Archive:The Descendants of John Whitney, page 75

From WRG
Jump to navigationJump to search

Archives > Extracts > Archive:The Descendants of John Whitney > The Descendants of John Whitney, page 75

The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635, by Frederick Clifton Pierce (Chicago: 1895)

Transcribed by the Whitney Research Group, 1999.


Previous page Next page
WHITNEY GENEALOGY. 75

849. i. MARY, b. Dec. 22, 1751; m. Apr. 18, 1768 [NOTE], William WELLINGTON, b. July 18, 1746 [NOTE]; res. Lex. Ch.: William, b. Dec. 11, 1769; m. Avis FISKE; David, b. Nov. 1, 1771; m. Rebecca STEARNS; Abraham, b. Mar. 22, 1774; m. Elizabeth LAWRENCE; Polly, b. Apr. 16, 1776; m. Phinehas LAWRENCE; Isaac, b. Feb. 20, 1778; drowned Nov. 1798 [NOTE]; member senior class, Har. Coll.; Charles, b. Feb. 20, 1780; gr. Har. Coll. 1802; rev. Set Templeton [NOTE]; Alice, b. Oct. 31, 1781; m. James CLARKE [NOTE]; Betsey, b. Feb. 4, 1784; m. Capt. Isaac CHILD; Seth, b. Nov. 18, 1785; m. Louisa MILES and Mrs. Sabra STONE; Sybil, b. Sept 24, 1787; m. Irving PIERCE [NOTE]; Marshall, b. Sept 26, 1789; m. Elizabeth KIMBALL; Darius, b. Jan. 14, 1794; m. twice [NOTE]; Almira, b. Aug. 1, 1795; m. Francis BOWMAN; Isaac, b. Nov. 12, 1796 [NOTE]. 850. ii. DAVID, b. July 9, 1753; d. Mar. 1. 1776. 851. iii. SARAH, b. Feb. 8, 1756; m. Aug. 28, 1776 [NOTE], Bezaleel WRIGHT. 852. iv. RUTH, b. Jan. 2, 1760; m. Dec. 7, 1780, Roland BLACKMAN of Weston [NOTE]. 316. CAPT. NATHAN WHITNEY (David, Benjamin, John, John), b. Mar. 12, 1726; m. Sept 1752, Tabitha MERRIAM, b. May 10, 1733; d. Dec. 26, 1822. On the 26th of Dec., 1750 Nathan WHITNEY bought of Benjamin BROWN lot No. 90, in the south part of the township (Narragansetts No. 2, now Westminster, Mass), now represented by his gt-gr. sons, Edward and George C. WHITNEY, of Worcester, who occupy a portion of it, and the building thereon as a summer residence. Early in July following he was reported to the Gen. Ct. as "a good man, at work on the spot." Not finding, however, a satisfactory site on the premises for a permanent dwelling ho., he purchased of his prospective f.-in-law, Thomas MERRIAM, of Lex., the S.E. end of the adjoining lots, Nos. 83 and 84, and erected a temporary place of abode, near where his gd. s., Calvin, now lives. This, a few years later, was super- seded by a more substantial structure, the oldest part of the habitation herein represented. In 1752 or 1753 he brought to his new home his yg. bride, Tabitha MERRIAM, whom he m. in Sept. of the former year. It is stated that after Mr. W. had bought his lot and expended some labor upon it he became much discouraged and resolved to abandon the undertaking. But his intended f.-in-law, who had con- siderable landed interests in the vicinity, dissuaded him from his purpose. More- over, the coming hither of his w. at an early day helped to make him contented, though loneliness on her part and fear of Indians caused her for a time much unhap- piness. As time went on, however, outward trials diminished, but sad domestic experiences arose. Twice were these new-comers wholly bereaved of their children. By the fearful epidemic of 1756, the first two d. before the third saw the light, while a similar visitation in 1764 took from them the four that in the intervening period had been born to them. Three only of the nine they had in all, b. at a later date, were spared to mature years. He was a weaver by trade and established a loom in his colonial home. Nathan WHITNEY was an enterprising, prosperous citizen, patriotic and public- spirited, and interested in military affairs. As corporal in the Co. of which Daniel HOAR was Capt. in 1759, he was ordered in the name of his majesty, George II., to impress for service in the Canada Expedition one Edward JOYNER, a resident of the township. In 1771 he had risen to the dignity of captain, receiving his commission from the royal governor at that date, Thomas HUTCHINSON. Mr. WHITNEY departed this life Aug. 10, 1803, at the age of 76. His wid., Tabitha, survived him nearly 20 years, passing on Dec. 26, 1822, ae. 90. That he was an eminently successful farmer, and one of the largest property holders of his day is shown by the U.S. valuation and tax-list made out in 1798, and also by the inventory of his estate filed at the Prob.Ct., Oct. 1, 1803. It may be questioned whether another resident of the town was so favorably conditioned in this respect as was he at that early date. Interest- ing features of his will are that his s. David, to whom he bequeathed his home farm, shall furnish his wid., Tabitha, besides certain specified household privileges and conveniences, "2 cows, a horse to ride with when she wants it," and also each year "4 bush. rye meal, 6 bush. Indian, 2 bush. wheat made into flour, 100 lbs. pork, 100 beef, 3 barrels cyder, and 10 cords wood." He d. Aug. 10, 1803; res. Waltham and Westminster, Mass. 853. i. TABITHA, b. June 29, 1753; d. Oct. 14, 1756. 854. ii. NATHAN, b. May 16, 1755; d. Aug. 28, 1756. 855. iii. TABITHA, b. July 6, 1757; d. June 27, 1764.

Previous page Next page

Copyright © 1999, 2006 The Whitney Research Group