Family:Whitney, David (1767-1867)

Dea. David⁶ Whitney (Nathan⁵, David⁴, Benjamin³, John², John¹), son of [[Capt. Nathan⁵ and Tabitha (Merriam) Whitney]],^[1] was born 16 Aug 1767, Westminster, MA,^[2] and died 24 Mar 1867, Westminster, MA.^[3]

He married, 25 Nov 1791, Westminster, MA, Elizabeth Barron/Barnes/Barns,^[4] daughter of Oliver and Mary (Williams) Barron.^[5] She was born 3 Jul 1768, Concord, MA,^[6] and died 28 Apr 1853, Westminster, MA.^[7]

Deacon David Whitney was born in Westminster, where he always resided. He was foremost in all movements for the welfare of the people. He resided on the old homestead settled by his father, Capt. Nathan, in 1752. When ten years of age he was very sick, and it is said his life was saved by the skill of a Hessian (British) soldier, who was a prisoner of war at Rutland. The physician was recommended by another prisoner who was boarding at his father's.

He inherited his father's habits of industry, economy, and thrift. He was a deeply religious man, earnestly devoted to the interests of the First church of the town, whose fortunes he shared and served as Dea. for more than 60 years. He also partook of the military spirit, which manifested itself, at an early age, by his enlistment in the service of the state for the suppression of Shays' rebellion. Later in life, 12 Jul 1811, he was commissioned Captain of the South Company in Westminster by Gov. Elbridge Gerry. He was two years a member of the board of selectmen. He lived to be almost a centenarian. He made his will 2 Aug 1853. It was offered for probate 22 May 1867. His son Aaron was executor.

Children of David⁶ and Elizabeth (Barron/Barnes/Barns) Whitney:

i.	Tabitha7 Whitney, b. 9 Mar 1793; d. 11 Apr 1888; m. 10 Jul 1823, Capt. John C. Miller. He was b. 3 Jun 1785; d. 2 Oct 1864. Ch.: John Flavel, b. 5 May 1824; d. 17 Aug 1846; Elizabeth, d. in infancy; George, b. Jun 1827; d. 18 Feb 1867; m. C. E. Gill; ch., Frank, b. 1856, m. Miss Marsh; infant daughter; Flora Ella, b. -----; d. 23 Nov 1887, m. E. Boyn; Nina Belle, b. 6 Mar 1864, d. 1866; Nathan Brick, b. 6 Mar 1864; d. 27 Sep 1888; Ada C., b. 1866, m. J. Grill Lamb; David, b. 7 May 1829, m. Laura Davis; ch., son d. in infancy; Charles O., b. 9 Mar 1861, m. Mary Dargee; George, b. Nov 1867, m. ----- Smith; resided Gardner; Sarah E., b. 25 Dec 1830, m. Thomas Marshall; ch., Clara Louise, b. 30 Dec 1872; resided Leominster; Joseph, b. 14 Oct 1832, m. Emily Follett; ch., Kate F., b. 17 Feb 1871; Abbie, b. June, 1875; Josephine, b. Aug 1879; resided Westminster; Isaac B., b. 22 Nov 1834, m. Jennie E. Potter, ch., dau. d.in infancy; Alene S., b. Jun 1862; d. 30 May 1881; m. W. O. Sawin; John Calvin, b. Jun 1864, m. K. S. McClure; resided Gardner; Calvin, b. 18 Mar 1837, m. Amelia V. Alger, descendant of Thomas Alger, who came from England in 1634, and settled in Plymouth colony; ch., Morton Melvin, b. 10 Feb 1873; Allan Balcom, b. 28 Jan 1883; resided Athol.
ii.	Betsey Whitney, b. 18 Jan 1795; d. 4 May 1796.
iii.	David Whitney, b. 24 Oct 1796; d. 8 Mar 1875, unmarried.
iv.	Reuben Whitney, b. 8 May 1798; d. 27 Jul 1800.
v.	Aaron Whitney, b. 1 May 1800; m. Martha Raymond.
vi.	Betsey Whitney, b. 5 Feb 1802; m. 16 Jan 1823, Nathan Howard. He was b. 2 Jun 1795; d. 18 Jul 1879; resided Westminster, MA. Ch.: Maria, b. 16 May 1824; Elizabeth W., b. 24 Jul 1827; Mary, b. 15 Feb 1830; Nathan P., b. 17 Oct 1832; Calvin, b. 10 Apr 1835; d. 14 May 1865; Joseph, b. 6 May 1837; Albert, b. 23 May 1845.
vii.	Reuben P. Whitney, b. 24 Jul 1804; m.(1) Clarissa C. Woodward; m.(2) Mrs. Fidelia B. Pierce; m.(3) Mrs. Nancy R. Thomas.
vii.	Isaac Whitney, b. 4 Mar 1806; m.(1) Susan Barrett; m.(2) Eliza Perkins.
ix.	Mary Whitney, b. 19 Aug 1808; m. 15 Feb 1826, William S. Everett, b. 13 Oct 1805; d. 19 Feb 1885; farmer, resided Westminster. Ch.: Mary Whitney, b. 16 May 1828; m. 1 Jan 1847, Joseph Brown, Princeton, MA; present address, Davis ave., Brookline, MA; have one son, Joseph Everett Brown, b. Westminster, MA; 21 May 1867; present address, Brookline, MA; m. 21 May 1891, Kate Yeaton Mix.
x.	Sally Whitney, b. 17 Jun 1810; m. 16 Jun 1842, Moses Booth; resided 4315 Champlain ave., Chicago, IL. He was b. 13 Sep 1801; d. 9 Sep 1855. Ch.: Sarah Judson, b. 27 Aug 1842; m. 4 Dec 1868, Samuel D. Hannan, who d. 9 May 1889.
xi.	Calvin Whitney, b. 1 Dec 1813; m. Hildah Brown.

Census

• 1800, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA: David Whitney, 1 male 26-44, 1 male 10-15, 2 males 0-9, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 16-25, 1 female 10-15, and 1 female 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. 152-153.

1.^  His parentage is proven by his birth record.

2.^  "David, s. Nathan and Tabitha, Aug. 16, 1767," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Massachusetts: The Systematic History Fund, 1915), pp. 97-101.

3.^  "He l. to be almost a centennarian, dying March 25, 1867, a. 99 yrs., 7 mos., 9 days," according to 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 (Lowell, Mass.: Vox Populi Press; S.W. Huse & Co., 1893), p. 923.

4.^  "David [Whitney] of Westminster and Elizabeth Barns, int. Sept. 30, 1791," according to Princeton VRs; "David [Whitney] and Elizabeth Barnes [of Princeton], [married] Nov. 25, 1791," according to Westminster VRs. Heywood, loc. dit. gives the date 24 Nov 1791, also given by Pierce, loc. cit..

5.^  "His w., Elizabeth, dau. of Oliver and Mary Barron, who he m. Nov. 24, 1791, d. April 28, 1853, at the age of 84," according to Heywood, loc. dit.. See also her death record, note 7 below.

6.^  Her birth date is calculated from her age at death.

7.^  Her death record calls her Elisabeth Whitney, widow [sic]; died 28 Apr 1853, Westminster, aged 84 years 9 months 25 days, of old age; born in Concord, daughter of Oliver and Mary Baron. See "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910." From original records held by the Massachusetts Archives, volume 77, page 185. Online database: [NewEnglandAncestors.org NewEnglandAncestors.org], New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004.

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