Genealogy of Patty Rose
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| Notes for Rev. Jabez WIGHT | ||||||||||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - JABEZ, son of Joseph and Mary, was born in Dedham, July 12th, 1701, and graduated at Harvard University in 1721. The Church Records contain this notice of his settlement in the ministry: --"October 16, 1726. Upon the desire of the church of Christ in East Norwich, in conjunction with Mr. Wight, the church voted to give Mr. Wight letters of recommendation (and desired the pastor to write them) in order to his embodying with the church and becoming their Pastor."-- This [ref 53:73] letter from the church in Dedham, written by their Pastor, the Rev. Samuel Dexter, has this allusion to his intellectual and moral worth: --"We cannot but heartily congratulate your mutual happiness, hoping that he whom we greatly love and honour, as well for ye grace of God wch we hope we see in him, as for his desirable abilities for ye Gospel ministry, will prove a rich and lasting blessing to you and yours."-- He was ordained over the Congregational Society in East Norwich, (now Preston,) Connecticut, October 27th, 1726, and died September 11th, 1782, in the 82d year of his age, and 56th of his ministry. --Of his character, little can be known after the lapse of so many years; but his memory is held in honourable and affectionate remembrance by the few surviving persons who were acquainted with him. The following sketch of him was written by one of his parishioners a few days after his decease: --"He was a faithful servant in the Vineyard of his Lord, as long as his health and strength permitted. He was an Orthodox Divine, a good Preacher, and believed the doctrines he taught; a man much in prayer. The doctrines of free, rich and sovereign grace and the divine atonement and satisfaction, were his darling theme and delightful topic. He taught and believed that there is no name given among men, save Jesus of Nazareth, whereby we must be saved. He was much endued with the true Christian graces and virtues, nor did he lack charity."-- [ref 53:74] Jabez Wight married Ruth Swan of Stonington, Conn. who died March 15, 1768, aged 63. They had children 1728-aft 37: Jabez, Joseph, Ebenezer, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Mary, John. [ref 53:75] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jabez Wright[sic] & Ruth Swan m. 8 Feb 1726 Stonington - by Rev. Ebenezer Rosseter [ref 12] (children 1727-abt 41: Joseph, Jabez, John, Ebenezer, Mary, Benjamin, Nathaniel) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Feb. 8, 1726, Jabez Wight, and Ruth Swan, married by Rev. Ebenezer Rosseter [ref 82:232] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Great inconvenience had been experienced by the people dwelling in the East Society, particularly those in the extreme south-eastern outskirts of the ecclesiastical district where Poquetannock was situated, in attending divine worship some seven or eight miles distant; for every individual was not only compelled to pay church rates, but was also expected to attend service regularly. After petitioning ineffectually in the matter for a period extending through upwards of a score of years, the privilege was grudgingly given to those devout citizens to erect a new and distinct parish, on which they bestowed the name of "Long Society" because of the narrow width of its territorial limitations. The place for this house of worship was some three and a half miles due north of Poquetannock village, on the road hence to the Shetucket Ferry, by which the Sabbath journeyings must have been shorn of fully half their former length. The services were begun in 1726 under the pastorate of the Rev. Jabez Wight, of Dedham, Mass., a graduate of Harvard College, who continued there until he died, in 1782, aged 82, and since then no other preacher has been settled in his place, even the building having been suffered to go to decay. Many years ago a new frame structure was built in its stead as a mission Sunday School under the auspices of the Congregationalist Society. This was used later as a town hall. An obituary notice says of him: "Fond of retirement from the bustling world, he was apparently never so happy as when travelling the road of an unnoticed humility." [ref 81:49] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - buried in the old burial ground at "Long Society": Zion may in his fall bemoan | A Beauty and a pillar gone. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||||||||||
| Notes for Ruth SWAN | ||||||||||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ruth Swan, d. John and Susana, Dec. 31, 1703. [ref 51] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Providence RI record: Wight Ruth, wife of Rev. Jabez, at Norwich, in 62d year, March 4, 1765 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||||||||||
| Last Modified 29 Sep 2004 | Created 4 Jan 2005 |