Person:Abigail Wardwell (2)

York, Maine Vital Records contain this entry:

"John, the Son of Abigail Wardwell, whose Reputed Father is Timi Bagley was born in York, February 27, 1734/5." Abigail charged with fornication, April 1735 in York County Court.

For reasons unknown, Abigail was the only child of Ruth (Bragdon) and Eliakim Wardwell to be baptized in his hometown of Andover in the Masssachusetts Colony. She was about 19 when she had a son, John, "the reputed Timothy Bagley". From the many colonial court records of fornication, this was not such an unusual occurrence. Her parents had been brought to court in 1710 for this offense.

Late in 1739, Abigail, 25 1/2, married Joseph Perkins, 21, the natural son of "Deborah Webber Junior". Deborah had been "brought before the court on April 1, 1718, for having a bastard child. She accused Jacob Perkins of York and Wells, 33, of fathering her son Joseph", (who had been born at York on February 8, 1717/18). Jacob Perkins subsequently denied the accusation, and posted a bond of £50 support, paid the court fees, and was "acquitted" (probably "dismissed" after posting the bond).

On the other hand, "Deborah's charge was dispensed with quite differently: the Court ordered that she 'receive Ten stripes on her naked back to the post & to pay fees of Court 8s, or pay a fine of 30 shillings and fees."

Abigail and Joseph had two daughters and a son, all born at Cape Neddick (1740-46) before Joseph's death some time after March 1746 and by February 4,1746/47. On the latter date, Abigail was appointed administrix of Joseph's estate. The inventory, filed February 9, 1746/47, listed 4 1/22 acres of land, a house located at Cape Neddick in York, on the north side of the road leading to Wells, near Burnt Maple Brook, purchased from Jacob Hamlen the year previous, on February 14, 1745/46; and personal property appraised at over£1,000 ... an enormous sum for the period!

Abigail remained a widow for five years, and then married Ebenezer Watson, probably a widower. Their only child, Ebenezer II, was born posthumously, his baptismal record showing his mother as "Abigail, a widow". She was 39 at the time of his birth.

Abigail died before March 31, 1760, on which date her brother, Jeremiah Wardwell, was appointed administrator of her husband's estate as well as of the estate of Joseph Perkins, "which the widow had not closed". -Eliakim Wardwell of York, Maine With an Informal Collection of His Descendants through the 7th Generation, Majorie Wardwell Otten 2002

1. ↑ Andover, Massachusetts Vital Records.
2. ↑ The American Genealogist, Volume 70, Page 217.