Dewey family from 1670 to 1700 (Westfield, MA)

Dewey Settlement in Westfield, MA

The first Dewey post talked of Thomas’ years in England, Dorchester, MA, and Windsor, CT.  The next Dewey post discussed Josiah’s (2^nd generation) years in Northampton, MA.  As I continue with the Dewey family, consider what it must have been like for these colonial families to move from one settlement to the next.  We don’t know what motivated them to move, but obviously, each move created new hardships, necessitating: constructing new housing, clearing land, establishing crops, joining or starting new churches, and potentially facing hostile Native Americans.  George Phelps, step father of Thomas Dewey’s children, was among the first settlers of Westfield.  George, Thomas Dewey (2nd), and others were assigned house lots in January 1668 in Westfield. 

Josiah and Hepzibah (Lyman) Dewey (continued from prior post)

Josiah was granted land in Westfield on Feb. 5, 1667 “on condition … of building the ministers house.”  Josiah and Hepzibah moved to Westfield about 1670.  Eight of their twelve children were born here between 1673 and 1685 (see previous post for list of children).  They and many of their children lived in Westfield during King Philip’s War.  Josiah was a sergeant of the guard during King Philip's war (1675 – 1676). 

Many of the remote settlements near Westfield were attacked by Indians during the war.  In September of 1675 the town of Hadley, MA was attacked by Indians and the Battle of Bloody Brook took place in Deerfield, MA.  In Deerfield, the colonial casualties were about 60.  In October the Pocomtuc tribe attacked Springfield, MA and destroyed more the half the town.  John Miller, brother of Mehitable Miller (wife of Josiah Dewey Jr., see below) was killed in the October 5, 1675 attack on Springfield.  Hatfield and Northampton were also attacked in October.  The English settlers organized militias and fought back.  Many of the early militia attacks on Indian tribes were in the Narragansett Bay area, home to King Philip.  Closer to Westfield, in April and May of 1676, the militia defeated the Indians in the vicinity of Turner’s Falls, MA.  By August 1676, the war was over and Philip had been killed in the Rhode Island area.  Both sides were guilty of slaughtering the aged, women and children.  (For more on the events of King Philip’s War, click here.)

After the war, around 1680, Josiah co-owned a saw and corn mill (map showing the Dewey lots) at Two Mile Brook (Great Brook) with his brothers Thomas and Jedediah Dewey and with Joseph Whiting.  Two Mile Brook was so named because the brook was two miles from the town center.  The brook itself is called Little River.  Josiah took the Oath of Freeman Sept. 28, 1680 and he was ordained the first deacon December 28, 1692 at First Church.

Josiah (3^rd Generation) and Mehitable Miller Dewey

Josiah Dewey Jr. was born in Northampton and would have been a child when his father and mother moved to Westfield about 1670.  Josiah Jr. married Mehitable Miller in Westfield on January 15, 1691.  Mehitable, daughter of William and Patience (Bacon) Miller, was born on July 10, 1666 in Northampton, MA.  Josiah was a farmer in Westfield. 

Josiah and Mehitable had six children:

Born at Westfield, MA:

William (1692 – 1759)*

Josiah (1697 – 1771)

Joseph (1697 - ?)

Born at Lebanon, CT:

John (1700 – 1773)

Mary (1704 – 1735)

Mehitable (1708 – 1796)