USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holland > History of the town of Holland, Massachusetts > Part 49
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Stephen Clements Weld was in the grocery business with his father for some time in Holland and held office in Holland as shown by the list of town officers. He married as above indicated and had a daughter. On leaving Holland they went to South Hadley Falls, where he died.
William Allan Weld m. (1) Emeline G. Howard, Feb. 9, 1878; d. Feb. 10, 1885; m. (2) Eliza J. Kenerson, b. Jan. 31, 1857 ; no children; live in Mansfield, Conn.
In a note to the author Wm. A. Weld writes as follows :- My grandfather Willard Weld (descended from Capt. Joseph Weld (see genealogy) who came to this country from England in 1632 and settled in Boston) moved from Charlton to Hol- land probably about 1805, and bought a large farm which is now partly covered by the Hamilton Reservoir. The build-
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
ings stood near the dam and were destroyed by fire many years ago, the barn some years before the house which was very large, old fashioned, with two front doors. He spent the remainder of his days there and brought up a family of eight children, four boys and four girls. He died Sept. 11, 1848. His wife, Mary P., died Nov. 26, 1846. Later he married Betsy O. Gould who lived many years after his death. My father, Hollis Witt Weld, managed (the farm a year and then it was sold, either at that time or later to Amos Munroe, who after- wards was proprietor of Brimfield Hotel until his death. Later it became the property of Mr. Alexander. My mother was Emmeline, the adopted daughter of Harris and Persis Cutler who came from Guildhall, Vt., when mother was about eight years old and lived on a small farm south of Siog Lake. It was afterwards the home of Dea. Alvin Goodell, who lived to be ninety-four, I think. He told of going for the Doctor to Brimfield the Sunday afternoon that I was born, there being none in Holland.
My grandfather's family were intimate with the Kinneys who kept the Holland Hotel so many years and would oc- casionally arrange for a family reunion at that place, for Ma'am Kinney was always more than glad apparently to see them, and even us of the later generations. I can almost see her now as we two sat in the back parlor where she asked all about everybody. Kinney's hotel was well known to the people of adjoining towns, and a popular resort for sleigh ride parties, who would go there and have a supper and then a dance. The railroads have left Holland out in the cold but in my grandfather's days it was a prosperous farming com- munity and supported two churches."
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745
THE WIGHT FAMILY
THE WIGHT FAMILY
Thomas Wight was the ancestor of the Wights in this country. He was a native of the Isle of Wight, England; and was driven from his country by the religious persecutions of the time. He came to Dedham in 1637 with his wife Alice, and three sons, he removed from Dedham to Medfield, at the close of the year 1652; he died there in March 17, 1674.
Samuel Wight, b. Feb. 5, 1639 in Dedham, m. Hannah Albie of Medfield Mar. 25, 1663. They had nine children Jonathan Wight b. Sept. 11, 1682, in Medfield, m. Margaret Fairbanks Dec. 14, 1704. They had nine children. Jonathan Wight b. Oct. 11, 1705; m. Sarah Plimpton, Nov. 22, 1732. They had fourteen children. David Wight, b. Ang. 16, 1733; m. Catherine Morse of Medfield, June 19, 1760. In 1773 he sold his property in Medfield, and purchased 1,000 acres of wild land in Sturbridge, for the sum of $4,500. He was a stanch patriot and served in the Revolutionary war, he was energetic in local public affairs, served as selectman, town clerk, assessor and with his family belonged to the Congrega- tional Church, he lived to be 89 years of age.
His wife Catherine reached the age of 90 years. David Wight Jr. was born in Medway, May 19, 1761; he mn. Susanna Harding of Medway Nov. 7, 1782; he was a prosperous farmer and held offices in the town of Sturbridge as selectman, town clerk and assessor. He was prominent in politics, was a Whig. He and his wife led a long and useful life, and were members of the Congregational Church.
Col. Wight (son of David Jr.) was b. Nov. 5, 1786; d. Mar. 28, 1861; in. about 1808 to Lucinda Marsh. she was b. 1785; d. Dec. 1860.
Col. David Wight kept good the reputation of his ancestors; he was a useful and respected citizen and was ever found in the path of duty. Their children were :
I. Lucinda& M., b. Apr 20, 1810; d. Apr. 16, 1891.
II. Davids, b. Sept. 11, 1811; d. Sept. 11, 1876.
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
III. Emily8, b. Aug. 30, 1813; d. Apr. 25, 1814.
IV. Emerson8, b. Mar. 26, 1815; d. Jan. 1, 1890.
V. Emelines, b. May 17, 1818; d. Jan. 1, 1892.
VI. Andrews, b. Jan. 30, 1820; d. Aug. 9, 1899.
VII. Aaron8, b. Dec. 26, 1821; d. Mar. 21, 1885.
VIII. Georges, b. Dec. 14, 1823; d. June 6, 1825.
IX. Georges, b. June 30, 1825; d. Aug. 12, 1912.
X. Franciss, b. Feb. 1, 1830; d. Oct. 25, 1909.
David Wight (son of Col. David) m. Eunice Drake, (See Drake Genealogy.) They had a son.
David Brainerd Wight who m. Emily Janes, (see Janes Genealogy), her grandfather Levi Janes lived in Holland where John Hebard now lives.
Francis Wight the youngest son of Col. David Wight, was educated in the public schools of Sturbridge and Monson Academy ; he taught school a number of terms. He married in 1853, Mary Ann Elizabeth Kinney, who was born in Holl- and, Mass. Nov. 10, 1834, dau. of Elisha and Mary Ann (Marcy) Kinney of Holland Hotel Fame. Mr. and Mrs. Wight boarded at the home of her parents for several years, he working in the auger works, at Snellville, Sturbridge, Mass., and driving back and forth daily. In 1890 he purchased the old Marcy homestead of one hundred acres, in the town of Holland and conducted a dairy business with success. He also bought and occupied the Lucinda Wood property at the center of the town and lived a retired life.
Mr. Wight was a Republican in politics and took active part in municipal affairs of Holland, ever having an intelligent interest in local government.
He held the office of selectman eleven years, he was town clerk four years and town treasurer eighteen years. Mr. Wight also served several years as a member of the school board of Holland, he held other responsible offices during his life.
His wife Mary A. (Kinney) Wight d. Sept. 30, 1897; he m. (2) Fannie Smith May 15, 1899 ; he had two children by his wife Mary.
Children.
I. George Omer, b. Sept. 9, 1855; d. Sept. 15, 1855.
II. Everett Elisha, b. July 10, 1858; d. Mar. 8, 1860.
747
CONCLUDING REMARKS
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Reader, and friends of Holland :- We have faithfully tried to present to you the history of the little town that never had, so far as the records show, five hundred inhabitants. The his- tory is one of achievement and of fidelity to duty. We have shown how the town came into existence out of the desire for convenient church accommodations, and having it, how the faith was nourished and the courage of the worshippers upheld by its ministries, and how through spiritual life and light which it radiated to the inhabitants, it held its ground amidst oppo- sition, and then competition, inspiring moral and spirtual growth along the lines of New England's best traditions and ideals, which have given form to our national ideals of civil and reli- gious liberty, which are fast becoming world ideals. Toil and self-sacrifice to the loftiest ideals of duty and of life, are written upon every page of the records. It is written also in the home- steads, many of them now abandoned and many of them in ruins as our history shows. But the broad acres of Holland will again be occupied as of yore, their homes echo with the song of the busy housewife and the shouts of happy children when the acres of the "prairied west," regarded as more fruitful, are inhabited. That time is rapidly approaching when those who need homes will be attracted by the opportunities presented here.
Meanwhile there are certain community interests that in- vite our attention and call for philanthropic interest and sup- port. The first of these in importance is the church. Few in numbers, because the young, of proper age, go out to more populous towns for opportunity and wealth, therefore the church suffers in power and influence for lack of numbers, and by reason of the burden it imposes upon those who attend it.
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
Some we believe would attend it if it were not for this. Resi- dents naturally feel reluctant to subscribe for church support when personal or family needs absorb their income, although they recognize its value as a guiding and conserving force, and would lament the condition of the town without any church. Furthermore no church is so well fitted to meet the needs of the community as the one they have, rooted and grounded as it is, in their history, in achievement, in their affections, and in its adaptability to their needs and to their ideals. What it needs is an endowment that shall place it beyond the hazard of elosing its doors or the need of assistance from benevolent or- ganizations, kind and generous though they have been. Every loyal son and daughter of Holland whom God has blessed with means and a generous, philanthropie or Christian spirit, should remember the needs of the church of the old home town and raise a fund by united action for the purpose above indi- cated, and thereby add to the influence and efficiency of the church and secure its perpetuity.
There is another community interest which the author wishes to discuss. The history publishes the fact, that Holland. cem- etery contains the ashes of a "Life Guardsman" to General Washington. We regard it as a signal honor that Holland should be the home of a man of such distinguished service and nation-wide interest as Benjamin Church; marrying a Holland lady and living for twenty-seven years a citizen of the town. Pride will be felt at the splendid military record of the town as given in Chapter XIII. It is a fine record of loyalty to God, to country and to home from whence all human activities and affections radiate. Naturally Holland will feel proud of her military record for it is glorious. But to have a man of national interest a citizen, and now a citizen of the city of the dead within her borders, presents a double duty, viz. to erect a monument suitable to the Holland boys, and to Benjamin Church (all in one, if it be feasible), and will not every son
749
CONCLUDING REMARKS
and daughter of Holland feel the warmth from the ancestral hearthstone better, if it be done in the spirit of self-sacrifice which prompted those to service whom they honor ? We urge every friend of the little town to consider the suggestions herein offered and plan to raise money for a purpose so patriotie and worthy.
Finally we submit the following lines, as descriptive of those whom this volume memorializes, and as encouragement to those who now bear the burden and heat of the day.
A glorious band, the chosen few, On whom the Spirit came; Those valiant saints, their hope they knew, And mocked the cross and flame;
They met the tyrant's brandished steel, The lion's gory mane;
They bowed their necks the death to feel; Who follows in their train?
A noble army, men and boys, The matron and the maid,
Around the Saviour's throne rejoice, In robes of light arrayed;
They climbed the steep ascent of heaven Through peril, toil, and pain;
O God! to us may grace be given To follow in their train!
-Reginald Heber.
2754 ---
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