CHAPTER XI
Deborah and Matthew Little is known of Deborah Wing (Owl 3), the eldest child of the Rev. John and Deborah (Bachiler) Wing. She is mentioned in the will of her Grandfather Matthew, was once spoken of in the English records as a child thirteen years of age accompanying her mother and her younger brother, Stephen, on the return of the mother to Holland from a visit in England. She is finally mentioned in the will of Rev. John, who in dividing his estate bequeaths one half of his property "amongst all my children, share and share alike, except unto my daughter, Deborah, whom I have already advanced in marriage." Deborah at the time of her father's death was between eighteen and nineteen years of age, so that she must have married very early. There is no sound coming to us in later years from her. It has been conjectured from the fact that the Rev. John made Edward Ford, a London merchant, one of the executors of his will, that he was the husband of his daughter, Deborah, but there is nothing to confirm this suggestion. Matthew Wing (Owl 7), probably the youngest of Rev. John and Deborah (Bachilor) Wing, was born in Europe and it is believed was an infant of not more than five years when he accompanied his mother and brothers to America in 1632. It is peculiar that only one document is extant giving any direct reference to him, but that paper of itself is so comprehensive that it practically recites the most important details of his life. There was a vague reference to him, found by the writer some years ago in an old family record kept by one of the Sandwich Wings. The memoranda was written upon an ancient paper, evidently sometime near the beginning of the last century. It read: "Four brothers came from some part of England somewhere between the years 1620 and 30. One settled at Pocasset, one on the Cape, and one got homesick and returned back to take care of some property they left behind, and the other, whose name was Daniel Wing, settled in this place. I cannot find whether he was married when he came here or not. The other two brothers' names that settled here from England with Daniel were John and Stephen. Their father was an old priest who fled in time of the great persecution to some part of Germany and after, returned and was put to death. So great Uncle Eben tells me." The brother who "became homesick" and returned to England was Matthew. But Matthew, coming to America as a young child, and acquiring property in his young manhood, must have had some pressing inducement to cause him to return to England. Another tradition in the family is that the fourth brother returned to look after some property left behind there, which seems more reasonable. As we have seen, the Rev. John Wing in his will speaks of his landed estates in Crickston and Stroud in Kent, and it is in Stroud that we find his son Matthew after his return to England, so that the tradition that he returned to England to look after some property may not be unfounded. We have already called attention to that Thomas Wing, Sr., who mysteriously appeared at Sandwich and played a prominent part in politics betwee the years of 1669 and 1675, and then as mysteriously and suddenly disappears from the records of the Colony. It seems probable to us that it was the kinsman, Thomas Wing, who became homesick and returned to England about the year 1675 at about the time of the outbreak of the King Philip Indian wars. The deductions the writer has drawn from the circumstances and such data as comes down to us is thatt Thomas Wing, Sr., was akinsman of the Wing brothers, probably a cousin, and that after a few years of pioneer life at Sandwich, became dissatisfied and returned to England and that Matthew returned with him. (This was disproved in the 1980's when it was shown that a misreading of the old records had turned Thomas Burgess into Thomas Wing). Some years ago, a Mr. Wordell found the following document in an old junk and paper stock at New Bedford. It is now framed and hangs upon the walls of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society in Boston, where the writer has inspected and copied it. It purports to be a power of attorney given by William and Hannah Shanks, of Stroud, in Kent, England, to Daniel Wing of Sandwich to recover and receive in his name certain property which had been given into the possession of James Green of Malden, Mass., and had been by him wrongfully kept back from the rightful heirs of the said Matthew Wing. We present it in full: "To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, William Shanks of Stroud in the County of Kent, Cooper, and Hannah Shanks his wife sends greetings. Whereas Matthew Wing of Stroud in the County of Kent, aforesaid Planter, in his Majesties Colony of New Plymouth in New England, having purchased a certain Estate and afterwards coming over into England, left it in the hands of his brother, Daniel Wing of his Majesties Colony of New Plymouth, Planter; And the said Matthew Wing having been come into England marrying Joane Newman, daughter of Robert Newman of Stroud in said County of Kent, Blacksmith, by whom he begot a son whom he named John wing, and in his minority by vertue of her letter of attorney authorized her brother-in-law, James Green, in the town of Malden, in his Majesties Colony of Massachusetts Bay in New England, who had married Elizabeth Newman, sister of the said Joan Newman alias Wing, for and in her name and to her use and behoofe, to ask, require, take and receive that her said husband's Matthew Wing's estate of and from the said Daniel Wing, who accordingly delivered it into his hands to the intent that said Widow Wing and her son John might reap the benefit of it in their necessity here in England, which notwithstanding they did not, through the frauds of the said James Green dureing their lives. Now the said Joan Wing, the Widow and John Wing, the son of the saaid Matthew Wing being both likewise deceased, and the estate not having been delivered into their hands or either hands before their decease, the estate is devilved unto three brothers of the said Matthew Wing, viz: John Wing of the town of Yarmouth in the said Colony of New Plymouth, (Planter) and Daniel Wing and Stephen Wing of the town of Sandwich in the said Colony of New Plymouth, Planters, in New England. Who all three as well for the naturall love and affection which they beare unto their deare and well beloved Cousin, the above said Hannah Shanks, daughter of Thomas Griffin of Stroud aforesaid in the said County of Kent, Fisherman, and Ann Griffin, Alias Newman, sister of the said Joan Newman, alias Wing, as for divers other good (causes) and valuable considerations, them and every of them thereunto specially moving, have for themselves, their heirs, executors and assigns, given, granted, effeoffed and confirmed. All and singular the said Estate of their Brother Matthew Wing, situate, lying and being in his Majesties Colony of New Plymouth in New England, and all and everey of their Rights, Titles, Priviledges, claymes, and demands thereunto, and evry part thereof unto the said Hannah Shankes, the now wife of the said William Shankes, and to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever. Know ye therefore, that the above named William Shankes and Hannah Shankes his now wife, in consideration hereof and for the better accomplishment for the obtaining the said estate in her possession have appointed, ordained and made and in their stead and place by these presents put, deputed and constituted their deare and trusty and well beloved Uncle Daniel Wing, aforenamed, of the town of Sandwich in his Majesties Colony of New Plymouth in new England, Planter, to be their lawful Attorney (irrevocable?) for them and in their names and to their uses and behoofes to ask, demand, sue for, levy, require, recover and receive of and from the said James Green or Elizabeth his wife, and from every their heirs executors, and assigns, all and singular the Estate, and everey part thereof, with all and singular their appertanances, purchased and bought by the said Matthew Wing deceased. Giving and granting unto the said Attorney their whole power, strength and authority in and about the premises by virtue of these presents. And upon the delivery and receipt thereof Acquittances, releases or other discharge for them and in their names to make, seal, and deliver; and all and every Act or Acts, thing or things, devise or devises in the Law whatsoever for them and in their names to do, execute and perform fully, largely and amply, to all intents, constructions and purposes as they themselves might or could do, if they or either of them were tnere personally present, Ratifying, allowing and holding firm and stable all and whatsoever their said Attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done in and about the execution of the premises by virtue of these presents. In witness whereof the said William Shankes and Hannah his wife, hve hereunto set their hands and seals this seven and twentyeth day of August in the I year of the reighn of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the Second, by the grace of God of England, France, Scotland and Ireland, Kind, Defender of the Faith, Ect., Annoque Domini One Thousean, six hundred and eighty. Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of William Ellison Isaih Finch WILLIAM SHANKES
sing Litae HANNAH SHANKES The day and year above written, the above named William Shankes and Hannah his wife, Sealed and Executed these presents above written before me, James Almond, Esquire, Mayor of the city of Rochester, in the County of Kent, above written.
Witness my had and Seale of Office, JAMES ALMOND,
Mayor," A careful study of this document is of large importance to the Wing family. It discloses these facts: first, that Deborah Wing, the mother, was dead at the time of its execution; second, that Deborah, the sister of John, Daniel and Stephen was also deceased at that time; third, that John, Daniel and Stephen, the brothers were the sole surviving heirs at law of their brother, Matthew.
There is also a touch of the broad and generous spirit which dominated the lives of our ancestors, John, Daniel and Stephen. They surrendered up property rightfully theirs by law, to a kinswoman by marriage of their dead brother in the belief that justice and equity would be best served by their so doing. So we gather from this single writing thus providentially preserved to us, that Matthew Wing, the fourth and youngest brother, returned to England, there married Joan Newman, by whom one son named John (Owl 38), was born to him who died in infancy, and that he himself died leaving no posterity to survive the generation of his son. |