Nancy Hammond

Nancy married Michael Wilder Jr. on June 15th, 1824 in Lancaster County.

I have not located a Michael Wilder listed as the head of a family on the 1830 census.

Michael Wilder is listed on the 1840 census, household members include; one male under 5, one male 15-19, one male 30-39, one female 5-9, two females 30-39, two male slaves 10-23, one male slave 24-35, one male slave 36-54 and one female slave 10-23.

Michael died probably in early 1847. His will was recorded at the Lancaster County Courthouse on March 11th. 1844. The will was probated June 21st, 1847. Michael named William P. Harcum as the administrator of his estate a left specific instructions to pay off any debts and which lands to sell if additional money was needed to pay those debts. He instructed that the balance of the estate should go to his wife Nancy and then to his children. Michael's burial location is unknown.

The 1849 Personal Property tax list showed that Nancy owned one horse and one metallic clock. No males over 15 were recorded in the household. The 1850 tax list showed no change.

Nancy appears on the 1850 census in Lancaster county. Her real estate is valued at $1,787. Four children are listed with her; Harriett 15, Newman 10, Michael 7 and Sarah 4. Zamoth H. George also lives with family, age 22 and listed as a farmer, he must have moved in after the personal property taxes were recorded but before the census was taken. The agriculture schedule listed that she owned 75 acres with 70 improved and placed the cash value of the farm at $1,700. Livestock was listed as one horse, 2 milk cows, two working cows, one other cow and 13 swine. Farm production from the past year listed 35 bushels of wheat and 250 bushels of Indian corn.

A couple months after the 1850 census Zamoth sold to Nancy a parcel of land on Carter's Creek for $35. The land was formerly the property of James Wilder (her brother-in-law), deceased, that had been seized. The land was bounded on two sides by the property of James W. Gresham and on the other side by Jesse George. Zamoth and Nancy's daughter, Harriet, went on to be married the following year.

On September 10th, 1850 Nancy purchased another parcel of land on Carter's Creek containing 40 acres from Sarah "Sally" A. George of King William County. The land was described as formally belonging to James Wilder and being bounded on the south by James Gresham and the east by Jesse George. Nancy paid $14.75.

The following month Nancy sold Michael W. George (Father of Zamoth) 1 1/2 acres of land for $18.75. The lot was described as "on which the said George has built a house, lying and being situate on Carters Creek, and being bounded on the south by James W. Gresham's land, and on the northwest by Carter's Creek, on the east by the road leading to the steam boat wharf." In the fall of 1854 Nancy sold an additional 1/2 acres of land to Michael W. George for $15. The land was bounded by her own property, land belonging to James W. Gresham, and land already belonging to Michael W. George.

The 1860 census shows Nancy still listed as a family head, her three remaining children live with her. Nancy's occupation is given as farming, her real estate is valued at $800 and her personal estate at $209. Her sons Newman and Michael are both listed working as oyster men. Her daughter Sarah, 14, had been married in the last year to Thomas Hayden, 26, who also lives with them. Thomas works as an oyster man as well and has personal property valued at $45.

Her sons Newman and Michael both joined the army during the Civil War. Newman may not have come home. Nancy recorded her will at Lancaster County courthouse on January 10th, 1863.

The 1870 census shows Nancy living with her son Michael Wilder. Michael is married with two small children and still listed as working as an oyster man. No occupation is given for Nancy.

Nancy died in early 1872 and was buried in what is now called the Wilder Family Plot in Irvington. Her will was probated on March 18th. She left land to her daughter Sarah, a bed and furniture to her grandson Luther H. George and the remainder of her estate to her son Michael.