Thomas Wilder

     Thomas Wilder Thomas Wilder was born probably before 1578. Thomas died late in 1618/19 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England, at 41 years of age. He married Martha Keene Jan 1606 in St. Mary, Reading, Berkshire, England. Martha was born before 1591 in probably, Oxfordshire, England. Martha died April 20, 1652 in Hingham, New Plymouth Colony, at 61 years of age. Martha was buried April 22, 1652 in Hingham, New Plymouth Colony. In Thomas Wilder's will written 3 January 1618/19 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England, Martha was named as his wife and executrix. She disposed of her husbands holdings in Shiplake by deed in 1620 and 1621. How she was maintained thereafter has not been discovered. In 1638, she determined to move to New England, coming with her daughter Mary. It has been speculated that she intended to join her presumed children, Elizabeth and Edward Wilder, who apparently had preceded them. The ship's passenger list has been preserved. 'Martha Wild'r of Shiplocke in Oxfords'r spinster' and 'Mary Wild'r her Daughter' appear on 'The List of the Names of the Passeng'rs Intended for New England in the good shipp the Confidence of London of CC. tonnes, John Jobson, M'r. And thus by vertue of the Lord Treas'rs warr't of the xj'th of Aprill, 1638. Southampton, 24 Aprill, 1638.' This list is divided by the author of the article in which it was published into sections by families; three family groups from 'Go'n'sham in Oxon' surround the Wilder party. In each section a relationship is specified, such as 'children' or 'servants.' No such relationships are noted in the Wilder section, and the others in that group have no town of origin named. Those included were Augustin Bearce age 20, John Keene 17, Martha Keene 60, Eliza: Keene 13, and Martha, Josias, and Sara Keene whose ages were not reported. It is this association with the Keene family, combined with the marriage record in Reading, which leads the present author to his assignment of Martha's surname. No mention of any of these Keenes has been found in New England records before 1659, when a John Keene, seaman, was listed. Perhaps they perished soon of disease, or returned to England; perhaps they just missed the boat. Rev. Moses Wilder, and his successor, Dr. Edwin Wilder, cite family traditions relating the immigrants Thomas and Edward Wilder as brothers. Both authors offer the conjecture that Martha Wilder had sent two sons and a daughter to New England, with friends, before her departure with her remaining daughter. No document has been found to support this speculation, which may well be dismissed if the will of Thomas Wilder of Shiplake is considered to be that of the husband of this Martha who immigrated to Massachusetts. Thomas was bequeathed six acres in Mapledurham in the will of his father written 24 April 1596 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England. In Richard Wilder's will written 24 April 1596 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England, Thomas was named as his son and executor. He had a lease of land in the parish of Shiplake, in Oxfordshire. In 1613, he made a declaration of the use of his land; the manuscript is preserved in the Bodleian Library. Thomas Wilder wrote his will 3rd January 1618/9 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England. He made bequests to his wife, Martha, his sons, Isaac, Mathew, and Abraham, his daughters Elizabeth and Mary, 'the child my wife now' [carries], his brother Richard, and his sisters Alice Wilder and Elizabeth Wilder. It was proved by the executrix, his wife, Martha. Thomas's estate was probated April 1619 in Archdeacon Court, Oxford, England. Thomas Wilder and Martha Keene had the following children: i. Elizabeth1 Wilder was born before 1619. ii. Mary Wilder was born in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England before 1619. Mary died December 23, 1658 in Watertown, MA, at 39 years of age. She married Joseph Underwood. Joseph was born circa 1614 in England. In Thomas Wilder's will written 3 January 1618/19 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England, Mary was named as his daughter, not yet of legal age. iii. Isaac Wilder was born in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England before 1619. In Thomas Wilder's will written 3 January 1618/19 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England, Isaac was named as his son, not yet of legal age. iv. Mathew Wilder was born in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England before 1619. In Thomas Wilder's will written 3 January 1618/19 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England, Mathew was named as his son, not yet of legal age. v. Abraham Wilder was born in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England before 1619. In Thomas Wilder's will written 3 January 1618/19 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England, Abraham was named as his son, not yet of legal age. vi. Edward Wilder was born circa 1619.

http://ralphinla.rootsweb.com/wildrich.htm#i5990. He was born before 1578 at Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England. He was the son of Richard Wilder and Alice (?). Thomas Wilder married Martha Keene. Thomas Wilder died after 1620 at Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England.