Hannah (Wilder) Willard (1679 - 1772)

Born 31 Oct 1679 in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Wife of Josiah Willard — married 1715 in Lancaster, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 13 May 1772 at age 92 in Brattleboro, Windham County, Republic of Vermont

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Biography

Hannah is the third child so named by her parents John and Hannah. She is the only one to survive.

This story is commonly told about Hannah: It was sometimes thought that Hannah was "possessed" - that she was indeed a witch. Perhaps she feigned her action in sport, or it may be she was the subject of some nervous disorder. But the story goes that when afflicted, she would call on her brother Samuel for help. He would at once arm himself with a great broadsword, enter the room where Hannah was, and when his sister had pointed out the locality of the tormenting spirits - to him invisible - would cut and slash for very life. And then Hannah - the wicked tease - noting her brother's troubled air, would say "No, not there, but there! there! ah, there they are in that corner, grinning and chattering at your blunder."

Sources

• Wilder Families - Wilder History [1]
• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch [2] : 15 January 2020), Hannah Wilder, 1679.
• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZKR-SB9 : 4 December 2014), Anna Or Hannah Wilder, 1690; citing LANCASTER,WORCESTER,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0547550 IT 1.
• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPCH-1N1K : 31 October 2019), Josiah Willard and Hannah Wilder, 1715; citing Marriage, Lancashire, England, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007011279.
• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-TGS5 : 3 November 2017), Hannah Willard in entry for Susannah Willard, 09 Jul 1720; citing Birth, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934225.
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82121626/hannah-willard