Captain Timothy Dwight (1629–1718) represented Dedham in the

Great and General Court The Massachusetts General Court (formally styled the General Court of Massachusetts) is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the earliest days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, ...

of Massachusetts and was the progenitor of the

Dwight family The Dwight family of New England had many members who were military leaders, educators, jurists, authors, businessmen and clergy. Around 1634, John Dwight came with his wife Hannah, daughter Hannah, and sons Timothy (1629–1718) and John (d. 163 ...

Personal life

Dwight was born in England in 1629 to

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

and Hannah Dwight and was brought to

Dedham, Massachusetts Dedham ( ) is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 25,364 at the 2020 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest b ...

in 1635 as a child. John Dwight was one of the first settlers of Dedham. Timothy was made a freeman in 1655 and was a member of the

First Church and Parish in Dedham First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

beginning in 1652. Dwight was married six times. The first time was on November 11, 1651, to Sarah Perman, who died in childbirth on May 29, 1652. On May 3, 1653, he married Sarah Powell, who died on June 27, 1664; she gave him four children. Anna Flynt, his third wife on January 9, 1664 – 1665, gave him 10 children, including

Josiah Dwight Josiah Dwight (born 1671) was the minister of the West Parish Church of Dedham, Massachusetts, today Westwood's First Parish, from June 4, 1735, until November 1742. Personal life Dwight was born in Dedham on February 8, 1671 to Timothy and Anna ...

. His fourth wife, the widow Mary Endwind of

Reading, Massachusetts Reading ( ) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, north of central Boston. The population was 25,518 at the 2020 census. History Settlement and American independence Many of the Massachusetts Bay Colony's original settler ...

, married him on January 7, 1686 – 1687 and died August 30, 1688, without any children. Esther Fisher became his fifth wife on July 31, 1690, and died on January 30, 1690 – 1691. Bethia Morse, his final wife, married him on February 1, 1691 – 1692 and died on February 6, 1717 – 1718. He had 14 children.

Military and public service

Dwight served in the

from 1691 to 1692 and perhaps later. He also served for 10 years as Town Clerk and 25 years as selectman. His public service was praised by Rev. Samuel Dexter, who called him "a man of renown." Dwight, with Richard Ellis, served as the agent of the Town when negotiating with King Phillip for title to the land today known as

Wrentham, Massachusetts Wrentham ( ) is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,178 at the 2020 census. History In 1660, five men from Dedham were sent to explore the lakes near George Indian's wigwam and to report back to the ...

in 1660. He was also

town clerk A clerk is a senior official of many municipal governments in the English-speaking world. In some communities, including most in the United States, the position is elected, but in many others, the clerk is appointed to their post. In the UK, a To ...

for a total of 10 years, having first been elected in 1661. He served 24 terms as selectman, beginning in 1644. He was a

cornet The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...

of a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

troop A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Troop Ro ...

as a young man and later served as a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

of foot soldiers. He fought against the native peoples in the area ten times, and either killed or took prisoner nine.

Death

Dwight built the first tomb in the

Old Village Cemetery The Old Village Cemetery is an historic cemetery in Dedham, Massachusetts. History The first portion of the cemetery was set apart at the first recorded meeting of the settlers of Dedham on August 18, 1636, with land taken from Nicholas Phillips a ...

around 1700. In that tomb are laid his body,

Eleazer Lusher Major Eleazer Lusher (died 1672) was a politician and military leader from Dedham, Massachusetts. Political career Lusher had unmatched political influence in Dedham and was one of the most powerful men in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was one ...

, William Adams. He died on January 31, 1718, and was buried on February 7, 1718, the same day as his wife, Bethia, who died the day before. His pallbearers included Governor

Joseph Dudley Joseph Dudley (September 23, 1647 – April 2, 1720) was a colonial administrator, a native of Roxbury in Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the son of one of its founders. He had a leading role in the administration of the Dominion of New England ...

and Judge

Samuel Sewall Samuel Sewall (; March 28, 1652 – January 1, 1730) was a judge, businessman, and printer in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, best known for his involvement in the Salem witch trials, for which he later apologized, and his essay ''The Selling ...

Notes

References

Works cited

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dwight, Timothy Dedham, Massachusetts selectmen 1718 deaths 1629 births Kingdom of England emigrants to Massachusetts Bay Colony Military personnel from Dedham, Massachusetts Burials at Old Village Cemetery Dedham Town Clerks Members of the colonial Massachusetts General Court from Dedham Signers of the Dedham Covenant