JOHN WHITNEY [#576], b. England abt. 1589, d. Watertown, MA June 1, 1673, m(1) ELINOR ____, b. England abt. 1599, d. Watertown, MA May 11, 1659, m(2) Watertown Sept. 29, 1659 Judith Clement.
John Whitney, "age 35", embarked for New England from London in April 1635 in the Elizabeth and Ann, Roger Cooper, Master. Coming with him was his wife Elinor, 30, and sons John, 11, Richard, 9, Nathaniel, 8, Thomas, 6, and Jonathan, 1.[7/231] Upon landing they settled in Watertown where a son, Joshua, was born July 15,[1] meaning Elinor was in the last trimester of her pregnancy when she made the voyage. John Whitney was admitted freeman March 3, 1636 and was elected to be one of the Selectmen in 1638.[4/1:3] He was a selectmen in 1648[4/1:10] and 1651[4/1:20] as well. In 1655 he became Town Clerk.[4/1:41] On June 1, 1641 he was appointed constable of Watertown by the General Court. The duties of constable at the time included collecting taxes of the town and levies by the court, paying the debts of the Colony due to individuals, supplying the town with scaled weights and measures, setting or ordering within the towns where no captain dwelt, and inflicting the punishments ordered by the judicial authority, "where there was not another appointed to do it within his own town, unless he can get another to do it". Owing to the fact of his early admission as freeman and his offices as Selectman and constable, John Whitney surely held a respectable social position in his community. There was also a Mr. Whitney constable in 1656.[4/1:51] This was probably John but may have been a son.
In the first inventory of grants and possessions in Watertown, taken in or before 1639, John Whitney held 228 acres of land. These included 1) a homestall of sixteen acres bounded on the east and south by William Jennison, west by Martin Underwood, north by Isaac Mixer; 2) two acres of meadow in Beaverbrook meadow bounded west by William Jennison and south with the brook; 3) fifty acres of upland being a great Divident in the third division, lot 16; 4) a farm of 120 acres of upland bounded north with the highway, east by Edward How, and west by Abraham Brown; 5) ten acres of meadow in the remote meadows bounded north with the highway, south with his own land, and east by Edward How and Garret Church; 6) ten acres of plowland in the hither plain, lot 1; 7) one acre of meadow in Pond meadow bounded west by Isaac Stearns, south by John Stowers, and east with the highway; 8) one acre of meadow bounded west by Martin Underwood and east by Lawrence Waters; and 9) eighteen acres of upland beyond the further plain, lot 45.[5/1:2829] Two other inventories were taken over the next few years and the records are somewhat confusing. The 16 acre homestall was not listed in the second inventory but was the only holding shown in the third inventory.[5/1:120] Meanwhile a farm of six acres of upland bounded east and north with the highway, west by Bartholemew Person, and south by Richard Wait was listed in the second inventory. This land was listed with John, Jr. in the first inventory.[5/1:55]
John's will was dated April 3, 1673 and mentioned his sons John, Richard, Thomas, Jonathan, Joshua, and Benjamin. Referring to his will, John wrote "I doe desire my loving frind William Bond senr. to see that this may be performed according to the true intent as it is aforesaid". The will was witnessed by William Bond, Sr. and Sarah Bond, Sr..[3/4:99] The inventory of the estate was taken June 4, 1673 by Joseph Underwood, William Bond, and Nathan Fiske.[3/4:100]
John and Elinor Whitney may have been the couple that lived in Isleworth, which is on the Thames about nine miles from London. The names of their two eldest sons match the names of two of the Whitney children baptised at Isleworth, John on Sept. 14, 1621 and Richard on Jan. 6, 1623-4. The ages of the children in the shipping list, however, do not agree with the ages based on the baptisms, but we know that John's age was grossly understated in this list, and the children's ages do not differ from the Isleworth baptisms by more than two years.[6] While circumstantial, the evidence linking the Whitney family of Isleworth with the family of Watertown is pretty good. See the overseas ancestor section for more on the Whitney's in England and their possible ancestry.
REF: [1] The History of Watertown - Henry Bond, 1860 (pgs.642-643,964)
[2] Descendants of John Whitney - Frederick Clifton Pierce,
1895 (pg.21-22)
[3] Middlesex County Probate (First Series Docket 24680)
[4] Records of Watertown, 1894
[5] Records of Watertown, 1894 (Lands, Grants, and Possessions)
[6] The American Genealogist - Donald Lines Jacobus, Vol. 10
(pgs.84-88)
[7] The Ancestry of John Whitney - Henry Melville, 1896 (pgs.207+)
Children:
1. Mary, bap. May 23, 1619, d. young 2. John, b. Eng. abt. 1620, d. Watertown, MA 12 Oct 1692, m. abt. 1642 Ruth Reynolds, b. abt. 1622, d. bef. 1706 Chil.: see below 3. Richard, b. abt. 1626, m. Watertown 19 Mar 1650 Martha Coldham, res. Stow, MA Chil.[2/23] all b. in Watertown: 1) Sarah, b. 17 Mar 1652; 2) Moses, b. 1 Aug 1655, m. 20 Sep 1686[2/29] Sarah Knight, d. 23 May 1755[2/29], res. Sudbury and Stow; 3) Johanah, b. 16 Jan 1656; 4) Deborah, b. 12 Oct 1658; 5) Rebecca, b. 15 Dec 1659, d. Feb 1660; 6) Richard, b. 13 Jan 1660, m. Elizabeth Sawtell; 7) Elisha, b. 26 Aug 1662, res. CT?; 8) Ebenezer, b. 30 Jun 1672, m. Anna ___ 4. Nathaniel, b. abt. 1627, nothing further known 5. Thomas, b. abt. 1629, d. 20 Sep 1719, m. Watertown 11 Jan 1654 Mary Kendall Chil.[2/23]: 1) Thomas, b. 24 Aug 1656, m. Elizabeth Lawrence; 2) John, b. 9 May 1659, d. 16 May 1659; 3) John, b. 22 Aug 1660, d. 26 Aug 1660; 4) Eleazer, b. 2 Sep 1662, m. Dorothy Ross; 5) Elnathan, b. 2 Sep 1662, d. unm. 8 Mar 1727; 6) Mary, b. 22 Dec 1663, d. young; 7) Bezaleel, b. 16 Sep 1665, nothing further known; 8) Sarah, b. 23 Mar 1666[-7?MJR], m. Apr 11, 1699 Charles Chadwick, b. 19 Nov 1674; 9) Mary, b. 6 Aug 1668, d. 6 Sep 1669; 10) Isaiah, b. 16 Sep 1671, m. Sarah (Woodward) Eddy; 11) Martha, b. 30 Jan 1673, d. unm. 6. Jonathan, b. abt. 1634, d. Sherborn, MA 1702, m. Watertown 30 Oct 1656 Lydia Jones (dau. of Lewis Jones) Chil.[2/24]: 1) Lydia, b. 3 Jul 1657, m. 15 Apr 1681 Moses Adams, b. 6 Oct 1654, d. 27 May 1724; 2) Jonathan, b. 20 Oct 1658, m. Sarah Hapgood; 3) Anna, b. 28 Apr 1660, d. 6 Mar 1701, m. Cornelius Fisher of Wrentham, b. 8 Feb 1660; 4) John, b. 27 Jun 1662, m(1) Mary Hapgood, m(2) Sarah Haven, m(3) Martha (How) Walker; 5) Josiah, b. 19 May 1664, m(1) Abigail ___, m(2) Mary ___; 6) Elinor, b. 12 Oct 1666, d. 23 Nov 1678; 7) James, b. 25 Nov 1668, d. 30 Nov 1690; 8) Isaac, b. 12 Jan 1670, d. 2 Dec 1690; 9) Joseph, b. 10 Mar 1672, m. Rebecca Barge; 10) Abigail, b. 18 Aug 1675, d. unm. 1702; 11) Benjamin, b. 6 Jan 1678, d. 1718, m. Sherborn 24 Oct 1700 Mercy Travis (dau. of James Travis and Mercy Pierce), b. Gloucester, MA 8 Feb 1668 7. Joshua, b. Watertown 15 [5[2/24]] Jul 1635, d. Groton, MA 7 Aug 1719, m(1) Lydia ____, m(2) Mary ____, d. Watertown [Groton[2/24]] 17 Mar 1671, m(3) Watertown 30 Sep 1672 Abigail Tarball Chil.[2/25-26]: 1) Joshua, b. 14 Jun 1666, m(1) Mary ___, m(2) Sarah Fellows; 2) Sarah, b. 10 Oct 1668, m(1) 11 Jul 1704 Nathaniel Jewell (son of Nathaniel Jewell and Mary Smedley), b. 10 Nov 1678, d. 1730, m(2) ___ Taylor; 3) Mary, b. 1 Jul 1675, d. 29 Dec 1749, m. Ephraim Peirce, b. 15 Oct 1673, d. 27 Feb 1740, res. Lunenburg, MA; 4) William, b. 28 Feb 1678, m(1) Lydia Perham, m(2) Margaret Mirick; 5) Cornelius, m. Sarah Shepherd; 6) David, b. 1682, m. Elizabeth Warren; 7) Martha, m. 1 Feb 1708 Isaac Williams Jr. of Newton, b. 1 Nov 1686; 8) Elizabeth, m(1) 17 Apr 1707 Ebenezer Farnsworth (son of Matthias Farnsworth and Sarah), d. bef. 1753, m(2) ___ Harmon; 9) Abigail, b. 1673, m. John Hutchins of Groton; 10) Alice, d. bef. 3 Jul 1721, m. Nathaniel Woods (son of Samuel Woods and Alice), b. Groton 27 Mar 1667 or 68; 11) Hannah, m. Thomas Woods of Groton; 12) Eleanor, m. Samuel Shepherd (son of Isaac Shepherd and Mary Smedley), d. 1724, res. Plainfield, CT 8. Caleb, bur. Watertown 12 Jul 1640 9. Benjamin, b. Watertown 6 Jun 1643, d. 1723, m(1) Jane ____, d. 14 Nov 1690, m(2) 11 Apr 1695 Mary Poor of Marlboro, res. York, ME Chil.[2/27]: 1) Jane, b. Watertown 29 Spe 1669, m. Sherborn 4 Jan 1693 Jonathan Morse, b. 11 Jul 1667; 2) Timothy, res. York; 3) John, b. abt. 1678, m. Letty Ford; 4) Nathaniel, b. York 14 Apr 1680, m. Sarah Ford; 5) Jonathan, b. 1681, m. Susanna Whitney; 6) Benjamin, m. Mrs. Esther Maverick; 7) Joshua, b. 21 Sep 1687, m. Hannah Rockwood; 8) Mark, b. abt. 1700, m. Tabitha Mellen; 9) Isaac, m. Elizabeth Bridges
JOHN WHITNEY [#288], b. England abt. 1620, d. Watertown, MA 12 Oct 1692, m. abt. 1642 RUTH REYNOLDS (dau. of Robert Reynolds and Mary), b. England abt. 1622, d. between 1692-1706.
John Whitney was admitted freeman May 26, 1647 and was a Selectman of Watertown from 1673-1680.[4/1:112136] In 1643 he settled on a three acre lot on the east side of Lexington Street on land originally granted to Edward How, where he always resided. This land was somewhat elevated and is probably the "Whitney Hill" sometimes mentioned in the records. In December of 1672, John Whitney with Nathan Fiske and Isaac Mixer "should goo about the town to see that children wear taught to Read the inglish tunge and to be cattycysed".[4/1:113] In 1675 a warrant was issued to the people of Watertown (just a few months prior to the attack on Sudbury) for impressing twenty soldiers with provisions, arms, and ammunition, and good clothing for the defense of the colony. On a return made by Captian Hugh Mason at this time is found the name of John Whitney, Sr.,[6] who was presumably this man but possibly a son or nephew.
While John seems to have been too young to own land in 1639, his land holdings in the Watertown inventory of that year included 1) his homestall of three acres bounded northeast with the highway, southwest by Edmund Lewis, east by George Phillips, and south by Edward How; 2) six acres of upland bounded east and north with the highway and west by Richard Wait; and 3) four acres of plowland in the hither plain, lot 37.[5/1:55] In the third inventory, taken about 1646, John had the same holdings except Richard Wait was now on the south and Bartholomew Person on the west in #2; and #3 was bounded east by Nicholas Knapp, west by Edward Howe, north with the highway, and south with the river.[5/1:139]
John's will was dated Feb. 27, 1685 and mentioned his five sons and five daughters. It also mentioned his son John's children John, Daniel, and Timothy and Ruth's son William Shattuck.[3/28:77] The will was apparently probated many years after John's death. In the meantime an agreement for a division of the estate was reached on March 12, 1692-3 "By Ruth Whitney Widow and Relict of John Whitney late of Water Towne Decd and John Whitney, Nathaniel Whitney, Samuel Whitney, Joseph Whitney, and Benjamin Whitney sonns of said John Whitney. Also Enoch Lawrence, Daniel Herrington, & Daniel Warren his sonn's in Law, and Mary and Hannah his Daughters".[3/8:106] The inventory of the estate amounted to 274.12.10.[3/8:51] This document further names the daughters as Ruth Lawrence, Sarah Harrington, and Elizabeth Warren. It also mentions William Shattuck, son of John Shattuck, who was the first husband of the then Ruth Lawrence.[3/9:19]
REF: [1] The Descendants of John Whitney - Frederick Clifton Pierce,
1895 (pg.22)
[2] History of Watertown - Henry Bond, 1860
[3] Middlesex County Probate (First Series Docket 24681)
[4] Records of Watertown, 1894
[5] Records of Watertown, 1894 (Lands, Grants, and Possessions)
[6] Soldiers in King Phillip's War - George Madison Bodge, 1906
(pg.171)
[7] Descendants of John and Elinor (___) Whitney web page by
Robert L. Ward, 1997
Children (all born in Watertown):
1. John, b. 17 Sep 1643, d. Roxbury, MA? 4 Mar 1726, m. Watertown? 17 Sep 1663 (1669[1/27]) Elizabeth Harris (dau. of Robert Harris), b. Muddy River? 9 Nov 1644, bap. Roxbury 8 Aug 1647, d. 4 Mar 1726 - dates of b. of children look wrong! Chil.[1/28]: 1) Daniel, b. 3 Dec 1681, m. Susanna Curtis; 2) Timothy, 16 Apr 1678, m. Margaret Bacon; 3) Elizabeth, b. 9 Sep 1670, d. bef. 1726; 4) Ruth, bap. 31 Aug 1674, d. Brookline, MA 19 Nov 1762, m. 22 Apr 1701 Joseph Adams (son of Roger Adams and Mary); 5) Sarah, bap. 2 Aug 1684, d. 4 Jul 1689; 6) John, b. 1 Apr 1672, d. Young 2. Ruth, b. 15 Apr 1645, d. 1718[7], m(1) Watertown 20 Jun 1664 John Shattuck (son of William Shattuck and Susanna), b. 11 Feb 1646-7, drowned 14 Sep 1675, m(2) Watertown 6 Mar 1676-7 Enoch Lawrence (son of John Lawrence and Elizabeth Waters (Kettleborough[7])), b. 5 Mar 1649, d. 28 Sep 1744 Chil.[7] (surname Shattuck all b. in Watertown): 1) John, b. 4 Jun 1666, d. Groton 8 May 1709 (killed by Indians), m. bef. 6 Jan 1690 Mary Blood (dau. of James Blood and Elizabeth Longley); 2) Ruth, b. 24 Jan 1667-8 (or 24 Jun 1668), m. bef. 1698 Jonathan Farnsworth; 3) William, b. 11 Sep 1670, d. Groton 1744, m. Watertown 19 Mar 1687-8 Hannah Underwood; 4) Samuel, b. 1673, d. Groton, MA 26 Jul 1758, m. bef. 1696 Elizabeth Blood; (surname Lawrence) (maybe Elizabeth who d. Groton 1758?: 5) Nathaniel, b. Watertown 21 Feb 1677-8, d. Groton 12 Sep 1765, m. abt. 1701 Anna Scripture; 6) Daniel, b. Groton 7 Mar 1681, m(1) bef. 22 Apr 1702 Sarah ___ m(2) Hannah Jewell, b. Groton 7 Mar 1681,; 7) Zechariah, b. Groton 16 Jul 1683, d. Pepperell, MA 18 Jun 1754, m(1) abt. 1707 Abigail Parker, m(2) Lucy ___; 8) Jeremiah, b. Groton 1 May 1686 3. Nathaniel, b. Watertown, MA 1 Feb 1646-7, d. Weston, MA 7 Jan 1732-3, m. 12 Mar 1673 Sarah Hagar, b. Watertown 3 Sep 1651, d. Weston 7 May 1746 Chil.: see below 4. Samuel, b. 28 Jul 1648, d. abt. 1731, m. 16 Feb 1683 Mary Bemis (dau. of Joseph Bemis and Sarah), b. 10 Sep 1644, d. bef. 1730 Chil.[1/29]: 1) Mary, b.Watertown 30 Sep 1689, d 27 Feb 1726, m. 7 Jun 1711 John Fiske, Jr., b. 15 May 1687, d. Worcester, MA Nov 1756 5. Mary, b. 23 Apr 1650, d. unm. after 1693 6. Joseph, b. 15 Jan 1651, d. 4 Nov 1702, m. Watertown 24 Jan 1674 Martha Beach (dau. of Richard Beach and Martha), b. 10 Mar 1650 Chil.[1/29]: 1) Joseph, b. 15 Aug 1675, d. 1737, m. 10 Apr 1701 Hepzibah Flagg (dau. of Thomas Flagg and Rebecca Dix); 2) Martha, b. 20 Dec 1677, d. 30 Oct 1702; 3) John, b. 29 Jul 1680, m. 22 Feb 1703[1/44] Sarah Cutting (dau. of Zachariah Cutting), b. 1675; 4) Isaac, b. 10 Mar 1681, d. 20 Mar 1681, 5) Isaac, b. 4 Feb 1682, d. 1 Nov 1702; 6) Benjamin, b. 30 Jan[1/29] (Jun[1/44]) 1684, d. Oct 1736, m. 1 mar 1709[1/44] Elizabeth Fiske, b. 20 Jan 1685[1/44]; 7) Mary, b. 21 Apr 1694, m. 13 Jul 1715 John Knapp, Jr. of Newton, b. 11 Dec 1688, d. 1730; 8) Sarah, b. 1694, bap. 20 Jun 1697 7. Sarah, b. 17 Mar 1653, d. Watertown 8 Jul 1720,[7] m. 18 Oct 1681 Daniel Harrington (son of Robert Harrington and Susanna George),[7] b. Watertown 1 Nov 1657, d. 19 Apr 1728 Chil.[7] (surname Harrington all b. in Watertown): 1) Daniel, b. 24 Feb 1683-4, d. 3 Feb 1724, m . 18 Oct 1705 Elizabeth Warren (dau. of Capt. John Warren and Michal Jennison); 2) Robert, b. 2 Jul 1685, m. 15 Nov 1711 Anna Harrington (dau. of Samuel Harrington and Grace Livermore), res. Lexington, MA; 3) David, b. 10 Jul 1687; 4) Jonathan, b. 2 Feb 1689-90, d. 1730, m. Watertown 28 Feb 1723-4 Elizabeth Bigelow (their dau. Elizabeth m. 1752 Rev. Ebenezer Parkman of Westborough); 5) Joseph, b. 4 Feb 1690-1, m. Watertown 15 Sep 1714 Martha Hastings; 6) Sarah, b. 28 Oct 1693, m(1) Nathaniel Livermore, m(2) John Cutting 8. Elizabeth, b. 9 Jun 1656, m. Watertown 19 Dec 1678 Daniel Warren (son of Daniel Warren and Mary Barron), b. Watertown 6 Oct 1653 Chil.[7] (surname Warren all b. in Watertown): 1) Elizabeth, b. 16 Oct 1679, d. Watertown 4 Feb 1695-6; 2) Ruth, b. 15 Oct 1681, d. Marlboro, MA 12 Apr 1716, m. Watertown 28 Mar 1705 Samuel Bigelow; 3) Mary, b. 25 Jan 1683-4, d. young; 4) Daniel, b. 30 Apr 1686, d. bef. 1733, m(1) Watertown 24 May 1711 Hannah Bigelow, m(2) Watertown 15 Nov 1717 Mehitable Garfield; 5) Sarah, b. abt. 1688, bap. 14 Dec 1701, m. Watertown 5 Jul 1710 Daniel Galusha of Weston; 6) Hannah, b 25 Jan 1690-1 (also 25 Feb 1689), m. Watertown 8 May 1710 John Bemis (son of John Bemis and Mary Harrington); 7) Josiah, b. 25 Jul 1695 (Jonas in birth record), m. abt. 1718 Elizabeth ___; 8) Jonas, b. 30 Apr 1697, d. 1713, m. Watertown 2 Oct 1719 Elizabeth Seaverns; 9) Deliverance, b. 10 Oct 1699, d. Weston, MA 25 Feb 1764, m. Watertown 11 Jun 1719 Josiah Coolidge; 10) Mary, bap. 2 May 1703, m. Watertown 3 Apr 1729 Benjamin Tucker, res. Leicester 9. Hannah, b. abt. 1658[7], unm. in Watertown in 1693[7] 10. Benjamin, b. 28 Nov (Jun[1/29]) 1660, d. 1736, m(1) 30 Mar 1687 Abigail Hagar (dau. of William Hagar and Mary Bemis), m(2) Elizabeth ____ Chil.[1/29]: 1) Abigail, b. 3 Mar 1688, m. 18 Mar 1717 Richard Sawtell, bap. 21 Apr 1689; 2) Benjamin, bap. 10 Jul 1698, m. Rebecca ___; 3) Ruth, bap. 10 Jul 1698, d. Worcester, MA 1 Apr 1748, m. 7 Jul 1715 John Bond, bap. 23 Nov 1690; 4) John, b. 15 Jun 1694, d. 1776, m(1) Susan ___, m(2) 6 Oct 1737[1/44] Bethia Cutter, b. 9 Jul 1714, m(3) 28 Nov 1754 Beriah Pierce (dau. of John Bemis, widow of Daniel Child, widow of Joseph Pierce), b. 23 Jun 1681, d. Weston 1768; 5) David, b. 16 Jun 1697, m. Rebecca Fillebrown; 6) Daniel, b. 17 Jul 1700, m. Dorothy Tainter
NATHANIEL WHITNEY [#144], b. Watertown, MA 1 Feb 1646-7, d. Weston, MA 7 Jan 1732-3, m. Watertown 12 Mar 1673 SARAH HAGAR (dau. of William Hagar and Mary Bemis), b. Watertown 3 Sep 1651, d. Weston 7 May or Mar 1746.
| 72. Nathaniel Whitney
|
144. Nathaniel Whitney |
288. John Whitney |
576. John Whitney c.1589-1673 | 577. Elinor ____ c.1599-1659 |
| 289. Ruth Reynolds |
578. Robert Reynolds c.1580-1659 | 579. Mary ____ ?-1663 |
|
|
145. Sarah Hagar |
290. William Hagar |
| |
| 291. Mary Bemis |
|
Not much is known of this Nathaniel Whitney. In 1679 he lived on land at the north end of his father's lot.[3/1:143]
He died intestate early in 1733. The inventory of his estate was taken in Weston on Feb. 1, 1732-3 by John Warren, Daniel Carter, and John Walker and amounted to 127.18.4 in personal estate, three hundred pounds in real estate of 45 acres of upland and meadow with a house and barn. Mrs. Sarah Whitney and son William were made adminstrators.[2/19:353] Distribution of the estate was made on Jan. 13, 1734-5. William Whitney of Weston, son of William Whitney, deceased, and grandson of Nathaniel Whitney, Sr., was given the largest part of the estate and then paid his uncles and aunts, namely: Nathaniel Whitney, deceased, Samuel Whitney, Sarah Chadwick, Hannah Billings, and Mercy Greaves.[2/20:206] As was the custom in those early days, the eldest son normally received a larger portion than his siblings. If he had already died, the portion would usually go to his children. In this case the larger portion went to the son of the second son, and this was obviously not to the liking of Mercy Whitney, the widow of the eldest son, Nathaniel. One charge was made against the estate and paid to William Whitney for his expenses and attendance at Court in a suit at law with Mercy Whitney and other trouble and expenses as attorney for the administratix (i.e. Sarah Whitney). Mercy lost the case, and thus William received the double share of his grandfather's estate.[2/20:190]
REF: [1] Descendants of John Whitney - Frederick Clifton Pierce,
1895 (pg.28)
[2] Middlesex County Probate (First Series Docket 24731)
[3] Watertown Records, 1894
[4] Descendants of John and Elinor (___) Whitney web page by
Robert L. Ward, 1997
Children:
1. Nathaniel, b. Watertown, MA 25 Mar 1675, d. Watertown 23 Sep 1730, m. 7 Nov 1695 Mercy Robinson, b. 7 Aug 1676, d. Watertown 31 Dec 1740 Chil.: see below 2. Sarah, b. 12 Feb 1678, m(1) Watertown 5 Jan 1709-10 Jonathan Ball, b. 29 Mar 1680, d. 1727, m(2) Charles Chadwick, Jr. ([4] has her m. to Charles Chadwick (son of John Chadwick and Sarah) on 11 Apr 1697 Chil.[4] (surname Chadwick): 1) Charles, b. Watertown 21 May 1700, res. Killingly, CT; 2) Elizabeth, b. Watertown 3 May 1702; 3) Abigail, b. abt. 1707, bap. 21 Jan 1727-8, aged 21, m. Watertown 17 May 1732 Henry Spring (son of Thomas Spring and Elizabeth Traine) 3. William, b. 6 May 1683, prob. d. 17331734, m. Watertown 17 May 1706 Martha Pierce, b. 24 Dec 1681 Chil.[1/43]: 1) William, b. 11 Jan 1707, m(1) Hannah Harrington, m(2) Mrs. Mary Pierce, m(3) Margaret Spring, m(4) Mrs. Sarah Davis; 2) Judith, b. 15 Nov 1708; 3) Amity, b. 6 Oct 1712; 4) Martha, b. 4 Apr 1716, m. Sudbury 26 Feb 1734 Timothy Mossman (son of Timothy Mossman), b. 1710, res. Ashburnham, MA; 5) Samuel, b. 23 May 1719, m. Abigail Fletcher 4. Samuel, bap. Weston, MA 17 Jul 1687, d. 6 Dec 1753[1/44], m. Stratford, CT 18 Jan 1721 Ann Laboree Chil.[1/44]: 1) Sarah, b. 29 Aug 1723, d. 2 Nov 1794 or 14 Dec 1803, m. 6 Nov 1746 Daniel Foote, b. 25 Jul 1717, d. 28 Jun 1790; 2) Mary, b. 19 Nov 1725, m. Edward Osborne; 3) Samuel, b. 13 Dec 1727, m(1) Hannah Judson, m(2) Martha ___; 4) Anne, b. 15 Nov 1730 5. Hannah, bap. Mar 1688, d. aft. 1734, m.VR326 Marlboro, MA 11 Oct 1708 Nathaniel Billings, b. Concord, MA 29 May 1688 6. Elizabeth, b. 15 Dec 1692, m? Joseph Harrington 7. Grace, b. 1700, d. Weston 23 Mar 1719 8. Mercy, m. ____ Greaves
NATHANIEL WHITNEY [#72], b. Watertown, MA 25 Mar 1675, d. Watertown 23 Sep 1730, m. Watertown 7 Nov 1695 MERCY ROBINSON (dau. of William Robinson and Elizabeth Cutter), b. Cambridge Village 7 Aug 1676, d. Watertown 31 Dec 1740.
| 36. Nathaniel Whitney
|
72. Nathaniel Whitney |
144. Nathaniel Whitney |
288. John Whitney c.1620-1692 | 289. Ruth Reynolds c.1622-? |
| 145. Sarah Hagar |
290. William Hagar ?-1684 | 291. Mary Bemis ?-1695 |
|
|
73. Mercy Robinson |
146. William Robinson |
||
| 147. Elizabeth Cutter |
294. Richard Cutter c.1620-1693 | 295. Elizabeth Williams c.1620-1662 |
We don't have much information on this man. Most of what we do have comes from the probate records. "An Inventory of the Estate of Nathaniel Whitney late of Weston in the County of Middlesex decd Intestate the 23d of September 1730" was taken by John Parkhurst, James Stimpson, and Ebenezer Allen on December 1, 1730. It included 80.10.0 in personal property and also real estate of about 28 acres valued at 260 pounds.[3/19:266] On July 26, 1731 Mercy Whitney, widow, added a calf at 1.4.0 to the inventory. Among the charges against the estate "for subsisting the sd decd son James being a sickly Person ever since the Death of the Intestate being a year next September".[3/19:454] In the letters of administration, granted to his widow Mercy Whitney on October 26, 1730, Nathaniel is referred to as a chairmaker.[3/19:137]
REF: [1] Descendants of John Whitney - Frederick Clifton Pierce,
1895 (pgs.41-43)
[2] The Diary of Reverend Ebenezer Parkman - Francis G. Walett,
1974
[3] Middlesex County Probate (First Series Docket 24729)
[4] Descendants of John and Elinor (___) Whitney web page by
Robert L. Ward, 1997
Children:
1. Nathaniel, b. Watertown, MA 23 Jan 1695-6, d. Westborough, MA 27 Jan 1776, m. Weston, MA 20 Jul 1721 Mary Child, b. abt. 1700, d. Westborough 3 Dec 1776 Chil.: see below 2. Sarah, b. Watertown 3 Mar 1698-9, bap. 17 Jun 1711, age 12[4], m. (int.) 3 Aug 1726 Ephraim Rice of Worcester, MA 3. Amos, b. Watertown 19 Apr 1701 4. Elizabeth, b. Watertown 23 Jul 1702, bap. 17 Jun 1711, age 8[4], d. Worcester 1789, m. bef. 4 Jan 1728-9[4]Daniel Bigelow (son of Joshua Bigelow and Elizabeth Flagg), bap. 29 Aug 1697, d. 1789 5. Jonas, b. Watertown 15 Dec 1703, bap. 17 Jun 1711, age 7[4] 6. James, b. Watertown 2 Mar 1704-5, bap. 17 Jun 1711, age 5[4] 7. Israel, b. abt. 1710, d. 1745 or 1746[1/68], m. abt. 1732 Hannah ____, res. Groton, MA, Thompson, CT, Oxford, ME Chil.[1/68]: 1) Sibyla, b. Killingly, CT 4 Feb 1733, m. Oliver Cummings, res. Dunstable, MA; 2) Josiah, b. 1735, d. 1740; 3) Hannah, b. Apr 1737, d. bef. 1761; 4) Tamar, b. 1739, d. 1740; 5) Mary, b. 22 Jul 1741, d. bef. 1761; 6) Richard, b. 22 Apr 1743, d. bef. 1761 8. Susanna, bap. 17 Jun 1711, in 4th year, m. Weston 31 May 1736 Abraham Gregory (son of Daniel McGregor and Elizabeth Robinson), b. 24 Aug 1704 9. Solomon, bap. 17 Jun 1711, m. 5 Mar 1731 Martha Fletcher, res. Weston and Lincoln, MA and Rindge, NH Chil.[1/68-69]: 1) Solomon, bap. 14 Dec 1735, m. 14 Jun 1761 Mary Fay, res. Rindge; 2) Sarah, bap. 28 Aug 1737, d. young; 3) Sarah, bap. 5 Nov 1738; 4) Lois, bap. 1 Jan 1743, m. Lincoln, MA 19 Nov 1771 Richard Davis, res. Rindge; 5) Abigail, bap. 2 May 1741, m. Isaiah Underwood of Lexington, b. 15 Oct 1733, d. 29 May 1771; 6) Martha, b. 14 May 1754, m. 10 May 1774 William Davis of Rindge 10. Samuel, bap. 17 Jun 1711, d. Shrewsbury, MA 2 Aug 1788, m. 7 (8[1/69]) Apr 1735 Elizabeth Hastings, b. 1716, d. Marlboro, VT 23 Oct 1800 Chil.[1/69]: 1) Elizabeth, b. 30 Nov 1735, d. young; 2) Elizabeth, b. 26 Feb 1738, m. 24 Apr 1754 Joseph Mixer (son of Joseph Mixer), d. Athol, MA; 3) Samuel, b. 23 Sep 1739, m. Phebe Harrington; 4) Lydia, bap. 22 Mar 1740, d. 3 Oct 1745; 5) Nathaniel, bap. 5 Dec 1742, d. 19 Nov 1744; 6) Lucy, b. 27 Aug 1744, m. 14 Jul 1762 Asaph Sherman of Grafton, MA, b. 6 Mar 1741; 7) Lydia, b. 1 Jun 1746, m. 3 Nov 1767 William Britton of Rutland, MA; 8) Susanna, b. 26 Feb 1748, d. 1 Feb 1805, m. 4 Oct 1748 John Bellows, Jr. of Shrewsbury, d. 6 Mar 1826; 9) Nathaniel, b. 30 May 1749, m. Mary Houghton; 10) Jonas, b. 14 Jun 1751, m. Tamar Houghton; 11) Sarah, b. 15 Jul 1753, m. Shrewsbury 1777 John Fisher Lyon of Grafton, d. Harvard, MA; 12) Eliphalet, bap. 4 May 1757, m. 12 Aug 1776 Lois Houghton of Lnacaster, res. Shrewsbury, MA and Marlboro, VT; 13) Martha, bap. 5 Aug 1759, d. bef. 1788 11. Ebenezer, bap. 25 Apr 1714, d. 23 Jan 1743, m. Sutton, MA 6 Feb 1733 Lydia Goodell[4] 12. Joshua, b. 25 Mar, bap. 25 Apr 1714, d. Stockbridge, MA 25 Jun 1786, m. Spencer, MA 2 (21[1/70]) May 1739 Mehitable Wilson (dau. of Dea. James Wilson and Mehitable), d. 1 May 1785 Chil.[1/70]: 1) Phineas, b. 24 Jun 1740, m. Sarah Harrington; 2) Lemuel, b. 1743, m. Thankful Griffin; 3) Beulah, b. 1745, m. 1765 John Ball (son of Eleazer Ball), b. Concord? 1747, d. Rutland, MA? 4 Sep 1775; 4) Elisha, b. 1747, m. Esther Clark; 5) John, b. 1751, m. Rachel Hiscock; 6) Mehitable, b. 1756, m(1) Obadiah Newton, res. Spencer, MA and Granville, NY, m(2) ___ Williams, m(3) ___ Hanks and moved to Hopkinton, OH; 7) Joshua, b. 1758, m(1) Esther Prouty, m(2) ___ Sartwell; 8) Susannah, b. 1762, m. William Hiscock, res. eastern NY; 9) Polly, b. 19 Oct 1766, d. 14 Oct 1843, m. 19 May 1789 Jonathan Upham, b. Dudley, MA 26 Jun 1761, d. 15 Jul 1827, res. Gifford and Windham, VT 13. David, b. 1716, bap. 6 Nov 1726[4], d. Natick, MA 19 Apr 1754, m. Needham, MA 17 Nov 1743 Mehitable Parker
NATHANIEL WHITNEY [#36], b. Watertown, MA 23 Jan 1695-6, d. Westborough, MA 27 Jan 1776, m. Weston, MA 20 Jul 1721 MARY CHILD (dau. of John Child and Hannah French), b. abt. 1700, d. Westborough 3 Dec 1776.
| 18. Nathaniel Whitney
|
36. Nathaniel Whitney |
72. Nathaniel Whitney |
144. Nathaniel Whitney 1647-1733 | 145. Sarah Hagar 1651-1746 |
| 73. Mercy Robinson |
146. Willaim Robinson c.1640-1693 | 147. Elizabeth Cutter 1645-bef. 1693 |
|
|
37. Mary Child |
74. John Child |
148. John Child c.1636-1676 | 149. Mary Warren 1651-1734 |
| 75. Hannah French |
150. William French c.1603-1681 | 151. Mary Lathrop 1640-aft. 1735 |
The birth record of Nathaniel Whitney lists his birth date as January 23, 1695-6, which would mean his mother was seven months pregnant at the time of her wedding. While not unheard of, these circumstances were certainly unusual. Normally in a case like this, there would be some punishment dictated by the courts, and I have not come across any such record. Were it not for the fact that Nathaniel's age at death is provided to us, it would seem a mistake had been made in the recording of his birth, especially since it is recorded on a page of births from late 1696 and early 1697.[7/2:9]
The marriage of Nathaniel Whitney and Mary Child can be found in the Weston Vital Records.[2] However since there is no known birth record for Mary in existence, her ancestry had to be found by other means. One clue comes from Parkman's diary entry of November 11, 1755 "At Eve also Mr. Whitney and his wife with their Brother Child return from the Funeral of his Sister Liscomb who has dy'd somewhat suddenly ...".[4/297] The terms "Brother" and "Sister", as was customary for the times, covered relationships of brother and sister but also brother-in-law and sister-in-law, as did the terms father, mother, etc. Thus this passage indicates Nathaniel and Mary with her brother attended the funeral of Hannah Liscomb, who was Mary's sister. Thus finding the parents of Hannah would also give Mary's parents. However Hannah's birth is not recorded either. Furthermore Hannah's name was Fay at the time of her marriage: "Samuel Liscomb of Southborough married Hannah Fay at Westborough on March 7, 1733-4".[3] Probate records can be used to clear up the entire issue however. John Child of Waltham, MA, in his will dated April 6, 1742 and proved Dec. 14, 1747, mentions his daughter Hannah Liscomb, a married daughter Mary (married name not given), as well as other children. "I give and Bequeath unto my five Grand children, being children of my Daughter Hannah Liscum which she had by her former Husband John Fay ... I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Mary the Sum of Thirty pounds which sum together with what she hath already had at marriage is her portion".[1/25:218]
In 1720 Nathaniel Whitney, Jr. of Weston purchased lot 77 in Turkey Hills (later Lunenburg) for four pounds, five shillings.[8/16,20,23] It is not clear whether he ever settled there, but at some point later, Richard Estey was in possession of the house lot.[8/56] Nathaniel resided in Westborough early in the 1720's. Possibly his marriage to Mary Child is what took him to Westborough rather than Lunenburg. Many of Mary's family moved to Westborough about this time.
Nathaniel and Mary settled in Westborough where they were admitted to the church Jan. 21, 1728. He owned the covenant at Concord Oct. 15, 1727.[9] Nathaniel and his family lived about a mile southwest of the current center of Westborough on what is now called Eli Whitney Street. He had an apple orchard that was probably on the site of a present day orchard that is very old looking and in sad shape. Nathaniel was a good neighbor and respected citizen. He often helped the town's minister. This he did by cutting fire wood for him each year and did much of the carpentry work when the minister put up a new house. He was always being chosen as a delegate for different committees and affairs and was even chosen as a deacon of the church in 1755 but declined. Nathaniel's wife Mary had a habit, as did some others at the time, of crying out in public - even in church meetings. Research into this maladay might possibly prove it was connected with some sort of spiritual beliefs at the time.
Nathaniel died on the evening of January 27, 1776 while the town's minister was with him. Reverend Parkman's diary entry of January 30 states, " ... to ye Funeral of Mr. Nathaniel Whitney, who expired when within about seven Days of Eighty years of Age".[6] On the morning of Dec. 3, 1776 "old Mrs. Whitney died" while in her 77th year. She was buried on Dec. 5th. Her devotion to the church may be somewhat suspect as Parkman wrote in his diary that there was reason to hope she died in glory to the riches of Christ's grace.[6]
REF: [1] Middlesex County Probate (First Series Docket 4412)
[2] Weston Vital Records
[3] Westborough Church Records
[4] The Diary of Reverend Ebenezer Parkman - Francis G. Walett,
1974
[5] Southborough Vital Records
[6] The Diary of Reverend Ebenezer Parkman (hand written version
at Westborough Public Library)
[7] Watertown Records, 1894 (Births, Marriages, and Deaths)
[8] The Early Records of the Town of Lunenburg - Walter A. Davis,
1896
[9] Descendants of John Whitney - Frederick Clifton Pierce,
1895 (pg.67)
[10] Correspondence from Betty L. Perry 2954 Beechwood St.,
Grand Junction, CO 81506 (July 25, 1997)
Children (all born in Westborough):
1. Ephraim, b. (Groton[9/133]) 2 Jul 1722, d. Upton, MA 21 Jul 1797, m. Westborough 6 Dec 1749 Thankful Harrington, b. Westborough 24 Jun 1730, d. 16 Jul 1795[9/133] Chil.[9/133-4]: 1) Thankful, b. 11 Nov 1750, m. Jonathan Batchelor, res. Upton; 2) Beulah, b. 23 Jan 1753, d. 11 May 1848, m. 7 May 1772 Samuel Forbush (son of Lt. Samuel Forbush), b. 29 Jan 1750, d. Upton 31 Oct 1829; 3) Ephraim, b. 13 May 1756, m(1) Jemima Whipple, m(2) Joanna Sadler; 4) Amos, b. 29 Jun 1759, m. Eunice Taft 2. Oliver, b. 1 Dec 1724, d. Upton, MA 18 May 1804, m. Westboro 18 Dec 1749 Dorcas Forbush (Warren[9/134]), b. Westborough 28 Feb 1726-7, d. abt. 1811 Chil.[9/134]: 1) Ezra; 2) Oliver, d. unm. aged 80; 3) Jacob, b. 1770, m. Patty Whipple 3. Mary, b. 15 Feb 1727, m. Westboro 14 Apr 1748 James Bradish 4. Nathaniel, b. 22 Jul 1728, d. Grafton, MA 1 May 1776, m. Westborough 26 Dec 1753 Abigail Joslin, b. Westborough 5 Sep 1735 5. Anna, b. 8 Mar 1730, m. Westboro 4 May 1749 David Forbush, b. Westboro 20 Jun 1721 6. Amos, b. 17 Mar 1732 7. Lucy, b. 9 Jun 1734, m. Westboro (int.) 3 Apr 1756 Samuel Harrington, b. Westboro 15 May 1732 8. Love, b. 16 Sep 1736, m. Westboro (int.) 30 Mar 1772 John Tuft of Upton 9. Lois, b. 9 Feb 1738-9, d. Peacham, VT 4 Apr 1807[10], m? Westboro 4 Dec 1763 Abiel Chamberlain (son of Jacob Chamberlain and Abigail Hasey), b. Celsea, MA 7 Oct 1734[10], d. Peacham, VT 27 Jan 1822[10] Children[10] (surname Chamberlain): 1) Lois, b. Loudon, NH 15 Dec 1764, m. 17 Nov 1791 Samuel Crossman; 2) Lucy, b. 16 Mar 1766, d. 10 Aug 1844, m. Loudon, NH 13 Apr 1794 ____ Ordway; 3) Ebenezer, b. 4 Nov 1767, res. Hebron, NH; 4) Ephraim, b. Feb 1770, m. Peacham, VT 30 Oct 1803 Dorcas Carter, res. Lyndon, VT; 5) Hannah, b. 28 Sep 1772, m. ____ Elkins; 6) Susannah, b. Loudon, NH 17 May 1775, d. Barnet, VT 4 Jan 1859, m. Peacham, VT 5 Jan 1804 Stephen Hopkins; 7) Abiel, b. 21 May 1777, res. Brookfield; 8) Mary, b. 1 May 1779, m. 1 May 1808 Flavel Bailey 10. Eli, bap. 3 May 1741, m(1) Westboro 7 Feb 1765 Elizabeth Fay, b. Westboro 9 Dec 1740, d. Westboro 18 Aug 1777, m(2) Sutton, MA 15 Jul 1779 Judith Hazelden
NATHANIEL WHITNEY [#18], b. Westborough, MA 22 Jul 1728, d. Grafton, MA 1 May 1776, m. Westborough 26 Dec 1753 ABIGAIL JOSLIN (dau. of Joseph Joslin and Katherine Read), b. Westborough 5 Sep 1735. She m(2) Grafton (int.) 15 Apr 1779 Ebenezer Cutler.
| 9. Abigail Whitney
|
18. Nathaniel Whitney |
36. Nathaniel Whitney |
72. Nathaniel Whitney 1675-1730 | 73. Mercy Robinson 1676-1740 |
| 37. Mary Child |
74. John Child 1669-bef.1748 | 75. Hannah French 1676-1766 |
|
|
19. Abigail Joslin |
38. Joseph Joslin |
76. Nathaniel Joslin 1658-1726 | 77. Hester Morse 1664-1725 |
| 39. Katherine Read |
78. Thomas Read 1678-1755 | 79. Mary Bigelow 1677-1708 |
Nathaniel and Abigail were made guardians for Abigail's younger siblings upon the death of her father in 1761. These children were Hannah, Joseph, and Katherine Joslin.[3] Nathaniel died in Grafton on May 1, 1776. Reverend Parkman wrote in his diary for May 3 "p.m. I rode to Grafton to ye Funeral of the late Mr. Nathaniel Whitney (son of our late Mr. Nathaniel Whitney) he was taken ill last Saturday afternoon with anguishness, upon which followed a Fever, & expired on Wednesday p.m.".[5]
Nathaniel Whitney had moved from Westborough to the neighboring town of Grafton where his children were born. His wife Abigail was the daughter of Joseph Joslin of Westborough. They were married in Westborough "1753 Decr. 26 Nathal. Whitney junr. married Abigail Joslin".[1] Soon after, Nathaniel's father gave the couple some property in Grafton, which most likely prompted their move there. In the deed the Nathaniel, Jr. was styled as "of Grafton" already.[4/55:232] Therefore the newly married couple may have settled on the father's land and then received the land a little over a year later. The land was at the northeast corner of Grafton, which is on the Westborough line and about a mile from the Whitney homestead.
Pierce, in his Whitney Genealogy, confused the name of Nathaniel's wife with another couple of similar names in Grafton at the time. She was clearly Abigail Joslin from the foregoing material. Further proof comes from the fact that the administrators of the estate of Joseph Joslin in 1761 "Sett to Abigail the wife of Nathaniel Whetney the Eldest Surviving Daughter of the Deceased ..." a certain piece of land.[3] On March 31, 1763 Nathaniel and Abigail Whitney of Grafton sold this exact piece of property, which establishes the connection between Nathaniel and Abigail married in Westborough with the Nathaniel and Abigail living in Grafton.[4/55:6] A more detailed debunking of Pierce's statement can be found in.[7]
Upon Nathaniel's death, his brother Eli was made the guardian for Abigail, Mary, Hannah, Joseph, Katherine, and Lois. Eli Whitney was the father of Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin among other things. Eli the inventor was only two years younger than Abigail (Whitney) Bruce, and the two undoubtedly played together as children. Nathaniel did not make a will, but the inventory of his estate was taken in 1776 by Silas Warrin, Jonathan Grout, and John Prentice. It included 220 pounds worth of real estate. It also included live stock, husbandry tools, and shoe makers tools and totaled 306.0.4.[6]
REF: [1] The First Church of Christ in Westboro Records
[2] Grafton Vital Records
[3] Worcester Probate (Series A Docket 34095)
[4] Worcester County Deeds 108:306, 55:232
[5] The Diary of Reverend Ebenezer Parkman (hand copied version
in Westborough Public Library)
[6] Worcester County Probate (Series A Docket 65069)
[7] The New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1983 (pgs.143-145)
Children (all born in Grafton):
1. Nathaniel, b. 14 Oct 1754, m. Grafton (int.) 8 Dec 1780 Sarah Nurse, b. Westborough 1 Feb 1762 2. Abigail, b. 10 Feb 1757, d. Grafton 27 Aug 1760 3. Mary, b. 19 Mar 1759, d. Grafton 18 Jul 1782, m. Grafton (int.) 8 Jun 1782 Jonas Southgate?, d. 1784 4. Lydia, b. 20 Mar 1761, d. Grafton 24 Feb 1776 5. Abigail, b. 11 Apr 1763, d. 13 Jul 1847, m. (int.) 6 Jan 1781 Elijah Bruce, bap. Westborough 12 Jan 1760, d. 16 May 1835 6. Hannah, b. 28 Aug 1765, m? Grafton 16 Jul 1783 Silas Wheelock, b. Shrewsbury, MA 10 May 1759 7. Joseph, b. 27 Nov 1767, d. Grafton 14 Aug 1843, m. Grafton 15 Oct 1797 Hannah Rice, b. Marlborough, MA 5 Aug 1777 8. Katherine, b. 14 Feb, bap. 1 Apr 1770, m? 6 Nov 1794 Ephraim Childs, b. Westborough 2 Feb 1768 9. Tirzah, b. 15 Aug 1772, d. Grafton 9 Feb 1776 10. Lois, b. 8 Feb 1775, m. Grafton 10 Jan 1791 George Brown, Jr. of Shrewsbury, b. Waltham, MA 27 Dec 1765
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