Family Timeline

“It is evident that the old story, with which so many lineal traditions of other American Families begin, of two brothers coming over together to the new world, to found their fortunes here must be, for substance, the beginning of a true account of the Dwight family in this country…”

October 14, 1649 – “At a meeting of the inhabitants of Dedham to act concerning such things as relate to a village, to be erected at a place called Boggistoe, were present John and Timothy Dwight. Among the names and signatures of those intending to become inhabitants of this village, and to who grants of land were made, was Timothy Dwight. John’s name is not recorded as he staid in Dedham.”

After being granted the land, Timothy Dwight came to Medfield as did all the original thirteen settlers. He served on the first board of selectman for 18 years; was the first Representative of the General Court and Chief Military Officer.

1651

Timothy and Maria Dwight build east part of Dwight-Derby House.

1668

Timothy Dwight's wife Mary dies childless.

1669

Timothy Dwight marries Dorcas Watson of Roxbury. They have three sons. Only John survives past childhood.

1675

Captain John Dwight is born May 3rd, son of Timothy and Dorcas. John came to be the town’s Chief Military Officer, served as Treasurer, Town Clerk and Selectman.

1676

While standing on his stoop, Timothy Dwight was mortally wounded by the Indians and died a few weeks later.

1677

Timothy Dwight’s estate is inventoried and left to these two sons, Timothy (6) and John (2) in care of their mother Widow Dorcas. John inherits the whole estate upon the death of his brother Timothy. Widow Docas marries John Adams later that year.

1696

John Dwight marries Elizabeth Harding. (Medfield b. 1678) They have eight children; Elizabeth, Timothy, Dorcas, Kezia, Sarah, Sybill, Hannah and Seth, Seth being the youngest.

1716

Elizabeth gives birth to their son Seth on November 5th.

1740

Seth Dwight marries Hannah Fisher (b. 1717, Dover) in December. They have three children; Patty, Timothy and Hannah.

1751

Captain John Dwight sells half the house (east end), half his barn and half his orchard to his son Seth.

1751

Captain John Dwight dies. The entire estate is inherited by his son Seth: dwelling house, corn house, barn, and six acres of upland belonging there unto called the home lot.

1758

Seth inherits remainder of Frairy Street property upon the death of his mother Elizabeth.

1760

Seth Dwight completes structural changes to the west side of the house giving it some of the Georgian style it has today.

1776

Seth Dwight dies in November (no will). Daughter Patty (b. Nov. 2, 1747) and son Timothy (b. Sept. 7, 1750) inherit property with widow Hannah having life tenancy.

1786

Timothy Dwight, Doctor and Revolutionary War surgeons’ mate, sells his interest in the estate to Patty Dwight’s husband, Jonathan Metcalf. The Metcalfs use this property as collateral for a loan from Marshall Spring, a Watertown physician, possibly to finance Jonathan Metcalf’s business as a merchant.

1792

Widow Hannah Dwight, having life tenancy, dies leaving her daughter and son-in-law free to dispose of the property.

1796

Either the deed was lost or the Metcalfs defaulted on their loan, Marshall Springs acquires the property and sells to Moses Hill of Medfield a “tract of land, 16 acres, with all the buildings, near the Meetinghouse, plus 30 rods of land near the above improved as a garden.”

1797

Moses Hill dies in May. The estate is sold to Horatio Townsend, Medfield Attorney at Law, for the sum of $1,640.00, including a 16-acre lot and all buildings.

Mary Allen Townsend, daughter of Horatio and Anstis (Green) Townsend is born January 2nd in Medfield.

1820

Mary Townsend marries John Barton Derby, of the Salem Derbys, on July 23. (Photo: John Barton Derby.

1821

Horatio Townsend sells to Elias Hasket Derby and John Barton Derby an agreement stating that the property be specifically deeded to his daughter Mary Townsend Derby for life, and her heirs. The deed/agreement was not filed until 1923. (Photo: Elias Hasket Derby.)

1823

George Horatio Derby, son of John and Mary, is born on April 3rd in Dedham.

1846

George Horatio Derby graduates from West Point and serves in the Army Topographical Engineers in Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo; then sent to work in California. George was believed to be one of America’s first humorists and satirical writers. (Photo: George Horatio Derby)

1854

George Horatio Derby marries Mary Coons on January 14th. They have three children: Daisy, Mary and George. (Photo: Mary Coons Derby age 24.)

1861

George Horatio Derby gravestone in California

George Horatio Derby dies at the young age of thirty-eight in New York.

1877

Daisy Peyton Derby marries William Murray Black on September 29th in New York. (Photo: Daisy Peyton Derby)

1880

Mary Townsend Derby dies September 11th. Estate goes to surviving grandchildren (children of George H. Derby) Daisy, Mary and George M. Title is passed down to Col. Roger Derby Black through his mother Daisy Derby Black. Col. Black, born January 18, 1883 in West Point N.Y., was a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

1936

Col. Roger Derby Black Sr. dies. His wife Margaret E. Black inherits title and eventually moves onto the property. She sells the north half of the Derby property (Lot A) to an abutter in 1943. (Photo: Roger Black Sr.)

1945

Margaret Black sells property to Louisa H. Hackett, wife of William H.Y. Hackett of Dedham.

1948

Louisa Hackett wills property to Theodore C. Baker of Belmont, husband of Mary Armory Baker. Mary inherits upon death of her husband in 1960.

1963

Mary Baker sells property to Jane R. and Chester Harris, Jr. Of Topsfield. Title is transferred to Jane in 1972.

1996

Town of Medfield purchases property from Jane Harris for $225,000 on November 15th.

1997

Friends of the Dwight-Derby House is incorporated September 19th and leases property from the Town of Medfield.

1998

The House undergoes a massive restoration both inside and out.

2002

The Dwight-Derby house is registered as a Historic Home/Museum on the National Register of Historic Places.

Quote source: The History of the Descendants of John Dwight, of Dedham, Mass. By Benjamin Woodbridge Dwight, Volume 1, New York: John F. Trow & Son, Printers and Bookbinders. 1874.
Other sources: Project Planning Reference Book -1997, Dwight-Derby House Outline of House History and Title. Timeline sources: The “Tangible History – Building and life at the Dwight-Derby House 1651-2001 prepared by Electa Kane Tritsch June 2002; Dedham Registry of Deeds, Dedham Massachusetts; Dedham Vital Records, Dedham Massachusetts.