Eliakim Wardwell (1687 - 1753)

Born 17 Aug 1687 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Ruth (Bragdon) Wardwell — married 17 Oct 1710 in York, York County, Maine

Descendants

Died 16 Oct 1753 at age 66 in York, York County, Maine

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Biography

It is interesting to note what happened to the children, their father Samuel T Wardwell had been hung, their Mother was in prison for up to four years, all their property was seized, <From the History of Essex County: "Samuel Wardwell was an eccentric man given to palmistry and fortune telling, and not averse to prophesying a little on occasion. He was accused of tormenting Martha Sprague (a teenage girl) of Boxford, by wicked arts and also of having a covenant with the devil some twenty years before by which he promised to honor, worship and believe the devil, contrary to the Statute of King James the First in that behalf; after much persuasion, and in the hope of saving his life, he made a confession. But very soon he recanted and declared his innocence and was one of the three hanged from Andover." Samuel and Sarah were forced to pay for their own subsistence while in prison as well as to pay the jailer. In order to settle the account, the government seized all of their cows and hogs, as well as 8 loads of hay, 6 acres of corn and a set of carpentry tools. Then the government had the problem of what to do with the children, who were ages 1 to 19 years. The father was dead and the mother still in prison. The selectmen of Andover placed or bonded them as follows: Samuel was placed with John Ballard, his uncle, for 1 year. William was placed with Corpl. Sam lfrie to age 21, and to learn the trade of weaver. Eliakim, age 5, was placed with Daniel Poor until 21. Elizabeth was placed with John Steven until 18. At 21, Eliakin migrated to York, Maine. They were exonerated in 1703 & their property returned.">

Eliakim, the youngest son of Sarah (Hooper) Hawkes and Samuel Wardwell, was born August 17, 1687, at Andover in the Massachusetts Colony. He was named for his paternal uncle of New Jersey. The baby's grandfather, Thomas Wardwell, with his wife Elizabeth (maiden name unknown), had emigrated from the Parish of Alford, Lincolnshire, England, to the Bay Colony in 1634, probably aboard the Griffin. The biblical given name of "Eliakim" appears only in the descendants of the Thomas Wardwell branch of the Wardwells in America.

In mid-August of 1692, when Eliakim was just five years old, his father, age 49, was accused of witchcraft and imprisoned at Salem. A few weeks later, on September 1, Eliakim's mother, 42, his sister, Mercy, 19, and his half-sister, Sarah Hawkes, 21, were also accused and imprisoned at Salem. The sheriff seized Samuel's moveable property, and then the Selectmen of Andover, fearing that the four younger Wardwell children remaining at home (Samuel Junior, William, Elizabeth, and Eliakim) might be endangered---even imprisoned, or become a tax burden to the town, placed them out in neighboring homes in Andover with the county court's approval. Eliakim was sent to the home of Mehitable (Osgood) and Daniel Poor. Only Eliakim's half-brother, Thomas, 21, remained on the Wardwell homestead, his age precluding any action by the Selectmen. Sister, Rebecca had been cared for by her maternal aunts since her mother's imprisonment.

The Court Order placing the minor Wardwell children in Andover homes had said, "for ye time being should place out, of if need require, binde out said children", and in Eliakim's case, "until he was 21". While Eliakim may have worked for or was apprenticed to Daniel Poor until he was 21, in all probability he lived at home as did the other "bound out" Wardwell children.

As early as 1690, several of the 3rd and 4th generation men of Andover had left the township to find lands of their own elsewhere. No expansion of land beyond the town's lines could be attempted in the Bay Colony due to the continuous Indian threat. By now the colonists, overcrowded in old towns, needed land for their sons and grandsons. What had been unforeseen in the early settlement of the country--the unexpected healthiness of New England where settlers lived longer than they would have in England--was the rapid multiplication of the populace and the resulting need for more land.

Migrants, in general, did not leave their home-town without first having some friends or relatives living at the new site chosen for settlement. By 1708, many more of Andover's younger men had gone west to settle in Windham County (then of the Massachusetts Colony, now Connecticut). Eliakim, now 21, with his friends, Ralph Farnum IV, 20, Daniel Farnum, 18, and Joseph Holt, 22 (the Farnum brothers' cousin), left Andover to settle at York in the Province of Maine. In 1643, Eliakim's great uncle, William Wardwell, had been one of the founders of Wells, adjacent to York, and in this area some of Eliakim's cousins, the Rusts and the Littlefields, still resided.

At York, by October 17, 1710, Eliakim had married Ruth Bragdon of York. On this date the court presented "Eliakim Wardel and Ruth Bragdon now his wife, for fornication". At the next court session appeared for himself and in behalf of his wife and admitted this transgression, whereupon he was given the choice of:

"Province and Court Records of Maine, March 1711: "Eliakim Wardell & Ruth his wife being Summoned to answer their presentment for fornication he appearing for himselfe & in behalfe of his wife & owning the fact, Its Considered by the Court that they recieve Seven Stripes apiece on their Naked backs at the post & to pay Fees of Court 10s apiece or to pay a fine of Twenty five Shillings to her Majesty and fees of Court as aforesd, & Stands Comitted, By his humble Petition 7s6d apiece of their fine is Remitted."

Eliakim was well aware that his aunt and uncle, Lydia (Perkins) and Eliakim Wardwell had suffered the first punishment as Quakers in the 1660's, and had subsequently left the Bay Colony around 1665 to pursue their Quaker beliefs in the New Jersey Province.

Eliakim is known to have returned to Andover late in 1711, as he signed the family petition to the General Court authorizing his eldest brother, Samuel Wardwell II, to receive monies due for the seizure of their father's moveable property in 1692. All of the Wardwell children signed their names in full; for even though they had had troubled childhoods, all had been well-educated. They received £36.12.0 from the Government of Massachusetts, the 3rd highest awarded to date, but representing only the actual value of the moveable estate taken. There was no compensation for the grief and suffering endured by the families of the innocent victims of 1692. By the time the money was granted, Eliakim's mother had died.

For reasons unknown, Ruth and Eliakim returned briefly to Andover in 1714, at which time their second child, Abigail, was baptized. Ten more children followed on a regular two-year basis, though two sons did not live to adult hood. -Eliakim Wardwell of York, Maine With an Informal Collection of His Descendants through the 7th Generation, Majorie Wardwell Otten 2002

On 4 April 1726, Eliakim along with three others, was appointed to divide the estate of Dependance Stover of York. On 19 September 1735, he attested to the inventory of the estate of Samuel Webber.

Will: In the Name of God Amen. On the Seventh Day of March in the twentythird Year of His Majts Reign Annoque Domini one Thousand Seven Hundred & forty nine. I Eliakim Wardwell of york in the County of york & Province of the Massachusts Bay in New England, being weak in Body but of a Sound Mind and Memory, Thanks be to God, and calling unto Mind ye Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make & ordain this my last Will & Testamt

That is to say, principally and first of all, I give & recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, and my Body I recomend to the Earth to be buried in decent christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executrix hereafter named in hopes of a glorious Resurrection; And as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, And to prevent Trouble & Disputes among such of my Children as may Survive me concerning the Same; I give demise & dispose of it in Manner & form following.

Impr. My Will is that my just Debts & funeral Charges Shall be paid out of my personal Estate, and all ye Rest & remaining part thereof I give & bequeath to my loving Wife Ruth Wardwell by her to be disposed of to & among my Daughters or Such of them as She pleases, and in Such Manner time & Proportion as She Shall think fit.

Item. It give to my Said Wife the Use & Improvemt of all my real Estate as Houses Buildings Lands Marshes or Meadows scituate in York aforesd or else where by such Name or Names Number of Acres Quantities Qualities Terms & Discriptions as the Same is or May be called for & until the time of my youngest Son Daniel's arrival to the age of twenty one Years, or in Case he Should die before that time then until that time in Case he lived. And from that time my Will is that my Said Wife Shall have the use & Improvemt of but one third part of my real Estate aforesd and that during her natural Life.

Item. I give and bequeath to my three Sons Ioseph Ieremiah and Daniel all my aforesd real Estate, and every part thereof to be equally divided among them at the Several times of my Wife's Term of improving the Same being ended as aforesd and if one or more of my Said Sons should die before these Sevl times then & in that Case my Will is, that Such Decd one's part or the part intended him as above, Shall descend & become the Inheritance of his Heir or Heirs lawfully begotten of his Body, if otherways then to my other Sons & yr Heirs, provided nevertheless and my Will is that my aforesd Sons or their Heirs as aforesd Shall in equal proportion severally pay out the Legacys hereafter ordd to my Daughters, otherways Such Son or his Heirs as neglect or refuse to pay their part of ye Said Legacys by the time limited there Shall be an equivalent in Land set off out of his part by three indiffert men to be chose by ye parties concern'd for ye purpose.

Item. I give to my five Daughters namely Mary Abigail Meribah Lydia & Hephzibah Sixty pounds in Bills of Credit of the old Tenor equal to fifteen pounds of the new, to be paid them by their Brothers or their Heirs as aforesd at the time of my Sons coming into possession of the real Estate aforesd & in the proportion following. Vizt. to Mary my eldest Daughter (She having receiv'd Something of me before) Four pounds old Tenor, and to the rest of my Daughters Abigail Meribah Lydia and Hephzibah the remaining Fifty six pounds old Tenr to be equally divided among them, and in Want of those Legacys being paid by their Brothers or their Heirs as aforesd then so much of my real Estate as Shall be adjudged equivalt Shall be Set off in Lieu thereof as before provided, And my Will is that if either of my aforesd Daughters die before ye Legacy aforesd Shall become payable then & in that Case such one's Legacy or the Legacy intended her as aforesd Shall be paid to her Heirs lawfully begotten of her Body if any Such Should be then Surviving but if not to my other Daughters & their Heirs.

Finally. I do hereby appoint my aforesd Wife Ruth to be Sole Executx of this my last Will & Testament, and do utterly disannul all & every other Testaments Wills Legacys & Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named willed & bequeathed ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal the Day & Year first herein before written

Signed Sealed published pronounced Eliakim Wardwell (Seal) & declared by the Sd Eliakim Wardwell as his last Will & Testamt in presence of us Saml Clarke Joseph Stover jr Danl Clark

Maine Wills, 1640-1760 by William M. Sargent

More About ELIAKIM WARDWELL: Probate: 16 October 17535 Will: 07 March 1748/49, York, York, ME5 More About ELIAKIM WARDWELL and RUTH BRAGDON: Marriage: Bef. 17 October 1710, York, York, ME6

Children of ELIAKIM WARDWELL and RUTH BRAGDON are: 2. i. MARY6 WARDWELL, b. 09 March 1711/12, York, York, ME; d. Aft. March 1748/49. 3. ii. ABIGAIL WARDWELL, b. 27 June 1714, Andover, Essex, MA; d. Bef. 03 March 1760. iii. HANNAH WARDWELL, b. 11 September 1716, York, York, ME7; d. Bef. 17498; m. JOSHUA EATON, 12 October 1741, York, York, ME9. More About HANNAH WARDWELL: Marriage Intention: 12 September 1741, York, York, ME9

Marriage Notes for HANNAH WARDWELL and JOSHUA EATON: Married by Jeremiah Moulton, Esq.

More About JOSHUA EATON and HANNAH WARDWELL: Marriage: 12 October 1741, York, York, ME9 Marriage Intention: 12 September 1741, York, York, ME9 4. iv. JOSEPH WARDWELL, b. 18 December 1718, York, York, ME; d. 1782, Maine. 5. v. MERIBAH WARDWELL, b. 25 December 1720, York, York, ME; d. Aft. 1762, Deer Isle, Hancock, ME. vi. SAMUEL WARDWELL, b. 02 March 1722/23, York, York, ME9; d. Bef. 174910. vii. ELIAKIM WARDWELL, b. 05 July 1725, York, York, ME11; d. Bef. 174912. viii. LYDIA WARDWELL, b. 08 August 1727, York, York, ME13; d. Aft. 174914; m. WILLIAM HILTON, 04 July 1747, York, York, ME15; b. 11 November 1724, York, York, ME15. More About WILLIAM HILTON and LYDIA WARDWELL: Marriage: 04 July 1747, York, York, ME15 ix. HEPHZIBAH WARDWELL, b. 06 October 1729, York, York, ME15; d. Aft. July 1752, York, York, ME16; m. JONATHAN RODICK, 20 July 1752, York, York, ME17; b. 09 August 1729, York, York, ME18. More About HEPHZIBAH WARDWELL: Marriage Intention: 14 March 1752, York, York, ME19

Marriage Notes for HEPHZIBAH WARDWELL and JONATHAN RODICK: Married by Rev. Isaac Lyman

More About JONATHAN RODICK and HEPHZIBAH WARDWELL: Marriage: 20 July 1752, York, York, ME19 Marriage Intention: 14 March 1750/51, York, York, ME19 6. x. JEREMIAH WARDWELL, b. 19 February 1731/32, York, York, ME; d. Aft. 18 April 1764, York, York, ME. 7. xi. DANIEL WARDWELL, b. 17 April 1734, York, York, ME; d. 07 January 1803, Penobscot, Hancock, ME.

Disputed Origins

This person never existed and needs to be merged away.

"A study of the documents available today indicates that the 'well-cherished family tradition'...was based on a misinterpretation of the evidence. Examination of certain 18th century records leads to the firm conclusion that no Indian of any rank either captured or forcibly 'married' Ruth Bragdon Wardwell." - Who was Meribah Wardwell's Father?, The American Genealogist, Volume 55, 1979, Edward F Holden, Genealogist, NH State Library

Sources

• Pope, Charles Henry, Hooper, Thomas; Hooper Genealogy; Pub: 1908, Boston MA; Page 4-5 https://archive.org/details/hoopergenealogy00pope3/page/4/mode/2up?view=theater

• Pierce, William Macbeth. Old Hancock County Families. Ellsworth, ME: Hancock County Publishing Co., 1933