Biography
Ephraim Wildes was born 1 December 1665 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts to John Wildes (1618-1705) and Sarah Averill (1627-1692) and died 2 April 1725 Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts of unspecified causes. He married Mary Howlett (1671-1748) 18 March 1689 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Salem witch trials
1876 illustration of the courtroom; the central figure is usually identified as being Mary Walcott
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused, nineteen of whom were found guilty and executed by hanging (fourteen women and five men). One other man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death for refusing to plead, and at least five people died in jail. It was the deadliest witch hunt in the history of the United States.
Constable in Topsfield, Massachusetts, before and during the Salem Witch Trials. See "The Witches" by Stacy Schiff. His own mother, Sarah Wildes (1627-1692) was one of those wrongfully convicted and executed for witchcraft.
from "The Wildes Family of Essex County, Massachusetts by Walter Davis, Jr: In 1689, he was one of the selectmen of Topsfield and in 1692 he became town treasurer and constable. The story of his connection with the Witchcraft Delusion has already been told in the biography of his mother - a story which shows him to have been a man of truly noble character. He lived in the family homestead in Topsfield which his father deeded him in 1690, and occupied a prominent postition in the affairs of the town. He is several times dignified with the titles, Mr. and Quartermaster in the town and county records.
The following story is obrained from the town records and illustrates the duties imposed upon him during his term as constable. When the minister's rate for 1692 was being collected, Constable Wild had trouple in obtaining this tax from an Irishman, Nealand by name, who lived on teh coundary line between Topsfield and Ipswich. Whenever the constable called, Nealand waas sure to be found in the Ipswich side of his house. Finally the constable, with several other Topsfield men, visited the pig pen of the delinquent, and the minister received his rate in pork. Soon after this incident, the town sued Goodwife Nealand for defaming the town of Topsfield. In the latter part of his life, he served as selectman in 1714, 1720, and 1722. Tradition states that before his death, which occurred on April 2, 1725, he saw his thirteen living children gathered about his fireside.
Children
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| John Wildes (1648-1677) | |||
| Sarah Wildes (1651-1725) | |||
| Phebe Wildes (1653-1723) | |||
| Elizabeth Wildes (1653-1723) | |||
| Priscilla Wildes (1658-1688) | |||
| Jonathan Wildes (1659-1676) | |||
| Martha Wildes (1660-1685) | |||
| Nathan Wildes (1662-1663) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Ephraim Wildes (1665-1725) | 1 December 1665 Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts | 2 April 1725 Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts | Mary Howlett (1671-1748) |
Residences
Vital Records
Last Will
His will follows: - Knowing that it is appointed for all Men to Dye and being under Infirmity and Weekness of Body and senseable of my own Mortality Do make this My Last Will Confirming this and none other. First I give and bequeath My Soul to Almight God who first gave itt being, and my body to be Deceantly buried att the Direction of my Executors hereafter named nothin Doubting but I Shall receive again att the Resurrection and as for what Worldly estate itt hath Pleased God to bless me with all I Dispose off itt in manner following. Item. I Dogive and bequeath to My Well beloved Wife Mary Wilds all my my houshold goods and two Cows for her own use and to dispose of as Shee Shall See Most Convenient Amongst my Children and also I give to my beloved Wife the Liberty of one End of my Dwelling house together with the Improvement of one third Part of all My land So lond as Shee Shall Remain my Widow, but in case Shee Shall See cause to marry again that then Shee Shall have Twenty pounds Paid to her by my Executors, hereafter named and my will is that then Shee Shall Resigne up all her Right of Dower or Power of third in my Real Estate to My Sons John and Ephraim whom I do appoint and Constitute to be My Sole Exeecutors to this My last Will and Testament. Item. I Do give to my Son John and to my Son Ephraim all my buildings and all my lands both Meadow and Upland with all the privilidges and Appertances thereunto belonging together with My Rights of land in Common and also I Do give to My Sons John and Ephraim all my Stock of Cattle (Excepting the two Cows before given) and all my Sheep and Horses (Excepting the black Colt which I Do give to my Son Elijah) and also I Do give to My Sons John and Ephraim all my utensils of husbandry they Paying all My Just Debts and Such Legacies as I shall order them to Pay in this my Last Will. Item I Do Give to My Son Johnathan Sixty Pounds to be Paid by my Executors within two years after my Decease which is for his portion out of My Estate. Item I Do Give to My Son Samuel sixty Pounds, to be paid by my Executors when he Shall come to the age of Twenty one years itt Being for his Portion Item I Do Give to My Son Nathan Sixty Pounds, to be paid by My Executors when he Sall come to the age of Twenty one years itt Being for his Portion Item I Do Give to My Son Amos Sixty Pounds, to be paid by My Executors when he Sall come to the age of Twenty one years itt Being for his Portion Item I Do Give to My Son Elijah Sixty Pounds, to be paid by My Executors when he Sall come to the age of Twenty one years itt Being for his Portion Item I Do Give to My Daughter Mary Perkins Twenty Pounds besides what Shee hath already had to be paid by My Executors : in four years after My Decease which is for her portion. Item I Do Give to My Daughter Susannah Town Twenty Pounds besides what Shee hath already had to be paid by My Executors : in four years after My Decease which is for her portion. Item I Do Give to My Daughter Dorothy Perkins Twenty Pounds besides what Shee hath already had to be paid by My Executors : in four years after My Decease Itt being for her portion. Item I Do Give to My Daughter Priscilla Twenty Pounds to be Paid by My Executors when Shee Shall bome Generation 1 (con't) Item I Do Give to My Daughter Priscilla Twenty Pounds to be Paid by My Executors when Shee Shall bome to the Age of Twenty one years or the Day of her Marriage. Item I Do Give to My Daaughter Hannah Thirty Pounds to be paid when Shee Shall come to the age of Twenty one years or att her Marriage If She be married Sooner. But in case any of My children that are under age Should Dye before they come of age to Receive their Portion that tehn my will is that what Should have been Paid to them Shall be Divided amongst the Surviving brothers and Sisters and also my Will is that If any of My Children that are of age Should Dye before the time Sett for payment of there Portion that then itt shall be Paid to thir Heires, and itt is to be Noted that notwithstanding, all My buildings and Lands are given to My Son John & My Son Ephraim itt is to be understood that they are not to Debar or hinder their Mother of any Privilidges given to her in My home or Land. I Confirmation of all that is before Written in this Will I have hereunto affixed My hand and seal this Second Day of April one thousand Seven hundred and twenty five. Signed Sealed and Delivered In the Presence of John Howlett Joseph Andrews Jacob Peabody Ephraim Wildes
See Also
- Ephraim Wildes
- Wildes in Essex County, Massachusetts