Sarah Wightman

Sarah married Joseph Whitford Between 1722 and 1723, North Kingstown, RI. Joseph (son of Pasco Whitford, Jr. and Lydia Bly) was born Abt 1698, North Kingstown, RI. [Group Sheet]

1. Lydia Whitford was born 7 Mar 1723/24.
2. Jane Whitford was born 7 Feb 1725/26; died Aft 10 Apr 1759.
3. John Whitford was born 5 Jan 1727/28.
4. James Whitford was born 9 Oct 1730.
5. Pasco Whitford was born 6 Mar 1735/36.
6. Freelove Whitford was born 16 Jan 1739/40, North Kingstown, RI; died Aft 23 Aug 1790.

John married Jane Bentley 6 Jan 1700/01, North Kingstown, RI. Jane (daughter of William Bentley and Sarah Unknown) was born Abt 1687; died 29 Jun 1729. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Jane is called Jane Whitman in the will of her father William Bentley. It was proved in 1720 at North Kingstown, RI.

Notes:

George came to America sometime between 1653 and 1663. His older brother, Valentine, was already here in Providence, where his first child was born in 1653. Their grandfather Edward had been burned at the stake in England for his faith, so they came here for religious freedom, as many RI families did.

The area called Quidnessett was defined in 1659 by agreement with Indian sachem Kachanaquant; its boundaries were the Potomomut River (now Hunt's River) on the north, the Indian road or Pequot Path (now Post Road) on the west, Richard Smith's land (Wickford area) on the south, and Narragansett Bay on the east, totalling about 6x3 miles.

In 1660 the Atherton Company, a group of land speculators from MA Bay Colony and CT, was ordered by the Assembly to open up the Quidnessett tract to purchase by private individuals. Valentine Wightman, George's brother, procured an area of 100-plus acres bordering the bay. This land soon became the property of his brother George, and was handed down intact through 6 generations and known for over 200 years as the Wightman homestead in Quidnessett. George later acquired more land, totalling about 2000 acres.

For a fascinating history of the Wightman family, see: http://www.concentric.net/~Ssbray/wightman.htm

George married Elizabeth Updyke Abt 1663, Cocumscussuc, Kingstowne, RI. Elizabeth (daughter of Gysbert Updyke and Catherine Smith) was born Abt 27 Jul 1644, New Amsterdam, America; died Between 25 Dec 1712 and 26 Apr 1716, Quidnessett, North Kingstown, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

William's will, proved 1720 in North Kingstown, mentions his wife Sarah; sons William (eldest), James, Thomas, & Benjamin; and dtr Jane Wightman. The inventory of his estate was taken 11 Jul 1720.

William married Sarah Unknown Abt 1675. Sarah was born Abt 1650; died 28 Dec 1731. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Sieur Gysbert Updyke was an officer of the Dutch West India Company. He probably came to Long Island from Amsterdam about 1630. In time he owned extensive land areas in and around present-day New York City; Hempstead, Long Island; Cow's Neck; and Coney Island. He held several positions of leadership at Long Island and New Amsterdam, and was also an innkeeper. He made frequent trips to the "Block House" in Narragansett Country, RI. This was Richard Smith's trading post (now known as "Smith's Castle" on Post Road near Wickford).

He died after 10 April 1662. Very possibly he came to RI after the surrender of New Amsterdam to the English in 1664, and eventually died here.

Gysbert married Catherine Smith 24 Sep 1643, Old Dutch Church, New Amsterdam, Manhattan Island, America. Catherine (daughter of Richard Smith and Joan Unknown) was born Abt 1620. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

She was also known as Catharina or Katrina. Catherine was the daughter of Richard Smith (of Smith's Castle, Wickford), who also owned land on Long Island under sovereignty of the Dutch West India Company. Smith established trading posts near the Pequot Path (Post Road) in Kingstowne, and also in New Amsterdam (New York). He frequently traveled back and forth between the two locations, and established strong personal and business relationships with individuals at New Amsterdam. Undoubtedly that explains how his daughter met and married Gysbert Updyke, an officer of the Dutch West India Company.