Family:Whitney, Harrison Gray (1812-1890)

Harrison Gray⁷ Whitney (Jonas⁶, Jonas⁵, David⁴, Benjamin³, John², John¹), son of Jonas⁶ and Elizabeth (Raymond) Whitney, was born 2 Jan 1812, Westminster, MA,^[1] and died 17 Jan 1890, Westminster, MA.

He married firstly, 18 May 1837, Westminster, MA, Laura Louisa Carpenter,^[2] daughter of Alanson and Avis (-----) Carpenter. She was born 1816, and died 12 Nov 1854.

He married secondly, 25 Dec 1855, Brimfield, MA, Eliza Ann Solander, daughter of Cheney and Mary Solander. She was born 1820, and died 25 Jun 1889.

Harrison G. Whitney, youngest son of Jonas and Betsey, married 1st Laura L. Carpenter, daughter of Alanson and Avis, of Keene, New Hampshire. He married 2d Eliza Ann, daughter of Cheney and Mary Solander of Brimfield, Massachusetts. For many years Mr. Whitney, was a merchant in the Central village, but later in life he purchased the bakery and carried on a while the manufacture of the celebrated "Westminster Bread." Was also engaged somewhat at last in probate and insurance business. Possessing many of the qualities which distinguished his father, he also shared to a large degree the regard and confidence of the public. He held all the important offices in the gift of his fellow-citizens, including that of representative to the general court for two successive terms. He was a public-spirited citizen, lending his sympathy and co-operation to whatever was deemed by him conducive to the general welfare. A thorough-going temperance man, his influence was on the right side of that beneficent reform. Hostile to the system of American slavery, he joined the so-called Free Soil party of 1848, and its lineal successor, the Republican party of 1850, remaining its devoted adherent to the last. Having considerable natural musical ability, improved by training and practice, he was for many years the efficient leader of the Congregational church choir. His useful and honorable life came to its close at the ripe age of 78. His second wife, an estimable woman, passed away a few months before. He died 17 Jan 1890; resided Westminster, MA.

Heywood says the following:^[3]

"Whitney, Harrison G.⁷, youngest s. of Jonas⁶ and Betsey, m. (1) May 18, 1837, Laura L. Carpenter, dau. of Alanson and Avis of Keene, N. H. She d. Nov. 12, 1854, a. 39, and he m. (2) Eliza Ann, dau. of Cheney and Mary Solander of Brimfield, Dec. 25, 1855. For many years Mr. Whitney was a merchant in the Central village, but later in life he purchased the bakery and carried on awhile the manufacture of the celebrated "Westminster Bread." Was also engaged somewhat at last in probate and insurance business.

"Possessing many of the qualities which distinguished his f., he also shared to a large degree the regard and confidence of the public. He held all the important offices in the gift of his fellow-citizens, including that of Rep. to the Gen. Ct. for two successive terms. He was a public spirited citizen, lending his sympathy and co-operation to whatever was deemed by him conducive to the general welfare. A thorough-going temperance man, his influence was on the right side of that beneficent reform. Hostile to the system of Am. Slavery, he joined the so-called Free Soil party of 1848, and its lineal successor, the Republican party of 1856, remaining its devoted adherent to the last. Having considerable natural musical ability, improved by training and practice, he was for many years the efficient leader of the Congregational Chh. choir. His useful and honorable life came to its close Jan. 19, 1890, at the ripe age of 78. His second w., an estimable woman, passed away a few months before, June 25, 1889, a. 69."

Children of Harrison G.⁷ and Laura Louisa (Carpenter) Whitney:

i.	Harrison Bigelow8 Whitney, b. 24 Feb 1841, Westminster, MA;[4] m. Francilla Spaulding.
ii.	Ellen L. Whitney, b. 30 May 1844, Westminster, MA;[5] m. 9 Aug 1864, John B. Day; res 54 Appleton St., Boston, MA. He d. Jan 1890. Ch.: Hattie, b. 7 May 1867; address, Leominster, MA; Jennie, b. -----; address, 54 Appleton St. Boston; Avis, b. 1873; address, 54 Appleton St., Boston, MA; Ellen b. Apr 1875; address 54 Appleton St. Boston, MA.
iii.	Jane Adelia Whitney, b. 15 Oct 1847, Westminster, MA;[6] m.(1) Jun 1867, Loring Burgess; divorced; m.(2) Oct 1887, Hon. John H. Lockey. He d. 1890. Ch.: Mary E., b. 1881, Smith college, Northampton, MA. She d. 23 Jul 1889.

Children of Harrison G.⁷ and Eliza Ann (Solander) Whitney:

iv.	Charles S. Whitney, b. 25 Jul 1861; m. 20 Jun 1883, Fitchburg, MA, Flora A. Davis, b. 6 Jan 1858. He resided s.p. Westminster, MA.

Census

• 1840: not found.
• 1850, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA:

132 161 Harrison G. Whitney 36 M - Trader $1500 [Massachusetts] Louisa " 35 F - New Hampshire Harrison B. " 9 M - Massachusetts Attended school Ellen L. " 6 F - [Massachusetts] Attended school Jane A. " 3 F - [Massachusetts] 162 Asaph Wood 65 M - Chairmaker [Massachusetts] Sukey " 64 F - [Massachusetts] 163 Thomas Eaton 26 M - Turner $200 [Massachusetts] Lydia " 27 F - [Massachusetts] Emerett L. " 2 F - [Massachusetts]

• 1860, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA:

317 341 Harrison G. Whitney 48 M - Baker $1200 $4000 Massachusetts Eliza Whitny 40 F - " Harrison B. " 19 M - Baker " Ellen L. " 16 F - " Attended school Jane A. " 13 F - " Attended school Merick Puffer 24 M - Brad Puller "

• 1870, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA:

90 110 Whitney, Harrison G. 58 M W Retired Manufacturer Mass. Male citizen over 21 " Eliza A. 50 F W Keeping house " " Charles S. 8 M W Attends School " Attended school

• 1880, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA:

Harrison G. WHITNEY 68 Self M M W MA Conveyancer MA MA Eliza A. WHITNEY 60 Wife F M W MA Keeping House MA MA Mary E. BURGESS 9 GDau F S W MA MA MA

References

• All data imported from Frederick Clifton Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635, (Chicago: 1895), p. 290.

1.^  "Harrison Gray [Whitney], s. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] Jan. 2, 1812," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1915).

2.^  "Harrison G. [Whitney] and Louisa L. Carpenter, [married] May 17, 1837," according to Westminster Vital Records.

3.^  William Sweetzer Heywood, History of Westminster, Massashusetts (First named Narragansett No. 2), From the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a Biographic-Genealogical Register of its Principal Families, (Vox Populi Press: S.W. Huse & Co., Lowell, Mass.: 1893), p. 929.

4.^  "Harrison Bigelow [Whitney], s. Harrison G. and Louisa L., [born] Feb. 24, 1841," according to Westminster Vital Records.

5.^  "Ellen L. [Whitney], d. Harrison G. and Louisa L., [born] May 3, 1844," according to Westminster Vital Records.

6.^  "Jane Adelia [Whitney], d. Harrison G. and Louisa, [born] Oct. 15, 1846," according to Westminster Vital Records.

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