Samuel WIGHT

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Name:
Samuel Wight, born February 5, 1639, is the earliest Wight mentioned in Dedham records: "Samuell ye sone of our brother Thomas Wight was baptised ye 15th of ye 7 month 1640." He moved to Medfield about 1650 with his father. In 1662 "Henirry Smith, John Bowers and Samervell wight are chosen to burn the woods in there severall parts of the town as they live." The ancient Bible of Samyel's remote descendant, Martha Gibbs Wight now of Marietta, Geo., thus records his marriage: "Mr. Samel Wight and Miss Hannah Albee, of Medfield, Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, were married by the Rev. Mr. John Wilson of the town aforesaid on the 25th day of March 1663." Samuel was made a freeman October 8. 1672, and as early as 1673 was settled in the north part of the town. The same year he was constable. His name appears in the list of Medfield proprietors, made in 1675. His home was burned by King Philip's Indians, February 21, 1676, but was rebuilt apparently on the same spot, the sit of which is still visible near the house of Mr. William C. Allen on the west side of North St. On account of his losses by the Indians, Samuel's subscription of one bushel of corn to the "new brick college" at Cambridge, was forgiven. For the same cause he petitioned for relief from his taxes, and the records of the General Court, May 9, 1678, show the following action:

"Samuel Wight of Medfield, having suffered great loss by fire by the Indian enemy, brought very low humbly desired the favor of the Court to remit him the rates about three or four pounds already due for the last year, hoping God will enable him to pay rates again for the future."

The name of Samuel appears in the earl list of Dedham tax-payers; his name and his wife's appear among the members of Medfield parish church in 1697; and his name occurs among the proprietors of the "black swamp" Medway in 1702. His will was made May 19, 1710, appointing his sons Samuel and Joseph executors. He died December 21, 1716; his widow died April 24, 1723; both in Medfield.

Samuel married Hannah ALBEE on 25 Mar 1663. Hannah died on 24 Apr 1723 in Medfield, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Jonathan WIGHT was born on 11 Sep 1682; died on 19 Feb 1779.

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Name:
I know nothing of Thomas Wight's arrival in New England, or his history there previous to the winter of 1635/6, at which time he seems to have been in Watertown. Over a year later he appears tangibly in Dedham. "the 18th of ye 5th month, comonly called July 1637" Thomas Wight with eleven other persons, having been duly certified by the magistrates, and having subscribed unto the covenant, was admitted an inhabitant of Dedham. At tis time his family consisted of his wife Alice or Elsie, and his children Henry, John, Thomas and doubtless Mary. In the distribution of lands for homesteads, Thomas Wight received from the town the portion, twelve acres, allotted to each married man....

The life, then, which our ancestor had abandoned in England, he begins anew in quiet and seclusion in the New England wilds. Far from the excitement of the contests between Charles I and his embittered subjects, the career of Thomas Wight was, as I believe, most congenial and adapted to his character. He and his wife, were received into the church "ye 6th of ye 7 mo. 1640." On October 8, 1640, he became a freeman. For six years, beginning in 1641, he was a selectman of Dedham. His name frequently occurs in the earl records. He took an active part in the concerns of the town and was repeatedly selected for the performance of various public services. The earliest mention of his name in the Record of Births, Marriages and Deaths ,occurs in 16389, in the following style: "Samuel, the son of Thomas & Alice Wight, was borne the 5 of the 12 mo."...

Of his first wife I know but very little. The Dedham records state that Alice, wife of Thomas Wight, was received into the church the 6th day of the 7th month of 1640. The Medfield records give her death July 15, 1665. It is with sincere regret that I am compelled to leave our great mother so meagerly chronicled. On December 7, 1665, Thomas Wight married for this second wife Lydia, widow of James Penniman of Boston, and sister of John Eliot the apostle to the Indians. Lydia Elliot was probably, baptized at Nasing, England, July 1, 1640, her father being Bennett Eliot....

Thomas married Alice/Elsie ?. Alice/Elsie was born in England; died on 15 Jul 1665. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]