Ann Wightt

This person is a Southern Gateway Ancestors of Proven Royal Descent

Colonel Chesapeake Families. Ann was literate, and in an age where even upper-class women were rarely educated and were not allowed to own or inherit property except through their husbands or manage their own legal affairs, she did so from the death of her husband, John Wightt, in 1705 until her own death in 1726. She wrote her own will and signed it, affixing a perfect heraldic wax seal of the Wights of the Isle of Wight, Hampshire and London. (image in photo).

This is the last usage of the Wight family crest by this branch of the family. It was awarded in 1588 to John Wight, draper, and bookseller of London, and passed down the family line, including the immigration from the Isle of Wight to America.

It is described as a chevron and three charges corresponding to the arms borne by John Wight of London: gules, a chevron ermine between three bear's heads couped argent, muzzled sable. Original wills, PG Co. MD, Box 3 folder 46 (1726).

Named her daughters Marjory and Fielder after her mother's first and last name.

MARYLAND INDEXES Earliest connection to John Wightt is from 1796 when they signed a contract together.

Wightt (Wight), Anne, widow,Prince George's Co.,15th Sept., 1725; 26th May, 1726. To son Thomas Gantt, personalty, some of which at Mattawoman Quarter. To daus. Margery Sprigg, Mary (wife of Jeremiah Belt) and Fielder (wife of John Powell), dau.-in-law Priscillz Gant, grandson Thomas Sprigg, grand-daus. Ann Powell, Ann Sprigg and Ann, Priscilla and Elizabeth Gantt and grandsons Edward Gantt and Edward Sprigg, personalty. To Wm. Oliver (a needy man) and his wife, certain personalty during life; at their decease, to their eldest dau —–. Ex.: Jeremiah Belt. Test: A. Contee, Verlinder Browne, Daniel Knogwell. 18, 518.

MARYLAND CALENDAR OF WILLS: Volume 5