It can be hard to feel a connection to your Ancestral grandparents. That is why I adore finding physical connections to their lives. When I find a home that they lived in, I can point it out and say, “That’s where they lived. They were really here. It’s more than a name and date on a piece of paper!”
I had already followed my family tree to John Wildes. I descend from his first wife, Priscilla Gould. He soon remarried, Sara and that wife was hung as a witch. John married a third time, to a woman whose husband had been hung as a witch.
Fascinated with the Witch trials, I learned I came from near 6, I think, important families from that era and I spent my time checking out those facts. I overlooked Priscilla, John’s first wife.
Running into cousins online, I fell into some wonderful information. Priscilla Gould was daughter to Zaccheus Gould. He was a founder of Topsfield,Massachusetts and his home still stands. This is incredibly significant as I now have yet another family home still standing. This makes five homes standing that I have found so far. All are on the national register.
Zaccheus Gould’s home in Topsfield,Massachusetts, click here.
He is my 9 Greats, Grandfather. And I can’t wait to go take a peak and a picture of this home.
Here is my Lineage.
Susannah Allen > Ruth Balentine > Sara Kohler > Inez (Allen) Kohler > Mary (Page) Allen >John Page Jr. > Mary (Newcomb) Page > Capt John Newcomb > Ebenezer Newcomb > Sara (Wildes) Hayden > Priscilla (Gould) Wild > Zaccheus Gould
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Zaccheus Gould was my ancestor as well.
Same here!
Hi,
Regarding your Wild(e) research:
Since early families often named their children after relatives who were still living, there could be several people of similar age with the same name living near each other. This sometimes can cause complications in determining which one you are actually related to. Case in point, the first Zaccheus Gould of Topsfield, from whose Ipswich farm lands Topsfield was created, is not the Zaccheus who owned that beautiful white house pictured above. The first Zaccheus died in 1668. The house must have belonged to one of his nephews. If you haven’t seen it, there is a very good book, available in many libraries, titled “The Family of Zaccheus Gould of Topsfield” by Benjamin Gould c 1895. That was a big help to me when I was researching my relative, Jeremiah/ Jeremy Gould, one of the first Zaccheus’ brothers.
Good luck!
hello! I just discovered my that Zaccheus is my 11th great grandfather! I am so excited his house still stands and can’t wait to go see it! I also cannot believe to tie to the salem witch trials! Thank you for sharing!
Your welcome! It’s awesome when you find a house still stands, it makes their lives so real.
Hello. I just found this site and it looks very interesting. Zaccheus Gould is a direct line ancestor. My Gould, Sexton, Young and Phillips line later went to Virginia, what is not WV. I would love to share information.
Sorry for the typo. I meant to say is now part of WV.
Hello,
I am so sorry for taking so long to reply. After 18 years, I changed jobs and have been deep in orientation. My love of genealogy has taken a back seat and I am only now catching up on it. I typically respond within a day or so.
Regarding Gould, my research lead me to find misinformation in the lineage that was done for me. I still cannot prove with certainty that I do or not descend from Zaccheus.
The lineage that was prepared for me states that Priscilla Gould’s son, John Wild moved to Braintree and married Sara Hayden. But I also find that the same John Wild, died at 25 in Topsfield, unmarried. I also find in Braintree information that John Wild came from England, never mentioning any ancestry from Topsfield. But I also find he came from John and Priscilla in Topsfield. I have yet to clarify.
If you have any information that would help solve my lineage, I would love that. Thank you for writing,
Sincerely,
Susannah
My family tree is on ancestry.com. I descend from Zacceheus Gould and I do have a Wild connection in my tree. My email is JoeWW305@aol.com.
Hello,
my name is Daniel Gould, Falmouth, Mass
I have been meaning to take my namesake, Daniel,from Natick, to see the house.
I have a book that traces the family from Zacheus’ arrival
I would like to be in touch by e-mail, if you want.
I’m lucky to be able to have this information.
Are you aware that Joseph Smith, founder of The Morman Faith, is the grandson of a Gould from Topsfield?
Fair winds,
Daniel Gould
Hello,
I have not been on here in months due to a number of reason, my research has been completely ignored. Also, usually I am alerted when there is mail and alas I was not alerted to your letter. Life is now back on track and I can now dive back into my favorite hobby.
I was provided with the genealogy that included the line from John Wild of Braintree, Mass to Zaccheus Gould. I working with that line, I have encountered a hiccup in the work. I now am unable to feel secure in the lineage. I can find proof for and for against the lineage. I must prove parentage for John Wild, son of Priscilla Gould and John Wild Sr.
And no, I had no idea That Joseph Smith is the Grandson! Interesting!
Thank you for writing and I am sorry I was not alerted and that I have been absent.
Best,
Susannah Allen