f Watertown, MA, was Freeman, 1636, Constable, 1641, Selectman and Town Clerk, 1633-1655, and served on Garrison Duty during King Phillip's War.
The Wetherbees of New England are of English origin. The name is derived from the Danish word, Weder, meaning a band or clan. Bye means a home, thus the name Wetherby (an old English spelling) means the home of the clan. The name is prevalent in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire all areas ruled by the Danes during Medieval times.
The name upon the earliest American records was spelled Witherby, but the present orthography has generally prevailed for many years. The name is also spelled Wetherby, Weathersbie, and Witherbee.John Wetherbee or Witherby, the emigrant ancestor of this family, resided in Marlboro and in Stowe, Mass. He was born about 1642 in Yorkshire, England. He married in the former place, Sept. 18,1672, Mary Howe daughter of John and Mary Howe. She was born on June 18, 1654, and is mentioned in the will of her father as my daughter Mary Witherbee. John and Mary had three children, Joseph (Sept. 18, 1672), John (March 26, 1675) and Thomas (January 5, 1678).
During the King Philip's War John Wetherbee was assigned to the garrison house owned by William Kerley in Marlborough. Also assigned to this garrison house were his in-laws, John How(e) Sr., and Thomas How. On March 26, 1676, the Nipmuck Indian tribe raided Marlborough. The townspeople were at church when the sentry sounded the alarm. The congregation had to flee the church and make their way to the various garrison houses where they would fight off the Indians. A number of buildings were burned but most of the populace escaped harm behind fortified walls. The next night, the settlers, under the command of Lt. Jacobs attacked the Indians and killed 50 of them.
After the war, John along with 11 of his neighbors, including Josiah How and Thomas Martin, petitioned the General Court to grant him some of the confiscated Indian land. He cited his losses and service to the community as a reason for this request. This petition was not granted.
In 1681 John and his family moved to Stowe, Mass. where they were granted 70 acres over the next two years. In 1684 he sold his remaining Marlborough land to Thomas Ward and on Sept. 19 married Lydia Moore, Mary having died on June 5, 1684. He and Lydia had six children, David (1685), Jonathan (August 31, 1686), Ephraim, Mary, Lydia DUDLEY, and Anne STOW.
The date of his death does not appear upon the records of Stow, where he died; but from the probate records it appears to be about 1711. The will was dated October 13, 1707 and probated April 2, 1711. His estate was valued at 318 pounds 3 shilling s and 8 pence.
John Wetherbee Jr. was born in Marlborough on March 26, 1675. He married Catherine Whitcomb on June 2, 1698 in Stow. Together they had eight children, Daniel ((1699), John (June 26, 1701), Hezekiah (1704 or 1705), Josiah (1706), Isaac (Feb. 19, 17 10), Micah (December 25, 1712), Thomas (June 10, 1715) and Catherine (1718).John died between Sept. 6 and 25, 1720 while his wife died two years later. The value of John's estate was 150 pounds.
Sources; History of the Town of Rindge by Ezra Stearns, Weatherbee Family, by W. Wetherbee NEHGS 1946.
Died of a stroke.
12th Infantry, Company E. Enlisted for 1 year at Flowerfield, Michigan on March 7, 1865 at age 17.
He mustered out at Camden, Arkansas on February 15, 1866
Died playing football.
Died of pneumonia.