Family:Whitney, William Henry (1779-1849)

William Henry⁷ Whitney (Aaron⁶, Aaron⁵, Moses⁴, Moses³, Richard², John¹), son of Aaron⁶ and Hannah (Stearns) Whitney, was born 22 Jan 1779, Northfield, MA, and died 9 Mar 1849, Champion, NY.

He married, 30 May 1802, Wethersfield, CT, also Walpole, NH, Clarissa Wolcott,^[1] daughter of Nathaniel and Dorothy (Evans) Wolcott, born 18 Mar 1783, died 2 Mar 1849.

William Henry Whitney was born 22 Jan 1779, and died March 9, 1849. His parents were Aaron Whitney (born 5 Sep 1746), and Hannah Stearns. He married Clarissa Wolcott, a daughter of Nathaniel Wolcott (born 9 Jul 1748, died July 27, 1810), and Dolly Evans, whose home was in Wethersfield, a short distance from Hartford, CT. He was a man of muscular frame, about 5 feet 10 inches in height, of massive, square, regular features, with a high forehead, and had large, grey eyes, and very dark brown hair. His skin was light. Upon the occasion of his mother's death, when he was in his teens, he left his father's house and shifted for himself thereafter. He worked in an uncle's store at first, and later became a partner of Si Bellows, a son of old Gen. Bellows, at Bellows Falls, VT, in a general merchandise business. Not far from 1810 he made his way by wagon to the vicinity of Champion, Jefferson County, NY, where he spent the remainder of his life, and now lies buried with his wife in the village cemetery. He was a man of a good mind, a great reader, and conversed freely and well on most topics. His language was well chosen and fluent. When in the mood he detailed anecdotes, and was given to fun. In his family he was very kind, and was especially thoughtful of his wife. Upon her death March 2, 1849, he was overcome with grief, took to his bed immeddiately, and died one week later. While personally not being religious, he desired his family to freely follow their inclinations in church matters. However, his children mostly were non-church-going people. They were all intelligent, good looking, temperate, and industrious, and of muscular type. He resided Champion, NY.

Children of William Henry⁷ and Clarissa (Wolcott) Whitney:

i.	Aaron Stearns8 Whitney, b. 29 Jul 1803; m. Hannah Bradish.
ii.	William Henry Whitney, b. 4 Jul 1805; d. 16 Oct 1820.
iii.	Marietta Maria Whitney, b. 4 Nov 1809; d. 1884; m. Edward Hubbard; only one child, Mrs. Chester Colburn, who had 2 ch., Jay and Eddie; resided Champion, NY.
iv.	George Sparrack Whitney, b. 28 Feb 1809; m. Emaline (Wright)(Wright) Whitney.
v.	Nathaniel W. Whitney, b. 22 Feb 1811; d. 18 Mar 1828; m. Emaline (Wright) Wright; s. p.
vi.	David Josiah Whitney, b. 22 Jan 1814; m. ------ Smith.
vii.	Elizabeth Whitney, b. 26 Jun 1816; d. unmarried
viii.	Erastus Hubbard Whitney, born 16 Nov 1818; married Lucy Cordelia Pierce.
ix.	(child) Whitney, b. 1823; d. in infancy.
x.	(child) Whitney, b. 1823; d. 16 Oct 1824.
xi.	William Henry Whitney, b. 16 Jun 1821; m. Patience R. Johnson.

Census

• 1810, Chelsea, Orange Co., VT: W^m H. Whitney, 2 males 26-44, 2 males 0-9, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 0-9.
• 1820, Champion, Jefferson Co., NY: William H. Whitney, 1 male 26-44, 1 male 16-17, 2 males 10-15, 3 males 0-9, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 16-25, 1 female 10-15, and 1 female 0-9; 3 engaged in agriculture.
• 1830, Champion, Jefferson Co., NY: Wm. H. Whitney, 2 males 20-29, 1 male 15-19, 1 male 10-14, 1 male 5-9, 1 female 30-39, and 1 female 0-4. The above William H. Whitney would have been 51, but there is no male of that age listed. Nevertheless, I believe that this is the right family.
• 1840, Champion, Jefferson Co., NY: William H. Whitney, 1 male 60-69, 1 female 50-59, and 1 female 20-29; 1 engaged in agriculture.

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. 301.

1.^  "William Henry Whitney & Clarissa Wolcott, m. 30 May 1802, Walpole, Cheshire Co., NH," according to New Hampshire, Vital Records, Marriage Index.

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