Joseph WIGHT

Notes:

Name:
Joseph Wight born May 11, 1654, became a freeman May 8, 1678. "Joseph Wite and Deborath Colborne marryed 15:11:1679" Deborah died in Dedham, August 30, 1684, and Joseph married, April 22, 1685, Mary Stearns. He was selectman eighteen years, first in 1690 and town clerk thirteen years, first in 1709. During the last thirty-three years of his life he was deacon in the First Church, Dedham - in the pastorates of Rev. Joseph Belcher and Rev. Samuel Dexter. Joseph "was a man of superior judgement and of an excellent understanding; and was eminent for piety and sanctity of life. It is illustrative of the opinions and usages of his time, and proof of the high estimation in which he was held, that in his old age, many parents carried their young children to him that he might implore for them the favor of Heaven. In my youth I was acquainted with a venerable matron of this parish, who well remembered him and had received his blessing. She described with much feeling scene, when in her childhood she stood before this good old man who, leaning upon his staff, laid his hand on her head and in prayer, craved for her the blessing of God..... His creed was after the faith of his fathers, and he was of the straitest sect. He was exceedingly tenacious of all the forms and observances of religion practiced by the first settlers of New England and zealously opposed all innovations in doctrine, and usages of worship. When he became the head of a family he failed not in the daily performance of family devotion; and such was his reverence for the Christian Sabbath that it was his uniform practice on that day to assemble his household together in family prayer, morning, noon and evening Heaven gave him length of life, and those who knew him said of him that he passed it in the conscientious performance of his duties to God and to man.

Deacon Joseph's will was made January 2, 1724/5, he died June 23, 1729, and his will was approved November 29, 1731. His widow died in Dedham December 25, 1733.

Joseph married Deborah COLBORNE on 15 Nov 1679. Deborah died on 30 Aug 1684. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Mary STEARNS on 22 Apr 1685. Mary (daughter of Capt Nathaniel STEARNS and Mary STONE) was born on 22 Aug 1661; died on 25 Dec 1733 in Dedham, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Rev. Jabez WIGHT was born on 12 Jul 1701 in Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; died on 15 Sep 1783 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.

Notes:

Name:
Henry Wight born ?, settled with his parents in dedham in 1637. He became a member of the church August 14, 1646, and was admitted a freeman May 26, 1647. In 1652 is recorded the sale of two acres of land which "Whomas Wight doe alienate and grante unto Henery Wight his sonne." About the time of this grant occurred Henry's marriage to Jane Goodenow of Sudbury. Henry Wight remained in Dedham when the remainder of hi father's family removed to Medfield. he is firth mentioned in Dedham records in connection with town affairs in 1653, having been appointed to the discharge of a town office. In 1658 he was made constable by the General Court. He was selectman for ten years his first service being in 1661, and he held that offie at his death. In 1665 is recorded a grant of 120 acres from the town to Henry Wight. The records furnish few instances of so large a gift and no reason is assigned for a favor so unusual. On February 24, 1673(?), Henry Wight was one of thee Dedham citizens appointed to lay out a house lot for Rev. Samuel Mann at Wrentham, and to take care about the church lot there. Henry is mentioned in his father's will as "my eldest son," "my well beloved son," and is appointed one of his executors. Henry received by this will all his father's "houses and lands lying and being in Dedham. This devise included the original grant of 12 acres from the town to Thomas Wight.

Henry's children were born in Dedham, and here he died intestate, Febeuay 27, 1680, or, as the record puts it, "Sergt. Henery Wight deceased 27:12:80." Under March 14, 1680, occurs the following, "At a General Meeting it was proposed to the Town whether they would chose another selectman in the room of Sergt. Wight, deceased." Power to administer upon his estate was granted April 26, 1681 "unto Jane, his relict widow and Joseph Wight his eldest son." The inventory, accepted two days later, aggregated L524.1.0.

Jane Wight, who had joined the church June 12, 1653, died in Dedham, May 16, 1684. Her estate inventoried L462.08.03 - Joseph Wight and Nathaniel Chickering being administrators.

Henry married Jane GOODENOW about 1652. Jane died on 16 May 1684 in Dedham, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]