"Among others Savage speculates that Joseph may have been the son of the Widow Wise; but the demonstration by [Douglas] Richardson [TAG 55:149f] that she apparently did have two daughters who came to this country, and that these two daughters were ten to fifteen years older than Joseph, leads one to be very cautious in making such a connection. …
Joseph wise first appears in New England records in the will of Dr. George Alcock of Roxbury. This document, given the curious date of '22 day 11th (month), called December, Anno Domini 1640,' includes bequests to the testator's servants Joseph Wise and John Plimpton (NEHGR 2:104). One of the witnesses to the will was Thomas Weld, whose brother Joseph had married a daughter of the Widow Wise (TAG 55:148-50). …
On the assumption that Joseph Wise was of the usual marrying age for colonial males in 1641, he would have been born about 1615. Soon after obtaining his freedom and marrying, Joseph must have taken up the trade of butcher, for by 1648 he is referred to by the elder John Winthrop as 'the Roxbury butcher.' …
Joseph Wise died at Roxbury 12 Sept. 1684, and on 15 September administration of the estate of 'Joseph Wise of Roxbury, butcher, dying intestate,' was granted to widow Mary and son John (Suffolk Probate Case #1366). We have seen evidence … that Joseph Wise had interests in Providence, so the inclusion in the August 1688 tax list of Providence of 'The Estate of ye deceased Joseph Wise' most likely refers to the Roxbury butcher (Richard LeBaron Bowen, Early Rehoboth 1:94)."
