Person:Hezekiah Weeks (1)

Genealogy of the family of George Weekes of Dorchester,Mass. By Robert D. Weeks 1885 Press of L.J. Hardham, Newark, N.J. Page 38 - 39 Hezekiah (William, John, William, George,) b. about 1739; on date of Feb. 21, 1755, being "a minor, over 14 years of age," he chose as guardian, Eliphalet Gay, cordwainer; on of his sureties being Samuel Shuttlesworth, of Dedham, blacksmith. He was bound as an apprentice to a blacksmith (perhaps the person last named), from whose service he ran away the same year (1755), and went to Norwich (now Huntington,) in the western part of the State, where he settled on 500 or 600 acres of land on the Westfield river. He was a blacksmith and farmer; m. Ruth Cole, of Worthington; served in Revolutionary War; a useful and respected citizen; d. April 22, 1819, in the 80th year of his age; she was living a widow in 1830.

BURIAL Hezekiah Weeks was born about 1738 in Dorchester, MA. Married Ruth Cole in Kingston, MA 31 Mar 1763. Served briefly in the Revolutionary War under Capt. Daniel Pomeroy. Had at least 8 children. Was originally buried in Indian Hollow Cemetery which was desecrated to make way for the Knightville Dam and Resevoir area. Tombstones and a shovel of dirt from each grave were reinterred in Norwich Bridge Cemetery.

1. ↑ Massachusetts. Probate Court (Suffolk County). Probate records, 1636-1899. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969-1971)
   Case 10962.

   21 Feb 1755: Eliphalet Gay of Dedham Cordwain'r as guardian of Hezekiah Weeks a Minor aged upwards of Fourteen years Son of William Weeks late of Boston Cordwainer deceased.

2. ↑ Find A Grave: Norwich Bridge Cemetery, Huntington, MA, in Find A Grave
   Hezekiah Weeks.

   In
   memory of Mr.
   Hezekiah Weeks
   who died
   April 22, 181[0?9?]
   In his 89 Yr.
   [Note: there appears to be some controversy about Hezekiah's age at death. As noted in previous comments, the cemetery was moved, which raises some question about the gravestone's authenticity. But it does appear to say in his 89th year, i.e., age 88. For a death in 1819, this would suggest a birth 1731. The Weekes Genealogy mentioned, argues that the probate proves the age at death is wrong, since he would not need a guardian if born before 1735. To add to the confusion, the year of death appears more like 1810. The last digit does not look like the 9 in the 89th year.]

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Boston (Massachusetts). Mayor's Office. Selectmen's minutes, 1701-1822: mayor and alderman's minutes, 1822-1904; city council records, 1910-1914. (Boston, Massachusetts: State Film Exchange, 1965)
   Vol. 15, p. 180, Vol. 15, p. 185.

   23 May 1739: William Weeks with his Wife and Three Children being come into Town from Dorchester in Order to dwell here and has Open'd a Shop, without leave first had - being sent for appear'd - and Says he has been here about Eight Weeks, and lives in a House of Deacon Clough's at the South end. He was directed to procure sufficient Bonds men to Indemnify the Town, to the Satisfaction of the Select men at farthest on Wednesday the 6. June next.
   
   13 Jun 1739: William Weeks and Mary his Wife with their Three Children, Namely Elizabeth, Lemuel, and Hezekiah Weeks, are admitted Inhabitants, Edward Capen of Dorchester having given Bond, to the Town Treasurer in the Sum of three Hundred Pounds to Indemnify the Town from any Charge on their Account, according to Law.