Joseph WIGHT

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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]

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]