Thomas WIGHT

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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....

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

Thomas married Lydia ELIOT on 07 Dec 1665 in Medfield, Massachusetts. Lydia (daughter of Bennet ELIOT and Lettice ALGER) was christened on 1 Jul 1610 in Nasing, England; died before 19 Jul 1676. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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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]

Family/Spouse: Ann ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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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]

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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]

Abiel married Samuel MANNING on 6 May 1673. Samuel (son of William MANNING and Dorothy ?) was born on 21 Jul 1644 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died on 22 Feb 1710/1 in Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jonathan married Margaret FAIRBANKS on 14 Dec 1704. Margaret was born on 5 Jan 1685; died on 31 Oct 1787 in Dover, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jabez married Ruth SWAN on 8 Feb 1726. Ruth (daughter of John SWAN and Susannah EASTMAN) was born on 31 Dec 1703 in Haverhill, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died on 15 Mar 1768 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isaac married Margaret EAGER on 8 Apr 1708. Margaret was born on 25 May 1681 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Jonathan was a carpenter by trade, and a thrifty man he must have been, for he brought up a family of twelve children and sent at least three of them to college. He was selectman in 1747 and 1752. Jonathan made his will January 14, 1782, appointing his sons Jonathan and Aaron his executors. He died in Medfield March 13, 1782, and his will was approved April 2, 1782 - inventory L392.16.6. His widow died in Medfield July 28, 1798.

Jonathan married Sarah PLIMPTON on 22 Nov 1732 in Medfield, Massachusetts. Sarah was born on 23 Oct 1711; died on 28 Jul 1798 in Medfield, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]