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- NATHANIEL WILDER Source - Book of The Wilders by Rev. Moses H. Wilder,pg. 77: Nathanael Wilder, son of Nathanael, a farmer, lived in what is now Sterling, married soon after the Indian War, and had twelve children.In the early settlement of Petersham, when he was about 60 years of age, he made a purchase of 700 acres of land, and removed to the new town. His name was first on the list of members of the Congregational Church at its organization in 1745.
He was a man of great force and character, never failing in an enterprisebecause of its difficulty, and did much to give strength and character tothe new town. It is said of him as a kind of tradition in the family,that when over seventy-two years of age , he took a horseback journey,and put up for the night in a tavern where he was accustomed to stop. On retiring for the night, the landlord told him he must not go to the barnin the morning, as he was in the habit of doing, until he was with him, for there was a furious bull in the yard, and his life would be indanger. He had always cared for his horse, and he was not baffled. He took his whip and, booted and spurred, he went into the yard, when, trueto his nature, the bull came after him. He stepped aside, and as hepassed, he sprang upon the back of the enraged animal, and with spur andwhip, he rode him around the yard until he was unable to go any further.Two of his sons went with him to Petersham, others settled in other towns, and have left a very large list of descendants".
July 31, 1704 Nathaniel Wilder Sr. (his father) was killed by Indians. The article also says that:
"Not only was he killed by Indians on his own place but the Indians killed 6 oxen, 5 cows, 3 calves, 16 sheep, twelve swine and burned his barn together with 12 loads of good English hay. Of his children Oliver, Jonathan, Ephraim and Nathaniel were captured by the Indians."
Evidently, the Indians must have released their captives unharmed or else they were rescued as they lived quite productive lives in 'civilization'.
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1688 - 
d. 31 Jul 1704, Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States