According to the 1850 census, William Wight is 24 years old and living with his father Joseph (63), his mother Mary (53) and siblings Joseph E. (19), Nathan N. (16), Mary E. (10), and Amos M. (7). Joseph's occupation is listed as farming.

Also listed as living at the same "residence" are the following people: Shuball Seely (86), Catharine Larry (80), Jane Kincaid (36), Sarah Brawn (81), Susannah Marson (78), Elsie Trask (60), Mary Ann Kincaid (40), Samuel Dunlap (26), Levi Longfellow (22), Edward Tibbets (19), John Kincaid (13), Ellen Kincaid (0), Eben Brawn (56), Ruth Brawn (50), Samuel Brawn (19), Israel Brawn (15), Mary Brawn (12), Betsy Brawn (9), Catharine Brawn (7), Lovina Brawn (5), Ann Brawn (2), and Sarah Wickwire (70). Alongside this listing of people is noted on the original census sheet: "Keeps the Town's Poor This Year"

In the 1860 census, William is living in Presque Isle, Maine, and is 34 years old. In the home with him are his wife Margaret Whittaker Wight (28), John (6), Frederick (3), Bertha (1).

According to "U. S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles", William Wight was a member of Co. B, 16th Maine Infantry Regiment. The U.S. Adutant General Military Records 1631 - 1976" state that William was 37 years old when he mustered into service on August 31, 1863. The Maine Civil War enlistment records list William as being 5'10" tall with a light complexion and hair and blue eyes.

According to "U.S.,Registers of Deaths of Volunteers, 1861-1865 Record for Wm L Wight" William died at the regimental hospital from a gun shot wound he received on 19 Jun 1864. According to records, there seems to be a question as to if he died on the battlefield as the stone states. The official book of the 16th titled "The Sixteenth Maine Regiment in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 - 1865" on page 322 states that William L. Wight was killed on June 21, 1864, on the skirmish line.

According to rangers who specialize in Petersburg soldier burials, if William was killed on the skirmish line at the Petersburg battlefield, his body would have been buried in Poplar Grove National Cemetery near Petersburg Battlefield.

From THE WIGHTS by William Ward Wight (see more in footnote on same page) p166

"Attended district schools & the academies in China & Monmouth, Maine. An excellent scholar but very adventurous spirit. Restrained by his father from enlisting in the Mexican War, he made several voyages, one in which he was shipwrecked. Sailed the "Cordovia" via Cape Horn from Boston to California to take part in the Gold Rush. After mining & lumbering, he returned to Presque Isle, Maine where he traded, lumbered & farmed. There he married Margaret Whittaker. Enlisted in Company B, 16th Maine Volunteers, in the War of 1861 & was known as a soldier of unusual courage & daring. Killed in front of Petersburg, Virginia on June 21, 1864, by a bullet through the brain."