Jonas
S. Wight stated in his will “I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Caroline all
the use improvements and income of Dwelling House, Lands, and the appurtenances
thereto, and all my real and Personal property in Smithville, to have and to
hold the same to her for and during her natural life.”
Jonah’s
beloved wife was Caroline Ackley, daughter of Henry Ackley and Ruth Purple born
March 15, 1809 at East Hampton, Middlesex County, Connecticut. Carolyn’s father
died 1814 in Connecticut when she was about four years old. Sometime between 1820 and 1830,
Caroline’s mother brought the family to Chenango County, New York where other
Purple family members migrated from Connecticut.
Caroline married Jonas Sweetland Wight Dec.
19, 1830 most likely near McDonough, Chenango County. Six sons were born
to them. Orange Henry Wight born in 1833 died a few months after birth. Richard
(my 2nd Great Grandfather) was born 1834 followed by Hiram in
1837. (Hiram died a young man in 1859.) George Tarbell Wight arrived in 1839,
Morris B. in 1846 with Eli T. Wight the youngest born in 1848.
Jonas
farmed land in McDonough. He and Caroline bought and sold several 100-acre
tracts along with a few smaller lots during their years in McDonough. In 1865
they sold some properties and by Jan. 1, 1866, Jonas and Caroline purchased 120
acres in the Town of Smithfield, Chenango County.
The
1875 New York State census enumerated Jonas and Caroline at home in the 2nd
Election District of Smithville. Their son, Morris, wife Miranda, and daughter
Lena shared their home. Caroline’s youngest son Eli lived in the Wight house
too.
Jonas
Wight died May 8, 1878. Great Grandfather left everything he owned to his
‘beloved wife Caroline’ for as long as she lived. He planned for her well-being;
eighteen months after Great Grandmother Caroline died, the sons would get the
following monies: Richard $2,000, Eli T. $5,000, Morris B., $4,000 and George
T. $2,000. Any remaining real and personal property was to be divided in equal
shares among them.
The
1880 federal census enumerator found Caroline living with her son and wife,
Morris B. and Miranda Wight in Smithville.
On
November 23, 1889, the Wight’s sold 237 acres of Jonas Wight’s land. Eli T. Wight
and wife Hattie L., Caroline Wight, all of Smithville; George T. Wight and wife
Julia residents of Waterloo, Iowa; and Morris B. Wight of Niles Valley,
Pennsylvania sold their interests to son and brother Richard Wight of
Pharsalia, Chenango Co., NY.
A
few months later, Richard, received his $2,000 legacy (prior to his mother’s
death) Feb. 3, 1890.
Caroline
Wight passed March 21, 1894 at her son Eli’s home in Coventry, Chenango County.
Chenango
Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Wednesday, March 28, 1894
McDONOUGH
The body of Mrs. Wight, widow of the late
Jonas Wight, an old resident of this place, was brought to this village for
burial, on Friday last, from Coventry, where she lived with her son, Eli Wight.
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