Daniel Wing
Son of Rev. John Wing & Deborah Bachiler

It is not known when Daniel was born...although it is thought that he was born around 1617. He was not mentioned in his grandfather, Matthew Wing's will which indicates that he was born after the death of his grandfather. Stephen Wing was not born until 1621 which makes it logical to assume that Daniel was born between John and Stephen. If the Wing family researchers are correct about the approximate year of Matthew's birth, he would have been about 15 years old when the Wing family crossed the Atlantic to reach the Massachusetts Bay Settlement.

Daniel strikes me as the most sentimental of the brothers...or at least of the three brothers that remained in New England. Daniel is the only brother that named any of his children in honor of his mother's family. He would name one son, Samuel Batchelder Wing and he would name another son, Bachelor. He is also the only son that named one of his daughters for his mother, Deborah. In fact, the first daughter that he named Deborah died in 1659 and he would name his other daughter, that was born in September of 1660, Deborah. He also named one son John, but then all of them named one of their sons "John." The fact that he did commemorate his maternal grandfather's name might indicate that he had a closer relationship to the Rev. Stephen Bachiler that the other brothers enjoyed.

NOTE...Raymond Wing writes; While many sources state that Samuel, son of Daniel Wing had the middle name Batchelder, this is in error. No contemporary record exists of Samuel having a middle name and middle names did not come into vogue until around the Revolutionary War. It is believed this error came from a mis-reading of Daniel's will which mentions sons Samuel Bachelder John and Daniel. At the time the will was made (1698) commas were not commonly used.

Daniel would be the first of the four brothers to be married and start a family. Daniel married Hannah Swift on November 5, 1641. Hannah was the daughter of William Swift and Joan Sisson.  It is believed that Hannah was born about 1620. Her father, William Swift was a proprietor in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1634 and had been there for several years. In 1637 he sold his property in Watertown and moved to Sandwich, where he bought the largest farm in town. Daniel and Hannah must have first met when the settlement of Sandwich was in it's infancy. We know that after living in Saugus (Lynn) five years, Daniel, his brothers and mother were among the first Sandwich settlers in 1637.

Daniel and Hannah would have the first Wing child to be born in the new country which was called "New England". Hannah Wing was born to Daniel Wing and Hannah Swift on July 28, 1643. In fact, Daniel would lead all of his brothers in the serious business of procreating. He would eventually have a total of 12 children, who in turn gave him (from known records) a total of 63 grandchildren. Of those 63 grandchildren that we know of...Daniel would become the great-grandfather of at least 254 children...127 males and 127 females. This information is from known records.

Daniel would become active in the fishing business on the Herring River, which is now the Cape Cod Canal. The taking of fish was an important matter in the commerce of the town and the profit of the leases of the Herring River, and the cutting up of whales and other large fish which had escaped after being wounded, from their pursuers and been stranded upon the shores of the bay were no inconsiderable item in defraying the expenses of the schools. Accordingly, in 1652, an agreement was made with Daniel Wing and Michael Blackwell for the taking of fish in Herring River, and it was ordered that Edmund Freeman, Daniel Wing and four others who are named "shall take care of all the fish that Indians shall cut up within the limits of the town, so as to provide safely for it, and shall dispose of the fish for the town's use; also, that if any man that is an inhabitant shall find a whale and report it to any of these six men, he shall have a double, and that these six men shall take care to provide laborers and whatever is needful so that whatever whales either Indian or white man gives notice of they may dispose of the proceeds for the town's use, to be divided equally to every inhabitant." Daniel's house was located near the center of the present Sandwich Village which is referred to as the Heritage area.

We also know that he participated in financing a town mill. An earlier building of a mill for the accommodation of the inhabitants having failed in 1654, four persons were engaged to build one, the town paying twenty pounds, and this sum was at once voluntarily subscribed by Daniel Wing and twenty-one other inhabitants. This and another mill were soon erected and millers were appointed by the town `to grind and have the toil of their pains.'

Daniel's house was located near the center of the present Sandwich Village which is referred to as the Heritage area. Daniel came close to losing his house and everything he had when around 1655 he and other prominent citizens became involved in serious religious dissension, opposing the church authorities in Plymouth. Daniel's brother, John Wing, stepped in and helped Daniel to retain his property when Daniel was fined for supporting newly arrived Quakers.  Daniel had his estate confirmed to his children on 3 Dec. 1658 in order to escape the fines of the court being levied due to his militant Quakerism. He was fined 10 pounds on 5 June 1658 for refusing to take the oath of fidelitie. Fined 20 shillings on 3 Dec. 1658 for refusing to aid the marshall in the execution of his office. Fined 5 pounds in Oct. 1659, crime not stated. Fined 5 pounds on 8 June 1660, once again over the oath of fidelitie. This was when 5 pounds would buy a house.

He refused to take a loyalty oath aimed against Quaker sympathizers. The scenario became ugly with public whippings and brandings. Disgusted, Daniel left the Puritan denomination of his father and grandfather, which had become as intolerant of others as the Church of England had been towards Puritans and Separatists themselves. He joined the Quakers who in 1658 established a Friends meeting at Spring Hill in Sandwich, the first in America. His brothers, John Jr. and Stephen followed later.

Sandwich Massachusetts was unique in the respect that the citizens of that small village seemed to have a greater respect and tolerance for the individual freedom of worship. As early as 1646, a general movement was made throughout the Plymouth Colony in behalf of toleration. A petition was extensively signed and presented to the general court "to allow and maintain full and free tolerance of religion to all men that would preserve the civil peace and submit to government." It was supported by members of the deputies and by a large portion of the inhabitants of Sandwich.

In 1657, "the people called Quakers" made their first appearance in Sandwich. In Bowden's "History of the Society of Friends in America," it is mentioned that two English Friends, named Christopher Holden and John Copeland, came to Sandwich on June 20, 1657, and had a number of meetings, and that their arrival was hailed with feelings of satisfaction by many who had been long burdened with a lifeless ministry and dead forms in religion. But the town had its advocates of religious intolerance and no small commotion ensued. The Governor issued a warrant for their arrest, but when a copy of the warrant was asked for by William Newland, at whose house the meetings had been held, it was refused, and its execution was resisted. A severe rebuke and a fine were then inflicted upon them. The two prisoners were sentenced to be whipped, but the selectmen of the town declined to act in the case, and the marshal was obliged to take them to Barnstable to find a magistrate willing to comply with the order.

Tradition reports that many meetings were held at a secluded spot in the woods, which was afterwards known as "Christopher's Hollow." Numerous complaints were made against divers persons in Sandwich for meetings at private homes and inveighing against magistrates, and several men and women were publicly whipped for disturbing public worship, for abusing the ministers, for encouraging others to hold meetings, for entertaining the preachers and for unworthy speeches. Daniel Wing, with three others, was arrested for tumultuous carriage at a meeting of Quakers and severely fines, though there is no evidence that a single Quaker, besides the preachers, was present, and it is certain that neither of these persons professed at that time any adherence to the new sect. Daniel and Stephen Wing refused to take the oath of fidelity, not on the ground that they declined all oaths, but because this particular oath pledged them to assist in the execution of an intolerant enactment.

I think it's safe to say that although history declines to record our Wing family forefathers with the courage and honor they displayed...their descendants can be confident that they played a role in the eventual concept of freedom of religion. Daniel, like his older brother John, probably understood better the trials and tribulations that his father and grandfather had suffered at the hands of the intolerant English magistrates and later, the intolerant General Court of the Massachusetts Bay.

Daniel Wing and Hannah Swift would be married 22 or 23 years when Hannah would give birth to their last child, Daniel Wing Jr. Apparently complications arising from the birth of this last child that was born January 28, 1663/64 would cause Hannah to die on March 10th of the same year. Hannah is mentioned in her mother's will;  "I give unto Hannah Winge the Elder my best hat and forty shillings to her daughters, to be divided amongst them." It is recorded that Joan Swift died in November of 1663, so apparently Hannah survived her own mother by only a few months.

Although burdened with an infant and other small children, Daniel did not hastily remarry. In all probability his older daughters were pressed into service to care for their younger brothers and sisters. Infant mortality being what it was...or more likely, infant production being what it was, Daniel probably had little difficulty finding a wet nurse for his infant son, Daniel Jr.

Daniel married for the 2nd time on June2, 1666 at Sandwich, Massachusetts to Anna Ewer. At this point I don't know that much about Anna except that she was born about 1635 at Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay Colony. There is some question about whether Anna was the daughter of Thomas Ewer and Sarah Learned or if she was the widow of Thomas Ewer. The probate record of Thomas Ewer (Jr.) stated that his inventory was "aprised the 31 of May 1667." "Hannah the Relect of the aforsaid Thomas Ewer tooke her oath to this Inventory before mee Thomas Hinckley Assistant." As this record did not indicate that she was then remarried (Daniel Wing married Anna Ewer June, 1666) it appears that Anna was a sister to Thomas (Jr.) not his widow.  Anna would have been about 31 years old at the time of her marriage to Daniel Wing. Anna would bear Daniel 3 children between the years of 1668 and 1674. Anna was preceded in death by Daniel Wing who died March 10, 1697/98. Interestingly, he would be married to Anna almost as long as he had been married to Hannah by the time he died. Anna  Ewer Wing died about 1719/20.

Daniel Wing made his will and it was dated March 10, 1698...and proven April 5, 1698. The inventory of "Daniel Wing late of Sandwich who deceased the 10th day of march 1697/8" was taken by William Bassett and Thomas Smith, on 21 March, 1697/8. The real estate was: "one Shear in Scorton Neck" £25; "all the Rest of his lands and meadow ground & housing" £200. Jacob Wing made oath to the inventory, 5 April, 1698.

Daniel's will mentions youngest son, Jashub Wing, who was made sole executor, sons Samuel, Bachelor, John and Daniel and daughter Lydia Abott. The wife of Daniel was living at date of his will but name not mentioned. She may have lived till about 1720, for a legacy to John was payable four years after decease of testator's widow; legacy to Daniel eight years after decease of widow; and legacy to Bachelor twelve years after. Hannah Bourman (Bowerman), daughter of said John (who was of Rochester) with her husband Benjamin Bourman (Bowerman) receipted for John's legacy which had been given to Hannah by John's will 23d day of "first month called March" 1723-4; Daniel receipted for his legacy December, 1729; and Bachelor (then of Hanover) receipted for his legacy January 31, 1732-3. Inventory shows personal estate valued at £68, 10s; real estate £200.

Daniel Wing would be laid to rest at Spring Hill Cemetery in Sandwich, Massachusetts...the same cemetery his first wife was buried at the where his second wife would later be buried. Of the three brothers that remained in New England, he was the first to marry, the first to have a child and the first to die. He had buried 4 of his 12 children and his first wife.

The children of Daniel Wing & Hannah Swift

Jashub Wing, born June, 1674