John Prentice Wight (1820 - 1912)

Born 11 Apr 1820 in Dublin, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza M (Greenwood) Wight — married 10 Jun 1856 in New Hampshire, United States

Died 22 Sep 1912 at age 92 in Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States

Biography

John Prentice Wight was born April 11, 1820 in Dublin, New Hampshire. ^[1]

He married Eliza M. Greenwood of Dublin on June 10, 1846 in New Hampshire. ^[2]

The 1850 US Census - household of John P. Wight in Troy, New York. ^[3]

John died on September 22, 1912, in Townsend, Massachusetts.^[4] At the time of his death, he was the oldest resident of Troy, New York. His obituary was published in a Troy newspaper, as follows:^[5]

John P. Wight, said to be the oldest man in Troy, died yesterday morning at his summer home at West Townsend, Mass. Mr. Wight was born in Dublin, N. H., April 21, 1820, and was in his ninety-third year. For many years he was associated with the late James E. Kimball in the flour business. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Universalist Church, serving several terms as President, and since his youth he had been a strong advocate of Universalist principles. Mr. Wight was a devoted lover of outdoor sports, and spent many an hour with the rod and gun He liked long walks and could move with the sprightliness of a youth. He is survived by his wife and a sister, Mrs. Carl of Somerville, Mass. The remains will arrive in this city tomorrow afternoon, and the funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon from the Universalist Church. Rev. I. V. Lobdell will officiate.

In his will, dated February 21, 1912, John made bequests to the following people:^[6]

• sister Mrs. Lucy M. Carl, of Sterling, Massachusetts
• niece Jenny T. Kempton, of Los Angeles, California
• grandniece Flora Wakefield, of North Bay, Ontario, Canada
• nephew Marcus L. Snow, of South Pasadena, California
• nephew Henry Snow, of Leominster, Massachusetts
• nephew Marcellus Wight, of East Brookfield, Massachusetts
• grandnephew Frederick W. Twitchell of Aurora, Illinois
• stepson Edward A. Craig of West Townsend, Massachusetts
• grand-stepson Earl C. Craig, of Providence, Rhode Island
• grand-stepdaughter Ora Bell Craig, of Lebanon New Hampshire
• Prentice W. Carl, "my namesake"
• wife Mary Jane Wight

Sources

1. ↑ "New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDJX-ZZ7 : 18 January 2020), John Wight in entry for John P. Wight, 1820.
2. ↑ "New Hampshire Marriages, 1720-1920", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDP9-R48 : 24 January 2020), Eliza M. Greenwood in entry for John P. Wright, 1845.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC1C-526 : 23 December 2020), John P Wight, Troy, Rensselaer, New York, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N47F-5CS : 13 December 2022), John Prentice Wight, 1912.
5. ↑ Troy Times (Troy, N.Y.), 23 Sep 1912, Page 5
6. ↑ "New York Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YZX-BMR?cc=1920234&wc=Q7PB-4WP%3A213304201%2C234257801 : 28 May 2014), Rensselaer > Wills and administrations 1911-1914 vol 252-254 > image 676 of 1008; county courthouses, New York.