CS 71 .H644 1909 Copy 1 le First Generation of tbe name of Hildreth in Middlesex County in Massachusetts. 1643-1693. The name "HildretiV* appears under the form of Heldderick, HJdreth, Heldrick, Hilderick, Hildich, Hildrak, Hildrc, Hildrich, Hildrick, Hildrith, Huldreth, Hilldrick, Hildrich, HilJreath. RICHARD HILDRETH. Sergeant of Militia, of Cambridge and Chelmsford, Middlesex Co., Mass. Born in Eno^land or Scotland, 1605, died, Chelmsford, 2^ru Feb., 1693. Coinpilati^' maJe by BRIGADIER GENERAL PHILIP HILDRETH READE, United States Army. (Seventh in descent from Sergt. Richard Hildreth. ) June I2th, 190Q. A supplement to "Origin and Genealogy of the "HILDRETH FAMILY of LOWELL, MASS." BY Capt. Philip Reade, United Str.tes Army, compiled and privately printed for the family at No. 871 La!ro- vided allwaies, uppon tliis Condition if they or any of thcmfh.ill dipait the towne then there land to fall into towiies handes againe, & then they fhall haue no Power to fell, alinate, or giue to any other their right therein if they depart, from this jdace, om-ly tho towne fhall pay ihtin for what it fhall then be found better by there finprouement of It being valued by IndilTerent men." Town records, Vol. 1, Page 75. 1048-0,Jan, 12th Cambridge, "Edward Winfhip and Richard Hildreth appoyn- ted for menottine feilds.'— Town records, Vol. 1, Page 80. 1650 Sept. 11th: Cambridge. "Seuer- all officers Chofen for the yeare ensue- ing: for Surveyours of high waies: Richard Kobbins: Ri : Hildreth and Tho: ffox: "Town records, Vol. 1, Page 87. 1600 (11) 13 Cambridge "Edw: Win- fhip and Rich: Hildre are appointed for the ffences about menottine ffeild." Town rec. Vol. 1, P. 00. 1651-1, 10 (1) Cambridge. "The Towns- men doe determine that the Quantity of Richard llildreths ffarme granted him by the Towne at Shawfhine fhalhe two hundred acres adjoyneing to the other farmes allready determined: "Town records, Vol. 1, Page 91. 1651 Aug. 7, Middleesx County records, E. Cambridge, Mass., Vo]. i, Page 18. Richard Hildreth, plaintilT. against Samll Eldrid, defft. (Originals on file.) 1651, Aug. 7, Written testimony of James Hildreth, age 20, son of Richard, in KIdrid case, filed as an enclosure.) 1651, Aug. 7, Richard Hildreth's 3 original Bill of Charges, 1 pound : 10 s. : 10(1 in Eldrid case, filed as au en- closure.) 1G51, Aug, 27th Richard Uildreth and Sam 11 Eldrid named iu deposition by Th. Eames before Thomas Dauforth, i;. 'corded, about hogs in Menotomy Fk'ld. 1651 14 (2) Cambridge. "The Townf- men doe order that mr Boman, Richard Ilassull A- Ric llildreth and william Hamlet looke to the Cow Comon, that uo cattle trespasse uppon the fame to the damage of the Cow heard, and in case they or any of the otherof the inhabitants fhall find any cattle foe trespassing they may impound the fame either in the towne pounde or there owne yards provided they give the owners notice and require of the owners of fuch cattle 3d a head" V. 1, P. 92. 1652, 8th (9) mo. Cambridge. "Ri: Hildreth. Ri : Robbins and Phil. Cooke are chosen Surveyo's of high- waves." Tn. rec, Vol. 1, P. 99. 165:?, Nov. 3d Middx. Co. records, Cambridge, Vol, 1, P. 47. Ri : llildreth member of Petty Jury at Charlestowne, case John Ridgway agst. Mr. Juo. Phillips, (bond forfeiture.) 1653, 13th 12 Cambridge, order for prefervation of wood, see 15th 8, 656." Richard Hildreth and Tho: ftox are desired to fee this order executed, and are to haue the one fourth part of the lines for their labour." Town records, Vol. I, Page 102. 1653 the 13th of the 1st mo. Cam- bridge. "Att a meeting of the Select iiuMi Itichard Hildreth and Tho. Hull are ai)poynted to view the ft'ences about Winuottime tfeild." Town rec, V. 1, Page 104. 1654-5, 1st 12 mo. Cambridge. "Ensigne AVinfliip and Sergt. Hildreth are ai>poyiited to view the ITences about Winottime ffeild. Town records. Vol 1, Page 108. 1654, Oct. 8th M'x. Co. rec, Cam- bridge, Mass. Vol. 1, Pages 62, '3, '4, Richard Hildreth, also his wife, Elizabeth, testified in case E. Evans Ag. Richard Ffrench, that "The said mayd, Jane Evens, had never been tooke in a ly since she came to his, — Richard Hildreth's house. "Said Ffrench fined to pay Richard H's costs, 6s, to Jane Evens, 40s, to the county, 40s, & be bound in ten pounds for "good assur- ance towards all the inhabitants of this colony and Jane Evens inspeciall." 1654, Oct. 26th, M'x. Co. rec, Cam- bridge, Vol. 1, Page 67. Ri ; Hildreth member of Jury at Charlestowne, : Ri. Bellingham, Esq., Gov.: Mr. Increase ISTowell: Capt. Humph. Athertou: Thos. Danforth. Case Mr. Jno. Ridgway agst. Robt. Jordan, 1654-5 Richard Hildreth and wife Elizabeth moved from Cambridge to Chelmsford, regarding which, see; — 1653, May 10th: "Chelmsford in D. H. Kurd's "Middlesex Co.," P. 239, by Henry S. Perham. Petition granted I8th May 1653. The Rev. Wilkes Allen says, (1820), P. 10, "meeting called at Chelmsford, Nov. 22d, 1654 to manage the public affairs of the place," and Esdras Keed chosen into office: further, (see Chelmsford," by H. S. Perham. in Vol. 2, Hurd's M'x. Co., P. 241,) prop- ositions made to Rev. John Fiske, AVenham, Mass., to remove to Chelms- ford, which propositisns were, on Sept. 22d, 1654, reduced to writing as to con- ditions, house, buildings, salary, etc., by Esdras Read and his associates: see P. 242, ibid. On Sept. 13th, 1655, Esdras Reade and five associates author- ized to close agreements. The Rev. Wilkes Allen says, P. 13, that, in May, 1655, Maj. S. Willard, at request of ! Esdras Read* and two others, granted name thcrcuf to be "Chelmsford" ami that tlio placo \v;is iiicoi poratt-d : hiil ".Manual for the \iso (if till! (ii-ii. (aunt of MiiBM., I' 14'J, says: "C'holmsford, First niuiitioiu'd in records of tho State, or thort-in recorded as Estahlish- ed or Incorporated, May 29th, 165"). Common land. .May Mlh, ltJ")(5 land ^ranteil to Chelm^fo^d." The jietltion for a },Mant has, as its t>venty-lifth sijinatiire, on May 10th, 1653, the name Uiehard Hildreth, (see 11. S. Terham, I'. 235), "Chelmsford," in Hurd's M'x. Co.'" Vol. 2. 1659, June 1st. Chelmsford town records, Book "A", Page 29, line 26, also M'x. Co. Records, Births, Marria<;es, Deaths, Vol. 1, subhead, "Chelmsford." (Married at Dorchester by Maj. Atherion, James Hildreth, eldest son of Uiehard and Sarah, his wife, — and Marfjaret Ward. She died, Chelmsford, 3l8t Au«r., 1093: P. 345 town rec, 7th line. He died, Chelmsford, 14th Ajn., H'!»5. They were parents of Maj. Ephraim Hildreth, B. 9th Jan. 1680.) 1601, Apr. 2d .M'x. C't. rec, present on the bench: Hi: Bellinpjham, Es(i., Dep. (4ov. : Capt. Daniel (iookin: Mr. Ri: Russell, Treas. : Thos. Danforth, Recorder. — Chelmsford Commissioners, P. 2-21. (Sertjt. Thos. Addams, Richard Hildreth A: William Ffletcher allowed and sworne three Commissioners for endini: small cases at Chelmsford.) 1002, Apr. 2d M'x. C't. rec, Cam- bridj,'e, Mass., Vol. 1, Page 252. ("Richard Hildreth tooke the oath of the com'r. for ending small causes in Chelmsford for the year ensuing, Cam- bridge, April, 1002 ) 1663, Richard Hildreth, of Chelms- ford, petitioned for a grant of land "because he had a wife and many small children, and, being a husband- mam, he was greatly disadvantaged, partly by the hand of (Jod depriving him, some few years since, of his use of his rij^ht hand, whereby ho wan wholly disabled to labor." 1004, May IHth Itecords of .Mans. Bay in New England, Vol. V, Part 2, P. 106. "In answer to the petition of Richard Hei Id lich of Chelmsford, humbly craving tho favor of this Court to consider IiIh necessitous condition, A- grant him some lands, this'Court judgeth it nuM-tc to grant hinr one hundred and fifty acres of upland A- meadow where it may conveniently be found, not pjudijciall to any plantation." 1005, May 3d, Rec. Mass. Bay in .N'. E., Vol. IV, Part 2, Page 582. (Ve seiierall psons vnderwritt, returnd by cirtifficats from tho seuerall minsters & selectmen, were, by publick sufierage of both Magists cVr Deputjes, admitted to freedome, tt tooke their oathes accordingly, (3 May 1605.) JAMES HEILDRICK, 1669, Oct. Pith, Rec. Mass. Bay in X. E., Vol. IV, Part 2, P. 441. (The grant of this Court to Richard Heildreth of Chelmsford, of one hundred and lifty acres of vvast land, lajd out by Dauvid Fiske, surveyor A- boundad with Con- cord lyue on the South east, Capt. Daniel Gookins farme northerly, it the wilderues elswhere surrounding, ac- cording to a ])lot returned A- is on tile with the records of this Court, wch the Court aliowes A appooues of by Jonathan Danforth, Surveyor Jno Leueret. Edward Ting. Wm. Stoughton, Thomas Shepheard.") Under "Menotomy,"' page 12, origi- nal record, is fi)und the following in Cambridge town records, viz. "14 .January 1038— It is ordered that noe timber trees shalbe felled on this fide Menotamy river without a warrant under all the townfmens hands granted at a (ienerall meeting monthly. Nor noe timber felled beyond menotomy river wthout warrant from the maior part of the Tuwuefmen." 1674 May 11th, Cambridge. "At a meeting of the felect men (05) Amos woodward being Conuicted before the townsmen for felling fume green walnut trees upon the Rocks was fined fine fhillings and it was ordered by the felect men that the Counfiable fhould leauie It and pay It to Richard Cutter. Alfoe Richard hildreth is fined one fhilling for felling a green walnnt tree upon the Rockes (the rocks)". (The name Menottime Feilds, menot- time ffeild, Winnottime Mill, Menot- amye Playne, ISIenotomy Fields, the Rockes, the rocks, applies to what, until 27th Feb., 1807, was formerly the western parish of Cambridge. Name changed from West Cambridge to Arlington by Act 13th Apr., 1867. (Manual Gen. Court of Mass., M'x. Co.. 1J«08, Py. 137, 1?.9, 1-10.) 1676, June Cth, Case No. 1799, Seventh Paper, Early Court Files. Records Supreme Judicial Court, Boston. Early Court files. Suffolk Co., case Ebenezer Prout of Concord against Elizabeth & Jonathan Dunster, heirs of Mr. Henry Dunster. died 1659, — in the matter of illegally possessing themselves of two rods width from Nenottinow 3Iill to Concord Road. Case tried in Charlestowne, 17th June, 1679. Deposition by Thomas Eames, of Cambridge, — aged more than 60 years, before Thomas Danforth, Asst. at Boston. 1692. The Memorials of Marshfield Historical Society Mass. state:" In March 16 2 the ship "Columbia," Capt. Chauncey of Portsmouth, was stranded on the coast and nearly all on board perished among which were two young gentlemen by the name of Hildreth with a large property on board from Birmingham, England. Their remains were entombed here. A silver cup with this inscription was presented to Dr. Winslow by their friends: "From RICHARD HILDRETH Of Birmingham, Great Britain, to Dr. Isaac Winslow, a token of gratitude." Middlesex Probate Ofiice of the Register, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Mass. Probate Records 1692 to 1696. Vol. 8, Pages 186,-187,-188. File No. 11971, No. 8004. Richard Hildreth, 1693. Probate Vol. 8-185. Will Vol. 8,-186. Proved 26 May, 1693. "Know ye that I Richard Hildrith of ye towne of Chelmsford in ye County of Middlesex in ye Massachusetts Colony in New England, being aged, sick and weakly in body, tho sounde in mind, Judgement and understanding, taking into Consideration my own mortality, do herein make known my minde and will in the disposal! of myself, and Estate that Remaineth to be my own to Dispose. First, I beqbeath my precious and Immortall Soul unto Christ yt hath Redeemed it and my body to ye Grave till Christ shall raise it. And for my beloved wife Elizabeth I have obliged my naturall son Ei^hraim Hildreth for her maintenance in all refipects so long as she remaineth with him. And as for my Sonnes and Daughters children God hath given to me I have discharged my duty in some measure in all respects so that they are disposed in marriage, and I have been doing for them all as I could: But now my hand is cut off, because of Im- potency and Infirmity, I have been constrained to make use of what 1 had for ye Reliefe of my Selfe and my wife so that I have neither House nor Lands to bequeath them, But after my decease, my Creditors being paid and Debts discharged Whatsoever shall be found to be my Estate, I will that it be equally Dicided to all my Children that each one may have a Token of their ffathers Love after his Death, they or theirs. And after my Decease my son Ephraim shall pay, or cause to be paid, 6 to my I'Idi'st sun James llililrctli out of his own Kstate, the sum of Twenty Shillin;;s, or ono Poiintl, :iK a full froo )>ortion nioiL- tli;ui yo rest of the children. 1 have hetrusted my Son Kl.hraim with the use of my Kstate whilest 1 live and after my death to execute this my last Will and Testa- ment In Witness hereof, 1, ye said Kiehard llildreth have selt to my hand anil seal This eleventh day of February in yo year of our Lord lt)S()-7 Exad perSamll I'hipps Kc«,'tr. his Richard K. llildreth [bkal] marke Inventory of ye Estate of Kiehard Hiltlreth, deceased, was made by Kphraim llilereth: appraisers Samll Foster, Sr., iV: Eliazar Brown, li6 May 'A]9.i: sworn to by Ei)hraim llildreth l)efore Samuel IMiiiips, Ke<,'. Inventory of Estate included Two Cows: one Calf: one feather bed: one straw bed: one feather l>olster, 2 pillows: 2 old bolsters: I coal and hatt: 1 i>r Breeches: two Pewter platters A- 1 candlestick : Iron Mortar and Pestle: 2 Cleavers it a Flesh Hook: 1 Axe and 2 Pease hooks: 1 Framraell: 1 churn: 1 Iron Gridiron: 1 Wicker basket: 1 skill: one ohl 3" The existence, in Maiden, of the grave-stone of Elizabeth, second wife of Sergt Rit'hard llildreth i* ment ioned in two publications, viz : "Origin ami Genealogy of the llildreth family of Lowell, Mass., by (^apt. Philip Reade, IT, S. A , 18!)2,-page 0. lines 8, 9 and 10; also in "Vital Records of .Maiden/' 1003, by Mr. Deloraine P. Corey, page 351. The "Bell Rock" burial ground of Maiden, Mass., was visited on May 2d, 1009, by Gen. Philip Reade, U. S. A , Dr. John Lewis llildreth and Mr. Frederick Asa llildreth. The grave- stone is an almost exact reproduction of Sergt. Richard's in the Old Chelms- ferd burying ground, both as to size, cutting, ''Tulip" ornamentation and lettering. It has, in addition, a foot- stone with the initials "E H" cut in. The ailjoining graves are marked: "Henry .Sitrague, D. 1747" and "John Grenland, D. 1778." Xo relationship between these names and dates is known to exist. How happened Elizabeth llildreth, whose husbands home, and, presumably, her own home, 105r)-1003, had been Chelmsford, to be buried in Maiden".' She was twenty years younger than the Sergt: survived him ;") mos. 11 days. Perhaps widowed Elizabeth felt lonely in Chelmsford, hence went to Maiden. The foregoing artthorities cited are of official record. The appenderili'iiincc of I'lirliiiiiU'iit daUd JOiliof OcluluM-, US.")!.) ISSa. -'llistory of Westford,." Kdwiii U. IIi»d;im:in I'p. r2-4r,a ":l-'4-'.".. (Si-vuii ^'eneratioiis of the Ilildruth family have lived in Wi'stford.) 1SS7. "Ivirly history of SontlKin>i>loii, h. I., i)y (}.M.. U .jrers ll.)\vi-ll, I'p. 2'.t7- '8, it 299. (Thomas Ilildri'th, dioil l('i57, is calliMl projjenitor of \„ I. family of Ilildieths: his widow, Hannah, niarrit'(l Jonas Hower. Cii., .Iiisu]di, Ilannali, .lames, I'l'tfr.! 1890, Jan'y. N. H. 11. iV (ii-n. Rc},'., Vo'. 44, r. l-M. (Xotes intention of Henry (). llildreth of ("anibri(l;,^e, to prei>are a History and Genealogy of the Hildreth family.) 1890, .lan'y. "Hist. Mid.llesex Co." Duane Hamilton Hard; Vol. 2, '•Chelmsford." by Henry S. Perhara. I'll. 24-' A- 245. (States that Richard Hildreth from Woburn, ('.') died 1(593, the Court "granted him 150 acres of land because of his necessitous condition." Uichard Hildreth petitioned in l(i(53 for land because he "had a wife and many small children, and, beiuj; a luisbanil- men, he was greatly disadvantaged, partly by the band of (Jod depriving him, some few years past, of the use of his right hand, whereby he was wholly disabled to labor." Regarding Kev. .John Fiske, Hodgman says: "b. Co. Suffolk, Eng'd., about 1601 : arr'd in X. E., 1637: Camb., Salem: Wenham: in 16").j to Chelmsford : pbysician: 2d w., Eliz. Hinchnian, wid. of Edmund, 1672. Esdras Reed, chairman, Chelms- ford, Sept. 22d 1654 to choose Mr. Fisk. "Uous 38 X 20, 3 Fire Rooms, Chimney built brick or stone. Fifty pounds, first year, and "bis maintinance as the Lord shall enable us in the future." 1892, \. E. Histl. and Cenl. Register, Vol. 46, P. 203. I (Uook Noiiii'K. Hildn-Ui > •iMHMi'>;;y, by Cai.t. I'hilip ICade, \\ S. .\rmy, 1892. 8 iiio. j'p. 71. primed al Eowtdl for private circulation.) lHit2, "Early Oraiith o| l,.ii..l in the WilderncHH N4. Robert, b. 18 May. 1713. Mercy, or Mary, b. 27 Jan,, I7i:. I) !0 I)e.-,, 1729, Zachariah, b. 26 Sept., 1718: D. 10 Jan., 1745. Thomas, b. 5 Aug., 1721: D., Fort Cumberland, Md., 4 Dec, 1755. William, b. 30 Aug., 1723. D. 5 Sept. 1813. Levi, b. 13 Oct., 1726. Elijah, b. 23 May, 1728: D. 14 May, 1814. Mercy, b. 27 May, 1732. The first two named were born in Chelms- ford ; the eight named last were born in Dracut. 1900, "Pioneers of Mass." Cbas. Henry Pope, P. 229, (Richard Hildreth, Frm., 10 May 1643: Camb., Town Off 'r. 1645: rem, to Woburn ( ?) One of founders of Chelms- ford : had spcl. grant 150 acres in 1663 on acc't, having lost right hand. His son James, ae 20, deposed concerning his father's corn 30 July, 1651, Mdx. Files, He died in 1688. (?) ae. 83, (?) N. E. Reg. XI, 7.) 1901, Records Town & Selectmen, Cambridge, from 1630 to 1703. Pages and index: "hildreth," 350. "Bro. Hildreth," 61, 63. "Richard Hildreth," 51, 56, 75, 80, 87, 90, 91, 92, 96, 102, 104. 109, 219, "Sergent Hildreth," P. 108. 1900, "Mass. Soldiers ife Sailors in the War of the Revolution." Vol. Vll, Pp. 855 to 861. (State that --Hildreth" also appears under the form of Heldderick, Hildreth. Heldrick, Hilderick, Hildich, Hildrak. Hildre, Hildrich, Hildrick, Hildrith, Huldreth, Hilldrick. The following of the name are credited with military or naval, or both, service dur- ing the Revolutionary period, viz: Abel, Amaziah, Abijah, Ebeuezer, Elizah, Ephraim, Hosea, Hezekiah, Israel, John, James, Jonathan Jere- miah, .Josiah, Micah, Oliver, Peter Sampson, William, Zachariah. In "Soldiers in King Philip's War," by Geo. Madison Bodge, (1896) Pp. 122 & 448, Chelmsford is credited with military service, prior to 24tb Jan., 1676, viz.: Joseph Hildrick. He was paid 1 pd,, 1 s.. 4 d. by Treas. John Hull. Under Maj. Simon Willard,from Aug, 7th to Jan, 25th, 1675, served Ephraim Hildreth, to whom was paid 2 pounds, 7 shil., Dr. Philip Read reed, on Jan. 25th, 1675-6 for military services, 9 pounds, 7 shil., 4 p 1906, The Boston ''Transcript," issues of Nov. 20th, Dec. 10th & Dec, 21st, Genealogical Dept., contained items of inquiry, or reply, regarding -'Hildreth." (8986.) P. R, & C. H. A. to ''Syracuse." "Guide to Mass. Local History," 1907 Charles A. Flagg, Pp. 120, 121, 122, 123 & 128, 1640 to 1658, "Scobell's Acts," Copy in the Mass. State Library, Title page: "A Collection of Acts and Ordinances of General Ufe, made in the Parliament begun and held at Westminster, the third day of Nov,, Anno 1640 and flnce, unto the Adjournment of Parliament begun and holden the 17th of Sept,, 1656, by Henry Scobell. Esq , Clerk of the Parliament. Printed, London, by Henry Hills and John Field, Printers to His Highness, the Lord Protector, 1658, P. 24. Cap. 21. Prohibiting all commerce between England and Scot- land, and enjoyning the departure of the Scots out of this Commonwealth, 2d Aug. 1650. P. 143. Oct. 1650, passed Nov. 6. Trade to Scotland prohibited owing to perfidious invasion of 1648 against the State and Commonwealth, foreigners warned not to assist the Scots, nor ships transport their goods, or send them arms, ammunition, victuals. Parliamentary fleet required to seize and surprise Scotch nation ships. Pp. 179 to 186, Cap. 27, passed 24th Feb., 1651, "The Parliament, sensible of the sad effects of the late War, resolve to settle Peace, having had good experiences of the Affections of the people to this present Government by their ready Assiscanceiu the defence 10 Itr- i' Ml i^U4-4 » 3 '!ly«ijtjs ^v ' (/ ^^ 1^ ) 1 ^'- li 'A ^^ 1 M Cl> l^ h * t/ V * - f y. * z ft! ^ •> - l/l I i «; — iX Ml c c c c E f £ 8 £ 1. :^5 B E "5 ^ 3 * 1 M E ^o C 5< - III y - n E t. ^^1 e 5 c * 2 E f I ^ 'J C 3 thereof against CHARLS STUART, son of tlio lato tyrant, and tlu' forcts lately invadiiiK this .Nation under his Command: and Ix'ing much allllcted i witli the fenfe of tiie mlferable and fad rfffcts which the late unnatural War lialii (iruduced: and rololving next to tiie Glory of God and the Ad- vancement of the kingdom of Jesus Chi 1st, to make no other ufe of the many Victories the Lord In mercy hafii vouchfafed unto them," etc., etc.. ".All Treasons, Felonies, etc., com- mitted before 3d Seyt., 1(>51, (that Is, prior to the battle of Worcester), and not heretofore excepted, are Pardoned. High Treason, (other than for words only), and all levying of War, Rebel- lions, Infurrections, and all Consjjlri- cies Tralterously had, committed, etc.. etc.. excepted, .And also excepted con- jurations and witchcrafts: Contribu- tors and .Alders of the Irish Rebellion excepted." P. 288,— Act passed 12th Apr., lt;r)4, confirmed Anno l<)5- DRETH. eldest son of SERGT. RICH- ARD IlILDRETH: born IC'U: Scotch prisoner, 8th Nov., Ifi51. with 141 other Scotch prisoners of War aboard the ship "John & Sarah," bound for N. E. .Married, at Dorchester, by .Maj. Atherton to Margaret Ward. 1st June l().'^f»: Freemar. 3d May, 1665: Died. Chelmsfoid, .Mass., 14th .Apr.. 16!i5. First heard from in Cambridge. .Aug. 7th. 16.51. — case of Richard Hildreth. plaintiff against Samll P^ldrid. The Commonwealth & Protectorate period was 1649-1660. The first part of the Stuart period was 1603-1649. The second part of the Stuart period was 1660-1714. The town of Dunbar is in Scotland. North of Berwick: East of Glasgow: .North of the rivers Clyde and Tweed. See "Old Mortal- ity." Waverly novel series, by Sir Walter Scott. Cornet Grahame. Chap. .\1V. for "The Race of Dunbar.— The Rout." The battle of Dunbar was fought on 3d Sept.. 16.')0. The battle of Worcester who fought on 3d Sept.. 16.t1. In "History of the English People." by John Richard Green. (1880). Vol. (II, Pp. 2T0-1; we are told 11 that after the execution of Montrose, 21st May, IfiSO,— Charles accepted the Presbyterian conditions: that is, sub- scribed to the Covenant and acknowl- edged the tyranny of his father and idolatry of his mother. "The Coun- cil recalled Cromwell from Ireland: Leslie was defeated at Dunbar, 3d Sept., 1650: 10,000 prisoners were taken & 3,000 slain. With the over- throw of Leslie, the power of Argyle and the narrow Presbyterians whom he had led, came to an end." "Ex. Cromwell's Scotch Campaigns," —1650, '51, by W. S. Douglas, (1898) Pp. 112-113, Chap. V: "The Race of Dunbar, the Rout: Judges iii, 26-29. That one Old Testament passage had more to do with the battle of Dunbar than anybody had hitherto guessed. David Leslie missed the best chance that ever man had of beating Oliver Cromwell, Tuesday, 3d Sept. 1650, at the battle of Dunbar. As to casualties, let us accept the computation of near 3,000 Scots killed. Note the Conquer- ors' proclamation. Two thousand colors were taken, and 160 of them hung in Westminster Hall and thirty cannon; 15,000 stands of arms taken. Of the 10,000 prisoners, 3,000 were told off by Sir Arthur Hazelrig into the Durham cathedral: 1,000 were sent by Crom- well, as a present to the Countess of Winton, a Catholic lady; and the last state of most of them was transporta- tion, over-sea to America, where Dr. Samuel Rawson Gardiner, Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, assures us "a moiety throve and lived happily ever after." On page 564 Gardiner says in "A Student's History of England," (1891), "On Sept. 3d, the anniversary of the battle of Dunbar, viz., Worcester, Cromwell absolutely destroyed the Scottish Army. Those who were not slain were taken prisoners, and many of the prisoners sent as slaves to Barbadoes." In "Oliver CromwellV Dr. Gardiner says: "There was no water on the Doon Hill. Provisions for 23,000 men must have been hard to come by in that bleak region. Never again did a Scottish Army take the field to im- pose its religion upon a recalcitrant England. The clergy and their adher- ents exercised much influence on the Doon Hill of Dunbar." In "History of Scotland," by Andrew Lang, the author gives the date of the battle of Dunbar as 3d Sept., 1650. On page 242-3, he says: "The Clergy's Counsel prevailed. They had purged the Army of many of its best. At Dunbar, the whole English line drove back the Scots, despite the resistance, probably, made by Argyllshire High- landers under Campbell of Lawers. The malignant Covenanters, the Kirk, the Committee of Estates and David Leslie got the kind of beating which Wellington ascribed to the gallant and loyal Blucher at Ligny. The Cavaliers of Scotland were not defeated because neither they nor 'Royalist Civil Dig- nitaries,' to whom Mr. Carlyle wildly attributes the movement of Leslie down Doon Hill, were allowed to be present. 'Purging' was done by the ministers, and Leslie's army suffered the loss of its best, because of the bigotry of a lot of preachers." "Balfour names eighteen Colonels and other men of note who fell. Of the Infantry, 10,000 were taken, and some 3,000 killed or wounded. Of Cromwell's prisoners, many died of hunger or of dysentery caused by eat- ing raw cabbages: the rest were sent to New England, where they were well treated." Among these Covenanters, leal unto extremists then in the west of Scot- land, like Strachan and Ker — defeated 12 by Lambert at Hamilton, was Lh-iit. .lames Hildrotli, eldest son of Seigt. Uicliard: one \Vm Hildretli was also iniluded in the list of Scotch prison- ers aboard the ".loliii & Sarali." Assume that Sernt. Kiehard liildreth came to New I'Ingland prior to H",4;! be- cause he wanted to. leaving his boy James in his Scotland home, it is not assumption, but has be»'n demon- strated, that the eldest son of Itichard, viz.: Lieut. James. — came to Mass., not necessarily because he wanted to come — but because he had to come. He came because, by reason of militaiy service against the man whom Wool- sey charged "To throw away ambi- tion." he was deiiorted as a i)risoner- ol-war. Such removals are still in vogue. This. then, is the early record of James Hildreth. A soldier. Scotch forces. — at the battle of Dunbar, 3d Sept., ItiBO; per- haps, also, battle of Worcester, Scotch forces,— Sept. 3d, 1651. Transported to Charles Towne on ship "John & Sarah," from Gravesend, 11th Nov., 1(>51. Swore to his own age in Cambridge, Mass., where his father then lived and held a Town office: case "Hildreth ag. Eldrid." Age 20 years. Date of testimony, 7th Aug., Ifi51. Married to Margaret Ward at Dorchester by Maj. Atherton, 1st June, 1(>50. Freeman 3d May, 16t)5. He was a resident of Chelmsford, when certified to by the minister and selectmen as entitled to 'publick sufferage." He did not personally present himself on May 3d ir.GS, to the Boston, or Salem, Court. His name in Vol. IV, Part 2, P. 582, Records ^^^ss. Bay Colony, has a star before it, and an explana- tory foot note to the effect that James Heildiick was "vouched for." He died in Chelmsford 14th Apr.. Ifi05. We can conjecture why he scrupled about tak- I Ing the Freeman's oath until more than fourti-en yeurH after hiH arrival in a Colony wliere the Puritan rliiirch was the creator rather than the crea- tun- of the state. Probably he had (-(iiivictions of Ills own, thiH canny Scotchman, not wholly In ac<-ord with those of the Itev. John F'lhke whom Sergt. Richard Hildreth trU-d, In H'.TO, to get replaced by another mlnlKtcr. The settlers of N. K. dreaded herc-HV more than they dreaded Indians. All the Congregational churches of New England stood for four generations on tlie Cambridge Platform, adopted in ' ir>48, — framed by the Synod of Mass.. 1 Plymouth, Conn., and New Haven. Extract from Calendar of State Papers, domestic series. iri.')0, pre- served In the State Paper department I of Her Majesty's Public Record office, edited by Mary Ann Everett Green, publislied under the direction of the Gt. Brit'n. Master of Rolls, and with the sanction of Her Majesty's Secre- tary of State for the Home dep't.. Lon- don, (ISTC), P. 423, Vol. XI. Nov. 11, 1650. Council of State. Day's Pro- ceedings. (7) "To write Sir Arthur Hesilrigge to deliver 150 Scotch prison- ers to Augustine Walker, master of the Unity, to be transported to New Eng- land. (8) Sir Arthur Hesilrlgge's letter to be reported to Parliament, that they may give order thereupon." (Sir Arthur Hesilrigge. or Haslerigg, was a member of the Council of State. Gov'r. of Carlisle on and after 2oth Feb., 1650. His arrest. 4th Jan., 1642, associates his name with those of John Hampden, John Pym, Danzll Holies & Wm. Strode.) Such books as Sir D. Dalrymple's "Tracts relative to the History and Anti(|uity of Scotland, 1242-1700:" and Sir Walter Scott's prose works. "Tales of a Grandfather." Vol. 22-26. may now possess renewed interest to us Hil- 13 CAPT. PHILIP READE, U S. Army, 1889, the Compiler. dreths. No more fascinating Scotch historian lias ever lived. It is not known to the compiler whether Lieut. James Hildreth used tobacco, drank rum, or professed radi- cal religious doctrines. The terms of orthodoxy or unorthodoxy may, or may not, have meant vital principles to him. The span of his life may have familiarized him with the names of Ann Hutchinson, Roger Williams, Samuel Gorton, and the Quakers. So far as known, he was an exponent of religious liberty. His record in Mid- dlesex County is not identified with re- ligious discord, conflict, antagonism, resistance, or incompatibility. Igno- rance exists as to what his opinions were regarding time, place, or nature of baptism of infants. His father, the Sergeant, and Mr. Henry Dunster, first President of Harvard College, ex- pounded upon baptism, etc., four or five years after Lieutenant James joined his father in Cambridge; but it is of record that (1) Richard, (2) James, and (3) Ephraim were of the founders of this nation, even as (4) ''W Grave-Stone of ESDRAS READE, now in Copps Hill Burying Ground. Elijah, and (5) Israel, were of the creators of this republic, which some of their descendants have aided to preserve. He was not an "Adven- turer." He did not come to Mass. at 14 liis own piivuto pxponse. Ho liad but two homos in Middlesex Co.. \i/., Cam- l)iidKe and Clieiinsford. lie was one of tlie "old families" of .\. 10. On .May IKtli. lt;;n. the fhst eouit of election in ^ "HILDRETr. J AGED OOYEAr': Slate Grave Stone of Sergt. RICHARD HIL- DRETH, Chelmsford burying grounds, erected in 1693. (From Capt. Philip Reade's publication of May I, 1892, "'Origin and Genealogy of the Hildreth family of Lowell, Mass.") .->' (^ W! HlLDM . Slate Grave Stone of Maj. EPHRAIM HIL- DRETH, in the Hildreth burying ground Lowell, Mass., erected in 1740. He was grandson of Sergt. Richard Hildreth and son o( Lieut. James Hildreth. (From Capt. Philip Reade's publication of May i, i8qj. 'Origin and Genealogy of the Hildreth family of Lowell, Mass. Mass. ordered "that the body of the commons might be preserved of good and honest men, no persons be admit- ted to tlie freedom of tlie bod> |niiiii<-. but Kucli as Were inembeiri of Home of the churchPH within its limits." Thin was enacted the year of James HII- dreth's birtli. In "Drake's Founders of New Kiik- land." iip. 7li-7:5, we road a letter of Mr. .lohn Cotton, minister of Hoston, addressed to Lord General Cromwell, dated Boston, N. Kngland, L'Hth of the 5th, ir».'>l, regarding "the Scots wiiom God delivered into your hands at Uin- barre," etc. In "Hist, of Lexington." by Charles Hudson, convictions of that author are given regarding the status of the Scotch prisoners sent to N. E. by Cromwell. Tiie substance of It Is that all were banished from their na- tive Scotland for espousing the cause of Charles I. of Kn.irland. In "Book of the Lockes," John Goodwin Locke, Boston, 1853, gives details of deporta- tion. In "Genealogist's Guide." Ilt03. Geo. W. Marshall merely refers to the N. E. Reg., Vol. XI. P. 7. SOME HISTORICAL DATES,.— The death of Queen Elizabeth, n;it:{. marked the end of the Tudor dynasty and the union of the English and Scotch crowns under James I. of Eng- land {James VI. of Scotland), son of Mary Queen of Scots, styled "King of Great Britain." The new translation of the Bible was determined on be- tween the prelates of the Church of England and the dissenting ministers: completed in HUl. Richard Hildreth was born IfiOS, the year tJiat a fanat- ical Roman Catholic, Robert Catesby, projected the Gun Powder Plot, alleg- ing that the King unduly favored his own countrymen. In ItKM), Jaim>s I. grants a patent to the London & Plymouth Co.'s. James I. died In 1625, and Charles I., the sec- ond Stuart, age 25, ascends the throne, marrying Princess Henrietta of 15 The Hildreth Homestead, built in 1791. Dracut, — now Lowell, Mass., the home of four generations of Hildreths, — Elijah, Lieut. Israel, Dr. Israel and the progeny of the last named. (From Capt. Philip Reade's publication of May 1, 1892, "Origin and Genealogy of the Hildreth family of Lowell, Mass.") France. Three years later, the Scots, being refused their petition against the Liturgy, entered into a new "Cove- nant," or civil and religious conven- tion. In 1628 Mass. Bay Colony was founded. Trouble in Scotland in 1637 occasioned by Charles' plan to over- throw Scotch Presbyterian Church and enforce Episcopacy and English Lit- urgy. Charles I. is forced to assent to the Petition of Right, directed against abuse of Royal authority. In 1638 Solemn League and Covenant in Scot- land against the Episcopal government of the Church and the royal authority. National Covenant published by the Scots and Episcopacy abolished. In 1639 Scots take up arms for the Cove- nant. They invade England. In 1640, — after an intermission of eleven years, — the king assembled Parlia- ment. In 1642, war between Charles I. and Parliament. Attempted "arrest of the five members," John Hampden and Sir Arthur Hasilrigge included. Battle of Edgehill between Royalists and the Parliament army, followed, in 1643, by Calsgrave, and, in 1644, by Marston Moor. The N. E. Colonies es- tablish a Confederacy, and RICHARD HILDRETH is made a Freeman, 2d session of Salem Court. (See Records Mass. Bay Colony, Vol. II, P. 293.) Oliver Cromwell first came into no- tice, 1645. Battle of Naseby between Charles I. and the Parliament army under Fairfax and Cromwell. In 1647 the King is delivered up by the Scots to the English Parliament for a stipu- lated sum. 1648, Scots take up arms for Charles I., are defeated by Crom- well, who "purges" the Long Parlia- ment. The religious constitution of the N. E. Colonies, with the ecclesiastical laws, is fixed by the Synod at Cam- bridge, Mass., 1649. Charles the First of England is beheaded at Whitehall, at the age of fifty-one years. Parlia- ment abolishes kingly power, and 16 UL Photographic reproduction from page ajg. Vol. I, records of the town of Dracut, Province of Mass. It is a deed of the HilJreth brothers. Ephr;ilm, William and Elijah. — sons of Maj. Ephraim Hildreth.— twelve years after the Major's death, conveying to the town as a free gift, the "Burying place" now known as the Hildreth cemetery of Lowell. Mass. (From Capt. Philip Reade's publication of May i, i8fli. "Origin and Genealogy of the Hildreth family of Lowell, Mass."') the English Commonwealth begins. Charles, the Prince of Wales, is ac- knowledged as King by the Presbyte- rian Scottish Covenanters. IfiSO, fatal expedition of Montrose in support of Charles II. in Scotland. Victory of Cromwell over the Scots, under Leslie, at Dunbar, 3d Sept. On 3d Sept.. 1651. Cromwell overwhelms the army of Charles II. at Worcester. Charles es- capes to the Continent, and LT. JAMES HILDRETH, a captured Scotch prisoner-of-war. is deported to Charles Towne. Mass. SOURCES OF INFORMATION. Tlu' aiitiior of the advice. "If you don't know history, make history." Is a pernicious member of society. What historians want, or should want, is the truth. In quest of information regard- ing Sergt. Richard Hildreth. yeoman, the following sources have been con- sulted among others, viz.: 17 (From Capt. Philip Reade's publication of May i, i»92, "Origin and Genealogy of the Hildretfi family of Lowell, Mass.") l&ttOto tdl IWttl b? i?)5re if)rercnt5. That in CoDTidcrarioii of the juft Siim of J'ntt/L yi^^Tu^iT^ p-tf-u n»> -/' /■ ^ /I'fim^i — lO'T-ne^ in Hand paid before the Delivery hereof, by J'/fic Q? '^U^ryr^^TV the Receipt whereof J do hereby acknowledge, n^e given, granted, Tjargained, and lold, and do by there Prefenis, give, gram, "bargaio, fell, aliene^^and fully, foely and abfolutely convey aad confirm unto A-4ri' the faid jIj-)-a^£ ^^'^ut'/i^ A^:f Heirs and Ailigas forever. ■^0 FjatJC anU td ijOHl th* tald graiired end bargained Prcmifes, fog€tTier with all their Appurtenances, fr?e of all Encumbrar :er whaifoevcr, to ^.^^ the faid <^s an abfolutelEftate of Igheritance io Fee Sin-fle forcier. Aod J/ the laid i£il.^'L-^0^iClF0^ • io^ ?y^uy,it\^ Oyt^ Heifs, Ejtecutors and^Admiaiftrators. do Covenant and Engage the ab^-de*ifed Ptcftiifes to ^k.»^ the faid ^^^e ^r^l^^'JuJ- -7- Heirs and Affign.. ^aialt the lawful Claims and Demands of any Perfoo or Perfons whatfccver, torcvcc hereafter TO WARRANT, Secure and Defcud by ihcfe Prefects. ^n BUitncfe tsljcrcof, ^ the faid ^ui^'A^ yi^^CeCA^ (^ have hereunto ^O-ffrut Hand and Seal this StZ^ttW — ^ Day of tT^ ^^C -^ Anno Domini One X*io"'^'°<' ^f^^" Hundted an d Seventy e^^^^J^t^ 'flilit iu Xh» 5»enfr5/S«# of OCl/oA /tltJ^>>~eJA. SKAL. I perfonally appeared and owned thjs loftrumeat CO b Photographic reproJucfion, — original now in the possession of Mrs. Rowena Hildreth Reade, 871 Lake View Ave , Lowell, Mass. — recorded pa^e 2, Book 80, registry of deeds, southern dist. of Middlesex, Cam- bridge. It is a conveyance, 3rd Apr., 1777, by Elijah Hildreth, gentleman, of Dracut, to his son. Israel Hil- dreth, yeoman, for the consideration of 300 pounds, certain lands and buildings, one half at date of convey- ance and the remainder at decease. In all succeeding town records, Lieut. Isriel Hildreth was styled "gentleman.'' He served in the Revolutionary War as a Privateersm^n, etc. Was father of Dr. Israel Hildreth. The land on the Merrimack river is owned, now, by Rowena Hildreth Reade. 18 (From "Origin and Genealogy of the HiUrt-ih family of Lowell. Mass.. publi»h<-J by Capl. Philip Reade, U' S. Army, isl of May. 1842.) ^^__^ ^^^.^ -7i:=r7t^-^ ^^^ 19 J /<- "-^^ *-^T^3() on (publish«Hl in linil), Colonial records. Proprietors' records of towns. Town histories, particularly Cambridge, Chelmsford, Dracut and neighboring towns. I.,ibrary of the Commonwealth of Mass.: Boston Public; Athenaeum: Bostonian S'y: St. Botolph and Union Club; Harvard Univ.; Haydn's Dic'y of Dates; Hurst's do; Heilprins' Uni- veisal H'y; Chronology, Key to H'y (Putnam's); American Annals, Abiel Holmes, 1S0.5; Thos. Prince (1720); Establishment of Mr. Geo. Emery Lit- tlefield, f.T Coinhill. Boston Antiquar- ian and Historian; N. E. H. & G. S'y, 18 Someiset St., Boston. A CONFESSION. The present coiui.iler of the Hil- dreths of Middlesex Co., Mass., con- fesses that, up to about IStJo, his mid- dle name was Hildreth. When at the romantic age of sixteen, he droi ped his maternal middle name. This with- out the knowldge, or sanction, of his pa:ents. He now confesses that if his middle name had been Montmorency, or Vere-de-Vere, or something highfa- lutin, he probably would have abbre- vi;;ted his fust name and written out the a;istocratic midile cotn imen in full; but such a name as "Philip Hil- dreth Reade," or "P. Hildreth Reade," then looked homely to him, so he elided it. A young lady second couhIm of njine wishes to know what the Hildreth Coat-of-ArmB is, and wlietlier I liave engraved It on anything. <»r have a suit of armor. Sadly I re|)ly that the only suit of armor I own is one worn by a More Datto with whom the U. S. forces came in hostile contact In .Mindanao Island In HI0.1. It's too small for a Hildreth. No escutcheon known to a Heraldic college can, so far as the writer knows, he clainu'd by any descc-ndant of the Mass. Hildreths, unless. Indeed. It be a Scotch thistle, holly, furze, heath. cranberry, broom, pine tree, boxwood, moss, junij-er, ash tree, fern, gorse. gilly flower, pine or crab apple tree. Our first Richard, born lfi05, — also his son James. — was a scribe. — could write his own name, and worked for a living. This is more than can be said of Richard the Plantagenet King (llSii- 1)9), or of many knightly gentlemen armed cap a tie, who looked with contempt u: on commoners and prole- tariats. The prediction is hazarded that none of Richard Hildreth's male progenitors ever wore Iron pots on their heads; wo:e metal sheathed trowsers; shielded themselves; or jousted for a faire ladye's smile. Sergt. Dick Richard worked in the marshes of ."\Ienotomy and on the slopes of Chelmsford: he never ascended to the mountain tops. He was a Yeoman; one of the tollers of the times. There was no romance In his record. When he. and his wife, Sarah, emigrated to New England, Jane, their first-born daugh- ter. — slie who man led Robert Proc- tor, — could not have been over sixteen There could not have been much oi romance about the migration. Ships were wind-Impelled In those days. Dis- comforts must have been irksome and numerous. 21 WAS SERGT. RICHARD HILDRETH A GENTLEMAN? A gentleman is one who exercises a careful consideration for the feelings of others; who never does, or says, anything in the presence of men that he would not say, or do, in the pres- ence of women. He does not always live in the phosphorescent light re- flected from the bones of long-buried ancestoi s. His Psalm of Life is that of H. W. Longfellow's, viz.: "Tell me not in mournful numbers, 'Life is but an empty dream!' For the soul is Dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. "Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; 'Dust thou art, to dust returnest,' Was not spoken of the Soul. "Not enjoyment, and not sorrow. Is our destined end or way; But to Act, that each to-morrow Finds us farther than to-day. "Art is long, and Time is fleeting; And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like mufl!ied drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. "In the world's broad field of battle. In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! "Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act, — act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o'erhead! "Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime. And, departing, leave behind us Footsteps on the sands of time; "Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. "Let us, then, be up and doing. With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait." That Sergt. Richard Hildreth was kind-hearted is proved by his testi- mony 8th Oct., 1654, in the Jane Evins case. That he was a loving father is evinced by the terms of his will; its terms were, in part: — "Whatsoever shall be found to be my Estate, I will that it be equally Divided to all my Children, that each one may have a Token of their father's Love after his Death, they or theirs." (11th Feb., 1686-7). In that will, apart from the professions of religious faith, — com- mon to the period, — there is a philo- sophic view of life and a loving ten- derness that is pathetic. The hus- band, father, and grandfather is seen through the lines of the document. The aged man had fought his last fight; he was maimed, but retained mental vitality. Considered as a whole, the phrasing, orthography, punc- tuation, etc., of the will, is markedly in advance of the compositions of the period. Tlie will is signed: "Richard Hildreth, — his R marke." The seal is of red wax, stamped by embossed de- signs, not understood by the writer of these lines. In outline, they re- semble a coin impression, or, perhaps, achievement Per saltire, — being divid- ed by a diagonal dexter and a diag- onal sinister crossing each other at the centre of the seal. The achieve- ments outline an arquebuse, or match- lock, or flintlock; a crescent, dexter side, base; an urn on dexter side. On sinister side, a heart crossed by a line. 22 The points are obscured by a inotect- iiig cover of tbln silk. It is a patiietic will. After mention of liis "bi'loved wile, lOIizabetli," tlie dociiinenl poes oii:^ — "And as for niy Sonnes and Dausliters children God hatli Kiven to me I have discharged my duty in some measure in all r( iKitiotialitli's involved. — we do not havt> to Hiio!oj;ise because Sergt. Uich- ard Ilildietli and Lieut. Jaint'S Hil- dreth were fighters. They had to be one of two things, viz.. (1) ministers who provoke a fight. — as at l)iinl)ar, — and then absent themselves from Its unsiiccossful issue: or (2), soldiers who physically fight to an issue until one of the contestants is put out of action. Compulsory church atten- dance and public religious "profes- sion" under prescribed penalty of no suffrage was. liy the Cambridge Sy- nod, the ecclesiastical law-makers of Mass., Plymouth, Conn, and New Hav- en. Scotland could not harmoniously be the home of Richard Hildreth and James Hildreth and their confiicting environments; hence both came to N. E. In Scotland, patriotism originally meant serving the Clan: tlien serving Scotland: then being loyal to the United Kingdom: and later, the whole British Empire. Criticism of military men by clerical and lay, is not unus- ual. Such e.xpressions as "hirelings" and "hired murderers" were heard in America long before the Revolutionary period. Perhaps there still exists the strange obsession that every military man is a plotter against peace. By analogy of reasoning, it might be held that courts of justice and civilian of- ficers organized for the enforcement of theii" decrees are a provocation to crime: thr.t doctors are responsible for disease, clergyman for crime and the fire department for conflagrations. ANCESTRAL GLEANINGS. If. during the ITili Century, immi- gration to America had been restrict- ed, some of us would have been short of ancestors. Our record book of birtlig, marriages and deatlis of uncegtors con- tains littU> of title-bearing nrlstocracy and few heraldic synibolK. 1 have not dug Into my anceHtora' grave to find clotluK for my own tnatiiiood. Noth- ing but dead fruit hangs on a geneal- ogical tree. All the fruit worth pre- serving has been transferred to the gardens of fame. Some people think they deserve a lot of credit for having some relative who became famous, yet we must be known to exist before anybody can find us, hence we advertise oinsflvcs genealogically and otherwise. "There were giants in those days." — Genesis. :?, 4. "Tell ye your chil- dren and let them tell their children, and their children another genera- tion." Prophet Joel. We are made of the same clay as our forefathers and foreniothers. In what respects do we resemble them, or try to? Are we on the wax or on the wane? Do we shine only by the phosphorescent light emanating from the bones of long-burled ancestors? "And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, the rulers and the people, that they might be reckoned by Genealogy of those who came up at the fiist." Nehemlah VII. 5. "He who Is not proud of a virtuous ancestry is not a natural fool, but an unnatural one." By virtuous ancestry is meant the ambition and inspiration to be worthy of it. He who makes light or makes little of it exhibits a degeneracy of which he may well be ashamed and others afraid. Don't brag about your ancestors unless your ancestors could brag about you. "And every man of the children of ISRAEL shall pitch by his standard, with the ensign of his father's house." Numbers ii., -. Moses. 25 Is it a mistake to have too mucli ancestry? Will a ten-page pedigree in a Historical Society save me from oblivion? Have we been descending long? This book contains a large mass of family dead wood. "Elijah: a study of Growth." II Kings, ii., 12. "And Elisha saw it and he cried, 'My Father! The chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.' " EVENTS CONNECTED WITH RICH- ARD HILDRETH AFTER HE BE- CAME A FREEMAN AND PRIOR TO HIS REMOVAL TO CHELMS- FORD. We know so little about Richard Hildreth that the little things we do know are full of meaning, or infer- ence. Chelmsford was not noticed by Hubbard until about 1655, because, he says, "not noticed in the early his- tories." The name of Richard Hil- dreth does not appear on the early tax list of Woburn, nor is there any- thing on the Woburn records concern- ing him. His record in the westerly part of Cambridge from 1643-5 to 1654-5 is continuous. Until 1732 that part of Cambridge was the W. Parish of Cambridge, and was called "Me- notomy." In 1807, it was incorporated a distinct town under the title of West Cambridge, for which Arlington was substituted in 1867. Where did Sergt. Richard Hildreth live when in New Towne (Cambridge)? The "Register Booke of ye Lands and Houses in the New Tovv'ne," and the town of Cam- bridge (1896), P. 137, shows: "Twelfth of (10), 1648. Mr. Henry Dunster Bought of Roger Bancroft the 9th of June, 1648: Three Acr. & halfe of land. In Monotamye playne. Abutt ffrancis Moore East, Richard Jack- son Weft, Charftowne lyne north, Comon fouth." Prior to his removal to Chelmsford, Richard Hildreth ap- pears to have tenanted in Henry, or Jonathan, Dunster's home at Menot- omy. His name is linked with that of Dunster other than as a tenant. Case No. 1799, seventh paper. Early Court Files, Suffolk Co., Ebenezer Prout of Concord, and Elizabeth and Jonathan Dunster, tried in 1679, con- tains deposition by Thomas Eames of Cambridge, taken 6th June, 1676, be- fore Thos. Danforth, Asst., at Boston; it says, in part: — "being in Mr. Dun- ster's company at his house where Goodman Hildreth was his tenant, on highway of two roads wide from Min- notime Mill straight up the Concord road." Mr. Henry Dunster arrived in Cam- bridge in Aug., 1640; built in Cam- bridge earlier than 1641. Was Pres. of Harvard College, 1640-54. D. '59. Widow was Elizabeth: Jonathan, son, b. 1653. Mr. Dunster was not a man of means or substance: had many claims: but had intellectual force: Oriental scholar: opposed Rev. Jn. Mitchell, — divided his church, 1654-5: would not renounce nor conceal his opposition to infant baptism: fell un- der censure of civil magistrates: re- moved as Pi-es. of Harvard. See Mx. Rec. (Vol. I., Pp. 132-3, Camb., 7th Apr., 1657). Henry Dunster avowed, as member of Mr. Shepard's church, beliefs children ought to be baptized and that it be administered by sprink- ling. Afterwards Increase Mather says he labored privately, but in vain, with Mr. Dunster, — who had been his tutor. D. became more and more violent in open opposition to Mitchell's teach- ings: was, therefore, held to have forfeited his office as Pres. of College, and also exposed to penalties of a vio- lated law. Indicted by grand jury 2d Apr., 1655, "for disturbance of ordi- nance Christ upon Lord's day at Cam- bridge, 30th July, 1654, to the dis- 26 lioiif)!' ol' iiiiMic of C'lulsl. — Ilia ('lunch aiul nilnistor." Court oidciod .Mr. H«'iir.v Duiistcr be publicly adnion- islu'd and ^ivo bond for bis nood ho- liavlor. llo was cbargcnl with inter- rupting the public ordinance on tliut (lay without leave, notwithstanding desire of the Klder that he forbear, — and stating that there were cor- ruftions stealing into the churclj which every faithful Christian ought to hear witness against. Mr. Dunster acknowledged that he had so done, and that he would stand by them. — (juoting Calvin, Ames, Hooker, et alii. -After further debate, he gave In his answer in writing, 4th Apr., Ifi.'S.T, to the presentment of the grand jury, (see P. 2fi5-<), Paige's Hist, of Cam- bridge). Mr. Dunster's seditious language, undervalueing Rev. Mr. Mitchell (who was a Fellow of Harvard College, 1 •!")(». and also a member of the Sy- nod), his intellectual and ecclesias- tical equal, — was substantially that used by Sergt. Richard Hildreth in 1(')70 at Chelmsford when he and John Barrett got up a petition to get rid of Parson John Fiske, because, dur- ing a ministry of 14 or lr> years at Che'.msford, he had grieved many, conveited few, persecuted and pros- ecuted many under pretext of plat- foi m of church discipline, which plat- foim had been framed by the Rev. Jno. .Mitchell. Esdras Reade, from Wenham, 1(154, was the chief factor in 1054-5, to get Rev. John Fiske. M. D., to move from Wenham to Chelmsford. It is re- corded that Mr. Fiske came, L'2d Sept., Iti54, being well stocked with ser- vants, all sorts of tools for husbandry and carrentry, and with provisions to support his family in a wilderness for three years. Cotton Mather's opinion of the ability of Mr. F'iske as a preacher or paHtf)r was not Hliared by Richard Hildreth. The mInlBter was the most wealthy man in ChelmB- ford: Sergt. Richard Hildreth was. probably, the most necessltouK. .Mr. Fiske died liUh Oct., H;75. Ah It was with Henry Dimster so it was with Richard Hildreth. The cxiierience of Dunster and the Ist Congregational church was paralleled by that of the Sergt. and Rev. J. Fiske In Chelms- ford in 1(170. Mr. Mitchell was pastor 18 years at Cambridge. His learning, elo(|uence, piety, and natural gifts, mightiness In prayer, zeal against all "oppugnors," is described In terms as also applicable to Mr. Fiske. Mr. Mitchell died 9th July. IGfiS. In 1047, Richard Hildreth was scribe, attestator and witness to an agreement between Henry Uunster and some masons who engaged to build a schoolhouse on the lot owned by President Dunster. The compiler submits that the Sergt. was a sort of man Friday, — as Defoe would phrase it, — for .Mr. Henry Dunster, — and imbibed from him some of the tenets and advanced Ideas that Influ- ence his life and principles In after years at Chelmsford. He would not let the Rev. Fiske bully him, and he scorned Esdras Reade. Of course, he had to pass under the rod, but he had the satisfaction of reiterating. In Chelmsford, the logic and pleas of his expositor, Henry Dunster. -As a re- sult, he, like Dimster, was hauled up before minister Fiske, and was bidden to appear before the county court at Cambridge for circulating a petition arraigning the minister Fiske as In- sij id, lax. adynamic, and generally atonic. Xot until 1774 was there any news- paper printed in Boston: the Boston Evening Post, followed by the News- Letter. No lines of electric comma- nication. Postal facilities were infre- quent. The records of Sergt. Richard Hildreth's alleged offences were kept by his accusor, the Rev. John Fiske. Of course, liegeman, Deacon Esdras Reade, backed up the minister: Rich- ard was compelled to eat humble pie; so was Major Ephraim Hildreth at a later date; but the latter moved out of Chelmsford, made for himself a new home on the north side of the Merrimack River. — 1712, — and there spent the remainder of his days. To this day, the name of Rev. John Fiske to his descendants is like shaking a red flag to a mad bull. Meanwhile, the Merrimack flowed, peacefully sing- ing, to the sea. The theory on which the government was established was not Democratic, but Theocratic. The suffrage was limited to the church members, and the voters were not more than one-fifth part of the grown men. (Palfrey's Hist. N. E., Vol. 3, P. 135.) Thus was the suffrage restricted in 1631: and in 1660, when Richard Hildreth and others of the inhabitants of Middlesex Co. brought this subject anew to the attention of the Gen. C't., it was ordered "that no man what- soever shall be admitted to the free- dom of this body politic but such as are members of some church of Christ (i.e., some Congregational church), and in full communion." (Mass. C'y Rec, Vol. 4, P. 420.) A famous example of this church con- trol is set forth in Winthrop's Hist. of N. E., Vol. 1, P. 326: Vol. 2, P. 13-15: case of the confession of Capt. John Underbill and Cooper Faber's wife, which suggested to Hawthorne his "Scarlet Letter." We know more about Sergt. Richard Hildreth's contentiousness in eccle- siastical matters than about his life and doings after he moved to Chelms- ford. The Colonial records are some- what meagre and uncertain in rela- tion to the organization of the local military companies through many years. In 1654 the expedition started against the Pequods. King Philip's war was in 1675-6. King William's in 1689-98. Erasmus calls war "the mal- ady of princes." The rev. historian of Chelmsford-Westford says, P. 147, "The Maquas and strange Indians from Southward burnt houses in 1676 in Dracut, Chelmsford, killing some. Maj. Thos. Hinchman's command Upper Middlesex regiment in 1689 ordered scouting. His report to the Gov. & Council in Boston is dated Chelmsford, 12th July, 1689." But Richard's hand had vanished. He was literally hand- icapped. This disability probably oc- curred after he was 49 and before he was 53 years old. His petition, re- ferring to it, is dated 1663. Did he mean to pun on the word "husband- man"? By his second wife, Elizabeth, he had the following progeny: 1646, July 21, Elizabeth; she mar- ried John Stevens, 15th Dec, 1664. 1648, June 8th, Sarah; she married Jacob Stone, 1674. Mary married Jacob Warren, 1667. Ephraim, m. 1st, Dorothy Barnes of Stow, 11 June, 1685; she died 17th June. Second wife, 8th Oct., 1685, Ann Moore of Sudbury. Abigail married Moses Parker and Joseph married Abigail Wilson of Wo- burn. The seventh child of husband- man Richard was Persis, born 8th Feb., 1659; she had as her second husband, Sam Cleveland. The birth of Thomas, son of Richard and Elizabeth, his wife, was 1st Feb., 1661. Finally Isaac, — apparently twin to Thomas, — who mar- ried Elizabeth Wilson. The Jane Hil- dreth who married Robert Proctor at Concord, — age 17, — on Oct. 30, 1645, by Maj. Simon Willard, was the daughter of Richard by his first wife, Sarah. 28 There were throe local conllicts for the single-handed Richard to nglit In Chelnistord. viz.: IT.TO, Mar. and .\pr.; 1(;7;5, .May and June; ICSd. The de- tailed account of these tronhh-s exist in the town and church records. — the latter, of course, hy Mr. .lolin Flske. Our talented cousin. Arthur llildreth. on KUh June. lS!t-l, read hefore the re- union of the Hildreth family at Chelms- ford. — and, later, published the ac- count. In substance. Hichard Hildreth and John Barrett and Abraham Par- ker tried to get rid of the Rev. John Fiske. On March 1st, lf.70, at the Clielmsford town meeting, Richard Hildreth made a long speech against the minister, for which openness he was cited to Cambridge to answer "for reproachful speech of the minister of Chelmsford," (Apr. 4). The one-hand- ed Sergt. produced the petition, to which many signal uies were arj)ended. asking for another minister, but gown prevailed over sword. Josiah Fletcher, et alii, were compelled to abide the obnoxious parson. Three years later. lt)73. Parson Fiske's Church Register wrote that Richard Hildreth "was in- strumental of hindering his son-in-law, Robert Proctor, for ye sact" (sacra- ment). Local war lasted through May and June. The minister called meet- ings at his house to discuss the strained relations between the Ser- geant and Robert Proctor concerning a boundary of ye meadow between them: and the parson's friend made a motion concerning ye sin, laying on the table any further action until "ye sin and matter of offence be orderly charged and brought before ye church." Richard said. In substance, that it was none of the business of the church as regards the meadow boun- dary line between Robert Proctor's land and his own. but by that time, son-in-law Proctor charged Richard with unJUKtIy charRinK hitn with breach of covenant. The IlKht wuh taken Into the church. Kliiddening the heart of Ksdran Read*-, unto wlmrn Richard had addrcHHed cauutlc words: this despite Adams, who was loyal to Sergt. Dick, us becomes u Rood com- rade. When the congregation had ua- sembled to see Richard recant and do penance. — he confessed that he ought not to have hindered his son-ln-luw from the sacrament: but, as regards other complaints, "he looked to nought else he was to speak to, though he heard of many things to be laid to his charge. The offended brethren had not dealt orderly with him yet about those things. It was not fit that he should speak to them, and he objected." "The next Lord's day," says Parson Fiske, "ye charge was brought In to myself by Brother Proctor with ye pre- tended evidence, but ye same not evi- dencing ye charge. \VK suspended ye proceedings of It. Brother Proctor himself letting it fall and not prose- cuting it." In our day. this would be called a case of. 1st. malicious accusation; 2d, an attempt to shift responsibility; .Id. an acquittal with honor, as the Scotch say. The balance of the Indictment, then, was for the criminal to e.xpress regret and ask for pardon for keeping son- in-law Proctor's child from the sacra- ment; so, on the next Lord's day, — before the whole congregation. — Rich- ard stood up and said "that the sact charge with which he was charged was true and he was sorry for It." He did not make clear whether he was sorry for the charge or sorry for the truth- fulness of the charge. Then he sat down. "Objection was made." says Parson Flske, "to the shortness and leanness of his confession. " Then the other accusations, which hud already 20 been shown to be without foundation, were brought up again. One hundred and thirty-nine years afterwards, in Dracut, — Fisher Ames Hildreth, — sixth in descent from Sergt. Richard Hil- dreth, democrat, had a word-tilt with his father. Dr. Israel Hildreth, federal- ist, in town meeting. Fisher Ames H., age 21, was son of the elder Hildreth who inveighed against the "lack of talent and good manners of the young Demosthenes who had assailed his platform." Fisher won his spurs by neatly retorting that, "admitting both his absence of talent, for which he should not decry his Heavenly Father, he could reasonably hold his earthly father responsible for his alleged lack of good manners." Dr. Israel Hildreth didn't know, so he afterwards said, whether to be mad or proud of this repartee from the chip of the old block. Reverting to Chelmsford and 1670, — the Rev. Flske and the brethren op- posed to Sergt. Richard Hildreth, were uncertain whether the veteran had been humbled or not. Somehow, the folks felt that, either the Sergt. was a diplomatic fool, or that they had been fooled by fencing with a vigor-, ous kind of a man who could use words to conceal or express, with more or less intelligence, but they did not know which. The congregation was dismissed, and Mr. Fiske assembled the brethren at his house. The agi- tation then continued. A compromise between those who were endowed with reason and those who were not, re- sulted. This motion prevailed: "That considering these matters as circum- stanced, we do rest with this acknowl- edgment, and do leave the matter fur- ther to God and to our Bro. Hildreth's own conscience, and himself to the liberty of communicating with us, as of old, untill further light doe appear." By a majority of two, this motion prevailed. The conclusion of the affair shall be given in Parson Fiske's own words: "Before I manifested ye matter to Richard Hildreth, or would admitt ye calling him in, I proposed in regard of ye rest unsatisfied herewith (as ap- prehending some guilt upon ye church), that we should for their sakes, that ye matter might be con- sidered by a counsell, and notwith- standing what we had voted, that we would yield to ye light They should help us unto, upon Their hearing of the case. The brethren that voted in ye affirmative, many of them, mani- fested themselves willing thereto; but ye others refused, saying ye church had orderly cast it, and they would there rest. So Richard Hildreth was called in, and ye matter declared to him with serious counsell, and he was silent." Richard Hildreth was not a fool. The compiler can imagine Lt. James Hildreth sitting back, silent and alert, on a bench, cannily smiling inwardly, and monitorially saying: "Father, keep out of church rows, if you can. I'm not yet forty, but repeat your own in- junction, viz.: " 'With scanty hair and failing sight, this sage advice I give to you, — Be discreet enough to shun a fight, or have pluck enough to fight it through.' " THE FELLING OF THE GREEN WALNUT TREE UPON THE ROCKES.— May 11th, 1674. 1674, May 11th, Cambridge. At a meeting of the felect men. (95) Amos woodward being Con- uicted before the townsmen for fell- ing fume green walnut trees upon the 30 Rocks was fined flue flillllrins and It was ordi'ied by the felec-t men that the t'ounftable fhoiild leaulo It to lUchard Cutter Alfoe Hlehard lill- dreth Is fined one fhllllnK for felling a green walnut tree upon the rockes (the rocks)." It is moved that. WHEREAS Richard Hildreth was chosen Townsmen of Cambridge, iL'th Sept., 1(545: Whereas, the Menotomy timber record of 14th Jan'y, ir.38: also the Cow law of 8th Mar.. 1<;47.— as well as many other local ordinances of Cambridge, — especially exempts the Town's Selectmen from the operations for tresspass of fine, for violations whereof mere Goodmen were pun- ished: Whereas George Washington was praised for telling the truth con- ceining the cutting of the Cherry-tree: Be it Resolved that suit for restitu- tion to heirs of Sergt. Richard Hil- dreth of that shilling, with compound interest, be instituted. The compiler now holds Richard Hildreth responsible for his taste for pickled walnuts with English mutton clio^s. Welsh Rarebits, etc. The descendants of Richard Hil- dreth and Lt. James Hildreth. his eld- est son, have Scotch blood in them. It was an Irishman who, being present at a social gatheiing in a hall hung with poitii its of their ancestors, said to the leveleis: "Yees are like potatoes. The best {.art of you is L'nder tjound." In tlie .Middlesex Probate records, — Book 1(>54 to 184U, at Cambridge, over ninety Hildreths are named. The list includes Stow, Wcstford. Shirley. Con- cord. Acton. Dracut. Lowell. Tyngs- boro. Groton. Pelham. t'ambridge. Townsend. The compiler of this supplement ack- nowledges lilti in(l<-hti(ln<-H8 to the writings, or piibllcatlunH, of tlie fol- lowing: — (1) Conii) Compilations and Address by Arthur Hildreth, "The Early Hildreths of New England." (7) Compilations and Address by Mrs. Charles Dana Palmer (nee Row- ena Hildreth), at annual gathering of the Hildreth family. WHEN AND WHERE AND HOW DID SERGT. RICHARD HILDRETH LOSE HIS RIGHT HAND? Story is told of a wooden-legged j man to whom comment was made by , an inquisitive stranger: "I see, sir. that you have lost your right leg. " The disabled cripple glanced down in , affected surprise, and rejoined: "V" ' so I have I" The curious strai.^> I then asked: "May I inquire how yon lost your leg?" The maimed one m- I piled: "Yes. if you promise not to ask iiic .inv further (iu.'sriiin> This pledge was given the disfigured man, who responded: "It was bit off." The compiler only knows that Sergt. Richard Hildreth's right hand was cut off, but whether by casualty, surgical amputation, or otherwise, he does not know. Grants to requite heroism in public service have always been com- mon in English speaking nations. Perhaps the Sergt. was a military pen- sioner. It is not difficult to assert things; it is more difficult to find and quote proofs and authorities. Per- haps that mutilation was one of the reasons why Richard disappeared from the activities of life so soon after his removal to Chelmsford. An old man hath the almanac in his body. Wrinkles are fretworks, so it is to be hoped that Dick didn't worry. Some Hildreths live long. Elijah, son of Maj. Ephraim of Dracut, for instance. He was born in Dracut, Mass., 23d May, 1728; married 1st Feb., 1755; died 14th May, 1814. His granddaugh- ter, mother of the compiler, Rowena Hildreth Reade, was born the year he died. She is, I believe, the oldest liv- ing tie binding the present Hildreths with the first of the name in New England. She lives serenely on the estate of her grandfather's birth at 871 Lake View Ave., Lowell, formerly Dracut. The stone house is a familiar landmark in the city of spindles. It is within sight of the Hildreth Ceme- tery, deeded by the sons of Maj. Ephraim Hildreth, 17th Dec, 1752,— Ephraim, William, and Elijah, — to the town of Dracut for a burial ground, and it is of record that the cession was made to "confirm our Honored father's promise, verbally made." It is one of the habits of this lady to frequently visit the grave, same enclosure, of her great-great-grandfather, the Maj. (1680-1740), and his wife, Marcy or Mary. Her name is a synonym of healthful industry, buoyancy and strong character. The central figure of the stone house is practical, out- spoken, gentle-voiced, tender wife and mother, — tenacious in her opinions, yet big enough and courageous enough to acknowledge her mistakes: this woman, wise in counsel, sympathetic in soi-row, joyous with the young, restful with the old, has certain lines about her face which rheumatic pains and advancing years cannot alone account for: but she is the grand dame of the Merrimack valley: the favorite of all generations, and blushes still when reminded that Healy, the artist who painted her por- trait before the compiler was born, called her the "most beautiful of all the beautiful Hildreth sisters." She walks, nowadays, somewhat backward into the future; says, "Young folks put the clock forward; old folks set the hands back." Only the other day she said: "The Ark and the Mayflower were tlie largest vessels ever put to sea." OBJECTS OF THIS PAMPHLET. To record the doings of Sergt. Rich- ard Hildreth prior to his settlement at Chelmsford, 1654-5, thus aiding to fill in the gap between his migration to Cambridge, 1643, and his trons-Atlan- tic home. To illumine the record of his eldest son, Lieut. James Hildreth (1631- 1695), prior to his expatriation to America, and to prove his Scotch na- tionality. On Apr. 2, 1856, the historian, Rich- ard Hildreth (1807-1865) wrote a let- ter; it closed with these words: "For the benefit of the family at large, and in the hopes of eliciting further in- formation, I shall send a copy of this letter for publication in the Boston Genealogical Register. Meanwhile, I 32 remain your friend jiinl eoiisin. I pre- sume." Tlie compiler wiis eleven years old wlien tlie author of "Jai)an as it was and is." dii-d in Florence, Italy; hut lie has trod tlie san>e Kiound. in both liemisplier»'s, and is actuated by the SAme feelin.L's. Perhaps Richard Rus- sell Ilildreth, the youngest of the name, will take \\\) the work? My mother perp»'t rates a grave remark. It is this: "We are here to stay." The highest honor to the dead is to teach their lesson to tlie living. 1 console myself with tlie reflection that I have done something to facilitate the research and labors of other Hil- dreths. A circular, dated 132d May, 1J100. signed by Eugene W. Hildreth, Secretary and Treasurer, represent- ing the Hildreth Family Association, is before me. It says, in part, that immediate action to preserve the headstone of our common ancestor, Richard Hildreth. and to erect a suit- able monument marking the grave at Chelmsford, Mass., at the grave, will be held 12th June, 190!). It further says that appropriate exercises will be held. The President of the Asso- ciation is Dr. John (Marcellus) Lewis Hildreth, of 14 Garden Street, Cam- bridge. Mass. Sliould I be present, 1 might say that it is fitting that Col. John Lewis Hildreth should live on historic Gar- den Street, within a few hundred yards of the Washington Elm. Xewe Towne. or Cambridge, as it e.xisted in 1635, included Garden Street. The act demonstrates the existence of family ties of interest. Melancholy need not be enthroned amid tlie pro- ceedings of rearing a new stone of granite, embracing the old stone of slate. 2ir, years after the death of Sergt. Richard Hildietli. It is a com- pliment to us that the Scottish game of golf is now a popular American game. We are soon to rescue from obscurity the original modest slate- stone over Sergt. RU-hard Ulldreth's Chelmsford grave. In tlie language of Lincoln at the Gettysburg dedica- tion. — "We can not dedicate." JAPAN AND SCOTLAND COM- PARED. OPTIMISM AND PESSI- MISM. SAMl'RAl A.MJ THE CLANS.MAN. — In the early middle ages. — say be- fore the twelfth century, — the soldiers of the Mikado's palace were said to "samurau," that is. "be on guard" tliere. But when feudalism came In. the word "samurai" was taken to de- note the entire warrior class. "War- riors." "the military class." "the gen- try." are perhaps the best English rendering of the word; for it was of the essence of Old Japan that all gentlemen must be soldiers, and all soldiers gentlemen. The training, the occupations, the code of honor, the whole mental atmosphere of the Sa- murai exhibitt'd a striking similarity to those of the nobility and gentry of the Hritish Isles during the Mid- dle Ages. With them, as with us. obedience unciuestlonlng and enthu- siastic was yielded to feudal superiors, to monarchs ruling by right divine. — obedience even unto death. With them, as with us, It was birth and breeding that counted, not money. The Samurai's word was his bond, and he was taught to be gentle as well as brave. "God and the ladles I" was the motto of the European knight. Rut neither God nor the ladies In- spired any enthusiasm In the Samu- rai's breast. In the feudal times, which lasted till A.D. 1871. the Samu- rai lived In his Dalmyo's castle, at- tended his Daim^'o on all occasions, and received from him rations for 33 himself and his family. — It is impos- sible not to see that, despite varying details, the same general trend of con- ditions produced kindred results on the two opposite sides of the globe. It is to be observed, too, that in Japan as in the British Isles, — espe- cially Scotland, — the living reality of the earlier chivalry faded at last, un- der a centralised absolutism, and the use of gunpowder in fire arms, into pageant and etiquette. Scotland has been the land of leg- end, tradition and poetry. In fealty, identification to his laird, — in love and homage to the chief of his clan, whether in achievement or calamity, — to the last his heart was with his clan: and this is all Samurai. Clan meant house, stem, trunk, tree, stock, pedigree, lineage, line, family, tribe, sept, race, genealogy, descent, ances- try to the followers of Sir William Wallace, Robert Bruce, Earl Douglas of Bannockburn and their contempo- raries. The hypothesis is advanced that Sergt. Richard Hildreth was one of those Scots who took up arms for the Covenant in 1639. Invaded Eng- land, beat the English forces at New- burn, took possession of Newcastle, thus being one of the precursors of the "Round-heads" and "Cavalier" par- ties of England and Scotland. If this conjecture is correct, Richard, like James, his eldest son, was a Scotch- man, and, hence, all Scotch history of the period ought to be interesting to his descendants. If the inventory of his effects had included tartan, "Brea- con-feile," plaid, brooch-pin, or any pai-t of his Highland garb, we might know to what clan he belonged: — but he left no broad-sword or clay- more: only an old gun-barrel, — value ten shillings. Did the Sergeant ever bear that old war-time gun? If "yes," where, when, in what cause? His compiler does not believe he ever was a dotard. What is a dotard? There are three stages of life. The first is when we are very young, and think of the wicked things which we shall be able to do when we are older, and this is the age of innocence. The second is when we are older, and able to do the wicked things which we thought about when we were young; and this is the prime of life. The third is when we are dotty and re- pent the wicked things which w^e did when we were younger; and this is the dotage. SOME OF THE CONDITIONS WHEN RICHARD HILDRETH WAS MADE FREEMAN. In 1643, Middlesex Co. extended to the "South Sea," and included large portions of N. H. and Conn. This year is signalized by three events. (1) Formation of the Confederacy be- tween this Colony and the three other Colonies of N. E. (2) Creation of four counties: Middlesex, Essex, Suf- folk and Norfolk. (3) On 10th May, 1643, Richard Hildreth was made a Freeman. About 4,000' English-speak- ing families, say 20,000 persons, then domiciled the rugged shores of N. E. Middlesex Co. then contained only eight towns, viz.: Charles Towne, Watertown, Medford, Concord, Cam- bridge, Sudbury, Woburn and Reading. One year later, Passaconaway, brother of Wannalancet, appeared before the Genl. Ct. at Boston and formally sub- mitted to the Colonial authorities. (See Mass. Colonial Records, Vol. 2, P. 73.) John Eliot had been called "Apostle" three years before, and every ship that entered Mass. Bay brought her quota of adventurers, im- migrants, but the tide of immigration ceased when, in England, the struggle was transferred from the halls of 34 Westminster ami Oxford to tlu> battic- ll'-lds of Nfwbuiy. Kdgiilll. C'alsKiave. .Marston .M«M)r and Naschy. C'rom- uills IrotihhUs were liaiUhiK back Prince Rupert's ciivahy and tllltng Kino, o witli the f:ime of the soldleis who t; listed In Clod and ke; t their 1 owder d:y. V/AS RICHARD HILDRETH A SCOTCHMAN? He did 111)1 leave any memoirs. It Is fsilr piesuni|itlon that lollgioiis, po- litical and military controvery be- tween the kingdoms of Kngland and Scotland occasioned, or nect'ssitated, I'.ls mignitlon to America. Two bat- tles were fought between the Cove- n:'nters and the Royalists before Richard Hlld!eth was of record in Ci.mb.idge, Mass.. viz.: Newbury Ford and lOdKehlll. The Royalists were de- feated by the Scotch Covenanters at .\ewbury. 28th Aug.. 1G40, and the lat- ter th(>n took possession of Newcastle. Kdjitehlll was fought 2lth Oct., ir>42. Samuel Rawson Gardiner. Prof, of .Modem History at King's College, London. — in "The Fall of tlie Monar- chy of Charles I. 1(;:!7-1<;49." — two vol- uni s dSSl'), contains an account of the English rout at Newbury, etc., I closing 22 Aug.. lt;42. when Charles the king raised the Royal Standard at Nottingham, inaugurating Civil War aialr.st the Roundheads. In "Bygone V.'a wickshire." edited by William An- d ews (is;i3), we find "The bittle of lld^chiM." by P^dward Lami lough. Botli sides claimed the victory, which neitlicr v. on: but from .').o()0 to G.ooo nun peiis'.ied In the battle, of whom the projortlon of Parliamentarians was estimated at two-thirds. Another work. "The Covenante:s. a history of the Church In Scotland fiom the Re- formation to the Revolution," — two volumes (lOni), by James King Hew- Isnn, — calls It the battle of Newburn- ford. 28th Aug.. 1640. It says that, In 1'"'41. CharU'K jilaced a stronger truHt In the Scotch reverence for himHolf than in the fidelity of his Puritan crlt- Iflsin. hence resolved to turn the fealty of Scotland to account. The MluebonnetK were warlike. Per- haj s Richard lilldreth was one of the Solemn L«"ague and Covenanters. li'.42: — or a partlciirnt In the Second Hishop's War. 1(1^0-1(141. The date of entrance of the Scots Into England, after several weeks spent In drill, under David Leslie, was 17th Aug.. 1(;40. (See P. :?4S.O. Vol. 1. for list of regimental officers.) It in- cludes. In part. Rothes. Montrose. Uun- fermline, Casslllls, Athol, Home, King- horn. Lothian. Dalhousle, Lindsay. Loudoun. Krskine, .Montgomery, Drum- mond. Carnegie, Elcho. etc. All wore blue bonnets, as Sir Walter Scott's version of a contemporary song reads: — "March, march, Eskdale and Liddis- dale. All the blue bonnets are over the Border." Cnder the terms of the Treaty of RIpon, 2(lth Oct., 1H40, 850 pounds a day were payable to the Covenanters from the three northern counties of .Vorthumberland, Cumberland. West- moiland. and from the bishopric of Durham. Hostilities ceased; — the Scots were awarded 220,000 pounds indem- nity for their "brotherly assistance": the Covenanting insurgents obtained all their demands with the exception of I'niformity. and Richard Hildreth settled In New F:ngland. IF RICHARD HILDRETH WAS SCOTCH. WHAT WAS HIS FAM- ILY OR CLAN? In ■History of the Highlands." (184:1). by James Browne. Vol. 2. P. (11. we read: "Tlie battle of Dun- •io ., •;: Hfi-EQTED BY. •:MilJiJp-EtH FAMILY bar took place on the 3d Sept., 1650. Ten thousand of the Scots were taken prisoners, of whom not less than 5,100 were wounded. The remainder of the prisoners were sent to England, where about 2,000 of them died of a pesti- lential disease, and the rest were sold as slaves and sent to the English plantation in the West Indies." In "Sketches of the Clans of Scot- land, with colored plates of Tartans," by Clansmen J. M. P. and F. W. S. (1880): also in "The Scottish Clans and their Taitans," — published by Chas. Scribner's Sons, (1906), note is made that the following took an ac- tive part in the civil wars of the sixteenth century, being at one time marshalled on the side of the suppor- ters of the royal cause against Oliver Cromwell, viz.: Clan Marfarlane, strong supporters of the Stewart race. The Clan Cam- eron distinguished itself in the wars against Cromwell for the restoration of the Stewart dynasty. The Clan Maclean signalized itself by adherence to, and support of, the cause of the Stewarts by which they suffered severely. The Clan Macleod took an active part in the civil wars of the 17th century on the side of the Royal- ists. The Clan Mackenzie, like most of the other Clans of Scotland, es- poused the cause of the Stewarts, in which it took an active part. The Clan Munro ranked themselves on the side of the government in the 17th century. On the restoration of Chas. I., Clan Margregor had their former rights restored to them for the loyal support which they gave to the Mar- quis of Montrose on the side of King Charles in the year 1644. The Mac- 36 The oriKinal slate crave-sione of Sergt. RicharJ HilJreth.— cut of which is shown on page 15, — has been set in one of Rockport granite on an enJuring cement base by the Hildreth Family Association at an expense of about $i;o.oo. Appropriate exercises were holden at the grave in Chelmsford. Mass., on June la, 1909. nabs were attracted to the cause of Charles I. for whom they fought loy- ally and bravely, especially at Wor- cester. Clan Urummond was firmly attached to the cause of the Stewarts. The Erasers took an active part against Oliver Cromwell in ir,50. and. later, on the side of the Pretender at Culloden. Clan Gordon played a dis- tinguished part in the civil war on the side of royalty against the Covenant- ers. Clan Sutherland rendered ser- vice against Oliver Cromwell. Clan ^lackay appeare to have been both on the side of the Govt, and of the Cov- enanters: same is alleged of the Clan Stewart. Their badge is the oak and thistle. The Slnclalrs supported Prince Charles In his attempt to re- store the crown to the Stewart family. The Camerons were ever loyal to the house of Stuart. Campbell's regt. of Scots Foot Guard was cut to pieces at Worcester. Clan Campbell of Argyll's badge is a wild myrtle or Fir Club Moss. Then there was Campbell of Loudoun, and Cam|)- bell of Lawers. Those who are in search of an ancestor in Scotland may now indulge themselves in research. The compiler does not attempt inves- tigation further than to state that the following Clans, or families, wore all identified with the restoration of the Stuarts, viz.: Macintyre, who is named as expatriated to .\merica for aiding Montrose's Invasion of Argyle, l»^4l-5. (Common Heath.) .Maclean of Duart (badge. Holly). Lachlan Mac Lean of Duart created Baronet of 87 Nova Scotia by Charles I., to whom he was zealously attached, and in whose cause he participated in all the triumphs of Montrose. Also the following: Macfarlane (Cranberry or Cloudberry). Cameron, Maclean, Macloud, Mackenzie (Holly). Munro (Common Club Moss). Mac- gregor (Pine Tree). Macnab (Com- mon Heath). Drummond (Wild Thyme). Fi-aser. Gordon. Suther- land (Cotton Sedge, or Butchers' Broom). Mackay (Bulrush, or Broom). Stewart. Sinclair (Whin, or Gorse). Colquhoun (Hazel). Grant. Gunn (Jun- iper, or Roseroot). Lamond (Crab Apple Tree). Kerr. Leslie. Maclen- nan. Macilister. Bhean (Red Whor- tleberry). Macdonald of Clanranald (Heath). Macdonald of the Isles of Sleat (Heath). Mecfie; owing to whose loyalty to the king, armorial bearings were granted having for their motto the words "PRO REGE." Mac- Intyre (Heath; expatriated.) Mackin- non (Pine Tree). Machlan (Ash Tree). Maclaine of Lochbuie (Heath, or Blackberry). Macnaughton (Trail- ing Azeles). Macneil. Macpherson (Box Wood, or Red Whortle). Mal- colm. Menzies. Robertson (Heath, or Fern). Ross (Juniper). Skene. Urqu- hart (Gilly Flower). It may riot be out of place, at this time, to mention that Lieut. Gen. Arthur MacArthur, U. S. Army, retired, now living in Milwaukee, Wis., is of Scotch descent. His son, a first Lieut. Eng. Corps., U. S. A., is on the active list. In 1662, Charles II., at his marriage, wore Royal Stuart tartan ribbons on his dress. The compiler's genealogical friend, Capt. Geo. Augustus Gordon, says: "The 'ich,' or 'ith,' or 'eth,' or any other termination of what is now spelled 'Hildreth,' may, or may not, have been the original termintion of the name, — two or three centuries ago. Our English ancestors nevei would hold a foreign name in its in tegrity. Perhaps the name is Fleml ish in its origin, and perhaps the ter- minal was 'vich.' This would make an earlier ancestor of Richard Hil- dreth a F^-ench Belgian.'' It don't do any harm to spend, oc casionally, a few hours with our an-i cestors. The gi-anite-slate gravestone of Sergt. Richard Hildreth should be the Mecca of the Hildreth family. Dr. John Lewis Hildreth, — "Marcel- lus," — and Mrs. Cornelia S., widow of my late esteemed friend, Henry O. Hildreth, — and Mr. Eugene W. Hil- dreth, Sec'y and Treas. of the Hil- dreth Family Association, — seem to have entered into a conspiracy to re- vaccinate me with a disease recovered from about twenty years ago: a stay- ing disease: — the fever of Genealogy. The result, except to a few fellow- victims, is almost as iminteresting as a table of logarithms or a multiplica- tion table. But here I am walking into the future backwards. We can- not say that we loved and admired Richard Hildreth in life, but we can honor him in death. I haven't put much of theory into this pamphlet. Have quoted authorities. Wish I could correct one error, viz.: Wool- sey's injunction, (A. D. 1525), "to throw away ambition," was addressed to (Sir) Thomas Cromwell, Oliver's great-great-uncle. Once upon a time a certain tired little girl was too tired to say her prayers. Above her bed was a framed copy of the Lords' Prayer. She trun- dled into bed, drowsily saying: "O Lord! There's my sentiments!" That is about all that I can say about this compilation. PHILIP READE. 871 Lake View Ave., Lowell, Mass. 12th June, 1909. 38 I LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS I Hill 021 393 023 'Kr**' :k^:y^M ^