Matthew Wing of Dartmouth (now Westport) [burnt down]

   Matthew first lived at the Ricketson homestead, built by his wife’s first husband, William Ricketson, built about 1684.   Photo & Article Owl JUN 1903, p. 156

Matthew Wing (c1705 – 1724)

   When the eldest Ricketson married [25 SEP 1708] Matthew Wing bought the house and 100 acres at “Shinsuet,” just north of the Ricketson homestead.

   This house was a great two-storied double one, of the lean-to type, and faced south—as well-behaved colonial houses should. Family tradition says that it was begun by one Landers of Sandwich, and left unfinished so when Matthew bought it, the floor timbers had sprouted and small trees were growing up toward the second story. In the stone wall, near the front of the house, is a large flat stone serving as a stile. In it is a deeply cut B. W.—1711, none other than young Benjamin Wing, who, with Joseph, were his only sons. It is this house which Benjamin Crane, the Old Dartmouth surveyor, means when, in his quaint journal, about 1720, he writes, “stayed one night at Matthew Wing’s.”

   … This old house was torn down some years ago. Just in the rear is the old family burying-ground where, as from the house, are beautiful views. Here, when the near-by orchard is in full bloom, the wind from the river below sometimes scatters the petals over the graves of Elizabeth and Matthew Wing. (Some Wings of Old Dartmouth and Their Homes by William Arthur Wing (1905) pp. 5-6)

Benjamin Wing (1724 – p1776)

      The house created by Benjamin Wing upon his farm in Westport was standing up to about the year of 1898. Mrs. Sophia Wing Pettey, who had always lived near the old house, wrote in 1903, "As a child I heard that after the house was raised and boarded that on account of war it was left; that the builders went away, where I never learned, and when they returned, trees had grown up to the rafters, probably on the lower side." This abandonment might have occurred during the Revolutionary War when the British were operating in the vicinity of Newport and Dartmouth. There is now standing in the vicinity of the old house a pear tree more than 150 years old and still in bearing condition. (Owl

David Wing (p1776 – 1814)

David Wing (1814 – 1863) House burnt circa 1851 (Owl JUN 1915, p. 1445) Rebuilt on same cellar.

Abigail S. WING Gifford (dau. of David (II) and wife of Richard S. Gifford) said to be living there in 1902 (Owl DEC1902, p. 117)

Charles Wing (1863 –1919 ) brother to Abigail (see Owl JUN 1915, p. 1445)

     Charles Wing… still lives on the old Matthew Wing homestead at Westport, one of the most beautiful places on the Nequochoke River, which has been in the possession and ownership of Charles Wing and his ancestors since 1705.  (Owl SEP 1919, p. 1908)

For over 50 years they have lived in Westport on the old Wing farm, and their married life had been a happy one. A few years ago their home was burned, and pending the erection of a new house Mr. Wing moved temporarily into a small building on the farm, while Mrs. Wing went with relatives. As soon as their new home was completed, Mrs. Wing returned, and husband and wife made their home there together, one son, C.O. Wing, living with them. The only reason that Mr. Wing occupied the small building during the time the new house was being erected was because he had been on the farm since he was born, and he determined “never to leave it.” He therefore, stayed on the property until his new house was ready. (Owl DEC 1919, p. 1938)

Unfortunately, the ancient house was destroyed about five years ago. The property is still in the possession of a lineal descendant of Benjamin. (Owl JUN 1903, p. 156)

Cecil Overton Wing (1919-1956)

 Cecil O. [Wing] succeeds his father in the possession of this old Wing homestead. (Owl DEC 1919, p. 1938)

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