THE TALE OF POOR RICHARD

"Sergeant Richard Hildreth used reproachful speech and seditious language concerning the Church." ~ Reverend John Fiske

Richard in Chelmsford

Chelmsford wasn't settled as a town until 1654. By the time our grandfather Richard Hildreth (9GGF) moved there that year, he was fifty years old. His three children from his first marriage to our Grandma Sarah Hildreth (8GGM) were mostly grown and on their own. Richard, however, had remarried in Cambridge ten years before his move to Chelmsford and begun a second family. With his new wife, Elizabeth, Richard had three children born in Cambridge and six born in Chelmsford.

Life in the frontier, while fraught with harsh winters and constant fear of Native attacks on the town, began fairly well for Richard. He was granted eight separate plots of land to work in order to support his growing family. And, in 1658 according to court records, Richard was given persmission to trade with the Natives of the Praying Town of Wamesit. This was an especially rare boon given that that the entire town of Chelmsford had applied for and been denied that right.

Note: Although the General Court denied all formal appeals for trade, the town pretty much ignored the restriction. For twenty years, until King Philip’s War destroyed Anglo-Native relations, Chelmsford men made a little money on the side by trading food, rum, and utensils to the Indians for animal pelts.

Sometime before 1664, however, the hard times for Richard began. Somehow, his right hand was renderered useless "as if cut off." That year, Sergeant Richard Hildreth, 'being greatly disadvantaged of the use of his right hand, whereby wholly disabled,' received his ninth grant of land. He received "150 acres of upland and meadowland." Then, in 1667, he was granted an additional 150 acres in Stow, MA, twenty miles southwest of Chelmsford.

antithapy towards the good Reverernd Fiske

It appears that Grandpa Richard wasn't shy about letting his views be known. Almost immediatly after his arrival in Chelmsford, Richard spoke out about his dissatisfaction with the minister of the church there, the Reverend John Fiske. He evidently expressed his opinion so clearly that "Deacon Esdras Reade, a staunch friend and watchdog of the good pastor, pounced out, and accused Hildreth of using seditious language..." Richard was brought before a church committee to answer the charges. He ignored the summons.

Richard's words, however, don't appear to be without consequence. Records show that he had been admitted to the church in Chelmsford in 1655:

"Rich Hildrick having been Tryed, propounded, presented his Ltrs of Dismsn from Cambridge after a manifestation of God's work upon his soule with sever'l experiences of God's going along with him since joined in church fellowship both there and thence, was recd into ye cov'nt & fellowship of this Church."

Records also show that, in 1663, Richard was readmitted to the same church. This second admission into the church most probably resulted from a period of lapse in his Chelmsford church membership. Either he had voluntarily withdrawn from the church or had been dismissed by the good Reverend Fiske for his "seditious words." After his readmittance in 1663, Richard managed to hold his tongue for seven years.

Grandpa Richard speaks out

After seven years of silence, Grandpa Richard must have been fairly popping to let his frustration out. He started small and petty. From the notebook of John Fiske dated 3 May 1670, the reverend wrote that Richard stayed after church one afternoon to discuss his charge that Thomas Barrett, a fellow townsman, had lied. Evidently the unfortunate Mr. Barrett said in a public town meeting that "his hair stood right up or on end." Richard maintained that "to the observation of witnesses it did not." Only seven church members thought it worth while to actually weigh in on this ridiculous accusation and it was "cast out." Mr. Barrett suffered no punishment.

That same day, Richard also expressed a "grievance" against Lieutenant Samuel Foster for telling townfolks that "Richard Hildrich neglected catechising in his family..." This matter was easily settled as well when Lt. Foster acknowledged that "if it had been to speak again he would not have spoken it publicly at that time but had taken another more seasonable time to have told Richard Hildrich his mind."

With those matters settled, Richard Hildreth, had much bigger fish to fry.

the shit hits the fan

The Puritan Congregationalist Church in Massachusetts made sure that a strict disciplinary policy was one of the key elements of their covenant. The Reverend Fiske concurred, writing that "the Censures of the church, are appointed by Christ, for the preventing, removing, & healing of offences in the Church..." Some in his congregation did not necessarily share Fiske's conviction. While our Grandpa Richard wasn't the only dissenter, he appeared to be the ringleader. He did not appreciate the church reaching into every aspect of his and his neighbors' lives.

We have a blow-by-blow account of Richard's defiance in a notebook kept by the Reverend Fiske from 1644-1675. According to Robert G. Pope who wrote the introduction to the publication of the notebook, "Fiske’s record of these church trials provides an extraordinary insight into Congregational discipline. In number and detail of cases, the notebook is an unparalleled source."

In early 1670, Fiske noted in his book that Richard Hildreth denied "the right of the minister or church committee to compel his attendance at the Meeting House on Sundays and refusing to pay the fines sought to be imposed upon him by the Minister, or Deacon, Esdras Reade, or any other minister or deacon." The record shows that "Sergeant Richard Hildreth used reproachful speech and seditious language concerning the Church." And here's the best part. Richard said that "he, and others, had quit England to escape the assumption and interference of the clergy in matters not connected with religion." You go, Grandpa Richard!

On 4 Apr 1670, Richard was called to appear before the County Court at Cambridge to answer "for reproachful speech of the minister of Chelmsford." It also came out in court that one of Richards grievances was the prosecution by Reverend Fiske of Joshua Fletcher for what was actually a grave misdemeanor.

Note: Joshua Fletcher was brother-in-law to our Grandfather Nathaniel Hill (8GGF) and our aunt Elizabeth Proctor (7A).

The case again Josiah Fletcher

The action taken by Reverend Fiske against Joshua Fletcher actually took place four years prior to Richard's court appearance but it obviously still rankled him. In late 1666, Josuha was accused of courting a young woman without the permission of the church and, by Puritan standards, in an extremley inapporiate manner. Josiah would sneak out at night, enter through his loved one's window and spend the night there with her. To make matters much worse, he even snuck into her room on the Sabbath! The church charged him with breaking the 4th and 5th commandments. Then, when Joshua's paramour was found to be pregnant, that was the last straw. The church threatened Joshua with excommunication. He nonchalantly replied "Let the Lord's will be done," and walked away. Fiske, who had been looking for confession and repentance, immediately excommunicated Joshua from the church.

Since Joshua's infraction was actually pretty grave, Grandpa's Richard's heated objection to his excommuncation was quite avant-guard for the time.

further problems for poor Richard

On 4 Jun 1670, Grandpa Richard was again "...warned to appear to answer for 'reproachful speech' against the minister...."

Shortly afterwards, Richard and his ally, John Barrett, circulated a paper around town in an attempt to get the signatures of all who wanted to rid themselves of the tyrant Reverend Fiske. I have seen no record of the numbers but, apparently, the town was sharply divided on the issue and it continued to be a bone of contention until Reverend Fiske's death.

On 20 Jun 1670, "...Thomas Hinchman and Abraham Parker testified that at a public town meeting Richard Hildreth 'made a very large speech to ye whole town then present to ye purpose to stir ym (them) up to the calling of another minister, arguing ye necessity of ye same, & amongst many other things spoken he used these expressions: one pastor (Fiske) had lived 14 or 15 years in this place & there had been little or no fruit of his ministry.'" Hildreth said further that "there were two sermons preached by another that did much affect, and caused several weeping eyes."

As is often the case, the outcome of the court action against Grandpa Richard is unknown. What is known is that Reverend Fiske continued as pastor for the Chelmsford Church until his death in 1677.

Seemingly unable to keep himself out of trouble, Grandpa Richard next found himself embroiled in an altercation with his son-in-law, our grandfather Robert Proctor (8GGF). By the time of their run-in, Robert had been married to Richard's daughter, Jane (8GGM), for thirty years. The two families had lived next to each other for many years but, in 1673, an unfortunate border dispute involving a certain meadow broke out between the two of them. Possibly bad blood had been festering for some time, but this particular quarrel turned nasty. Robert made "many grevious charges against Hildreth" and Grandpa Richard retaliated with "a rash act." Fiske reported that "...He was instrumental of hindering his son Proctor from ye sact (sacrament)." No bueno.

Naturally, the whole town got involved. "Proctor gained over a goodly number of the brethren," both amongst his friends and those in the town who disapproved of Grandpa Richard's attempts to oust the good Reverend Fiske.

Reverend Fiske called a meeting as his house among the brethren to try and resolve the matter. A rational person in the crowd made the following proposal:

"That ye case or matter of controversy between Richard Hildreth and Robert Proctor concerning a boundary of ye meadow b etween them, and ye sin relating to ye same as on Richard Hildreht's parte: Bee suspended from further consideration and agitation in ye church, untill ye sin and matter of offence be orderly charged and brought before ye church."

Note: Brethren refers to only the male members of the church.

the case brought before the church

To get the ball rolling, Grandpa Robert accused his father-in-law of unjustly charging him with breach of promise or covenant. Grandpa Richard was then ordered by the church to acknowledge in front of the entire congregation that he had made an unjust charge. Big doings in town! On June 3rd, the town assembled to hear Brother Hildreth's confession. One of Richard's buddies made a propoal that the charge be made in writing to buy Grandpa Richard some time. But the townspeople were having none of it. The motion didn't carry and, according to Reverend Fiske, "'twas put upon Richard Hildreth to speak by way of acknowledgment" immediately.

What followed was an acknowledgment that he might have been "rash in hindering his son Proctor from the sacrament..." but he continued saying that "it was not fit that he should speak to them, and he objected." This statement, in effect, forced Grandpa Robert to put his charge in writing. He did write it out but, in the end, wisely decided not to prosecute. Since Robert Proctor had taken the higher ground, there was nothing left for Grandpa Richard but to try and make amends for "his evil in the unjust charge..." The very next Sunday, he rose in church and admitted "...He was sorry for it, and desired to be humbled for it; he hoped it would be a warning for him; it was no small trouble to him that he had troubled the church. Here he sat down."

the town gets even more involved

Possibly from an overriding weariness with Richard and his prior antics, "Objection was made," writes Parson Fisk "to the shortness and leanness of his confession." Richard's other myriad accusations, particularly against the good reverend, were brought up, riling the congreation to a boiling point. Finding matters in such a tempest, Parson Fiske dismissed the congregation and had only the breathren come to his house. The agitation only continued with the brethren equally divided in their loyalties. Finally, "one of our friends made this motin: That considering these matters as circumstanced, we do rest in this acknowledgment, and do leave the matter further to God and to our Bro. Hildreth's own conscience, and himself to the liberty of commnicating with us as of old, untill further light doe appear." In other words, ignore it and hope it all goes away.

This motion was put to vote and carried by a majority of two. According to Reverend Fiske's notebook, further light never seemed to appear. A council was called but evidently the deadlock continued. "So Richard Hildreth was called in, and ye matter declared to him with some serious counsell, and he was silent."

The end of the tale

Five months later on the 18 of June, 1673, Reverend Fiske made this entry in his notebook:

"Richard Hildrich had his dismission and of 3 of his children, Joseph (8U), Percy (8A), and Isaac (8U), granted him to the church at Cambridge according to his desire, he declaring his purpose of settlement there and of living and dying there."

So Grandpa Richard left Chelmsford with his tail between his legs. He took his wife and three youngest children back to Cambridge most probably intending to die there but that was not to be.

In January of 1677, the Reverend Fiske died of a stroke at age 75. Sometime between then and 1686, guess who was back in Chelmsford! Grandpa Richard Hildreth returned to the scene of his crimes and made out his will in February of 1686. The will, which has been included in our Expansion post bears repeating:

"Know ye that I Richard Hildrith of ye towne of Chelmsford...do here in make known my minde and will in the disposall 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 Ephraime Hildereth for her maintainance in all respects so long as shee remaineth with him: and as for my Sons and Daughters children god hath given to me I have discharged my duty in som measure in all respects so that they are disposed in marriage and I have doone for them all as I could but now my hand is as cut of because of inpotency and infirmyty I have been constrained to make use of what I hade for the relief of my self and my wife so that I have neither house nor lands to bequeath to them but after my decease credtors being payed and debts discharged what so ever shall be found to be my estat I will that it be equally divided to all my children that each one may have a token of their fathers love after his death, they or theirs...I have betrusted my son Ephraim with the use of my estat whilst I live and after my death to execut this my las will and testament."

A codicil in April explains the bequest to Ephraim (8U): " 6 Apr 1687: This gift ...ws in return for life support."

a mystery

Richard Hildreth died 23 Feb 1693. His gravestone lies in the old Chemsford Burial Ground. He died at 88 years of age.

Richard's wife, Elizabeth, was twenty years younger than him but she died only five months after his death. Strangley, it appears that she didn't die in Chelmsford. For some unknown reason, her gravestone is in the Bell Rock Burial ground in Malden, MA, twenty miles from Chelmsford. The stones, in two different burual grounds, appear to be almost identical. Elizabeth's says, "HERE LYES YE BODY OF ELIZABETH WIFE TO RICHARD HILDRETH AGED 68 YEARS DIED AUGUST 3 1693." It seems sad that poor Elizabeth Hildreth's lonely stone lies so far from her husband of almost fifty years and also so far from her children in Chelmsford.

Note: Richard's first wife, our grandmother Sarah, died in Cambridge in 1644 and is most probably buried there. Poor Richard was laid to rest far from either of his wives.