MELINCOL-L Archives

From: "BBFFRRPP" <>
Subject: [MELINCOL] Residents of "Maine" - 1700's - Native American Spouses?
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 09:20:48 -0400

Good morning,

I would like to ask a general question about how many of the early residents
of the "Northern Territory of Massachusetts" had spouses who were "Native
American." There were many men up there, and I know from my KIDDER
research that during the 1600's in MA and through the 1800's in "Maine,"
"pioneer men" married .. neighbors, cousins, widowed sisters-in-law, etc.,
whomever was available.

One of my "brick walls" is the wife of Samuel WILKINS who reportedly was
born in "Maine" in ~1780. The wife's name was Electa "Leeta" _____.
And, I just wondered what the chance is that she might have been a Native
American. (This just occurred to me this week.)

Also, one man who could have been Samuel's father was William WILKINS of
Unity, Vassalboro, and Pittston area. So far, no one knows of a wife for
William. History books say he was an adult in "Maine" from at least the
1770's through the 1790's, and fought in the Revolutionary War from
Pittston. Could he have married a Native American lady?

One of my aunts, granddaughter of "Sanford" KIDDER, b1870 Princeton,
ME,...INSISTS ... that there was a Native American woman in her
grandfather's extended family. She said that her grandmother told of
going camping on Cape Cod in the 1910-1920 timeframe and visiting with a
Native American lady who was a relative.

I've been researching the KIDDER surname, and my line as it left NH, spent a
short time in St. Stephen, NB, and then was centered in Washington County,
ME. And, as far as I can tell, all the spouses of the KIDDER's there came
from "English" families along the ME/NB border.

"Sanford" KIDDER's uncle and aunt "Calvin" and Miranda KIDDER lived part of
their married life in the Indian Township which borders on Princeton. But,
this was in the later 1800's.

During the 1800's, would the Native Americans in Maine .. have had "British"
surnames? If so, it would be very hard to tell whether they were from
"British" families or who were from "British" / Native American marriages.
What about the 1700's? Would Native Americans in "Maine" in the 1700's
have had "one name" or would some of them have had a "British" surname?

FYI: The WILKINS family I am interested in started out in the Vassalboro
and Unity, ME, area, and around 1830 went up to Amity, ME. I only know
about the two younger children of Samuel and Electa: Mary WILKINS who
married J. Calvin KIDDER, and George WILKINS who married Mary Ann NEAL. I
have not yet found out strong information about their older brothers,
Samuel WILKINS, Jr., and Almon WILKINS who pretty much stayed in the Amity,
ME, area.

There was another WILKINS daughter in the Unity or Vassalboro, ME, area in
the 1810 or 1820 Census. I don't know whether she married and remained in
that area, or whether she died young.

Thank you for your time.

Betty (near Lowell, MA)



FYI: I met a lady at a thrift shop yesterday. We met at the
children's book counter. I asked if she was shopping for her
grandchildren. She said, "No, I am shopping for my great-grandchildren."
She has 14 of them, with another due to be born next month. She is 85
years old. I didn't have time to ask her if she did genealogy. I guess
she has enough trouble handling her own .. family tree. :o)

I just had my first grandchild this summer; I hope I have 14 more. But,
since I only have 2 sons, that is asking .. a bit much! (In these days
and times) But, I do have two almost-grandchildren and two
almost-step-grandchildren, and I guess I will have to settle for that!
:o)






"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children;
one is roots, the other is wings."

Hodding Carter, Jr.







"What does Jesus want in his "stocking" on Christmas morning?
Loving kindness, a warm heart, and the stretched out hand of tolerance!"

The Bishop's Wife (1947)

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• [MELINCOL] Residents of "Maine" - 1700's - Native American Spouses? by "BBFFRRPP" <>