The Republican journal., 1896-03-26
The WardwelI Genealogy.


To write a complete genealogy of the
Wardwell clan from it's arrival in America
would require more of my time than l
could we'll spare, and occupy more of
your space than you can afford. l shall
trace the line of Daniel of Old York, the
progenitor of all those in Eastern Maine,
from 1888 to time within the memory of
persons living, so that those interested
may trace their connection to our common
British ancestor.
Thomas Wardwell with his wife Eliza
beth came from Great Britain to Boston,
Mass, in 1888, accompanied by his brother
William. Soon after they joined the first
church in Boston, but being Antinomians
Ann Hutchinson were dismissed from
said church, and they with several others
banded together and organized an in
dependent church at Exeter, n. H.,
which, however, continued but three years.
Thomas was appointed Justice and Com
missioner to try small causes for that
jurisdiction, where he remained few
years and returned again to Boston,
where he died Dec. 10, 1916. William
removed to Wells, Me-, remaining but
little while. He also returned to Boston,
where he died 1910
The children of Thomas Wardwell as
found on the Boston records are:
E!iakim born in Boston, Nov. 1865 Martha,
Boston, Aug. 1857 Benjamin, Boston, Feb.
1859; Samuel, Boston, May Is, 1913.
Eiiakim settled in Hampton, n. H.
Samuel with seven others was hanged for
the imagined crime of wtcheraft at Salem,
Mass, Sept. %, 1892.
history, page "a, mentions him as follows:
even amidst those who had been over
come with the powerful temptation, arts
ing from the desire to escape the dreadful
doom of those who persisted in their inno-
cence, there were some who on mature
reflection did not hesitate to retract their
ACiOSV Soi1NooloH, bilouSh UCrlI ioohCo
them full in the face. Samuel Ward
well was the first who ventured to
act so noble a part; and he was imme-
diately put ON his trial. condemned
and hanged His was property CON
fscated for the use of the State. Samuel,
the martyr and son of Thomas, settled in
Andover, Mass, where he married Miss
Sarah Hawkes. Jan. g. 1872. She was liv-
ing as late as 1903, when she with several
others who had been condemned for
witchcraft in 1892, but whose sentence
had not been executed, petitioned the
General Court to have their conviction re-
moved, and botted from the records
which petition was granted.
Mary, Samuers eldest child, though but
nineteen years old, was one of the CON
demned. AS a compensation for the suf-
ferings of the family, the General Court
voted them the sum of 36 pounds, 10 shil-
lings, six pence
Children born to Samuel aud his wife,
Sarah Hawkes., all in Andover, Mass:
Mary, born Oct. 8, 1878; Elizabeth Sept. 3,
1915; Samuel Feb "a, 1861; William, Nov
g. 1879; Eliakim, Aug. II, 1857; Rebecca,
Sept. 10, 1891.
Eliakim, son of Samuel married Miss
Ruth, daughter of Samuel Bragdon of
York, Me. Children Of Eliakim and his
wife Ruth Bragdon:
Mary born in York, Me-, March 8, 1711-12;
Abigail born Andover. Mass, June 81, 1714;
Hannah, York, Me-, Sept IL, 1716; Joseph
Dec IS, IFS; Meribah, Dec. %, 1920 Samuel,
March 2.1722 23 Eiakim, July 5, 1925 Lydia
Aug. S, 1927; Hephzihah, Oct. &, 1929; Jere-
miah, Feb 49, 1912; Daniel, York, Me.
Apr II, 1874.
Meribah was reputed to be the daughter
of an Indian chief, born while her mother
was in captivity. The tradition does not
appear to be well authenticated bat Meri-
bah's name was changed to Ruth, and in
Dec, 1742, she married Major William
Eaton of Haverhill, Mass, and in 1862
with large family of children moved to
Deer Isle, Me-, where they have numer-
Gus descendants, who boast of their de-
scent from an Indian king. From their
appearance we would think there is truth
in the tradition
1t appears that Eliakim moved back to
Andover, Mass, and resided there about
two years, that during the time he was
there he was prosecuted by repeated and
burdensome fines for nom attendance upon
public worship, and probably he was not
very much in love with the standing order
of religious worship of his day, since his
father had died upon the scaffold with the
opprobrious murmurs of religious bigots
OF the Orthodox church sounding in his
ears; and his own mother and sister living
under the faint of the sentence for witch !