternate Name: Zechariah Hildreth[9–16,18-19]
* Sex: Male
* Father: James Hildreth (1698-1761)
* Mother: Dorothy Prescott (1702-1774)
2) INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Birth: 28 December 1728, Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[1–2,9]
* Town Record: 12 February 1753 (age 24), town paid Zechariah Hildreth for providing wood to Mr. Craft; Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[10]
* Church Membership: 23 December 1753 (age 24), Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[11]
* Town Record: 4 January 1755 (age 26), town paid Zecharish Hildreth for working on the highway; Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[3]
* Town Record: 3 February 1755 (age 26), town paid Zechariah Hildreth for providing wood to Mr. Craft; Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[4]
* Town Record: 31 January 1757 (age 28), town paid Zechariah Hildreth for work on highway; Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[13]
* Town Record: 11 December 1758 (age 29), town paid Zechariah Hildreth for wood to Mr. Craft; Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[14]
* Town Record: 22 January 1759 (age 30), town paid Zechariah Hildreth for delivering wood and other items to Mr. Craft; Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[15]
* Town Record: 29 January 1759 (age 30), town paid Zechariah Hildreth for working on the highway; Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[5]
* Town Record: 28 January 1760 (age 31), town paid Zechariah Hildreth for work on highway; Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[16]
* Town Record: 1773 (about age 45), town receipts for constable work; Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[6]
* Military Service: 24 April 1776 (age 47), Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[17]
* Death: 18 April 1784 (age 55), Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[7,9]
* Probate: after 18 April 1784 (after age 55), will proved; Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States[8]
* Burial: after 18 April 1784 (after age 55), Westlawn Cemetery, Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[9]
3) SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Spouse 1: Elizabeth Prescott (1734-1812)
* Marriage 1: 12 April 1753 (age 24), Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[18-19]
* List of Children: 1755–1774 (about age 27–about 46), list of children births; Westford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[12]
* Child 1: Zachariah Hildreth (1754-1829)
* Child 2: Elizabeth Hildreth (1755-1803)
* Child 3: Hannah Hildreth (1758-1826)
* Child 4: Esther Hildreth (1760- )
* Child 5: Timothy Hildreth (1760- )
* Child 6: James Hildreth (1762-1789)
* Child 7: Lucy Hildreth (1764-1845)
* Child 8: Jonas Hildreth (1766-1808)
* Child 9: Ruth Hildreth (1768-1829)
* Child 10: Edy Hildreth (1771-1819)
* Child 11: Jesse Hildreth (1773-1840)
* Child 12: Mehitable Hildreth (1775-1819)
4) NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
The birth of Zachariah Hildreth to James and Dorothy (Prescott) Hildreth is recorded in the Chelmsford, Massachusetts town record book[1]:
"Zachariah Hildreth the son of James Hildreth and
Dorothy Hildreth is wife was born Decemb'r 28 1728."
On 12 February 1753, the Westford selectmen ordered the town treasurer to pay Zechariah Hildreth "...the sum of 1 pound, 2 shillings for eleven loads of wood he carried to Mr. Craft for his support and comfort the winter past."[10]
The marriage record of Zechariah Hildreth and Elizabeth Prescott was recorded in the Westford, Massavhusetts town records[18]:
"April 12 1753
Zechariah Hildreth to
Elizabeth Prescott both of Westford
By W____d H____ P'r"
The Westford church record (Second Church in Chelmsford) has this membership entry[11]:
"1753, Dec. 23, Zechariah Hildreth and Elizabeth his wife"
The list of children of Zechariah and Elizabeth (Prescott) Hildreth was presented in the Westford town records[12]:
"Zechariah Hildreth Son of Zechariah Hildreth and Elisabeth his wife was born January the 13, 1754
Elisebeth Hildreth Daughter of Zechariah Hildreth and Elisabeth his wife was born October 18, 1755
Hannah Hildreth Daughter of Zechariah Hildreth & Elisabeth his wife was born January 31, 1758
Timothy Hildreth and Esther Hildreth Son and Daughter of Zechariah Hildreth & Elisabeth his wife was born April the 10, 1760
James Hildreth Son of Zechariah Hildreth and Elisabeth his wife was born March the 7, 1762
Lucy Hildreth Daughter of Zechariah Hildreth and Elisabeth his wife was born January the 18, 1764
Jonas Hildreth Son of Zechariah Hildreth and Elisabeth his wife was born June the 25, 1766
Ruth Hildreth Daughter of Zechariah Hildreth and Elisabeth his wife was born May the 8, 1768
Evy Hildreth Daughter of Zechariah Hildreth and Elizabeth his Wife was born November the 3d, 1771
Jesse Hildreth Son of Zechariah Hildreth and Elizabeth his Wife was born September 22'd, 1773
hita Hildreth Daughter of Zechariah Hildreth and Elizabeth his wife was Born September 24'th, 1775"
On 4 January 1755, the selectmen of Westford ordered the town treasurer to pay a long list of men, including Zachariah Hildreth 2 pounds and 2 pence, for working on the highway in the last year[3].
On 3 February 1755, the Selectmen of Westford ordered the Town Treasurer to pay Zachariah Hildreth 1 pound, 4 shillings and 8 pence for wood and pine carried to Mr. Craft[4].
On 31 January 1757, The Westford selectmen ordered the town treasurer to pay a number of men, including Zechariah Hildreth, for working on the highway for the past year[13]. Zechariah was to receive 1 pound, 10 shillings.
On 11 December 1758, the town of Westford selectmen ordered the town treasurer to pay Zechariah Hildreth 4 shillings for wood provided to Mr. Craft[14].
On 22 January 1759, the town of Westford selectmen ordered the town treasurer to pay Zechariah Hildreth 5 shillings for delivering wood to Mr. Craft[15].
On the same date, the town treasurer was ordered to pay Zechariah Hildreth 2 pounds, 14 shillings and 6 pence more for "Eleven cord and a half cord of wood and for corn and sundry other articles" delivered to Mr. Craft.
On 29 January 1759, the Westford selectmen ordered the town treasurer to pay Zechrh Hildreth 2 pounds, 6 shillings for working on the highway the past year[5].
On 28 January 1760, the Westford selectmen ordered the town treasurer to pay Zechariah Hildreth 3 pounds, 11 shillings and 2 pence for working on the highway the past year[16].
During 1773, Zechariah Hildreth served as constable. The town received 61 pounds, 15 shillings, 6 pence in five payments during the year[6].
There is an entry for Zachariah Hildreth in the Massachusetts Sailors and Soldiers in the Massachusetts Sailors and Soldiers of the Revolutionary War book[17]:
"Hildreth, Zachariah. 2d Lieutenant, Capt. Zachariah Wright's 8th (2d Westford) co., 6th Middlesex Co. regt. of Mass. militia; list of officers chosen by the several companies in said regiment, as returned by Jonathan Reed and others, field officers; ordered in Council, April 24, 1776, that said officers be commissioned; reported commissioned April 24, 1776."
The entry in the Westford town vital record books for the death of Zachariah Hildreth says[7]:
"HILDRETH, Lt. Zachariah, Apr. 18, 1784, in his 58th y."
Zechariah Hildreth is buried in Westlawn Cemetery in Westford, Massachusetts. The gravestone inscription reads[9]:
"ERECTED
in memory of Lieut
Zechariah Hildreth
who departed this life
Dec. 28 1754
in the 58th year
of his age."
Zachariah Hildreth died testate, and his probate records are in Middlesex County [MA] Probate Records, Packet #11,391[8]. The will reads:
"In the name of God, Amen. The ninth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one.
"I, Zachariah Hildreth of the town of Westford in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gentleman, being sick and weak in body but of a sound disposing mind, Thanks be given to God. Therefore, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that this appointed to all men once to die, do ordain and make this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul to God that gave it, hoping thro' the merits and my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon of all my sins and to inherit everladting life; and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried.
"And as touching such worldly estate wherwith it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me and bless me within this worldly life, I give devise and dispose of in the following manner and form, viz:
"Imprimus, I will and order that all my just Debts, Funeral and Probate charges shall be paid and discharged in convenient time after my decease by my Executors hereafter named.
"Item, I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth two cows and one heifer such as she shall choose out of my stock of cows after my decease and one swine, two sheep and two lambs, also two Feather Beds and Beding, and the one half of my household furniture and also the one third part of all my possessions that I shall die ... and possessed of to be by her my said wife freely possessed of to enjoyed and to be at her own dispose forever.
"I will to my beloved wife Elisabeth the use and improvement of my Clock and Case of drawers and the one half of my dwelling house thro'out and half the cellar with the Liberty of using the well and laying wood near the House for her conveniency, also the use and improvement of half the Barn and a small enclosed piece of grass ground lying behind my said barn with liberty of passing and repassing to and from my said barn; and the use of a ... and my pannel and third part of my liquor mill, also the use and improvement of my Causeway piece of land on all my fore side piece, so called, and my pasture and other land lying at or on Clay pit Hill so called, also one acre of wood lying near my Blodget's place so called, and the one half of my plough land lying on the pine plain so called, and the one third part of my pond lot so called. Also the use of a pair of oxen and husbandry tools so far as is necessary for the improvement of the land aforesaid in a Good and proper manner and for her comfort and good conveniency, the improvement and use of which to be by her my beloved. But after the decease of my said wife or if she shall marry then I will that the premises aforesaid that I have willed her the use and improvement of be divided, apportioned and settled among my four sons, namely Timothy, James, Jonas and Jesse and my six daughters namely Elizabeth, Esther, Lucy, Ruth, Ede and Hitty in the same form and manner as the Residue of my estate is to be divided among them as shall in this last will and testament hereafter be set forth and willed.
"Item.. I will to my son Zachariah to his heirs and assigns forever five shillings lawful silver money to be paid in one year after my decease by my Executors hereafter named.
"Item. I will to my daughter Hannah five pounds lawfull silver money to be at her own dispose forever to be paid in one year after my decease by my Executors hereafter named and the reason I give them my son Zachariah and daughter Hannah no more is because I have given them portions out of my estate already.
"I will to my son Timothy his heirs and assigns forever my yoke of oxen ... riding that was... my beloved wife be not debarred the use of oxen...her improvement as aforesaid.
"Item. I will to my daughter Hitty and her heirs and assigns forever at three years ... with her Mother till she shall ... to the age of eighteen years except she should marry before that age ... which time she is to receive the same or its value.
"Item. I will and bequeath to my sons Timothy, James, Jonas and Jesse to their heirs and assigns all land lying and being in Townsend in the said county of Middlesex with all the appurtenances to ... sons Timothy, James, Jonas and Jesse equally and freely possessed and enjoy forever. Also I will to my said sons Timothy, James, Jonas and Jesse all my wearing apparel to be equally divided among them and by them to be freely enjoyed forever.
"Item. I will and bequeath to my Sons Timothy, James, Jonas and Jesse and to my daughters Elisabeth, Esther, Lucy, Ruth, Ede and Hitty to their heirs and assigns forever all the residue of my Estate of all sorts both real moveable and personal that is mine in possession or reversion that I have not herein otherwise particularly disposed of and except as herein excepted to be by these my said sons and daughters freely possessed and enjoyed forever. That is I will that each of my sons Timothy, James, Jonas and Jesse shall have two parts and that each of my said daughters Elisabeth, Esther, Lucy, Ruth, Ede and Hitty shall have one part the same to be ascertained and determined by a just appraisal. ... nevertheless I reserve to my son Timothy the use and privilege of holding the residue of my lands and other real moveable and personal estate as aforesaid providing that he my said son Timothy shall pay to my sons James, Jonas and Jesse their particular parts when they shall arrive to the age of twenty one years, from time to time as they come to that age without interest providing that the first of said legacies be not paid till one year after my decease except sickness or misfortunes shall make it necessary that the whole or part should be paid sooner and further providing that he my son Timothy shall pay to each of ... my last mentioned six daughters as shall be of the age of eighteen years at my decease the one half of their particular part as aforesaid within one year after my decease without interest and the other half part within two years after my decease without interest excepting that sickness or misfortune or their marrying should make it necessary that the whole or part should be paid sooner. And also pay to the others of my last mentioned six daughters that shall not be of the age of eighteen years at my decease their particular part or portions as aforesaid when or as they shall each arrive to the age of eighteen years without interest providing that may or any of them do not arrive to that age untill two years after my decease excepting that sickness misfortune or marrying so make it necessary that the whole or part hereof should be paid sooner, ... encourage the paying out of the legacies aforesaid, and to prevent many ... in my lands and real estate ... as aforesaid. I will that if ... profits, increase of the bequeathed residue of my estate as aforesaid are not sufficient to defray the publick and necessary taxes shall be assessed on said estate at any time in ... till the expiration of the ... in which the last legacy of my last mentioned four sons and six daughters becomes payable, so that the real estate as aforesaid shall be broke in upon for payment, that then in such case each of my last mentioned four sons and six daughters are each to bear their particular proportion thereof according to ... each own part for that purpose. I will that part... four sons and six daughters who shall ... of their said part previous to the expiration of said . ... shall at the receiving thereof give an obligation to ... his or her proportion of legacy in case the real estate shall be broke in upon for the payment of taxes as aforesaid.
"I will that in case my son Timothy shall decline to hold the land and refuse to pay out as before said, the particular legacies that then my son James shall have the liberty and privilege of holding the land and paying the legacies to all intents and purposes that my son Timothy has reserved for him in this my last will and testament. But if both my sons Timothy and James shall refuse... with cash or to hold the land and pay the legacies as aforesaid that then I will my residue of estate as aforesaid shall be divided and set off to my said mentioned four sons and six daughters as near or may be in the same proportion form and manner as is in this will before set forth namely the sons to have two parts and the daughters one part.
"And I will likewise appoint constitute make and ordain Asaph Fletcher of Westford aforesaid physician and my said son Timothy to be my only executors of this my last will and testament.
"And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments wills and legacies bequests and executors by me many ways before this time named willed and bequested, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day and year herein before written."
Zechariah Hildreth
"Signed sealed pronounced and declared by the said Zachariah Hildreth as his last will and testament in presence of us the subscribers."
Oliver Sterns,
Peter Hildreth,
Jonathan Hildreth"
The inventory of the estate of Zachariah Hildreth was taken 25 July 1785 by a committee of Jonas Prescott, John Abbot, and Joseph Jewett. Personal property totaled 181 pounds, 7 shillings, and 1 pence, and the real estate was valued at 582 pounds, 13 shillings. It was sworn to by Timothy Hildreth on 21 Sept 1785.
Timothy Hildreth provided his account of the payments from the estate as follows on Sept 22 1790:
"Balance of his former accounts 22 Sept 1790 L49:19:00
cash paid and services rendered as follows:
to Doctor Charles Proctor L1:07:06
paid Thomas Brown 29:15:00
John Robins 1:06:05
William Whiteing 25:00:00
Samuel Richardson 0:12:00
Ede Hildreth 30:00:00
Jonas Hildreth 51:00:00
Ruth Hildreth 25:00:00
paid to Joshua Reed, guardian
of Jesse and Hitty Hildreth 76:10:00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
L 286:19:11
To examaning attorney and recording
of this account ... 0:08:06
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
L 287:08:05"
5) SOURCES
1. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Chelmsford Births, Marriages and deaths, Page 47, on image 114, Zachariah Hildreth's birth entry.
2. Town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts to the Year 1850 (Salem, Mass. : The Essex Institute, 1914), page 81, Zachariah Hildreth entry.
3. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westford, "Town Records," image 176 of 778, Zachariah Hildreth paid for working on highway.
4. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westford, "Town Records," image 178 of 778, Zachariah Hildreth paid for carrying wood to Mr. Craft.
5. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westford, "Town Records," image 205 of 778, Zachariah Hildreth paid for working on highway.
6. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westford, "Receipts, Payments, Accounts and Town Records," image 61 of 103, town receipt for Zachariah Hildreth constable work.
7. Vital Records of Westford, Massachusetts to the Year 1849 (Salem, Mass. : The Essex Institute, 1915), page 290, Zachariah Hildreth entry.
8. "Probate Records 1648-1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts)," 886 FHL US/CAN Microfilms, Probate Packet 11,391, Zachariah Hildreth of Westford, 1784, accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,397,093.
9. Jim Tipton, indexed database, Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com), Westlawn Cemetery, Westford, Mass., Zechariah Hildreth memorial #37561817.
10. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westford, "Town Records," image 164 of 778, Zechariah Hildreth paid for delivering wood to Mr. Craft.
11. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westford, "Church Records, with Births, Marriages and Deaths," image 204 of 314, membership of Zechariah Hildreth and Elizabeth, his wife.
12. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, "Westford > Births, Marriages, and Deaths," page 65 (image 92 of 175), list of children of Zechariah and Elisabeth Hildreth.
13. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westford, "Town Records," image 200 of 778, Zechariah Hildreth paid for working on highway.
14. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westford, "Town Records," image 204 of 778, Zachariah Hildreth paid for delivering wood to Mr. Craft.
15. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westford, "Town Records," image 204 of 778, Zachariah Hildreth paid for delivering wood and other items to Mr. Craft.
16. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westford, "Town Records," image 213 of 778, Zachariah Hildreth paid for working on the highway.
17. Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Boston, Mass. : Wright & Potter Printing, 1896-1908), Volume 7, Page 860, Zachariah Hildreth of Westford entry.
18. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, "Westford Births, Marriages and Deaths," page 18A (image 430 of 1733), Zachariah Hildreth and Elizabeth Prescott marriage entry.
19. Vital Records of Westford, Massachusetts to the Year 1849, Marriages, page 186, Zachariah Hildreth and Elizabeth Prescott entry.
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