His [William Porter's] wife was Ruth but her ancestry is unknown. ...The earliest mention of William [and Ruth] is found in the Hartland First Congretional Church Records 1768-1913, when they first orgainzed their church. William Porter and his wife Ruth were original church members when the church was organized May 1, 1768... On 4 May 1780 a new church was formed called the West Hartland Congregational Church, because it was so far for some people to go to church.... In this church we find more of the Porter family. William's wife Ruth is listed as a member on 9 Jan. 1782 and it says she died a widow 10 March 1788.