Bethiah Dwight

6th and last wife of Timothy Dwight, Esq. He died a week earlier and they were buried togther.

Dedham marriages: Mr. Timothy Dwight & Bethia Morse, was marryed Feb. 1, 91-2.

Death: Mrs. Bethiah Dwight, deceased February the 6th, 1717-18.

"Dedham Historical Register". 2017. Google Books. Accessed April 29 2017. page 94

A TOMB IN THE OLD BURYING GROUND. By Frederick Lewis Gay.

The fathers of Dedham and their families, with few exceptions, were buried in the ancient burial place. As the oldest stone is dated 1678, and many have undoubtedly disappeared in the lapse of time, the graves of the early settlers are unmarked. In a few instances the exact locations of their last resting places can be determined by reference to contemporary writers. It is interesting to note that in one tomb is the honored dust of three Dedham worthies, Major Eleazer Lusher,.

Rev. William Adams, and Captain Timothy Dwight. This tomb, number 4, in range xiii, as given by Rev. Carlos Slafter in his Dedham Cemetery Epitaphs (Hill's Uedham Records,Vol. II, p. 273), is a vault with an arched entrance and is covered with turf. Nothing appears above the surface but the small slab of slate, on which is the following inscription : —

• Here lyes Intombed the body of
• Timothy Dwight, Esq.,
• Who departed this life Jan. 31st,
• Anno Domini, 1718,
• Aged 88 years.

This epitaph gives no clue to the previous occupants of the tomb, but on that point Sewall's Diary (Mass. Hist. Soc. Collections, 5th series, Vol V. p. 93) gives positive evidence. He says : —

Wednesday, Augt. 19th, 1685. I ride to the Funeral of the Reverend Mr. Wm Adams from Roxbury, in the Company >of Mr. Hutchinson, Sergeant and their wives. Magistrates there, Dept. Governour. Mr. .Stoughton, Dudley Richards, Cook ; Four of our Class, viz : Mr. Thacher, Bowls, Norton, Self. I took one Spell at carrying him. Is laid in Mr. Lusher's Tomb. Mr. Wilson prayed with the Company before they went to the Grave. Dyed a strong Death about Sun-Rise on Monday morn.

Again he says (Vol. VII. p. 166) under date of Friday, Febuary 7, 1717-8: —

Col. Townsend, Sam1 Lynde esqr and I go in the Hackney Coach to Dedham to the Funeral of Capt. Dwight and his wife. Gov Dudley went in his Chariot. Din'd at Mr. Belcher's by his Direction, and the Coffin brought and set down at his Gate : Bearers thence, Gov Dudley and Sewall; Townsend, Lynde; Nathan1 Hubbard esqr., Kingsbury. Bearers of the woman I know not: were put in Major Lusher's Tomb. Came from Mr. Belcher's when the Sun was hardly an hour high. Got home comfortably before 8. Laus Deo. It seems Mr. Adams lyes in this Tomb into which I have now again looked. Lord mercifully fit me for the time of my Dissolution.

The identity of Capt. Timothy Dwight, and of his sixth wife, Bethiah Morse, is confirmed by "The Boston News Letter," February 17, 1718, which has the following: —

Dedham, Feb. 8. On January 31st Died here Timothy Dwight, Esq; in the 88th Year of his Age. He was a Person of very Exemplary Holiness; a great Peace-maker, and much given to Hospitality, & always ready to distribute to such as were in want. On the 6th current Died Mrs. Bethiah Dwight his vertucus Wife, and they both were honourably inter'd together the Friday following.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 28 2017, 23:14:07 UTC