Reverend James Wightman

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wightman-116
James Wightman (1709 - 1791)

Reverend James Wightman
Born 17 Feb 1709 in Kingston, South Kingstown, Kings, Rhode Islandmap
ANCESTORS ancestors
Son of John Wightman and Jane (Bentley) Wightman
Brother of Alice (Wightman) Harrington, Sarah (Wightman) Whitford, John Wightman II, Jane (Wightman) Spink, Mary (Wightman) Boone, Valentine Wightman and Deborah (Wightman) Record
Husband of Phebe (Rhodes) Wightman — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Husband of Bridget (Sweet) Wightman — married 5 Sep 1734 [location unknown]
Husband of Susanna (Eldred) Wightman — married 5 Jan 1770 [location unknown]
DESCENDANTS descendants
Father of Samuel Wightman, John Wightman, Daniel Wightman, Bridget (Wightman) Havens, Dorcas (Whitman) Sweet, James (Wightman) Whitman, Alice (Wightman) Corey, Anna (Wightman) Tillinghast, Phebe (Wightman) Vaughn and Rhodes Wightman
Died 29 Mar 1791 at age 82 in East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified 17 Mar 2023 | Created 20 Jun 2011
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Contents

[hide]
1 Biography
1.1 Event
1.2 Burial
2 Sources
3 Acknowledgments
Biography

Reverend James Wightman, born 17 February 1709 in that part of Kingstowne (North Kingstown) set off in 1742/3 as Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island; died 29 March 1791 in East Greenwich, Kent County, Rhode Island. He married first, 5 September 1734, Bridget Sweet, daughter of Samuel and Bridget Sweet, born about 1710; married second about 1758, Mrs. Phebe Lowe, daughter of Captain Samuel and Sarah (Boone) Rhodes; married third, 5 January 1770, Susannah Eldred, who died in 1799, daughter of William and Mary (Wilbur) Eldred. [1]

Reverend James Wightman grew to manhood in Kingstowne (North Kingstown), and was admitted freeman first Wednesday May 1733, General Court Sitting at Newport (R. I. Col. Rec., IV, 481). He engaged in farming, having received from his father the deed to a farm of one hundred twelve acres on the Great Plain, 12 October 1732. The land records for North Kingstown (Exeter after 1742/3) show subsequent real estate transactions, several in company with his brother John.

He held minor civil offices (Town Meeting Records), and as Surveyor of Highways was one of a committee appointed 27 August 1749 to change the route of a highway on the Great Plain (R. I. Coll. Rec., V, 295). In May 1760 Major James Wightman of East Greenwich served as Deputy to the Colonial Assembly, meeting at Newport (R. I. Col. Rec., VI, 249). On 18 August 1760 James Wightman, Esq., was chosen Colonel of Militia for Kent County (R.I. Col. Rec., VI, 257). In May 1762 Mr. James Wightman, Colonel of Militia, was elected (with others) field officer for Kent County (R. I. Col. Rec., VI, 265).

Some six years after his marriage, while still a young man, he took up his real life work in the Christian ministry. About 1740 he was ordained and installed as pastor of the Baptist Church situated in the northern part of North Kingstown just off Stony Lane, about four miles from his subsequent residence in East Greenwich (Frenchtown). This Church, the oldest Baptist Church in North Kingstown, was organized by Reverend Thomas Baker, who served as pastor of the Second Baptist Church, of the Six-Principle order, in Newport from 1677 to 1679. From there "soon after his ordination he removed to Kingstowne and raised up a church in that order" (Knight, Hist. of the Baptists, p. 265). He subsequently served this Kingstowne Church until 1710, being followed by Reverend Richard Sweet, who was in turn succeeded by Reverend James Wightman.

It is quite probable that Reverend James Wightman was inspired by the outstanding careers of his two uncles, Reverend Daniel Wightman of Newport (died 1750) and Reverend Valentine Wightman of Groton, Connecticut (died 1747), both of whom were in their prime during his young manhood, and who when in attendance at the "yearly meeting" held in North Kingstown, or on other special occasions, had preached in this very church.

Like most of the pastors of this period, he was a farmer as well as a preacher; but his numerous activities as minister during a pastorate of over fifty years are indicated by the record of the hundreds of marriages which he performed (R. I. Vital Records: E. Green., No. Kings., Exeter) and by the "yearly meetings" (probably quarterly conferences) which he attended (Newport, Warwick, and Stonington Church records). His portrait in oil is said to have hung for years on a wall of the church opposite that of his predecessor, both disappearing between one Sunday and the next. His funeral service was attended by leaders of the Baptist denomination in Rhode Island, among whom were Reverend Thomas Manchester of Coventry, who preached, and Reverend John Gorton of Stonington, Connecticut, who followed with a sermon from 2nd Timothy, iv:6,7: "For now I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

By his will, Reverend James made or confirmed bequests of land to his sons, and left an interesting personality. His "desk" and "square table" together with numerous papers are still preserved by a direct descendent, Mr. Albert G. Wightman of Apponaug, Rhode Island.

The family burying ground not far from the house contains many stones but the graves of Reverend James and his wives are no longer indicated. [2]

Children:

Samuel, born 13 May 1736.
John, born 17 July 1738.
Daniel, born 26 July 1739. He probably died young.
Bridget, born 22 June 1740; married 7 November 1762 Abraham Havens, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Wightman) Havens and grandson of George Wightman (1673-1760 or 1761). She was already deceased in January 1791, the date of her father's will.
James, born 20 August 1743.
Dorcas, born ---; married 22 May 1783 as his third wife, Deacon Sylvester Sweet, born 5 January 1725, son of James and Sarah (Stephenson) Sweet.
Alice, born ---; died 14 December 1796; married Silas Corey, son of Joseph and Rebecca Corey of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. They removed to Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York.
Anne, born 1 August 1750; died 9 November 1835; married (1) John Tillinghast, born 9 May 1745; died 3 September 1799, son of Pardon and Hannah (Stafford) Tillinghast; married (2) his brother, Thomas Tillinghast, born 7 January 1752; died 14 December 1828.
(second marriage) Phebe, born 4 February 1759; married 28 march 1776, Thomas Vaughn, son of David and Dinah Vaughn. They removed to Kingsbury, Washington County, New York.
(second marriage) Rhodes, born 6 May 1762.[3]

Event

Event:
Type: Person-Source[4][5]
Burial

Burial:
Place: E. Greenwich, Kent Co., R.i.
James was born in 1709. He passed away in 1791.

Sources

↑ Whitman, Mary Ross. George Wightman of Quidnessett, R.I. (1632-1721/2) and descendants : Waitman, Weightman, Whiteman, Whitman, Whytman, Wightman, Wyghtman. Chicago, Ill. 1939. Page 48. George Wightman of Quidnessett, R.I.
↑ 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 48-49.
↑ 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 50-51.
↑ Source: #S16
↑ Source: #S1073
Source: S1073 Title: Person Source Abbreviation: Person Source
Source: S16 Title: Ancestral File (R) Abbreviation: Ancestral File (R) Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Publication: Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998 Repository: #R1 Repository: R1 Name: Unknown
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R), Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998. Ancestral File Number B37X-K2

• Rhodes Wightman Biography, Ancestry.com. Available at archive.org here

Acknowledgments

WikiTree profile Wightman-116 created through the import of FAMILY 6162011.GED on Jun 20, 2011 by Michael Stephenson. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Michael and others.
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000.
Name: James Wightman Gender: Male Age 82 Birth Date: 17 Feb 1709 Birth Place: Kingstowne First Marriage Date: 5 Sep 1734 Second Marriage Date: 1758 Third Marriage Date: 5 Jan 1770 Death Date: 29 Mar 1791 Death Place: East Greenwich, Kent, RI Father: John Wightman Mother: Jane Bentley Spouse: Bridget Sweet Child: Samuel Wightman

Rhode Island, Birth Index, 1636-1930.
Name: James Weightman Birth Date: 17 Feb Birth Place: Rhode Island 1st Parent: John Weightman 2nd Parent: Jane Weightman