Thursday, February 4, 2010

Wardwell Family of Oxford Maine Family Bible Links To Revolutionary War Hero


The descendants of Joseph Hemingway Wardwell may want to take a look at the family bible that is up for auction at eBay. Originally published in 1828 by C. Ewer, T. Bedlington and J. H. Frost of Boston, the book is in remarkably good condition because it was stored in an oak box (which is included in the purchase price). The family history information is laid out in very ledgible handwriting starting with Joseph H. Wardwell, born October 5th, 1795.

Online, there is a wealth of information about Wardwell's family. He was apparently the son of Joseph Wardwell (1759-1849) and Sarah Hemmenway. Joseph Wardwell (1759-1849) was in the Revolutionary War having served with General Lafayette. There is a lot of information about the Wardwell family at History of Rumford, Oxford County, Maine, from its first settlement in 1779, to the present time. An excerpt: "This town was granted to inhabitants of Andover, Mass., and neighbor-ing towns, and was largely settled by people from Andover. The early Merrills, Poors, Adamses Wardwells and Abbots came from there, while others came from Newbury, Amesbury and Bradford."

Or this: "Joseph Wardwell was born in Andover, Mass., January 29, 1759, and was the son of Joshua and Mary Wardwell of that ancient town. He entered the Colonial service at the beginning of the Revolution, a mere boy, and served through the war. He entered as a private but was promoted to a Lieutenancy and served in the corps commanded by General Lafayette. He was in all the great battles of the long war, and gained an enviable reputation for gallantry and bravery. A sword presented him by General Lafayette for conspicuous bravey at the siege of Yorktown is still preserved in the family..."

Online information shows that Joseph Wardwell senior was the sone of Joshua Wardwell (1728-c1805) and Mary Sanders (1727-1805) of Andover and the line goes back several generations in colonial America.

Take a look at this excellently perserved family bible at eBay using item number 120525297328.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This bible belonged to my ancestor Joseph Wardwell. Yes I am a descendant of Joseph Hemingway Wardwell. My aunt in Ohio is the current posessor of our ancestor's sword and part of one of his old uniforms. The current living Wardwell's are disopointed to learn that our family bible has turned up and we didnt know know of it until February 23, 2010. I hope the buyer of our family bible is happy with it. But PLEASE care for it. Please take good care of it and hopefully it can end up in the pocession of its original family, the Wardwell's.

D----- Wardwell

Anonymous said...

Hello everyone. I really just wanted to thank the purchaser of the bible, they returned it to my aunt in Ohio and she sent it to us here in Colorado as a Christmas present, best gift I have ever gotten.

D***** Wardwell