Archive:Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River Valley

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Cutter, William Richard, ed., Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River Valley. A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Building of a Nation (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1913), 3 volumes.

Volume 1

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(The Whitney Line.)

The family name of Whitney is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "hwit," meaning white, and "ey," meaning water, literally signifying "white water," or "the clear running stream." Others incline to the derivation "withing,' willows; or "witan," assembly, and "ey" or "ige," which may mean island as well as water, so that it could signify the "Island of Willows," or "Island of Assembly," that advocates of the latter idea pointing out that the place where this family originated was an exceptionally good locality for the assembling of large gatherings, such as armies or tourneys; is traced in direct course to the time when the Whitney family lived beside the Wye River, coursing through Wales and England, and forming in its lower course the boundary between Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire, joining the estuary of the river Severn, eleven miles north by west of Bristol, England. Its length is about one hundred and thirty miles, navigable to Hereford, and the stream is noted for its picturesque scenery, in fact so beautiful is the river Wye, made attractive by its castellated shores, that it is well called "the Rhine of England." It was appointed the boundary between England and Wales by Athelstan in the year 939. The early owners of the land were, before the days of surnames, known as "Eustace" or "Baldwin," or "Robert of Whitney," as the Christian name might be. Written in the style of those times, "of" was "de" and after w while "De Whitney," came to be regarded as "De Whitney," or "De Wyttebeye," as it was usually spelled, came to be regarded as the family name. Finally the letter "h" was introduced and the "de" was dropped, so that throughout four centuries the present form has been the established one. It also shows on old English records as Witney, Wittney, Witnenie, Witeney, Witteneye, Wytney, Wyttneye, Wyteney, Wytteneye, Whiteneye, and Whittenye. The Whitney Arms: Shield, Azure, a cross chequy or and gules. Crest; A bull's head couped sable, armed argent, the points gules. Motto: Magnanimiter crucem sustene; "Gallantry uphold the cross.' Registered in the College of Arms, and probably originated during the early Crusades, it remained unchanged up to the time of emigration of John Whitney, in 1635.

Regarding the origin of the family and its location, as it leads towards the departure of a member in direct descent, who became the progenitor of the family in America, there is much of interest, and it must necessarily be expressed in brief. At the present day there is a tract in England known as "Whitney

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Wood," probably identical with the one referred to ina writ of the seventeenth year of Henry III (1233), where in sheriff of Hereford was commanded to cause a good breach to be made through the woods of Erdelegh, Bromlegh, and Witteneye, so that there may be safe passage between the City of Hereford and Maud's Castle. This castle was built by William le Brass, Lord of Brecknock, about 1216, in the reign of King John, and so named in honor of his wife. The Doomsday Book mentions Whitney in the year 1086, at which time the land was scarcely under cultivation, as follows: "In Elsedune hundred, the King holds Witemie, Aluuard held it in the time of King Edward, and was able to go where he pleased. There is half a hide yielding geld. It was and is waste."

Rolf, or Guy, has the credit of being the first of whom there is undisputed, authentic trace. He had a son, Turstin de Wigemore, the Fleming, who was living in 1086, and married Agnes, daughter of Alured de Merleberge, of Ewias Castle. Their son was Eustace, who, "at the request of my mother, Agnes, have given to St. peter and the brother of Gloucester a hide of land in Pencombe, which is called Suthenhale (Syndnal), free and clear from any encumbrance; and through this deed, I have placed it on the altar of Saint Peter of Gloucester." Eustace had a son, also named Eustace de Wytteneye, Knight, who confirmed this deed of gift, by Monks and Lord Reginald, Abbot of Saint Peter's at Gloucester, and to the convent of that place." Thus, while there may be no record showing that Eustace, the elder, used the name in full, his son, in the days of Reginald the Abbot, or 1263-84, wrote himself as "Eustace de Wytteneye," and it is therefore proved that he was third in decent from Turstin the Fleming, son of Rolf, who owned the land on the river Wye, the home of the Wyytteneyes, later changed to Whitney in records.

That the Whitney family was represented in the Crusades seems more than likely, for a cross on a coat-of-arms, which is known positively to date to that period is quite generally understood by the most careful students ancient heraldry to indicate hat it once belonged to a crusade, and in the Whitney arms, the chief, in fact, the only solitary symbol is a cross. Nearly every writer dealing with the history of this family has given the following explanation:

"Sir Randolph de Whitney, the grandson of Eustace, accompanied Richard Coeur de Lion to the Crusades, and distinguished himself greatly by his personal strength and great courage. On one occasion he was sent by Richard on a mission to the French commander and, as he was leaving the British camp the brother of Saladin (whom he had twice before defeated) followed him with two Saracens in his company, and, riding around a small hill, made a furious attack upon de Whitney, who defended himself with the greatest vigor; but his assailants were gaining upon him, when a furious Spanish bull, which was feeding near the field of conflict, was attracted by the red dresses of the Saracens, and becoming angry at the color flitting before him, made so vigorous an attack upon them that they were diverted from their intended prey, and sought safety in flight. Sir Randolph soon succeeded in wounding his single assailant, whom he left for dead, and then, overtaking the two Saracens, dispatched them and proceeded upon his mission from the King."

To carry the entire line, even by name and date from the time of Turstin, son of Rolf, in 1086, to the time of John Whitney, who emigrated to America in 1635, more than two and a half centuries ago, would require much space; but in brief it perfect the family history. Sir robert de Whitney, of Whitney, Knight, living in 1242, had son, Sir Eustace de Whitney, Knight, who was granted Free Warren by King Edward I, in 1284, and was summoned to military service beyond the seas in 1297, and summoned to the Scotch War in 1301. His son was Sit Eustace de Whitney, of Whitney, who was knighted by Edward I, in 1306, and was member of parliament for Herefordshire in 1313 and 1352. His son was Sir robert de Whitney, Knight, one of two hundred gentlemen, who in 1368 went to Milan in the retinue of the Duke of Clarence, and was member of parliament for Herefordshire in 1377-79-80. His son, Robert, was sent abroad to negotiate a treaty with the Count of Flanders in 1388; was member of parliament in 1391; was sent to France to deliver the castle and town of Cherbourg to the King of Navarre in 1393; was Knight Marshall at the Court of Richard II; was killed, with his brother and relatives, at the battle of Pilleth, in 1402. His son, Sir Robert Whitney. Of Whitney, Knight, was granted the Castle of Clifford and lordships of Clifford and Glasbury, by Henry IV, in 1404, on account of his service; was member of parlia-

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ment, 1410-22; fought in the French War under Henry V, was captain of castle and town of Vire, in 1420, and died March 22, 1441. His son Eustace de Whitney, Knight, born 1411, was head of the commission sent to Wales by henry VI, in 1455; member of parliament for Herefordshire, 1468; married Jenett Russell, daughter of Sir Thomas. His son, Robert, probably also a knight, was an active participant in the War of the Roses; attained as a Yorkist by Lancastrain parliament, in 1459; probably was at battle of Mortimer's Cross, in 1461, and was the subject of a poem by Lewis Glyn Cothi, on his marriage to Constance, the great-granddaughter of Sir David Gam. His son, James Whitney, was appointed receiver of Newport, part of the estate of the Duke of Buckingham, confiscated by Henry VIII, in 1522. His son, Robert, of Icomb, was placed in charge of Brecknock, Hay and Huntington, the confiscated estates of the Duke of Buckingham, in 1523; was nominated Knight of Bath by Henry VIII, at coronation of Anne Boleyn, in 1531, and died in 1541. He furnished forty men to put down rebellion in 1536. He married, Margaret, daughter of Robert Wye, of Gloucestershire, England. His son, Sir robert Whitney, Knight, was dubbed in October, 1553, the day following Queen Mary's coronation; was summoned before the privy council in 1555-59; member of parliament for Herefordshire, 1559, and died August 5, 1567. His son, Sir James Whitney, born in 1544, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth at Windsor, in 1570; was sheriff of Herefordshire 1574-86-87; died May 31, 1587. His brother, Robert Whitney, married Elizabeth, daughter of Morgan Guillims, of Duglim, who had a son Thomas Whitney, of Westminster, Gentlemen, see forward.

Thomas Whitney, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Guillims) Whitney, was a native of Westminster, England, and was buried in St. Margaret's, April 14, 1637. It is recorded that in 1611 he paid the subsidy tax, and on December 6, 1615, on the probate of the will of his father-in-law, John Bray, he was appointed executor. He apprenticed his son, John, on February 22, 1607, and his son, Robert, on November 8, 1624. At the time of his death in 1637, his oldest surviving son, John, being out of the country, administration of his estate was granted, May 8, 1637, to his remaining sons, Francis and Robert. Of the other six children, he having had nine, all six were then dead. He obtained, may 16, 1583, from the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, a license to marry Mary Bray, in which document he is mentioned as "Thomas Whytney of Lambeth March, Gentleman," and the marriage took place on May 12 at St. Margaret's Church. She was the daughter of John Bray, of Westminster, and she was buried in St. Margaret's, September 25, 1629. "Lambeth Marsh" is the name still existing and denotes a locality near the Surrey end of the Westminster bridge. Children: 1. Margaret, born 1584, died 1604. 2. Thomas, 1587, died in 1587. 3. Henry, 1588, died 1589. 4. John, see forward. 5. Arnwaye, 1590, died 1591. 6. Nowell, 1594, died 1597. 7. Francis, 1599, died at Westminster, 1643. 8. Mary, 1600, died 1600. 9. Robert, 1605, died in Parish of St. Peter's, Cornhill, London, England, 1662.

(I) John Whitney, son of Thomas and Mary (Bray) Whitney, was born in Westminster, England, was baptized in St. Margaret's Church, July 290, 1593, and coming to America in 1635, did at Watertown, Massachusetts, June 1, 1673.  He was reported "Gentleman" in his marriage license taken out in England, and it is presumed that his education in the famous "Westminster School" now known as St. Peter's College, was a good one.  When fourteen years old he was apprenticed by his father, February 22, 1607, to William prig, of the Old Bailey, London, who was a "freeman" of the Merchant Taylor's Company, then the most famous and prosperous of all the great trade guilds, numbering in its membership distinguished men of the profession, nobility and the Prince of Wales. On March 13, 1614, when twenty-one years of age, he became a full fledged member.  He made his residence at Isleworth-on-Thames, and about 1618, married Eleanor ----------, who was born in England, 1599, and six children were born to him before sailing to American, three afterwards.  His father apprenticed to him his youngest brother, Robert, November 8, 1624, who served seven years.  He removed about 1631, to London, where entries in the register of St. Mary Aldermery indicate that he resided in "Bowe Lanne," near Bow Church, where hand the famous bells.  Early in April, 1635, he registered with his

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wife Eleanor, and their sons, John, Richard, Nathaniel, Thomas and Jonathan, as passengers in the ship "Elizabeth and Ann", Roger Cooper, master. They arrived at Watertown, Massachusetts, in June, and settled there, where their son, Joshua, was born July 15. John Whitney purchased a sixteen acre homestall which had been granted to John Strickland, who had been dismissed from the Watertown church, May 29, 1635, and was one of that colony to remove and plant Wethersfield, Connecticut. His homestead was the permanent home of John Whitney. It was situated a short distance north of Belmont street and east of Common street. In 1668 he requested his youngest son, Benjamin, who had settled in York, Maine, to return and live with him at the homestead, assuring him that it should be his after his death. With the father's consent, Benjamin conveyed his rights for forty pounds in 1671 to his brother, Joshua, and when his father died, Joshua returned to Groten, and October 29, 1697, sold the homestead to Deacon Nathan Fiske. John Whitney was admitted freeman, March 3, 1635-36, was appointed constable of Watertown, June 1, 1641, by the general court, selectman, 1638, to 1655 inclusive, and town clerk, 1655.

He married (first) in England, Eleanor --------, born 1599, died at Watertown, Massachusetts, May 11, 1659; married (second) Judah Clement, who died before his death in 1673. Children: 1. Mary, baptized in England, May 23, 1619, died young. 2. John, born in England, 1620, died at Watertown, October 12, 1692; freeman of Watertown, May 26, 1647, selectman 1673-70, married, 1642, Ruth, daughter of Robert Reynolds, of Watertown, Massachusetts. 3. Richard, see forward. 4. Nathaniel, born in England, 1627; nothing further. 5. Thomas, born in England, 1629, died September 20, 1719; married, in Watertown, January 11, 1654, Mary Kedall or Kettle. 6. Jonathan, born in England, 1634, died in Sherborn, 1702; married in Watertown, October 30, 1656, Lydia, daughter of Lewis Jones. 7. Deacon Joshua, born in Watertown, July 5, 1635, died at Watertown, August 7, 1719; married (first) Lydia ----------, (second) mary -------------, who died at Groten, March 17, 1671, (third) September 30, 1672, Abigail Tarball. 8. Caleb, born at Watertown, July 12, 1640, buried December 5, 1640. 9. Benjamin, born at Watertown, June 6, 1643, died in 1723; married (first) probably at York, Maine, Jane -----------, November 14, 1690, married (second) April 11, 1695, Mary Poor, of Marlboro, Massachusetts.

(II) Richard, son of John and Eleanor Whitney, was born in England, 1626, and came to Watertown, Massachusetts, with his parents, arriving in June, 1635. He was admitted freeman, May 7, 1651; was proprietor of Stow, June 3, 1680, whither he probably removed when it was part of Concord, or belonged to it. On April 7, 1697, being seventy years of age, he was released from training by the court. He married, march 19, 1650, Martha Coldam, and their eight children were born in Watertown, Massachusetts. Children: 1. Sarah, born March 17, 1652. 2. Moses, August 1, 1655, married Sarah Knight. 3. Johannah, January 6, 1657. 4. Deborah, October 12, 1658. 5. Rebecca, December 15, 1659, died February 1660. 6. Richard, see forward. 7. Elisha, August 26, 1662. 8. Ebenezer, June 30, 1672, at Concord, Massachusetts, died August 1, 1727, married Anna ------------.

(III) Richard (2), son of Richard (1) and Martha (Coldam) Whitney, was born at Watertown, Massachusetts, January 13, 1661, died at Stow, Massachusetts, December 15, 1723. He had land granted to him at that place, October 24, 1682, whither he removed from his native town. He married Elizabeth, born February 3, 1668, died November 24, 1723, daughter of Jonathan Sawtell, of Groten, Massachusetts. Children: 1. Richard, see forward. 2. Jonathan, born at Stow, February 26, 1699, died November 8, 1773; married, at Lancaster, Massachusetts, January 20, 1718, Alice Willard, born December, 1699, died February 120, 1792, daughter of Simon Willard. 3. Sarah, born 1703; married, 1723, Captain Hezekiah Hapsgood. 4. Ruhannah, born 1705. 5. Joshua, born at Stow, 1706; married Zerviah ------------. 6. Hannah, married Samuel Farr. 7. Elizabeth, married, December 29, 1722, John Wetherby. 8. Hepsibah, born 1710; married October 12, 1732, Seth Sawyer.

(IV) Richard (3), son of Richard (2) and Elizabeth (Sawtell) Whitney, was born at Stow, Massachusetts, in 1694, died April 27, 1775. He married (first) Hannah, daughter of Josiah Whitcomb, of Lancaster, Massachusetts, who was born in 1693, died November

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17, 1743; married (second) October 26, 1745, Mrs. Hannah Ayers, born in 1704, died September 27, 1775. Children: 1. Mary, born November 24, 1715; married ------------ Gates. 2. Dorothy, born April 13, 1718; married ------------ Taylor. 3. Daniel, born February 13, 1720, died in 1782; married, November 9, 1744, Dorothy Goss, of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 4. Hannah, born May 29,m 1723l married ------------- Wetherbee. 5. Richard, born at Stow, July 31, 1725, died May 4, 1798; married, Sudbury, December 10, 1747, Mary Perry. 6. Elizabeth, born July 23, 1728, died before 1775; married, April 15, 1748, Joseph Wetherbee. 7. Josiah, see forward. 8. Sarah, married, December 23, 1760, Captain Hezekiah Whitcomb, of Harvard, Massachusetts.

(V) Brigadier-General Josiah Whitney, son of Richard (3) and Hannah (Whitcomb) Whitney, was born in Stow, Massachusetts, October 12, 1731, died in Albany, Massachusetts, January 24, 1806. He was the citizen of Harvard, Massachusetts, who held the highest military rank during the Revolution, and was at one time the town's most noted and influential citizen, being the leader in town politics. His mother was a near relative of the veteran military leaders, Colonel Asa and General John Whitcomb. On September 2, 1746, his parents deeded to him land in Harvard, which he occupied soon after his marriage, his dwelling standing nearly opposite of the almshouse, until town down in 1860. He inherited a fondness for military affairs, and when about his majority he entered upon what proved a most brilliant military career. In the spring of 1755 he was a member of the company commanded by Captain William Pierce, that marched in Colonel Whitcomb's regiment against the French and Indians at Crown Point. He was in the notoriously bloody battle at Lake George,. September 8, 1755, where the gallant General Dieskau was defeated by the New England yeomanry. From august 13 to 26, 1757, he was a member of the foot company commanded by Captain Israel Taylor that marched on the late alarm fro the relief of Fort henry, as far as Springfield, and on September 26, 1774, he was chosen commander of a company. When on December 19, 1774, the Continental Resolves were read before the town, a committee was appointed to prepare a covenant to be signed by the inhabitants, pledging adherence to independence, he was one of ten named to inspect breaches of the covenant. Colonel Asa Whitcomb, having been authorized to raise a regiment at the time of the provincial congress, April, 1774, he did so, and on May 25, announced that Josiah Whitney, of Harvard, was lieutenant-colonel. That regiment contained five hundred and sixty volunteers, mustered into eleven companies, and was the largest of the twenty-six Massachusetts regiments before Boston. He was appointed to take command of a battalion of men raised by the state, April 10, 1776, and on October 29, wrote from camp at Hull, "though the pay of the state was small, yet my zeal for the liberties of my country, was so great that I cheerfully undertook it." When the continental army departed for New York, his regiment went with the Massachusetts militia to the defense of the coast. When General Burgoyne was marching toward Albany from the north, he ordered, on July 27, 1777, a draft of one-sixth of the training bands and alarm lists in his regiment to march at once to Bennington and on August 2, ordered one-half of the militia to follow. On January 13, 1778, he was made chairman of a committee which the town had appointed "to take into consideration the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union of the United States of America Concerted on by Congress." He was commander of the Second Worcester Regiment of Militia, as colonel, when it took part in the operation in Rhode Island, when in August and September, 1778, an attempt was made to wrest that colony from the others. He was chosen on of two delegates to be sent to the convention for the state constitution. He was made brigadier-general in 1783, but resigned the office before the breaking out of Shay's insurrection. In 1782 the governor appointed him a justice of the peace in and for the county of Worcester. In 1783-84-87-88-89 he was a member of the board of selectmen, and during this period one of the most popular moderators at the deliberations of the town voters. He was the delegate from Harvard to the convention held to ratify the federal constitution in Boston, January 9, 1788, and voted with the minority in opposition but would support it nevertheless. He was representative in the legislature, 1780-81-88-89. With church matters he was prominently identified.

He married (first) in Stow, Massachusetts,

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September 9, 1751, Sarah Farr, born January 19, 1735, died in Harvard, Massachusetts, April 21, 1773; married (second) at Harvard, February 3, 1774, Sarah Dwelly, of Bridgewater, who died at Whittingham, Vermont, February 18, 1817. Children: 1. Josiah, born at Harvard, Massachusetts, February 25, 1753, died January 2, 1827, married, Harvard, January 10, 1776, Anna Scollay, baptized April 18, 1756, died, Nelson, New Hampshire, March 8, 1824. 2. Elizabeth, born May 7, 1755; married, April 28, 1796 Phinneas Burgess. 3. Stephen, born Harvard, May 1, 1757, died Lynn, Massachusetts; married February 6, 1783, Persis Locke, born 1757, died in Deerfield, June 25, 1806. 4. Infant, died June 4, 1761. 5. Infant, died May 10, 1762. 6. Infant, died March 16, 1763. 7. Infant, died February, 1766. 8. Infant, died February 18, 1768. 9. Sarah, born April 11, 1775; married (first) December 14, 1791, Laomi Burgess, born March 1, 1770; married (second) September 27, 1827, Phinaes Barnard, of Harvard; she died May 23, 1860. 10. Oliver, born January 9, 1777; reported to have died at sea. 11. Artemas Ward, born November 17, 1778; similar report as on Oliver. 12. Susanna, born October 2, 1780; married November 8, 1803, John Adams, fo Ashburnham, and died in North Adams, Massachusetts, may 5, 1866. 13, Dwelly, born august 2, 1782, similar report as Oliver. 14. Lemuel, born Harvard, September 19, 1784, died July 9, 1853, Ashburnham, Massachusetts; married, December 4, 1804, Elizabeth Hall, born February 6, 1788, died April 30, 1852. 15. Daniel, see forward. 16. John Hancock, born December 13, 1788; married and resided at Cazenovia, New York. 17. Moses Gill, born February 4, 1791; married Ann Shields.

(VI) Daniel, son of Brigadier-General Josiah and Sarah (Farr) Whitney, was born in Massachusetts, October 25, 1786, died April 18, 1869. He was a master mason builder, and moved with his family from Boston, in 1828, in a sloop, with all his goods and a family consisting of ten children, to New York City, the trip consuming one week. There he resided until he died at the age of eighty-two. He had presentiments the year previous to his death that it was to be his last, as it proved and accordingly named his pall-bearers. He was most active in building circles after the great fire of 1835. He married, March 10, 1808, Hannah Shields, of Waltham, Massachusetts, where he had resided in younger days. Children: 1. Daniel J., born February 11, 1809, died in San Francisco, February 10, 1850. 2. Hannah Maria, born October 10, 1810, died, unmarried, December 25, 1859. 3. George, born October 30, 1812, died at sea. 4. Josiah Marshall, Boston, Massachusetts, January 19, 1814; married, at Astoria, New York, May 16, 1839, Mary Jane Avery, born September 8, 1820. 5. Edward Oliver, born December 24, 1816; married Eliza Lawrence. 6. Lucy Jane, born December 16, 1818, died January 11, 1861; married, October 19, 1854, George B. Revere, born January 26, 1823, died December 11, 1882. 7. Susanna, born February 24, 1821. 8. Benjamin Shurtliff, born November 5, 1822, died August 6, 1850. 9. Abigail, born November 21, 1824; married Theodore Crowell, and removed to Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. 10. William Minott, see forward. 11. Warren Webster, New York City, March 12, 1829; married, in New York City, February 4, 1856, Jenny A. Bord, born in Troy, New York, February 10, 1836. 12. Sarah Louisa, born September 26, 1831, died August 14, 1832.

(VII) William Minott, son of Daniel and Hannah (Shedd) Whitney, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 2, 1827, died at his residence, No 156 Washington Avenue, New York, May, 1905. His parents resided in Boston until they removed by boat trip in 1828 to New York City. At the start of his career, he found employment ina metropolitan dry goods house. He soon became recognized as an expert in the buying of goods, and from 1845 to 1859 was chief buyer for various large houses. The large store, Nos. 43-45-47-49 North Pearl Street, Albany, to which he was to devote the larger share of his life, was opened in 1859 by Ubsdell, Pierson & Company, and in 1860 he came to Albany as their manager. In 1862, when James T. Lenox purchased the business, Mr. Whitney continued to represent the new management. In 1865 he formed a partnership with John G. Myers by the purchase of the Lenox store, and the place became widely known as the "New York Store." Its business increased until it became the most ex-

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tensive of its kind between the metropolis and Chicago. This arrangement continued until 1870, when Mr. Myers retired, and Mr. Whitney continued the business alone until 1877, when he admitted William H. Pangborn and S, M, Van Santwood as partners. Twelve years later the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Whitney continued the business with his son, William M. Whitney Jr. In 1896 he admitted his other son, Charles L. A. Whitney, as a partner, which resulted in its continuation as one of the most enterprising and successful concerns in this part of the country. Mr. Whitney was a Mason, a member of the Universalist Church, and a member of the Fort Orange and Albany clubs. He was a director of the First National Bank, and in 1886, by appointment of the mayor, served as chairman on the committee of public celebration which arranged the Bi-Centennial of Albany as a chartered city. for many years Mr. Whitney resided in his handsome home, No. 5 Lodge Street, but removed t a larger residence, No. 156 Washington Avenue, where he died at five o'clock on the morning of May 10, 1905, having suffered a stroke of apoplexy the previous day.

William M. Whitney married, in New York City, June 16, 1856, Amelia Cook, born in New York City, January 31, 1831, and in 1910 was living in Albany. Her parents were Walter and May (Munro) cook. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Whitney: 1. Leila, born in New York City, May 17, 1857; married, Albany, new York, November 25, 1879, William Henry Stott, born at Stottville, September 12, 1855, died at Albany, August 22, 1888, son of Charles Henry And Catherine (Oakley) Stott; children: i. Leila Vanderbilt, born at Albany, November 25, 1880, ii. A son, born and died at Stottville, Columbia County, New York, July 3, 1882, iii. Helen Munro, Stottville, New York, June 18, 1883, iv. Jonathan Whitney, Stottville, May 5, 1885, v. Whitney, Stottville, March 20, 1887. 2. William Minott, Jr., born in New York City, December 3, 1858, died there, December 21, 1858. 3. William Minott, Jr., born in New York City, August 1, 1861, died at Albany, February 6, 1899; married, Stottville, New York, June 9, 1886, Jessie Douglas Stott; children: i. Leila Douglas, at Albany, May 3, 1887, ii. William Minott, 3rd, at Albany, June 5, 1888. Iii. Prudence, at Albany, October 15, 1890. 4. Virginia Belle, born in New York City, January 8, 1865, died there, December 8, 1865. 5. Charles Lee Anthony, born at Albany, New York, September 16, 1870. 6. Mabel, born at Albany, December 4, 1874; married, Albany, December 29, 1897, Charles Hamilton Sabin, of New York (see Sabin VIII).

Volume 2

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WHITNEY. This name, as a family name, owes its origin to the ancient, but obscure, parish of Whitney, in the western confines of Herefordshire, England, near the border of Wales, in the valley of the Wye. The Wye is here a mountain torrent; and the name probably is derived from this and means "white water," in Anglo-Saxon. It is said that in the distribution of land among the followers of William the conqueror, this land fell to the lot of Turstin, son of Rolf, a Fleming, whose wife's name was Agnes, and that his son, Sir Eustace, usually called de Whitney, is founder of the family. Another account, however, traces the family of Henry Whitney to Welsh origin, and gives the name of the progenitor as Sir Baldwin Whitney, living about the time of King William. In fact, the ancestry has been traced carefully and authentically, according to such evidences as are available, to the sixth century, it may be deemed historical from about the eleventh century, and judged by historical criteria, for accuracy or inaccuracy. By far the greater number of American Whitneys are descended from John Whitney, who settled at Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635. Among his descendants are Eli Whitney, William Dwight Whitney and Josiah Dwight Whitney.

(I) Henry Whitney, the founder of the present family, was born in England, probably about 1620, and died probably in the autumn of 1673. On October 8, 1649, he was associated with two others in buying land at Southold, Long Island. It is possible that he preached early at Huntington, Long Island, yet, like so many of the American pioneers, he made his mark to documents. About 1661 he removed to Jamaica, Long Island. In 1665, he is found at Norwalk, Connecticut. He agreed to build a good mill for grinding grain, at the mouth of the Norwalk River, and the town granted him a home lot of two acres on the north side of the river, near the mill. Four yeas later he was one of the thirty-three freemen of Norwalk. In 1672 he was one of the petitioners for leave to begin a new plantation, now Danbury, Connecticut. He did not live, however, to take part in this. The early records give evidence that he was a frank, outspoken man. He married (second) ----------- Kiecham, possibly, Sarah, widow of Edward Ketcham, of Stratford, Connecticut. This is probably the wife who survived him. His only child, John, (of whom further), was by his first wife.

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(II) John, son of Henry Whitney, was probably born before 1649, and probably died at Norwalk, in 1720. He settled with his father at Norwalk, and followed his father's business, as miller and millwright. He married, March 17, 1674-5, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Smith; she was living as late as 1741. Children: 1. John, born March 12, 1676-7, died February 3, 1712-13, married, March 4, 1709-10, Elizabeth Finch. 2. Joseph, born March 1, 1678-9, died probably, in 1741, married, July 6, 1704, Hannah Hoyt. 3. Henry, born February 21, 1680-1, died April 26, 1728, married June 14, 161710, Elizabeth Olmstead. 4. Elizabeth, born about 1684, died March 17, 1763, married Joseph Keeler. 5. Richard, born April 18, 1687, married, April 7, 1709, Hannah Darling. 6. Samuel, born in 1688, died December 6, 1753, married, January 18, 1721-22, Anne Laboree. 7. Anne, born about 1691, died May 9, 1773, married, October 13, 1710, Matthew St. John. 8. Eleanor, born January 27, 1693-4, died January 25, 1777, married, June 13, 1717, Jonathan Fairchild. 9. Nathan, of whom further. 10. Sarah, died October 22, 1720, married June 13, 1717, Samuel Smith. 11. Josiah, married, October 30, 1729, Eunice Hanford.

(III) Nathan, son of John and Elizabeth (Smith) Whitney, was born at Norwalk. He settled at Ridgefield, Connecticut. There he took the freeman's oath, December 9, 1728, and there he and his wife were living in 1739. At some time later than this, it is possible that he removed to Yorktown, Westchester County, New York. He married, about 1715, Sarah ---------. Children: 1. Mary, born December 29, 1715, died about 1750, married Isaac Keeler. 2. Eliasaph, born February 3, 1716-7, died may 17, 1817, married, in May, 1744, Mary Bishop. 3. Eliakim, born November 13, 1718, died about 1812, married, may 10, 1744, Mary Beachgood. 4. Sarah, born October 25, 1720, married ----------. 5. Nathan, born October 13, 1722, died young. 6. Nathan, born June 11, 1724. 7. Seth, of whom further. 8. Josiah, born June 12, 1729. 9. Jeremiah, born September 128, 1731, died in 1810, married Eva Youngs. 10. Uriah, born November 12, 1737, died June 4 or 6, 1816, married (first) Sarah Platt; (second), in February, 1775, Martha Hart. 11. Ann, born August 31, 1739.

(IV) Seth, son of Nathan and Sarah Whitney, was born at Ridgefield, February 8, 1726, and died in 1807; his will was dated January 1, 1807, and proved May 13, 1807. He was living at Crompond, Yorktown, Westchester County, as early as December 23, 1758. At a later time he bought a fine farm and erected a good house in this neighborhood. Besides being a farmer, he was a tanner, currier, and shoemaker. During the Revolution his house was attacked by Tories; a second attack was led by the noted freebooter, Joseph Hueson, who was a scourge and terror to this neighborhood. Being warned by Whitney to keep out or be killed, Hueson persisted in attempting an entrance; Whitney stabbed him with an old bayonet; mounted on a stout staff. Hueson fell inside, and his comrade forced the door and carried him off. They also took Whitney into the yard and struck him over the head with a horse-pistol, leaving him for dead; he carried the mark through life. Hueson lived to ride only half a mile. Mr. Whitney married (first) Sarah Mow (or Moe), (second), march 21, 1787, Elizabeth Wright, (third) anna (Smith-Jump) Trowbridge, who was born May 10, 1730, and died June 29, 1819; she married (first) -----------Jump. (second) Captain Trowbridge, of Bedford, Westchester County, New York. Children, all by first wife: 1. Sarah, born April 3, 1750, died October 7, 1822, married, October 3, 1776, Joseph Fowler. 2. Mary, married, February 4, 1790, Samuel Beadle. 4. Ezra. 5. Abijah, died about 1803, married Melicent Hyatt. 6. Seth, born May 3, 1765, died May 20, 1835, married, November 17, 1792, Elizabeth Strang. 7. Amos, of whom further.

(V) Amos, son of Seth and Sarah (Mow) Whitney, was born at Yorktown, December 15, 1767, and died there, February 2, 1844. He was a farmer at Yorktown. His whole family were members of the Congregational Church. All are buried at Yorktown. He married, January 1, 1800, Rosetta, daughter of Rev. Amzi and Betsey Lewis, who was born at Waterbury, Connecticut, April 3, 1779, and died at Yorktown, September 3, 1868. She was a niece of Rev. Silas Constant's wife, and they married at his house. Children: 1. Lewis, born October 18, 1801, died October 24, 1834, married Eunice Archer. 2. Amy, born January 5, 1805, died

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October 9, 1849, married, in January, 1831, Uriah Helms, of New York City. Child: Rosetta. 3. Seth, born December 25, 1808, married Isabel Mallett, of Yorktown; he was a dealer in live stock. Children: 1. Minnie, and 2. Etta. 4. Silas Constant, of whom further. 5. David, born October 26, 1813, died September 22, 1845, married, November 11, 1841, Caroline Haight. 6. Sarah Jane, born December 24, 1819, married, December 22, 1841, William Edward Blakeney.

(VI) Silas Constant, son of Amos and Rosetta (Lewis) Whitney, was born in Yorktown, August 13, 1810, and died March 2, 1899. He was a farmer at Yorktown. He married (first) at Somers, Westchester County, October 12, 1836, Ann Eliza, daughter of Alexander Stewart and Phebe (Gregory) Haight, who was born in Somers, April 19, 1817, and died there, August 22, 1841; he married (second) at Yorktown, October 28, 1845, Sarah Matilda, daughter of Peter and Phebe (Ward) Ferris, who was born in New York City, April 15, 1825, and died at Yorktown, August 19, 1869; and he married (third) at Jefferson Valley, Yorktown, May 29, 1872, Mary Augusta, daughter of Stillman Howard and Mary Elizabeth (Smith) Boyd, who was born in Kent, Putnam County, New York, August 15, 1830, and died September 9, 1894. Children, two by first, three by second wife: 1. Caroline, born January 12, 1838, died the same day. 2. Ann Elizabeth, born January 12, 1838, married, November 17, 1858, Isaac Dean Gregory, of Lewisburg, Westchester County; he was a farmer; child; Silas Dean. 3. David Lewis, born November 11, 1846, died September 3, --------, married Mary Lyon, of Yorktown; no children. She married (second) George Sherwood, of Putnam Valley, Putnam County, New York. 4. Constant Ferris, of whom further. 5. Stewart Haight, born January 20, 1854, married Elizabeth Force, of Plainfield, New Jersey; they live in Plainfield, where he engaged in mercantile business. Children: Anna and Helen.

(VII) Constant Ferris, son of Silas constant and Sarah Matilda (Ferris) Whitney, was born in Yorktown, January 13, 1851. He graduated from Eastman's Commercial College, Poughkeepsie, in 1871, and has always been engaged in farming. He has been town clerk for three terms, and for ten years he was road commissioner. Mr. Whitney is a staunch Democrat. He married, at Katonah, Westchester County, May 8, 1873, Ann Eliza, daughter of Thomas Smith and Calista Bailey (Haight) Lyon, who was born at Bedford, Westchester County, January 23, 1850. Her grandfather, Walter S. Lyon, was a farmer of Bedford and a local preacher; he married Bessie Sanford, and has ten children: 1. Betsie. 2. Antoinette. 3. Mary W. 4. & 5. Louise and Louisa, twins. 6. Caroline E. 7. Walter. 8. Sarah. 9. Ahaz. 10. Thomas Smith. Of these, Thomas smith married Calista Bailey Haight, of Somerstown, and had three children: i. Louise, ii. Ann Eliza, wife of Constant Ferris Whitney, iii. Walter; all born at Bedford. Thomas smith Lyon was a farmer and merchant at Katonah. Of the other children of Walter S. Lyon, Betsie married John Beck of Ossining, and have five children; Mary, Julia, Ada, Bessie and Wilbur; Antoinette married Abram Stockholm, a furniture dealer in Poughkeepsie, and had three children: Uriah A., Nellie and Abram; Caroline E., married Silas W. Albertson, a Long Island farmer, who removed to Yorktown, and had four children: Ida, Carrie, Silas and Sarah; Sarah married Dr. Lemuel Wales, and had four children, born in widely distant places; Sarah , Walter, Lizzie and Frank. Children of constant Ferris and Ann Eliza (Lyon) Whitney: 1. Elberta M., born February 3, 1876, died August 20, 1887; Mary B., born February 14, 1890.

Volume 3

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Extracted by Frank McLean:

John Flint Whitney was born in MA and died in Ulster County, NY. He married 1831 to Sophia Bulkley who was the daughter of Joshua Bulkley of Colchester, CT. Among his children was Oliver Bulkley. Oliver Bulkley [Whitney] was born 19 Mar 1844 in Dana, MA and died 20 Aug 1904 in Marlboro, Ulster Cnty, NY. He married 28 Feb 1867 to Julia F. DuBois, daughter of Nathaniel H. DuBois & Julia Ferris who was born 22 May 1849. Children: 1. Nellis F. born 9 May 1868 and married 23 Jun 1888 James A. Young. She died 15 Dec 1889. Child: Julia Ruth born 28 Nov 1889 and married W. L. Wardell 29 Jul 1908. Children: 1. Laurence Y. born 18 Oct 1910 2. John died in infancy 2. William B. born 24 Sep 1871 and married 18 Nov 1892 Josephine English Children: 1. William R. born 25 Sep 1893 2. James F. born 25 Apr 1895 3. Marie E. born 10 Jan 1897 4. Allan J. born 1 Mar 1899 3. Grace born 13 Apr 1875 and married to Edwin Lockwood 16 Jul 1901. Child: Julia W. born 20 Jul 1906 4. Minnie born 21 Aug 1877 and married 2 Aug 1899 to Charles Lockwood Children: 1. Harold W. born 24 Apr 1900 2. Dorothy born 23 Jul 1901 3. J. Ralph born 6 Jan 1908 4. Grace E. born 17 Feb 1909 5. Nathaniel DuBois born 2 Jul 1880 and married 21 Sep 1904 to Cora Vredenburg Children: 1. Cora Virginia born 28 Oct 1907 2. John B. born 2 Feb 1909 3. Florence F. born 16 Mar 1912

[Note: This was John Flint7 WHITNEY (John Smith6, Thomas5, Thomas4, Eleazer3, Thomas2, John1), b. 12 May 1808, Dana, MA.]

Henry (1) John (was of full age 20 Jan 1665-66 ?) married 17 Mar 1674-75 to Elizabeth Smith (Daughter of Richard Smith). John died 1720. Children: 1. John 2. Joseph 3. Henry 4. Elizabeth 5. Richard 6. Samuel 7. Anne 8. Eleanor **9. Nathan 10. Sarah 11. Josiah Nathan born at Norfolk and married ca 1715 Sarah _____. Children: 1. Mary married her cousin, Isaac Keeler 2. Eliasaph married (1) Mary Bishop 3. Eliakim married (1) Mary Beachgood (2) Mary Choram 4. Sarah 5. Nathan died young 6. Nathan 7. Seth married (1) Elizabeth _____ (2) Anna Smith 8. Josiah **9. Jeremiah 10. Uriah married (1) Sarah Platt (2) Martha Platt 11. Ann Jeremiah born 18 Sep 1731 at Ridgefield, CT. Married (1) ? (2) Eva Youngs. He died 1810. Children by 1st wife: **1. Jeremiah 2. Josiah married Esther Weeks Children by 2nd wife: 3. James 4. Martha married John Van Ness 5. Elias married Judith Wood 6. Phebe married Silas Constant Jeremiah married (1) Sarah Lee (she died 25 Dec 1809) (2) Sarah Irene Stephens. Children by (1) wife: **1. Joseph Lee 2. Jeremiah married Susan Ressegule 3. Betsey born 1788 and married Stephen Jayne. 4. Sarah born 17 Apr 1790 married (1) William Newton (2) Bartholomew Tarney. Sarah died 4 Sep 1822 5. Margaret born 1794 married Seth Chase and went to Indiana. Joseph Lee born 15 Sep 1785 and died 17 Nov 1847. He married 23 Nov 1806 to Phebe Mead (daughter of Jacob Mead & Rachel Green). She died 12 Oct 1867 Children: 1. Drusilla born 5 May 1808 married Benjamin Runyan. 2. Jacob Lee born 25 Apr 1810 and died 17 Sep 1819 3. Silas Jeremiah born 12 Feb 1812 married 29 May 1837 Issabinda Bootes 4. Sarah Margaret born 18 May 1814 5. George Harmon born 11 Jan 1817 and died 15 Oct 1871. Married 7 Jan 1839 to Joana McLane who was born 6 Nov 1816. 6. Joseph Mead born 19 Sep 1819 and married 21 Jan 1844 Arabella Howe Warner who was born 7 Feb 1815 and died 26 Dec 1865. 7. Mary Van Pelt died at age 13 8. Almira Jane born 26 Aug 1825 married 15 Oct 1848 Lewis Asa Freeman born 22 Aug 1825. 9. Phebe Rachel born 12 Dec 1827 married 14 Feb 1852 Henry Le Dioyt **10. Benjamin Franklin 11. Issabinda Louise born 23 Jan 1834 & married 9 May 1854 to Andrew Martin Keller. Benjamin Franklin born 28 Apr 1830 and died 1906. He married 6 Jul 1854 to Lurinda Adeline Haggerty who was born 13 Jul 1834 (daughter of Reynolds Haggerty & Sarah Ann Perkins. Children: 1. William B. born 3 Sep 1857 married Lucinda Bowen. Child: Harry married Myrtle Stady 2. Charles Elbert born 23 Apr 1863 and died 18 May 1864 **3. Burt Allen 4. Annah Mary born 5 Sep 1875 married Albert G. Braun Children: 1. Clifford A. 2. Margaret 3. William Burt Allen born 14 Jun 1867 married 14 Jun 1892 Louise E. Frantz (daughter of Frederick Frantz & Kathryn Keller) Children of her parents: 1. Louis married Mae Allen Children: 1. Gertrude 2. Allan 3. Genevieve 2. William F. married Eva Sugden Child: Leland S. 3. Louise E. married Burt A. Whitney Child: Kathryn L. born 7 Jan 1907 4. Frederick W. married Mamie Snachell 5. ALbert E. married Harriet Stowell Children: 1. Carleton S. 2. Maxwell S. 3. Kathleen S. 6. Francis J. married Adele Mosher Child: Lillian A.


Copyright © 1999, 2006, 2009, Robert L. Ward, and the Whitney Research Group.