Family:Whitney, Abel (1756-1807)

Major Abel⁶ Whitney (Aaron⁵, Moses⁴, Moses³, Richard², John¹), son of Aaron⁵ and Alice (Baker) Whitney, was born 15 Mar 1756, Petersham, MA, and died 2 Mar 1807, Westfield, MA.

He married, 23 Dec 1783, Clarissa Dwight, daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Buckminster) Dwight. She was born 4 Jul 1762, and died 22 Aug 1820, Northampton, MA. She married secondly, 1809, Calvin Waldo, Esq., of Dalton, MA.

Mrs. Whitney was an intelligent and lovely woman, faithful to her household, and a patient, gentle, and earnest and careful mother and wife. After the death of her second husband she resided with her son, Josiah, at whose house, in Northampton, she died.

From the Dwight Book: "Major Abel Whitney, a merchant of Westfield, Massachusetts, born Petersham, MA, 15 Mar 1756 (son of Rev. Aaron Whitney, of Littleton, MA, and Alice Baker, of Phillipston, MA), graduated at Harvard 1773, and studied law with the troublous times of the Revolution, and entered into mercantile life. He was a man of more than ordinary talents, and held several government offices, as commissioner of taxes, postmaster, etc. He was also a Major of militia and aide to General Shepard, who was the commanding officer in Springfield in the battle had there in the Shay's rebellion. He was a decidedly religious man. He married 21 Dec 1783, Clarissa Dwight, of Springfield, born 4 Jul 1762, dau. of Josiah Dwight and Elizabeth Buckminister." He resided Westfield, MA.

Children of Abel⁶ and Clarissa (Dwight) Whitney:

i.	Elizabeth Buckminster7 Whitney, b. 4 Jan 1785; d. 31 Jan 1860, Northampton, MA; unmarried.
ii.	Josiah Dwight Whitney, b. 9 Jul 1786; m.(1) Sarah Williston; m.(2) Clarissa James.
iii.	Clarissa Whitney, b. 22 Mar 1788; d. 24 Jan 1871, Northampton, MA; unmarried.
iv.	Frances Whitney, b. 5 Dec 1789; d. 26 Dec 1871; m. 8 Oct 1810, Rev. Horatio Waldo, b. 5 Mar 1778; d. 3 May 1846. He was a son of Dr. John Waldo and graduated at Williams College in 1804, was a tutor there 1806-7. Settled in Griswold, CT, 1810-30, but on account of poor health resigned and removed to Portage, NY, where he preached occasionally. Ch.: John, b. 10 Aug 1811; m. Eunice Flint; he d. 1 Dec 1868; Dwight, b. 26 Nov 1814; m.(1) Julia Ball; m.(2) Juliette Hitchcock; Sarah, b. 7 Jun 1818; m. Elmon D. Smith; Frances, b. 24 Jun 1820; m. Dr. James S. Cowdrey; resided Lafayette, IN; Harriett, b. 11 May 1822; m. William S. Mcnair; Margaret, b. 28 Oct 1824; m. Dr. Lorin J. Ames; resided Mount Morris, NY.
v.	son Whitney, b. 3 Aug 1791; d. same day.
vi.	Francis Whitney, b. 10 Oct 1792; d. 30 Dec 1863, Northampton; unmarried.
vii.	Robert Whitney, b. 18 Aug 1794; m. Margaret Dwight.
viii.	Sarah Whitney, b. 8 Jul 1796; d. 11 Mar 1883, Racine, WI; m. 5 Sep 1821, Northampton, MA, Henry Walsh, b. 9 Feb 1797; d. 4 Jun 1852. The grandson of Dr. Perez, graduated at Harvard College, 1748. He graduated at Williams College, 1815; resided at Dalton and Pittsfield, MA, Racine, WI, Sandusky, OH, and St. Louis. Was a lawyer, merchant and manufacturer. Ch.: Henry Lawrence, b. 9 Jul 1822; Rev. Dwight Whitney, b. 5 Nov 1823; Col. Calvin Waldo, b. 8 Apr 1825; Robert, b. 25 Apr 1828; d. 18 Dec 1828; Elizabeth Willard, b. 28 Nov 1829; d. 24 Apr 1882; Clarissa Dwight, b. 4 Feb 1834; Sarah Williams, b. 24 May 1836; d. 14 May 1841; Charles Francis, b. 11 Oct 1842; all b. Dalton except C. F., b. Pittsfield.
ix.	Caroline Whitney, b. 10 May 1798; d. 21 Aug 1804.
x.	Abel Whitney, b. 15 Mar 1800; m.(1) Pamelia Babcock; m.(2) Belinda Baxter Bliss.
xi.	Hannah Buckminster Whitney, b. 28 Dec 1802; d. 12 Aug 1804.

Census

• 1790, Westfield, Hampshire Co., MA: Maj^r Abel Whitney Whitney, 1 males over 16, 2 males 0-15, and 5 females.
• 1800, Westfield, Hampshire Co., MA: Abel Whitney, 2 males 26-44, 3 males 16-25, 3 males 0-9, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 16-25, 2 females 10-15, and 2 females 0-9.

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), pp. 163-164.

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Copyright © 2006, 2007, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group