Daniel Wightman (1703 - 1753)

Born 23 Nov 1703 in Groton, New London, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Katherine (Westcott) Rathburn — married 11 Nov 1725 in Groton, New London, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 6 Jun 1753 at age 49 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut Colony

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Biography

This profile is part of the Wightman Name Study.

Daniel Wightman was born on 23 November 1703 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut, a son of Rev. Valentine Wightman.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}
(See also Research Notes below)

Daniel died on 6 June 1753 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut.^[1][2]

Marriage
Daniel married Catherine Westcott on 11 November 1725 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut ^[1][2] Katherine Westcott was born on 17 April 1705 in Warwick, Kent Co., Rhode Island; living (last record) 30 January 1753 in Norwich. She was the daughter of Zorobabel and Jane Westcott.

Daniel Wightman was a prosperous farmer in that part of Norwich set off in 1786 (after his death) as Bozrah. His homestead was part of a tract purchased by his father 2 July 1722 of John Stark "neare ye southwest corner of Norwich town bounds" (Norwich Deeds, v, 259). He subsequently bought additional parcels of land in Norwich (ibid., vii, 88) and in Glastonbury (will). He held several town offices, and was elected three times to the Colonial Assembly.^[1][2] He was probably a member of the "New Concord Society in Norwich" (Congregational), as his death is recorded in Vol. II of their old Church Records (Court Records Dept., Conn. State Lib., Hartford).

Children, born in Norwich:^[1][2]

1. Jane, born 3 September 1726; died 26 November 1776; married (1) 5 November 1749 David Clarke; married (2) 12 January 1757 David Knight of Norwich.^[1][2][7]
2. Susannah, born 11 March 1728^[1][2][7]; deceased in January 1752; married 31 October 1744 James Lamb, son of John.
3. Mary, born 6 November 1729.^[1][2][7]
4. Valentine, born 28 August 1731.^[1][2][7]
5. Freelove, born 2 February 1733/4^[1][2][7]; married in Norwich, 11 March 1754 Eliphalet Gustin.
6. Daniel, born 22 April 1736^[1][2][7]; died 6 June 1751 (Old Ch. Rec., Vol. II, New Concord Soc.).
7. Katherine, born 9 February 1737/8^[1][2][7]; married October 1755 Jonathan Rathbun.
8. Margaret, born 24 August 1740.^[1][2][7]
9. Zerubabel, born 2 December 1743.^[1][2][7]

Will and Probate
Daniel's will was signed 30 January 1751/2 at Norwich, Connecticut and proved on 19 June 1753. The inventory of his personal property was returned on 2 July 1753. Executors were his wife Katherine and son Valentine. The estate distribution was set out to the widow, and daughters, Jane (eldest daughter), John and Katherine (children of Susanna), Mary, Freelove, Katherine, and Margaret (the youngest). His will bequeathed 1/3 to his wife, then to sons Valentine and Zorobabel all land in Norwich, dau. Jane, Susannah and Mary to whom he has already given abt. 200 pounds each. To other 3 dau. Katherine, Freelove and Marget 200 pounds, furthermore to all five dau. his land in Glastonbury. To the heirs (John, Katherine & Susannah()of dec'd dau. Susannah 1/6 part of the Glastonbury land.^{[1][2][8][9][10][11][12]}

His will is preserved in the Connecticut State Library at Hartford (Probate Dept., Norwich District, File No. 11,470).

Research Notes

• Although the venerable source of George Wightman of Quidnessett^[1] and The Wightman Ancestry, Vol. 1 (p.53), which re-incorporates the first publication, both descibe Daniel's birthplace as Kingston, Rhode Island the Connecticut Vital Records clearly list his birth within the Groton town records.^[4][5] This may because although his parents did not permanently reside in Groton until 1707, his father Valentine had been serving as pastor in Groton for some time prior while officially residing in North Kingstown.
• The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records (Groton) provide Daniel's birth date as the 23d of 9th month of 1703. The 9th month was November based on the Julian Calendar in use at the time. However, all other secondary sources seem to have interpreted the 9th month as September based on modern calendars.^[4][5]

SOURCES

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15} Whitman, Mary Ross. George Wightman of Quidnessett, R.I. (1632-1721/2) and Descendants: Waitman, Weightman, Whiteman, Whitman, Whytman, Wightman, Wyghtman. Chicago, Ill. 1939. Pages 53-54. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/532437/?offset=0#page=62&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14} Wightman, Wade C., The Wightman Ancestry, Bookcrafters, Chelsea, Michigan, 1994, Volume 1, pages 35, 53-54, and 728 (correction) https://archive.org/details/wightmanancestry01wigh/page/728/mode/2up
3. ↑ White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGYC-YGPH : 7 February 2023), Daniell Wightman, 23 Sep 1703; citing Birth, Groton, New London, Connecticut, United States, Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008272262.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Connecticut, U.S., Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection), Groton https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1034/images/VBMDUSACT1634_0015-0240?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=PfA1158&_phstart=successSource&pId=77225
6. ↑ Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F74Y-88B : accessed 06 Jun 2014), Valentine Wightman in entry for Daniell Wightman, 23 Nov 1703
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8} Hartford Society of Colonial Wars in Connecticut, Vital Records of Norwich, 1659-1848, Part I, 1943, p.98 https://archive.org/details/vitalrecordsofno01norwi/page/98/mode/1up
8. ↑ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 for Zorobabel Westcott. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/61157/46155_b289587-00061?pid=385317
9. ↑ Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999, Ancestry, image 157 of 577. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/304441:9049?ssrc=pt&tid=35595008&pid=18833590001
10. ↑ Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999, Probate Packet, Ancestry, images 319-417 https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9049/images/007629856_00393?pId=1679741
11. ↑ Connecticut Probate Records, 1748-1917, Norwich, FamilySearch Film #5054, Image Group, 7627366, FHL Film # 007627366, Norwich pages 269-279 (image 157 of 577) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92K-17RQ?cat=108716
12. ↑ Probate records v. 1-2 1748-1761, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92K-17RQ : 14 September 2022), FHL microfilm 007627366, image 157-163, Norwich, New London, Connecticut, Vol 1, Pages 270-282.

• Daniel Wightman profile on FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L5RG-TDT
• Daniel Wightman memorial on Findagrave (non-sourced) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207326668/daniel-wightman
• White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.
• Connecticut, Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)