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Surnames: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
No Surnames: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Ref: "A Historical and Genealogical
Register of John Wing of Sandwich, MA, and his descendants, 1621-1888",
(581 pp.)
Ref: See "A Historical and Genealogical Register of John
Wing of Sandwich, MA, and his descendants, 1621-1888,"
pp. 26-36 (John Wing), (1888).
Contrary to the above information on John Wing's birth and his
parents, the above cited reference states the following:
"Nothing is known of John Wing before his arrival in Boston
and his residence at Saugus (Lynn), MA., except that he had married
Deborah, the second daughter of Rev. Stephen Batchelder, and was
one of that minister's company. Some have inferred that he had
been with his father-in-law during his sojourn in Holland, and
that he had some near connection with the Rev. John Wing, the
pastor of an English congregation in Flushing, in the province
of Zealand, in Holland. He does not appear to have been, any more
than his associate, possessed of pecuniary means much beyond what
were requisite for his voyage. We are told that among the original
emigrants to Plymouth there were only two or three persons possessed
of capital, or influence, these being altogether broken down during
their previous migrations; and although those who came to Massachusetts
Bay were, in numerous instances, men of property and standing,
we have no reason to suppose that those who constituted the company
of Mr. Batchelder were either wealthy or distinguished. They appear,
however, to have been possessed of a comfortable independence,
and to have effected their removals without inconvenience. Their
object in leaving Saugus was, in the first place, to avoid the
ecclesiastical difficulties in which they and their leader had
become involved, but probably no less to find a suitable home
and cheaper lands beyond the limits of the older settlements.
Joh Wing was probably one of the number who performed the journey
with Mr. Batchelder for the settlement of Mattacheese; and though
that enterprise failed, he probably then first became acquainted
with the region afterward known as the Peninsula of Cape Cod.
The land there was perhaps no more inviting for agricultural purposes
than that which then generally engrosses attention within the
jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but it had some
advantages for fishing purposes, was not encumbered with heavy
forests, was easy of cultivation, might be had free by all acceptable
occupants, and the Indians in possession of it were remarkable
for their uniform friendship for the English. It was in the jurisdiction
of the Plymouth Colony, though beyond the limits of any organized
town and beyond the jurisdictions of the authorities of Massachusetts
Bay, with whom the entire company had come into unpleasant relations.
Whatever may have been the private views of the Plymouth Pilgrims,
they were in practice, at least in the earlier years, more tolerant
than their northern neighbors. About ten years before (1627),
a trading-house had been located at a place called Manomet, at
the head of Buzzard's Bay, with the view of maintaining commerce
with the southern coast and of avoiding the dangerous navigation
around the Cape; but for some reason the enterprise had been abandoned,
or was confined to the business of mere transportation.
The place where John Wing had his residence, and the home of the
elder branch of the family for subsequent generations, was situated
about a mile from the present village of Sandwich, near a stream
of water between two beautiful ponds, and on a highland overlooking
the lower sheet of water and the town..... The limits of the lower
pond have been much increased in later years by a dam thrown across
its outlet, by which power was gained for mills and other manufacturing
establishments...... A number of farms are situated upon the neck
of land between the two ponds (formerly known as "Wolftrap
Neck"), some of which have been in the Wing family into the
late 19th century".
"In 1638, almost immediately on the settlement of the town,
a church was formed, and there can be no doubt that public worship
was maintained there from the very first."
Very little can be learned from the meager records of the town,
the church, or the general colony regarding the family history
of John Wing. He appears to have been a plain man of ordinary
intelligence, never aspiring to political distinction, and only
ambitious to cultivate his land and decently to bring up his family.
In a few instances, however, his name occurs on the records of
the General Court as one well qualified for public business. In
1641 he is allowed six acres for his share of the meadow lands,
held at first in common, but divided afterward annually for the
use of the inhabitants in severalty.
The number of children had by John Wing and Deborah Bachiler remains
a matter of some uncertainty. There is no evidence that he had
any daughters, and very little to suspect that he had more than
three sons. A vague tradition relates that one son, Matthew, came
with the family to America, but returned and died in England.
See the above reference for details on his life. All the reliable
sources, however, speak only of Daniel, John, and Stephen, who
came with him in the same vessel, and accompanied him until his
settlement in Sandwich. In 1643 the three
sons, Daniel, John, and Stephen, were all enrolled among
those able to bear arms, so the youngest of these three had to
born before 1628.
"shall take care of all the fish that Indians shall cut
up within the limits of the town, so as to provide safely for
it, and shall dispose of the fish for the town's use; also, that
if any man that is an inhabitant shall find a whale and report
it to any of these six men, he shall have a double, and that these
six men shall take care to provide laborers and whatever is needful
so that whatever whales either Indian or white man gives notice
of they may dispose of the proceeds for the town's use, to be
divided equally to every inhabitant. An earlier building of a
mill for the accommodation of the inhabitants having failed in
1654, four persons were engaged to build one, the town paying
twenty pounds, and this sum was at once voluntarily subscribed
by Daniel Wing and twenty-one other inhabitants. This and another
mill were soon erected and millers were appointed by the town
`to grind and have the toil of their pains.' It was during the
year 1655 that the names of Daniel Wing and a number of the prominent
citizens of Sandwich are first mentioned in connection with a
serious religious dissension in the town. From the first settlement
of the place, it inhabitants were looked upon by the authorities
at Plymouth as more than commonly indifferent to the execution
of laws in favor of uniformity in worship. Many persons had been
subjected to fines for speaking disrespectfully of the laws, and
of the mode of conducting public worship. So great became the
falling off of attendance upon the ministrations of Mr. Leverich,
the first minister, that (about 1654) he concluded to leave the
place, and for nearly twenty years, the people were without a
regular pastor. In the meantime Mr. Richard Bourne and Mr. Thomas
Tupper, persons of a religious turn of mind, and possessed of
some powers of public speaking, but without regular ordination,
conducted the services on Sunday. Each of then had his party and
each was the occupant of the pulpit according as he might have
the most adherents. The congregation had become much reduced in
numbers, and was not formally divided, though distracted by the
factions. One portion of them are said to have been tinged with
fanaticism and were much blamed for driving away the late pastor.
Another portion is said to have been disgusted with such a state
of affairs and to have mainly withdrawn from public worship. These
last are said by Rev. Mr. Fessenden, the minister of Sandwich,
1722-1746, to have embraced Antinomian and Familistical errors,
under the ministry of Stephen Batchelder, the first minister of
Lynn. And yet Daniel Wing's name appears with eighteen others
of the most respectable and conservative of the church members,
attached to a call given about 1655-1656 to some person engaged
as a temporary supply. The call was entered upon the regular minutes
of that time, though it is now without subscription indicating
to whom it was addressed or its precise date. Such notices prepare
us to appreciate the position of Daniel Wing and others who acted
with him in political and religious matters. As early as 1646,
a general movement was made throughout the Plymouth Colony in
behalf of toleration. A petition was extensively signed and presented
to the general court "to allow and maintain full and free
tolerance of religion to all men that would preserve the civil
peace and submit to government." It was supported by members
of the deputies and by a large portion of the inhabitants of Sandwich.
It was, however, overruled by the arbitrary act of Governor Bradford.
In 1654, it is recorded that the people of both colonies began
about this time to be indifferent to the ministry, and to exercise
their own gifts, doubting the utility of public preaching. Up
to this time Daniel acted with the church of Sandwich, and his
contributions were among the largest in the support of the minister
and in the repairs of the parsonage. His name does not appear
among the opponents of that minister, and the probability is that
he was one of those who were offended at the proceedings which
resulted in the long vacancy. In 1657, "the people called
Quakers" made their first appearance in Sandwich. In Bowden's
"History of the Society of Friends in America," it is
mentioned that two English Friends, named Christopher Holden and
John Copeland, came to Sandwich on June 20, 1657, and had a number
of meetings, and that their arrival was hailed with feelings of
satisfaction by many who had been long burdened with a lifeless
ministry and dead forms in religion. But the town had its advocates
of religious intolerance and no small commotion ensued. The Governor
issued a warrant for their arrest, but when a copy of the warrant
was asked for by William Newland, at whose house the meetings
had been held, it was refused, and its execution was resisted.
A severe rebuke and a fine were then inflicted upon them. The
two prisoners were sentenced to be whipped, but the selectmen
of the town declined to act in the case, and the marshal was obliged
to take them to Barnstable to find a magistrate willing to comply
with the order.
Tradition reports that many meetings were held at a secluded spot
in the woods, which was afterwards known as "Christopher's
Hollow." Numerous complaints were made against divers persons
in Sandwich for meetings at private homes and inveighing against
magistrates, and several men and women were publicly whipped for
disturbing public worship, for abusing the ministers, for encouraging
others to hold meetings, for entertaining the preachers and for
unworthy speeches. Daniel Wing, with three others, was arrested
for tumultuous carriage at a meeting of Quakers and severely fines,
though there is no evidence that a single Quaker, besides the
preachers, was present, and it is certain that neither of these
persons professed at that time any adherence to the new sect.
Daniel and Stephen Wing refused to take the oath of fidelity,
not on the ground that they declined all oaths, but because this
particular oath pledged them to assist in the execution of an
intolerant enactment. Indeed, so generally were the laws against
free worship condemned in Sandwich, that the constable was "unable
to discharge his duty by reason of many disturbent persons there
residing," and it was enacted that a marshal be chosen for
such service in Sandwich, Barnstable, and Yarmouth. In 1658 a
list was made out for the governor and other magistrates of certain
persons who refused to take the oath of fidelity, and for that
reason had no legal right to act as inhabitants. They were, therefore,
each fined five pounds to the colony's use, and it was ordered
that each and every one of them should henceforth have no power
to act in any town meeting till better evidence appeared of their
legal admittance, nor to claim title or interest in any town privileges
as townsmen, and that no man should henceforth be admitted as
inhabitant of Sandwich, or enjoy the privileges thereof, without
the approbation of the church and the governor. Many were summoned
to Plymouth to account for nonattendance upon public worship and
fines were exacted to the amount of 660 pounds. Of these fines
Daniel Wing paid not less than twelve pounds.
Up to this time Daniel Wing, with others who acted with him, appear
simply as friends of toleration and resisters of an oppressive
law. But it was not long before he and most of these sympathizers
became active converts to the persecuted sect. In 1658 no less
than eighteen families in Sandwich recorded their names in one
of the documents of the society. Records of Monthly Meetings of
Friends show that the Sandwich Monthly Meeting was the first established
in America. Its records extend as far back as 1672, which is earlier
than any other known in the country. It was not until the accession
of King Charles II. about 1660 that these proceedings against
the Quakers were discontinued by the royal order, and the most
obnoxious laws were repealed in the colony of Plymouth.
In 1658 the true bounds of every inhabitant's lands were laid
out and ordered by the general court, so that the lands might
be brought to record. There were fifty-five such owners whose
names were recorded, among them Daniel and Stephen Wing are mentioned.
According to some records Daniel died in the year 1664, but Freeman
and Savage make his death five years earlier in 1659. His will
is dated May 3, 1659, but as one of his children was born in 1660,
and another later in 1664, we agree with the Plymouth records
in placing his death near the latter date. He married September
5, 1641, (1) Hannah Swift, daughter of John Swift. The Swifts
were numerous in the western part of the town, especially at Scusset
(West Sandwich), where an inn for many years was kept by one other
name of such notoriety as to give the place itself a considerable
reputation. Hannah died December 1, 1664, soon after the birth
of her youngest child. Her father's will, dated August 12, 1662,
bequested certain amounts to Samuel and John, the sons of his
daughter. They had the following children:
(Note: The above children are not the same as listed in the cited
reference.) It lists the following children:
The descendants of Daniel and Stephen Wing have nearly all been connected with the Society of Friends. The place in Sandwich where they have from the first worshipped, is near Spring Hill, about three miles eastward from the central village. There in the midst of a thickly settled neighborhood of the same faith, now rises the neat and commodious house of worship, which has succeeded one or two less costly structures before it. Here for over nine generations, this people have worshipped God according to their simple forms, little affected by the changes of the outer world, and sincerely witnessing for the original principles. Even during the first Revolutionary and the Civil War, though they showed in many ways on which side their warm sympathies were, they could not be induced to act inconsistently with their particular tenets. In 1692 the liberty of conscience which had been secured to them only by royal order was guaranteed by the new charter, and they were no longer called upon to support other establishments. In the graveyard next to the building are probably buried more of the Wing name than can be found in any other burial ground in America.
He had been admitted a freeman and enrolled among those liable
to bear arms in 1643, and had been assigned his proper proportion
and boundary of land in 1658. So large however, was the number
of converts to the Friends, and so general the disposition to
tolerate them among the people of Sandwich, that the laws against
them could not be enforced, and if any punishments were inflicted
it had to be done out of town.
Stephen and his family became permanently connected with the Society
of Friends, and his posterity up to the mid-1800s had continued
in this tradition. In 1667 he, with William Griffith, presented
to probate the will of his father-in-law, Edward Dillingham, and
in 1669 he was chosen town clerk. In 1675 the town voted to record
his name with many others as having a just right to the privileges
of the town. In 1678 he seems to have overcome his scruples about
taking an oath of fidelity, for his name that year appears among
those on the list of receivers. On April 9, 1653 or 1654, his
wife, Oseah Dillingham, died; and on November 7, of the same year
he married (2) Sarah Briggs, daughter of John Briggs, who came
to America in 1635, at the age of twenty. She died March 26, 1689;
but the period of his own death is uncertain. One account gives
it as February 24, 1710. The will of one named Stephen Wing is
given in the records, dated December 2, 1700, and probated July
13, 1710; and it mentions sons Nathaniel, Elisha, and John, and
daughters Sarah Gifford and Abigail Wing, and a grandson, Jeremiah
Gifford. Ebenezer Wing and Matthew Wing, sons of the deceased,
were appointed by the judge to be executors of the will. From
this date we infer that Stephen continued to live through the
first decade of the 1700's, although he must then have been not
less than eighty-eight years of age. He and his first wife had
the following children:
Stephen and his brother, Daniel were involved with the first Quaker settlement in America, in Sandwich, MA., in 1656, only 12 years after the origin of the Society of Friends in England.
According to one record, John married (2) Miriam Deane, daughter of Stephen Deane, of Plymouth, one of the early settlers in America. John Wing died in 1699.
Joseph Wing was buried May 31, 1679.
See continuation of this lineage in the West Line.