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in England. The name is derived from
the place which was the residence of the
family, Weed-on-the-Street, or Weed-on-
Beck, one of the oldest parishes in the
hundred of Fawsley county, Northampton,
situated four miles from Daventry.
The name could be found only in Northamptonshire
at the time of Jonas Weed's
emigration to this country.
There is a record of Ralph, of Weed-
on-Beck, or as the name became simpli-
fied, Ralph de Weedon, having settled in
Buckinghamshire in 1307. He became
knight of the shire, and his arms were:
"Argent, two bars gules, in chief three marlets
sable."
The family became scattered throughout
Great Britain, and different branches
were soon established in various sections
of the kingdom. The form of the name
changed with the different environment,
and we find Wedon, Wead, Weedon,
Weede, and Weeden, as well as other
names somewhat similar. Only in the
County of Northampton did the simple
spelling Weed survive. From this fact
it is possible to state with more than
ordinary certainty the locality where this
line of the family originated.
(I) Jonas Weed, the immigrant ances-
tor of the family in America, lived near
Stamford, Northampton county, England,
and with a group of friends became in-
terested in the stories of the new colonies
across the ocean, and joined Governor
Winthrop's fleet, sailing in company with
Sir Robert Saltonstall on the good ship,
"Arabella." The expedition landed in
Boston, May 29, 1630, and old records of
Watertown, Massachusetts, show that
Jonas Weed was among the settlers there
the following year. On May 18, 163 1, he
was admitted a freeman in Watertown.
He removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut,
in 1635, and during his stay there served
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402
as a juror, this service carrying great respect
and honor in the pioneer communi-
ties. He removed from Wethersfield to
New Haven, and the colonizing expedition
to Stamford was organized and started
from there. In 1641 he removed to Stamford,
and there received a grant of land
in 1642. He died in 1676, and his wife sur-
vived him until 1689 or 1690.
(II) Daniel Weed, son of Jonas Weed,
married Ruth , and was the father
of Nathaniel, of whom further.
(III) Nathaniel Weed, son of Daniel
and Ruth Weed, born October 22, 1696.
The latter married Mary , and was
the father of Nathan, of whom further.
(IV) Nathan Weed, son of Nathaniel
Weed, was born January i, 1725. He
married and was the father of Nathan,
of whom further.
(V) Nathan (2) Weed, son of Nathan
(i) Weed, married, September 2, 1787,
Mary Scofield.
(VI) Joseph Weed, son of Nathan (2)
and Mary (Scofield) Weed, was born December
20, 1801, and died March 9, 1888.
He was a Whig, and later a Republican.
He attended the Congregational church
of Darien. He married (first) Louise
Weed, daughter of Benjamin and Mary
(Waterbury) Weed, March 7, 1825, and
their children were: Joseph Henry, Nathan,
Louisa, and Alvah. He married
(second) Jane Tweedy, of New York
City, and their children were : Samuel
Richard of whom further ; Arthur, Bea-
trice, Mary, Edgar, Edwin, Mary J.,
Jessie G., and Annie Tweedy.
(VII) Samuel Richard Weed, eldest
child of Joseph and Jane (Tweedy)
Weed, was born in New York City, February
9, 1837, where he died, Feberuary 4,
1918. He was a writer by occupation,
and in later years was in the insurance
business. In politics he was a Republican,
and in religious faith a Congrega-