Patriots William & Olive Dean

William Dean (1751-1824)

Olive Lewis Dean (1763-1851)

Born on August 23, 1751, William Dean was the son of Benjamin Dean (1717-1810) and Mary Withington Dean (1729-1803) (lots 140, 141).

William Dean was a Revolutionary War veteran. At the alarm of April 19, 1775, he served for 13 days. He was also called in October of 1775 and served at Fort No. 2 in the Boston area.

On October 25, 1786, he married Olive Lewis, the daughter of Nathaniel Lewis Jr. (1731-1790) and Experience Hartshorn Lewis (1735-1830) (lots 261, 262). Olive Lewis was born on September 19, 1763 in South Dedham. William Dean was a farmer like many in South Dedham. They had no children.

William Dean died on February 5, 1824 of liver disease. His wife, Olive, received a widow’s pension for her husband’s military service during the Revolutionary War.

Olive Lewis Dean died on January 8, 1851 at 77. Her death was attributed to old age.

They were interred alongside William’s parents in Old Parish Cemetery. Old Parish Preservation Volunteers found Olive Dean’s gravestone broken in two pieces. It will be repaired in the future.

Fragments of Olive Dean gravestone.

Gravestone of William Dean.