whitney

SOME DESCENDANTS OF JOHN WHITNEY

© Copyright 2001 by Virginia Deagan. However material on these pages may be freely used for personal research. Please contact me before using the material on other web pages.

This is the line from John and Elinor Whitney that I descend from. I have information on some of the other families in this file and will be glad to share anything I have with others who are interested in this family. Feel free to let me know of any corrections or additions to this family. I have placed some of my sources at the end of this page. E-mail to Ginny Deagan (NEW E-MAIL:[email protected])

1. John Whitney was baptized at St. Margarets, Westminster, London on 20 July 1592. He was the son of Thomas and Mary (Bray) Whitney who were married at Westminster on 12 March 1588. Thomas Whitney was from Lambeth Marsh and is said to be a descendant of Sir Richard Whitney who was knighted by Queen Mary in 1553. The Whitney line has been thought to have Royal heritage but "The American Genealogist" Jan 1994, Vol 69, #1 disclaims this.

John Whitney was educated at Westminster School, now known as St. Peter's College. On 22 February 1597 at age fourteen, he was apprenticed by his father to William Pring of the Old Bailey, London who was a member of the Merchant Tailor's Company. On 13 March 1604, John became a full-fledged member of the Company. He lived in Isleworth-on-the Thames about eight miles from Westminster. His younger brother, Robert, was apprenticed to him for seven years.

John married his first wife, Elinor in England. They came to New England with their first five children in the "Elizabeth and Ann", leaving England on 13 April 1635 and settled in Watertown, MA. John served as a Selectman from 1637 to 1655, Town Clerk in 1655 and Constable in 1641. Elinor died on 11 May 1659, age 54. On 29 September 1659, John was married again to Judah Clement. She died before 1673.

John Whitney made his will on 3 April 1673. He died 1 June 1673, aged 74. He had owned a great amount of land, but had granted most of it to his sons earlier. He had granted his homestead to son, Benjamin and therefore, the only bequest to Benjamin in the will was "the old mare if she live".

Children of John and Elinor Whitney:

  1. Mary Whitney, b. abt. 1623 in England. Died as an infant.

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  2. John Whitney , b. abt. 1624 in England. Marr. abt. 1642 in MA, Ruth Reynolds . Died 12 Oct 1692 in Watertown, MA.

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  3. Richard Whitney , b. abt. 1626 in England. Marr. 19 Mar 1650/51, in MA, Martha Coldham . Died aft. 1697 in Stow, Middlesex Co., MA.

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  4. Nathaniel Whitney , b. abt. 1627 in England. Died young.

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  5. Thomas Whitney , b. 1629 in London, Islesworth, England. Marr. 11 Jan 1654/55, Mary Kedall in Watertown, MA. Died 20 Sep 1719.

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  6. Jonathan Whitney , b. abt. 1634 in England. Marr. 30 Oct 1656, Lydia Jones . Died abt. 1702.

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  7. Joshua Whitney , b. 15 Jul 1635 in Watertown, MA. Marr. #1, Lydia; #2, Mary [Buckmaster], 20 Nov 1664 at Charlestown, MA.; #3, 30 Sep 1672, Abigail Tarbell at Groton, MA.

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  8. Caleb Whitney , b. abt. 1640 in Watertown, MA. Died July 1640.

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  9. Benjamin Whitney , b. 6 Jun 1643 in Watertown, MA. Marr. #1 abt. 1668, Jane; #2, aft. 1690, Mary Poor


2. Thomas Whitney was born in 1629 in Ilesworth, London, England. He was the son of John and Elinor Whitney. He was married 11 January 1654/1655 to Mary Kedall at Watertown, MA. Nothing is known of her family. It has been suggested that her name may have been "Kettle". A Watertown record dated May 10, 1642, ordered that six pieces of common, called Pequusset, shall be laid out for the present necessity of John Kettle who may have been Mary's father.

At the General Town Meeting of Watertown in 1663, Thomas was chosen to take care that no dogs come into the meeting house on Sabbath days or at any other times when worship services are being held. He was to be paid 30 shillings a year for his pains. His wife, Mary, probably died sometime before 1714 when on 25 June 1714, he gave his son, Elnathan and his daughter, Martha, spinster, all his real and Personal estate including his house. Thomas Whitney died 20 September 1719 at Watertown, MA at age 90.

Children of Thomas and Mary (Kedall) Whitney: all probably born in Watertown, MA.

  1. Thomas Whitney (2) , b. 24 Aug 1656. Marr. 22 Jan 1678/79 in Watertown, Elizabeth Lawrence . Died 12 Apr 1742 in Bolton, Middlesex Co., MA.

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  2. John Whitney , b. 9 May 1659. Died 16 May 1659.

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  3. John Whitney , b. 22 Aug 1661. Died 26 Aug 1661.

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  4. Eleazer Whitney , b. 7 Apr 1662. Twin. Marr. 11 Apr 1687, Dorothy Ross . Died 22 Jun 1731.

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  5. Elnathan Whitney , b. 7 Apr 1662. Twin. Died 8 Mar 1726/27.

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  6. Mary Whitney , b. 22 Dec 1663. Died young.

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  7. Bezaleel Whitney , b. 16 Sep 1665.

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  8. Sarah Whitney , b. 23 Mar 1666/67. Marr. 11 Apr 1699, Charles Chadwick .

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  9. Mary Whitney , b. 6 Aug 1668. Died 16 Sep 1669.

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  10. Isaiah Whitney , b. 16 Sep 1671. Marr. Sarah (Woodward) Eddy, widow of John Eddy. Died abt. 1711.

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  11. Martha Whitney , b. 30 Jan 1673/74. Was unmarried.

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3. Thomas Whitney (3) was born 24 August 1656 at Watertown, Middlesex County, MA. He was the son of Thomas and Mary (Kedall) Whitney. He was married 29 January 1678/79 at Watertown to Elizabeth Lawrence. She was born 28 February 1658/59 in Groton, MA and was the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Crispe) Lawrence. She died 8 Feb 1740/41 in Bolton, Worcester County, MA.

Thomas purchased 112 acres of land in Cambridge, MA in 1679. In 1682, he bought 60 acres in Stow, MA where his first five children were born. In 1719 he purchased 52 acres in Lancaster, MA and deeded one-half of the purchase to his son, John. Thomas died 12 April 1742 at Bolton, Worcester County, MA at age 85.

Children of Thomas and Elizabeth (Lawrence) Whitney:

  1. Susanna Whitney .

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  2. Thomas Whitney , b. 17 Sep 1681 in Stow, Middlesex Co. MA. Marr. in Concord, MA, 26 Jul 1704, Mary Baker .

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  3. Elizabeth Whitney , b. 16 Feb 1682/83 in Stow, Middlesex Co. MA.

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  4. John Whitney , b. 13 May 1684 in Stow, Middlesex Co. MA. Marr. in Watertown, MA, Elizabeth Barnard . Died Abt. Jun 1757.

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  5. Mary Whitney , b. 13 Jan 1685/86.

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  6. Benjamin Whitney , b. 7 Oct 1687. Marr. in Marlborough, MA, 7 Feb 1709/10, #1, Sarah Barrett ; #2, Abigail Bridges . Died Oct 1737 in Boston, MA.

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  7. Nathan Whitney , b. 18 Nov 1689 in Stow, MA. Marr. 18 Nov 1719, Mary Holman . Died abt. 1761.

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  8. Abigail Whitney , b. abt. 1700. Marr. in Lancaster, MA, 27 Feb 1722/23, Jonathan Rand .


4. . Benjamin Whitney was born 7 October 1687 at Stow, Middlesex County, MA. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Lawrence) Whitney. Benjamin was married at Marlborough, MA on 7 February 1709/10 to Sarah Barrett. Sarah was born 28 November 1692 in Marlborough, MA. She was the daughter of John and Deborah (Howe) Barrett. She died 15 February 1729/30. After her death, Benjamin was married a second time to Abigail Bridges, daughter of Matthew Bridges.

Benjamin settled in Boston, Mass. about 1737, shortly before his death. His estate was appraised at 4,168 pounds, a considerable sum for that time. He owned large tracts of land that he inherited from his father-in-law, John Barrett. He served in the Indian Wars and received land in Petersham, MA that he willed to his son, Solomon. Benjamin Whitney died at Boston in 1737 at about age 49. His will was dated 19 October 1737 and was proved on 9 November 1737.

Children of Benjamin and Sarah (Barrett) Whitney:

  1. Deborah Whitney , b. 7 Nov 1711. Marr. 17 Mar 1730, Joseph Wheeler (his 2nd wife).

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  2. Barrett Whitney , b. 22 Sep 1715. Marr. 16 Jun 1737, Elizabeth Allen .

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  3. David Whitney , b. 21 Jun 1717. Wife was Mercy.

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  4. Persis Whitney , b. 10 Jan 1719. Marr. Nathan Goodale . Died 20 June 1798 in Marlborough, MA.

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  5. Solomon Whitney , b. 20 Dec 1721. Marr. in Marlborough, MA, 5 Oct 1749, Elizabeth Smith . Died bef. 18 Apr 1758 in Petersham, Worcester Co. MA.

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  6. Sarah Whitney , b. 13 July 1723. Marr. 1745, Abraham Joslin ( his 2nd wife).

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  7. Timothy Whitney , b. 6 July 1725, died young.

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  8. Dinah Whitney , b. 12 July 1727. Marr. 2 Jan 1756, Elijah Livermore of Boston. Died 30 Sep 1759 in Waltham, MA.

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  9. Job Whitney , b. 22 Oct 1729. Died unmarried 13 June 1761.

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    Children of Benjamin and Abigail (Bridge) Whitney: All born in Marlborough, MA.
     

  10. Abigail Whitney , b. 13 May 1731. Marr. in Boston, 4 May 1769, Samuel Austin , his 2nd wife.

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  11. Benjamin Whitney , b. 9 May 1732, died 22 Mar 1751.

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  12. George Whitney , b. 22 Mar 1733, died 26 Dec 1751.

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  13. Samuel Whitney , b. 5 Sep 1734. Wife was Abigail. Died at Castine, Hancock Co. ME 2 June 1808.

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  14. Ann Whitney , b. 23 Oct 1736. Marr. 22 Dec 1761, William Bowes . Died 2 Jan 1762, prob. in Boston.


5. Solomon Whitney was born 20 December 1721 at Marlborough, Middlesex County, MA. He was the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Barrett) Whitney of Boston, MA. He was married on 5 October 1749 at Marlborough to Elizabeth Smith . Her parents are not known. A Whitney Genealogy says that she married Ithamar Goodenough after her husband Solomon's death but this has not been proven. It was probably a Sarah Whitney who married Ithamar.

Solomon's father, Benjamin had fought in the Indian Wars and was given the right to land in Petersham, Worcester, County, MA for his service. He willed this land to Solomon who moved there. Solomon died in Petersham at age 36. At his death, his estate was valued at 457 British Pounds. His wife, Elizabeth and David Sanderson were appointed administrators of his estate. John and Benjamin Stowell were appointed guardians for the minor children.

Children of Solomon and Elizabeth (Smith) Whitney:

  1. Miriam Whitney , b. 31 July 1751 in Marlborough, MA. Marr. 29 Sep 1769 in Petersham, Worcester Co. MA,


    2. William Bullock . Possibly had other marriages (see below). Died 29 Jan 1825 in Guilford, Windham Co. VT.
     

  2. Benjamin Whitney , b. 10 June 1753 in Marlborough, MA. Was a Revolutionary War Officer. Died 1830 in Simpson, Quebec, Canada.

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  3. Job Whitney , b. 25 June 1755.

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  4. Sarah Whitney , b. 11 Aug 1757.

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6. Miriam Whitney was born 31 July 1751 at Marlborough, Middlesex County, MA. She was the daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth (Smith) Whitney. She married William Bullock in Petersham, Worcester, MA on 29 September 1769. After William's death in 1785, Miriam married again, probably twice. Vermont Vital Records show a marriage between Capt. Isaac Orr of Halifax and widow, Mariam Stewart of Guilford on 8 June 1815, however no marriage can be found to a Mr. Stewart. Miriam died 29 January 1825 at age 74 and is buried as Miriam Orr in Blanchard Cemetery, Guilford, Vt., the same cemetery as William, but in another section about 10 feet from his grave.

Children of Miriam Whitney and William Bullock: See Bullock Genealogy Page .



SOME OF MY SOURCES FOR THE WHITNEY FAMILY:

  1. Descendants of John Whitney by Frederick Clifton Pierce, W. B. Conkey Co., Printers. Chicago, IL 1895.
  2. Some of the Descendants of John Whitney , by William L. Whitney, private edition. 100 copies. Pottsville, PA 1890.
  3. Whitney, Wyne & Allied Families, prepared for Mrs. Mary Whitney by the American Hist. Soc. Inc., NY 1928.
  4. NEHGR, Vol 11, April 1856. "Desc. of John and Elinor Whitney".
  5. TAG (The American Genealogist) Jan 1994, Vol 69, #1.
  6. Watertown, MA Town Records.
  7. Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts , by Henry Bond, M.D.
  8. Vital Records of Marlborough, MA.
  9. Vital Records of Petersham, MA.
  10. Vermont Vital Records
  11. Worcester Co. Probate Dockets: #65166 (Estate of Solomon Whitney).