John Wilder was born sometime before 1772, in Chowan County, North Carolina. John is the son of Michael Wilder and Rachel Ward.
John Wilder is listed in the 1790 Federal Census of Chowan County, North Carolina. John is the only individual listed in the household, there are no female members of the household. John is listed as having 2 slaves.[1]
John married Sarah Bond, on the 17th December 1792, in Chowan County, North Carolina.[2]
9 December 1793, Hannah Wilder, Willis Wilder, John Wilder, Francis Wilder relinquish their right of administration of the estate of Michael Wilder to Stephen Cabarrus.[3]
Part of the estate documents of Michael Wilder, father of John Wilder reads as follows: " . . . Willis Wilder, John Wilder, Francis Wilder for themselves and as guardians of Nathaniel Wilder and Michael Wilder petition that their father died in possession of two negroes bequeathed to them by Thomas Ward deceased and that the property be divided between them. . ."[4]
John is in the 1800 Federal Census of Chowan County, North Carolina as head of household, with 1 male under 10 (assume this to be Richard as John had only one son); 1 male 26 thru 44 (assume this to be John); 2 females under 10 (assume these to be Rachel and Rebecca, John's only daughters); and 1 female 26 thru 44 (assume this to be Sarah).[5]
John last will and testament made on the 8th of November, 1806 reads as follows: 'State of No Carolina Chowan county, In the name of God amen I John Wilder do make and ordain this my last will & testament in manner and form following I give to my beloved Daughter Rachael Wilder three negroes Peter Rachael I bought of my brother Michael and Phillis's child Jim one bed & furniture one side saddle one linnen wheel, one blue chest I give to my son Richard Wilder my manor plantation whereon I now live with my water mill and still and every improvement thereon and three negroes Toney, Frank and Phillis, my desk Beaufort dining tables case chairs the rest of my daughters beds after each of my daughters has one a piece however every bit of house furniture I have all my wheels both cart wheels and my carriage wheels to put carefully in the barn for his use and kept as also my horse wheels to be taken care in same manner my little gun in care of my brother Nathaniel for my son Richard to be kept for him until he knows how to use a gun. I give to my beloved Daughter Rebecca my Quarter plantation as for and two negroes George and Harry one bed and furniture one Carin Wheel. Tis my desire that my two old negroes Joe and Doll remain on the plantation to take care of my dwelling house and its contents and my mill also to grind and crop it and take care of my young orchards for the benefit of schooling all my children with the profits of the mill and what they raise on the land more than will serve them and as the inspection of my brother Francis or Stephen Cabarris Esq and my brother Frank, in whom I nominate and appoint my only and sole Executors to this my last will and testament, one narrow ax, & broad ax and all my ploughs, one landing hoe a piece my old hand saw and what chizzels will do for the plantation use and one or two plains the rest sold. Fly and her colt the least yoke and youngest of the oxen for use of plantation, sorrel & flour sold, the other two yoke of oxen all the cattle but two cows and calves the sheep and what hogs can be spared and anything that is perishing such as old Tumpery however you will see whats going to desruction my worthy neighbour Cabarrus to whom I could trust the whole world in his honesty will never fail of giving you his friendly advice for I do not expect he will qualify to the will but do request him to attend with you here to examine and see how my old fellow does manage his business for the benefit of my poor dear children without father or mother but I hope in God almighty you will both befriend them on my heart will brust hear at the recital of these words pardon my weakness I have trust now if I recover I expect to build them up however your discretion is what I am aiming at for the good of my children you will see. I know of no debts that I have not five shillings you may give twelve months credit with bond & two good securities. Nov 8th 1806 [signed] John Wilder" No witnesses listed[6]
John Wilder died in 1807, in Chowan County, North Carolina. John's will was probated in September, 1807 in Chowan County, North Carolina.
John Wilder and Sarah Bond were the parents of the three children:
John Wilder does not have a middle name. John was given the middle name, Chowan, by the author, William Murtha WILDER ( author of "Wilder And Connecting (Especially Ware) Families In The Southeastern States" 3rd Edition) to note the location of where John resided and the "Chowan" was only used for research purposes. The estate records of John's father Michael Wilder, John's grandfather Thomas Ward, and John's estate records do not list a middle name for him or even a middle initial.
NOTE: For those who have used the "Wilder And Connecting (Especially Ware) Families In The Southeastern States", by William Murtha Wilder, as the proof of their Wilder or Ware lineage be advised that this book is a very unreliable source and should be used with great caution, and all sources should be check against the original documents.
NOTE: The "Wilder And Connecting (Especially Ware) Families In The Southeastern States", Third Edition, 1969, by William Murtha Wilder (referred to here as the "Wilder Book"), on page 231, states that John Wilder is a son of Michael Wilder and Ann Culpepper Wilder. This information is not correct, John Wilder is the son of Michael Wilder and Rachel Ward. Michael Wilder married Rachel Ward in Chowan County, North Carolina before March 1772, when Rachel and Michael are mentioned in the estate records of Rachel's father, Thomas Ward, who died in Chowan County North Carolina in early 1772. The estate records of Thomas Ward can be see at: Thomas Ward estate: North Carolina Estate Files, 1663 - 1979; Family Search: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VX9F-J78
Prudence Rachel Wilder has been listed in some genealogies as the daughter of John Wilder. Prudence Rachel Wilder is NOT the daughter of John Wilder based on the following: 1. Prudence's date of birth in 1770 is in Virginia, and is about the same time period as John Wilder's year of birth in 1772 in Chowan County, North Carolina. 2. John Wilder's father, Michael Wilder, was living in Chowan County, North Carolina in 1770, based on his appearing in the 1770 Tax List for Chowan County, NC. 3. John Wilder appears in the 1790 Federal Census with 2 slaves, and no one else in his household. 4. John Wilder married on 17 December 1792, in Chowan County, NC, this is three (3) years before Prudence Rachel Wilder married Herod Grizzle in Virginia. 5. John Wilder's daughter Rachel was born about 1795. Rachel Wilder married on 16 January 1816 in Chowan County, NC to William Simons. Rachel Wilder Simons is in the 1840 Federal Census as head of household. 6. John Wilder died in 1807 in Chowan County, North Carolina, and John's estate records do not mention a daughter with the name of Prudence Rachel Grizzle . John's will is filed in: Chowan County, North Carolina Will Book B (1768-1809), pages 292-294; "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JPQ1-Y?cc=1867501&wc=32LV-HZ9%3A169764501%2C170750401 : 21 May 2014), Chowan > Wills, 1768-1809, Vol. B > image 296 of 324; county courthouses, North Carolina. . John's estate records in addition to his will are found in: North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979, Family Search: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VX9F-KDS. 7. Based on the documents of John Wilder found in Chowan County, NC, Prudence Rachel Wilder born 1770 in Virginia is not the daughter of John Wilder.
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