USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 50
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He married, October 12, 1856, Emma Wight, daughter of Hervey and Patty (Whit- ing) Wight, of Buckland, Massachusetts (see Wight ). Children: 1. Edward E., born July 26, 1857; married September 8, 1885, Ella Eames, of Bath, Maine, daughter of Henry and Adelia ( Morse ) Eames ; children : Henry, Eames ; George Wight (died in infancy). 2. Mina E., born April 13, 1860.
Thomas Wight, the immigrant
WIGHT ancestor, was born probably in the Isle of Wight, England, and came from there to New England. He was in Watertown as early as 1635-6. On July 18, 1637, he, with eleven others, having sub- scribed to the covenant, were admitted in- habitants of Dedham. At this time he had a wife Alice and four children, and was allot- ted twelve acres of land. He and his wife were admitted to the church September 6, 1640, and October 8 of the same year he was admitted a freeman. He was selectman of Dedham six years beginning in 1641. He was fourth on a list of subscribers to a free school in Dedham. In 1650 he with others was appointed by the town to attend to the erection of a village for the Indians at Natick. He was one of the thirteen original settlers of Medfield, and was one of a committee of five to lay out lots in the new town. He was often on important committees in the same line. His house was on what is now Green street, a little way from North street, Medfield, and he was the wealthiest man in town at the time of settlement. He was a very prominent citizen, was deacon of the church, and on the committee to seat the meeting house. He re- ceived large grants of land, and he and his sons were among the subscribers to assist Harvard College. He was selectman nine- teen years. His will, dated February 7, 1672, proved April 2, 1674, refers to an agreement made before marriage with his second wife, and bequeaths to his children. He died March 17, 1673-4. His first wife Alice died July 15, 1665, and he married ( second) December 7, 1665, Lydia, sister of John Eliot, the fa- mous Apostle to the Indians. She was prob- ably baptized at Nasing, England, July I, 1610, daughter of Bennett Eliot. She mar- ried (first) James Penniman, who died in 1664, leaving her with nine children. Her will was dated December 2, 1673, proved July 27, 1676. Children of Thomas and Alice
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Wight : I. Henry, mentioned below. 2. John. 3. Thomas. 4. Mary. 5. Samuel (see sketch). 6. Ephraim, born in Dedham, Jan- uary 27, 1645.
(II) Sergeant Henry, son of Thomas Wight, was born in England, and came with his parents to America, settling in Dedham in 1637. He was admitted to the church Au- gust 14, 1646, and a freeman May 26, 1647. In 1652 he was given a grant of land by his father, and remained in Dedham when his father removed to Medfield. He was con- stable in 1658, and selectman from 1661 for ten years, holding the office at the time of his death. He had a grant of one hundred and twenty acres from the town in 1665. On February 24, 1672-3, he was on a committee of three to lay out a lot for the minister at Wrentham and to see about a church lot there. He inherited the family homestead from his father, and was an executor of the will. He died intestate, February 27, 1680. He married, about 1652, Jane Goodnow, of Sudbury, daughter of John and Jane Good- now. She was admitted to the church June 12, 1653, and died in Dedham May 16, 1684. Children : I. John, born December 13, 1652; died in Dedham, October 28, 1671. 2. Jo- seph, born May II, 1654; mentioned below. 3. Daniel, November 24, 1656. 4. Benjamin, June 18, 1659. 5. Jonathan, July 2, 1662.
(III) Deacon Joseph, son of Henry Wight, was born in Dedham, May II, 1654, and died June 23, 1729. He was admitted a freeman May 8, 1678. He was elected selectman in 1690, and served eighteen years, and was town clerk thirteen years from 1709. For thirty- three years until his death he was deacon of the First Church of Dedham. He was a saintly man, beloved by the whole community, and it is said of him that "many parents car- ried their young children to him that he might implore for them the favor of Heaven." He was strict in his observance of all the forms of religion, and practiced as he preached. When he was over seventy years of age it is recorded that "Mr. Jabez Pond shall for the future read the psalm and tune it, deacon Wight not being able." His will was dated January 2, 1724-25, and proved Novem- ber 20, 1731. He married (first) January 15, 1670, Deborah Colborn, born January 28, 1656, died in Dedham, August 30, 1684, daughter of Nathaniel and Priscilla (Clark ) Colborn. He married (second) April 22, 1685, Mary Stearns, born August 22, 1661, lied December 25. 1733, daughter of Lieu-
tenant Nathaniel and Mary (Stone) Stearns. Children : I. Joseph, born December 10, 1681 ; mentioned below. 2. Deborah, August 25, 1684. 3. Nathaniel, September 13, 1688. 4. Ebenezer, January 22, 1696. 5. Jabez, July 12, 170I.
(IV) Deacon Joseph (2), son of Joseph (1) Wight, was born in Dedham, December IO, 1681, and died July 14, 1756. Soon after the death of his father, Joseph was chosen deacon, and remained in the office until his death, twenty-nine years later. He gave a lot of land to the church in 1742, for which the church tendered him a vote of thanks. He was selectman of Dedham fourteen years, from 1741. About 1756 his house with six others was destroyed by fire. He married (first) April 6, 1709, Sarah (Avery) Metcalf, widow of Thomas Metcalf. She was born October 9, 1675, died June 28, 1748, daughter of William and Mary (Lane) Avery. He married (second) April 24, 1750, Mary (Smith) Plimpton, born November 22, 1688, died June 21, 1774, widow of Henry Plimp- ton, of Medfield, and daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Clark) (Bowers) Smith. Children : I. Joseph, born January 7, 1710; mentioned below. 2. Henry, April 6, 1713; probably died young.
(V) Joseph (3), son of Joseph (2) Wight, was born in Dedham, January 7, 1710, and re- sided in Dedham. His will was dated April 10, 1780, and proved February 28, 1786. He married, in Dedham, January 13, 1734, Mir- iam Stanley, who died of old age January 3, 1797, aged eighty-six. She united with the church August 10, 1735. Children : I. Anna, born March 12, 1735. 2. Miriam, December 5. 1736. 3. Henry, November II, 1738. 4. Joseph, December 17, 1740 ; mentioned below. 5. Samuel, born January 2, 1742. 6. Thomas, born February 23, 1744. 7. Sarah, October 25, 1747 ; died young. 8. William, born Sep- tember. 1750; died April 27, 1752. 9. Sarah, born October 1, 1753.
(VI) Joseph (4), son of Joseph (3) Wight. was born at Dedham, December 17, 1740, and baptized January 25 following. He married, September 16, 1762, Judith Everett, died De- cember 4, 1818, daughter of Eleazer and Ju- dith (Dean) Everett. They joined the Ded- ham church April 17, 1763, but soon after- ward removed to Rutland, where their seven eldest children, with the exception of Eleazer, were born. In the revolutionary war he an- swered the call of the Lexington alarm, April 19. 1775, and afterward enlisted in the regu-
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lar army. In 1780 he removed to Norwich, Massachusetts, and was selectman in 1788-9. Children : 1. Catherine, born August 26, 1763. 2. Meltiah, November 7, 1765. 3. Joseph, April 2. 1767 ; mentioned below. 4. Judith, February 2, 1769. 5. Eleazer, July 16, 1771. 6. Miriam, June 18, 1773. 7. Alice, April II, 1778. 8. Joel, born in Norwich, August 23, 1781. 9. Sarah, born in Norwich, July 20, 1784.
(VII) Joseph (4), son of Joseph (3) Wight, was born in Rutland, Massachusetts, April 2, 1767, and died February 10, 1805. He resided in Norwich, Massachusetts. He married, according to Norwich town records, December 31, 1792 (by Rev. Stephen Tracy) Lydia Harris, born 1770, died May 10, 1805, daugh- ter of John and Susanna (Gay) Harris, of Dedham. According to the Dedham church and town records, John and Lydia were mar- ried by Rev. Jason Haven, of Dedham, Feb- ruary 28, 1793. Children: I. Harris, born May 9, 1794. 2. Electa, June 14, 1796. 3. Susan, September 14. 1798. 4. Hervey, Jan- uary 31, 1801 ; mentioned below. 5. Joseph, June II, 1805.
(VIII) Hervey, son of Joseph (4) Wight, was born January 31, 1801, and died Novem- ber 25, 1840. He resided in Buckland, Mass- achusetts. He married, September 1, 1825, Patty Whiting, born December 29, 1802. Children : 1. Sarah C., born August 29, 1828; died September 12, 1834. 2. Electa H., born October 17, 1829; died July 1, 1846. 3. Ellen M., born December 31, 1831. 4. Hervey J., born December 24, 1833, died November 4, 1840. 5. Emma S., born August 17, 1836; married Edward Everett Wood (see Wood).
(For first generation see preceding sketch).
(II) Samuel Wight, son of WIGHT Thomas Wight, was born Feb- ruary 5, 1639-40, and baptized September 15, 1640, in Dedham, Massachu- setts. He removed about 1650 to Medfield with his father. He was admitted a freeman October 8, 1672, and as early as 1673 was set- tled in the north part of the town. He was constable in that year, and in 1675 his name appears on a list of Medfield proprietors. His house was burned by the Indians in King Philip's war, February 21, 1676, but was re- built, apparently on the same spot, the site of which was at last accounts still visible. On account of his loss he was excused from his subscription of one bushel of corn to the "new brick college" (Harvard) at Cambridge, and
was granted his taxes for the year. His name appears on the Dedham tax list also, and in 1702 as a proprietor of the "black swamp" in Medway. He was a member of the Medfield church in 1697. His will was dated May 19, 1710, and he died December 21, 1716. He married, March 25, 1663, Hannah Albee, born in Braintree, August 16, 1641, died April 24, 1723, daughter of Benjamin Albee. The marriage is recorded in an ancient Bible now or lately owned by a descendant, Martha Gibbs, of Marietta, Georgia. Children, born in Medfield : 1. Hannah, March 25, 1664 ; died young. 2. Samuel, November 11, 1665. 3. Hannah, February 4, 1667. 4. John, May 22, 1670. 5. Nathaniel, October 11, 1672; died October 13, 1675. 6. Benjamin, born Janu- ary 30, 1674. 7. Abigail, November 8, 1676. 8. Joseph, September 7, 1679; mentioned below. 9. Jonathan, September 1I, 1682.
(III) Deacon Joseph, son of Samuel Wight, was born in Medfield, September 7, 1679, and died October 25, 1758. He inherited the homestead on North street, Medfield, and a part of the black swamp. He married ( first ) Mercy -, died January 31, 1724; (sec- ond) February 15, 1725, in Boston, Mrs. Martha Thayer, of Bellingham, who died Oc- tober 14. 1759. He sold his Medfield estate and removed to Bellingham in 1729, and No- vember 23, 1737, his name appears in the first list of the members of the Bellingham Bap- tist church, where he served as a deacon. Children, all by first wife : I. Mercy, born No- vember 6, 1702. 2. Joseph, January 14, 1704. 3, Samuel, March 8, 1707; died in Medfield, August 14, 1708. 4." Rebecca, born June 2, 1709. 5. Keziah, November 22, 1712; died in Medfield, November 11, 1717. 6. Elnathan, December 23, 1715: mentioned below. 7. Martha, September 18. 1718. 8. Keziah, January 25, 1724.
(IV) Rev. Elnathan, son of Deacon Jo- seph Wight, was born in Medfield. He re- moved to Bellingham with his father, and bought sixteen acres of land there from Dea- con Joseph Holbrook. He decided to study for the ministry, but met with many discour- agements on account of his views regarding baptism, but finally commenced to study un- der Rev. Mr. Graham, of Stonington, Con- necticut. For more than three years he studied, and in 1749 was refused a license to preach. He started for New Jersey to ob- tain the desired license, but met with so many difficulties that he returned before he reached his destination. He finally obtained a license
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from the Pedobaptists. With fear and trem- bling he preached his first sermon, March 4, 1750, but found that he was composed and was much relieved. He was called to preach to the Bellingham church, but the Presbyter- ian ministers refused to ordain him, but this was done by the Baptist ministers January 14, 1755, and he continued as pastor of the church until his death, at the age of forty-six. He was an open-communion Baptist, and used his efforts to unite the Congregational and Bap- tist churches, without success. Naturally quick tempered, he gained such control over himself that he became a pleasant and in- structive companion. He was studious, and always, wrote his sermons and read them. Several were published, among them his own ordination sermon. His diary shows him to have been very conscientious and of earnest piety. The following inscription was placed over his door: "I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living." He married, August 13, 1754, Abigail Blood, who married (second) August 15, 1764, Nathan Mann, of Wrentham, who the same year was appointed guardian of her children. Upon the death of her second hus- band, she returned to Bellingham, and re- sided with her son Eliab Wright, where she died February 26, 1802, aged eighty-four. Children: 1. Nathan, born August 15, 1757; mentioned below. 2. Eliab, June 29, 1760.
(V) Captain Nathan, son of Rev. Elnathan Wight, was born in Bellingham, August 15, 1757. He was brought up on the farm of his stepfather, in Wrentham, under the ministry of Dr. N. Emmons, and upon coming of age he and his brother Eliab took possession of their father's estate at Bellingham, where they lived somc time together. Nathan ultimately resigned the whole of the estate to his brother. He and his brother bought a farm in South Brimfield (now Wales), from Daniel Munger, November 11, 1796, and next year Eliab sold to Nathan his share, and Nathan settled in Wales. Hc was a prominent man, and served as selectman in 1799, 1800, and 1802. He was a farmer and drover, shipping to Holland pur- chase, New York. Upon the death of his wife hc removed to Attica, New York, and died there of apoplexy, December 1, 1832, "very much lamented by all his acquaintances," according to a letter written by his son The- ron to his brother Pliny, December 9, 1832. He further states that their father had been at work in his saw mill the Thursday prcvi- ous to his death, and had been out of doors
half an hour before he died. He was a sol- dier in the revolution, in Captain Asa Fair- bank's company, and answercd the Lexington alarm April 19, 1775; also in same company, Colonel Benjamin Hawes's regiment, Septem- ber 30 to October 31, 1777, at Rhode Island. He married, in Franklin, November 6, 1780, Jerusha Metcalf, born there 1760, died April 8, 1817, daughter of Colonel James and Abiel (Haven) Metcalf. Children, born in Bell- ingham: I. Pliny, June 2, 1783; mentioned below. 2. James, January 2, 1786; died un- married, 1841. 3. Lucippa, born November 28, 1788. 4. Theron, March 23, 1794. 5. Julietta, July 17, 1799.
(VI) Pliny, son of Nathan Wight, was born in Bellingham, June 2, 1783, and died June 5, 1835. He removed to South Brim- field with his father, and married there, Oc- tober 25, 1806, Anna Fletcher, born in Sut- ton, January 8, 1781, died June 12, 1856, in Wales, daughter of Ephraim and Sarah (Dav- enport ) Fletcher. Her sister Polly was wife of James I. Wales, for whom the town was named. Mr. Wales died childless, leaving his large fortune to his nephews and nieces, the children of Pliny Wight. Pliny studied law and started to practice his profession in Hart- ford, Connecticut, but in 1811 returned to South Brimfield (Wales). Children, the two eldest born in Hartford, the others in Wales: I. Caroline Metcalf, September 20, 1807. 2. Preston Fletcher, April 20, 1809; mentioned below. 3. Leonard Burke, August 31, 181, in East Hartford. 4. Nathan Davenpor May 7, 1813. 5. Mary Lawrence, July 1815. 6. Nancy Haven, February 7, 1818. Jane Damaris, May II, 1820. 8. Lyman I coln, July 21, 1822.
(VII) Preston Fletcher, son of Pliny Was born in Wales, Massachusetts, A 1809, and died November 27, 1889. a farmer in Wales, and for many : class-leader in the Methodist church the. was an oversecr in the woolen mill younger days. He married ( first) Nov 3. 1832, Sabria Nelson Young, born in March 21, 1813, died August 21, 1862, gh- ter of William and Hannah ( Walker ) Young. Hc married (second) June 6, 1863, Maria W. Stetson, born in Charlton, May 3, 1823, died July 7, 1888, daughter of Samuel and Caro- linc (Boyden). Children: I. Rev. William Harrison, born February 10, 1834; Methodist minister ; preached at Rochester, Vermont, and other places. 2. Henry Kirke, born Jan- uary 28, 1836; mentioned below. 3. Charlotte
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Amelia, born April 2, 1840; married Charles L. Lord, of Athol, Massachusetts. 4. Mary Louisa, born May 13, 1842 ; teacher in Spring- field schools.
(VIII) Henry Kirke, son of Preston Flet- cher Wight, was born in Brimfield, January 28, 1836. He received his education in the public schools, and when a boy worked in the woolen mills. He attended the public schools of Wales, Palmer and Monson, Massachu- setts, where the family lived during his youth, and the high school at Brattleboro, Vermont. After some further study under private tutors he went to work in the woolen mill, making cloth by contract. When he was nineteen he had a contract at Wilbraham, Massachusetts, that required two years to complete. At twenty- one he engaged in business at Wilbraham as a dealer in woolen waste. In 1860 he leased a small mill at Ludlow, Massachusetts, and did custom manufacturing in woolens until 1874. He bought a flour, feed and grain store at Indian Orchard in 1868. He built the store there in 1873, and has made his home in Indian Orchard since 1874. In 1875, in company with other capitalists, he built a brick block in that town, and Wight's Hall on Main street. For ten years he was a partner in the grocery business in this block. He was one of the purchasers of the old Indian Orchard Company in 1889. The new corporation, formed the following year with a capital of $225,000, has conducted the mills to the pres- ent time successfully, giving employment to a hundred and fifty hands, and owning many tenements and other real estate in the village. He was a director and treasurer of the cor- poration and has charge of its real estate. In 1879 he was elected a director of the Chap- man Valve Company. He was instrumental in getting the Hodges Fiber Carpet Company to locate in Indian Orchard, and is now presi- dent of the corporation. He is a director and treasurer of the Metallic Drawing Roll Com- pany and of the Hough Cashier Recorder Company, and president of the Wight-Thayer Coal Company.
He has been active and influential in public affairs. Indian Orchard is part of the city of Springfield. From 1875 to 1882 he repre- sented his ward in the Springfield board of aldermen, and for six years he was a member of the school board of the city. In politics he is a Republican. In addition to his other interests Mr. Wight represented the Home Insurance Company of New York many years, and January 1, 1899, he received from the
company a handsome medal with this inscrip- tion : "Presented to Henry K. Wight, in rec- ognition of twenty years continuous repre- sentation of the Home Insurance Company of New York, January 1, 1899." He is a mem- ber of Roswell Lee Lodge of Free Masons; of the Massachusetts Society Sons of the Rev- olution ; of the Nayasset Club, and of the Oak Bluff Club of Cottage City, Martha's Vine- yard, where he has a summer home. Mr. Wight is keenly interested in family and local history. The author of the excellent Wight genealogy says: "Both Henry Kirke Wight and his wife have been of incalculable service to me in the preparation of this work-assist- ance which they have supplemented with a kindly hospitality." In religion Mr. Wight is a Congregationalist, and his family attends the Evangelical Church of Indian Orchard.
He married, December 10, 1862, Jane Ade- line Eaton, born at East Lyme, Connecticut, September 30, 1839, only child of Deacon Jacob Swetland and Adeline (Reynolds) Eaton. The Eatons lived for many years at Ludlow, Massachusetts, and at last accounts the ancient house on the homestead was still standing. She was a descendant of John Eaton, the pioneer, who died at Dedham, Massachusetts, November 17, 1658. She was engaged in teaching school in Mississippi when the civil war broke out, and came north on the last boat up the river to Cairo, Illinois. She was interested in literary and genealogical re- search, was a member of the Eaton Family Association, and one of the executive com- mittee, and a member of the Daughters of the Revolution. She died March 8, 1908. Chil- dren : I. Walter Kirke, born and died July 8, 1868. 2. Ralph Waldo; mentioned below.
(IX) Ralph Waldo, son of Henry Kirke Wight, was born in Indian Orchard, August 6, 1876. He attended the public schools there and graduated from 'Amherst College with the de- gree of B. S. in the class of 1899. He began his business career as traveling salesman for the Indian Orchard Company, and after a few years was elected assistant treasurer of the company, an office that he held until June I, 1906, when he resigned to become treasurer of the Chapman Valve Manufacturing Com- pany. He is also the treasurer of the Wight- Thayer Company, of which his father is the head. In 1905, 1906 and 1907 he served in the common council of Springfield, and later two years as president of board; and in 1908 and 1909 was a member of the board of alder- men. He is a Republican. He was for three
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years a director of the Board of Trade of Springfield, has been for the past four years a member of the finance committee, two years chairman of the committee on lighting streets and also served on the municipal building commission. He is a member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity of Amherst College; of Springfield Lodge of Free Masons; of Hamp- den Lodge of Odd Fellows, and of the Nay- asset Club of Springfield.
He married, June 14, 1905, Laura E. Staf- ford, born September 4, 1882, daughter of William H. and Hattie (Horton) Stafford, of Boston. They have one child, Kirke Staf- ford, born May 19, 1906.
STEARNS The surnames Stearns, Sterns, Sternes, Strans, etc., are un- doubtedly corruptions of vari- ations of the English family name Sterne, a well-known name in the counties of Not- tingham, Berks, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cam- bridge, England. Of the Sterne family the oldest coat-of-arms is: Or, a chevron between three crosses flory sable. Crest : a cock stra- ling proper. These arms were borne by the Archbishop of York ( 1664-83). Other fami- lies of the name had devices slightly varied from this one.
(I) Isaac Stearns, immigrant ancestor, was born probably in the parish of Nayland, Suf- folkshire, England. He embarked for America, April 8, 1630, in the ship "Arabella," in which came also Rev. George Phillips, Sir Richard Saltonstall and family and Governor Win- throp. Four ships sailed together from Yar- mouth, England, the "Arabella" arriving at Salem, Massachusetts, June 12, 1630. But the pioneers were not pleased with that point, and they proceeded to what is now Charles- town and Watertown, where most of them settled. Stearns had a homestall at Water- town in 1642, bounded on tlie north by land of John Warren, west by the highway, south by land of Biscoe; east by Pequssett Meadow, a part of which he also owned. In the dis- tribution of the estate of his son Samuel in 1724. this homestall "where his grandfather had lived" was assigned to his son Nathaniel. He was admitted a freeman May 18, 1631 and was selectman several years. In 1647 he and Mr. Biscoe were appointed by the selectmen "to consider how the bridge over the river shall be built, and to agree with the workmen for doing it, according to their best discretion." This is the first mention of a bridge over the Charles river at Watertown. He acquired
a large estate for his day, leaving fourteen parcels of land amounting to 467 acres. He died June 28, 1671. His will, dated five days before his death, mentions his children and others. He married Mary Barker, died April 2, 1677, daughter of John and Margaret Bar- ker of Stoke, Nayland, Suffolkshire, England. Children : 1. Mary, baptized at Nayland, Jan- uary 6, 1626; married (first ) July 9, 1646, in Woburn, Isaac Learned, only son of William ; (second) John Burge, of Weymouth. 2. Hannah, baptized October 5, 1628, in Eng- land : married, December 25, 1650, Henry Freeman. 3. John, born about 1631; men- tioned below. 4. Isaac Jr., born January 6, 1633; died August 29, 1676. 5. Sarah, born September 22, 1635; married, June 7, 1655, Deacon Samuel Stone. 6. Samuel, born April 24, 1638; died August 3, 1683. 7. Elizabeth, born 1640; married, April 13, 1664, Samuel Manning. 8. Abigail, married, April 27, 1666, Deacon John Morse.
(II) John, son of Isaac Stearns, was one of the first settlers of Billerica, Massachu- setts. He married (first ) in 1653, Sarah, only daughter of Isaac and Sarah Mixer, of Water- town. to whom her father bequeathed among other things, "one half of my vessel, Dilli- gent." She died June 4, 1656, leaving one child, and he married (second) December 20, 1656, Mary Lothrop, of Barnstable. He died March 5, 1668, and his widow married (sec- ond) May 6, 1669, Captain William French of Billerica, by whom she had a child. Cap- tain French died, and she married (third) June 29, 1684, Isaac Mixer, of Watertown, brother of her husband's first wife. She was living very aged as late as 1735. Child of John and Sarah Stearns: I. John, born May, 1654; mentioned below. Children of
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