Family:Whitney, Palmer (1778-1854)

Palmer⁶ Whitney (Joseph⁵, Timothy⁴, John³, John², John¹), son of Joseph⁵ and Anna (-----) Whitney, was born 12 Jul 1779, Warwick, MA,^[1] and died 26 Jun 1854, Riley, IL.^[2]

Marriage intentions were published 14 Apr 1798, Warwick, MA, for him and Judath Barber.^[3] He married, 10 May 1798, Warwick, MA, Judath Barber,^[4] daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Miller) Barber^[5]. She was born 10 Sep 1777, and died 2 Nov 1852, Riley Township, Illinois.^[6]

Palmer Whitney was born in Warwick, MA. He is listed in the 1800 and 1810 U.S. Census records as a resident of Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. In 1800, he shared his residence with a male and a female over 45 years of age, two females between the ages of 16 and 26, and one male under the age of 10 years. In 1810, he shared his residence with one female aged 26-46, one male 10-16, four females 0-10, and one male 0-10; Palmer was incorrectly listed as being in the 26-45 age group.

The Palmer whitney family moved from Warwick, Massachusetts, to China Twp. (now Java) in Genesee (now Wyoming) County, western New York ca. 1817.^[7] Palmer settled on Lot 22 within Java Village, 17 Oct 1817.^[8] The Palmer Whitney family is listed in the 1820 and 1830 U.S. Census records as residents of China Township, Genesee Co., New York. In 1820 there were, in addition to Palmer, one female 26-46, one female 16-26, two females 10-16, one male 10-16, 1 female 0-10, and three males 0-10. In 1830, Palmer resided with one female 50-60, one female 20-30, one female 15-20, one male 15-20, one male 10-15, and one male 5-10.

The first mill for the grinding of grain in the town of Java was built in 1816 at Java Village by Daniel H. Wooster; it was not far from the east bank of Buffalo Creek from thich the water was conveyed through pump logs to the overshot water wheel. … It was soon replaced by a second structure of logs, which in turn was sold by Deacon Wooster to Gurney and [Palmer] Whitney in 1822.^[9] The first hotel in town was ... started by Palmer Whitney "soon after" 1823.^[10] The local cemetery was laid out in 1824 on 0.61 acres of land given by Palmer Whitney and Judah's nephew, Amory Barber.^[11]

By 1840, Java Township had been fromed from China Township. Palmer resided there with one female 60-70, one female 30-40, two females 20-30, one male 20-30, and one male 15-20; Palmer was incorrectly listed in the 50-60 age group.

By 1850, Wyoming Co., New York had been created from Genesee Co., and Palmer’s family is listed among the residents of the new county. At that time, Palmer, aged 73, resided with his wife Judah, aged 74, and his daughter Mary, aged 41.

In about 1851, Palmer and Judah Whitney moved from Java Townshop to Riley Twp., McHenry Co., McHenry Co., Illinois. They were likely influence to move there by Judah's nephew, Humphrey Barber, who moved there with his family at about the same time.Judah's nephew, Humphrey Barber, had travelled to Riley Township in 1850, and returned there with his family in 1851. In addition, at least three of their sons and their families resided in the vicinity of Riley Township, Illinois at the time.^[12]

After his father's death on 26 Jun 1854, son Lemuel Palmer Whitney administered his father’s estate in McHenry Co., Illinois. Palmer and Judah are both buried in the Old Barber Cemetery in Riley Township, on land once owned by nephew Humphrey Barber.^[13]

Palmer res. Orange, MA, Java, NY, and Riley, IL.

Children of Palmer⁶ and Judath (Barber) Whitney:

i.	Joseph7 Whitney, b. 8 Aug 1798; m. Sophronia Taylor.
ii.	Anna Whitney, b. 1800, d. 1854;[14]; m. Mar 1820, Genesee Co., NY, Harry Eddy,[15] son of Asahel and Sally (Spaulding) Eddy, b. 10 Oct 1799, Richfield, NY,[16] d. 1883, St. Charles, IL.[17] In 1820, Harry Eddy owned the sawmill in Java, Genesee (now Wyoming) Co., New York. In 1937, Harry and Anna and five children accompanied the family of Anna's brother, Joseph Whitney, from Java Village, NY to Kane Co., IL.[18] They arrived in Kane Co., IL "in Oct 1837, having purchased a claim the previous sprint when on a visit to [Illinois]. He resided a number of years in the town, and was a prominent and influential citizen. He removed to St. Charles in 1879, where he died … aged 83 years.”[19] Resided Richfield, NY, Java, NY, Kane Co., IL, Campton, IL, Wasco, IL, St. Charles, IL. Ch.:[20] Henry, b. 1821, NY, d. 1826, NY; Maria, b. 1824, NY, m. 1 Aug 1839, Kane Co., IL, Robert Corran;[21] Hiram, b. 1825, NY, d. 1910, m. 9 Mar 1852, Kane Co., IL, Mary H. Lindsay;[22] Asenath, b. 1827, NY, m. 10 Jan 1850, Kane Co., IL, Asel D. Elliott;[23] Phoebe, b. 1829, NY, m. 26 Jan 1854, Kane Co., IL, Ethan S. Cowles, Jr.;[24] Edmund P., b. 1835, NY, m. 25 Nov 1856, Kane Co., IL, Sabrina Lindsay;[25] Asahel, b. 1838, IL; Harry, Jr., b. 1841, IL, d. 1844.
iii.	Arseneth Whitney, b. 29 Oct 1802; m. 27 Feb 1823, Samuel Woodworth, b. 27 May 1800, d. 4 Feb 1869. He was a farmer and general speculator, resided Yorkshire, NY. Ch.: Minerva, b. 1 Jul 1824; d. 7 May 1892; m. Aug 1842, David C. Woolley; Celia, b. 20 Nov 1826; d. 18 Jan 1827; Harry E., b. 4 Feb 1828; m. Elvira Blood, 12 Sep 1850; resided Delevan, Cattaraugus County, NY; Charles, b. 27 Aug 1831, d. 29 Jan 1843; Anna Marier, b. 15 Oct 1836; m 22 Jan 1857., Brayton B. Lincoln; resided Richmondville, Sanilac County, MI; Nancy Arseneth, b. 12 Nov 1839; m. 21 Feb 1861, Gordon Parker; resided Wales, Erie County, NY; Samuel Parker, b. 5 Sep 1842, d. 11 Oct 1865.
iv.	John Whitney, b. 18 Aug 1804; m.(1) Rachel Ward; m.(2) Mariah Blood.
v.	Nancy Whitney, b. 6 Sep 1806, d. 26 Feb 1878;[26] m. Charles Woodworth, b. abt 1804, d. 19 Oct 1861.[27] Ch.: Emily, m. ---- Twiss, resided Aurora, NY; Nelson, b. abt Dec 1844, d. 20 Jun 1845.[28]
vi.	Mary Whitney, b. abt 1809, MA, d. 20 Nov 1885, unmarried.[29]
vii.	Jarvis Whitney, b. 25 Mar 1811; m.(1) Nancy Potter; m.(2) Mary C. Rimmer.
viii.	Mark Whitney, b. 5 Oct 1815; m. Caroline Ward
ix.	Benjamin Franklin Whitney, b. 19 Oct 1818; m. Lucinda Potter.
x.	Lemuel Palmer Whitney, b. 22 Oct 1821; m. Lydia M. Van Slyke.
xi.	Angeline Whitney, b. -----; m. Harket Fancher, b. abt 1811, d. 19 May 1882.[30] Ch.: Nancy; m. ---- Fuller.

Census

• 1800, Warwick, Hampshire Co., MA: Palmer Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 0-9, 1 female over 45, and 2 females 16-25.
• 1810, Warwick, Hampshire Co., MA: Palmer Whitney, 1 male 26-45, 1 male 10-16, 1 male under 10, 1 female 26-45, 4 females under 10.
• 1820, China, Genesee Co., NY: Palmer Whitney, 1 male 26-45, 1 male 10-16, 3 males under 10, 1 female 26-45, 1 female 16-26, 2 females 10-16, 1 female under 10, 2 persons engaged in agriculture.
• 1830, China, Genesee Co., NY: Palmer Whitney, 1 male 50-59, 1 male 15-19, 1 male 10-14, 1 male 5-9, 1 female 50-59, 1 female 20-29, 1 female 15-19.
• 1840, Java, Genesee Co., NY: Palmer Whitney, 1 male 50-59, 1 male 20-29, 1 male 15-19, 1 fmeale 60-69, 1 female 30-39, and 2 females 20-29; 2 engaged in agriculture.
• 1850, Java, Wyoming Co., NY:

996 996 Palmer Whitney 73 M - $800 Mass. Judah " 74 F - " Mary " 41 F - "

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. 132-133.

1.^  "Palmer [WHitney], s. Joseph and Anna, [born] 12 Jul 1779," according to Jay Mack Holbrook, "Massachusetts vital records", Warwick (Oxford, Massachusetts: Holbrook Research Institute, 1982-present).

2.^  Raymond G. Barber, History of the Barbers of Java, New York, Gary E. Swinson, Torrance, CA: 1992, p. 19

3.^  "Palmer, and Judah Barber, b. of Warwick, int. 14 Apr 1798," according to Warwick Vital Records.

4.^  "Palmer, and Judah Barber, b. of Warwick, 10 May 1798," according to Warwick Vital Records.

5.^  Ibid.

6.^  According to her tombstone, Judah died 31 Oct 1852. The 2 Nov 1852 date was probably her burial date. ["Notes on the Old Barber Cemetery, Riley Township, McHenry Co., Illinois," Rev. 2, Gary E. Swinson, Torrance, CA: 2006), p. 6]

7.^  At the urging of Palmer and Judah, Judah's brother and his family made the move from Warwick, MA to China Township, New York in Sep 1823. In the first-hand account of their move by son, Charles Barber, he states that their chief incentive for making the move was "“that Uncle Palmer Whitney who had moved there from Warwick six years previously, repeatedly wrote to him to come to this new country, in order that more land might be secured for father’s growing boys to cultivate". [Charles Barber, "Brief History of the Barber Family with Portrait of the Author", Eagle Press, North Java, New York: 1892].

8.^  Raymond G. Barber, History of the Barbers of Java, New York, Gary E. Swinson, Torrance, CA: 1992, pp. 3, 19-20.

9.^  "The Barbers of Java," Historical Wyoming [County, NY], May 1952.

10.^  Raymond G. Barber, History of the Barbers of Java, New York, Gary E. Swinson, Torrance, CA: 1992, p. 4; see also "History of the Town of Java", Java Historical Society, Tri-County Publications, 1976.

11.^  Raymond G. Barber, History of the Barbers of Java, New York, Gary E. Swinson, Torrance, CA: 1992, p. 4.

12.^  Gary E. Swinson, "Notes on the Old Barber Cemetery, Riley township, McHenry County, Illinois",. Rev 2, Gary E. Swinson, Torrance, CA: 1994 (2006), p. 6.

13.^  Ibid.

14.^  Birth and death dates are from her tombstone, Whitney Cemetery, Wasco, IL.

15.^  Ruth Allendorf Breck, The Eddy Family in America; Supplement 1968, The Eddy Family Association: Middleboro, MA.

16.^  Ibid.

17.^  Tombstone, Whitney Cemetery, Wasco, IL.

18.^  Gary E. Swinson, The Story of "Aunt Nancy", Nancy Whitney French (1825-1927); A Pioneer from New York State to Illinois in 1837, Rev 1, Torrance, CA: 1987 (2007).

19.^  Biographical and Historical Record of Kane County, Illinois, Beers, Leggett & Co., Chicago: 1888.

20.^  Ruth Allendorf Breck, The Eddy Family in America; Supplement 1968, The Eddy Family Association: Middleboro, MA.

21.^  "Marriage Record Index, 1836-1866", Kane County Genealogical Society, Geneva, IL: 1987.

22.^  Ibid.

23.^  Ibid.

24.^  Ibid.

25.^  Ibid.

26.^  Birth date calculated from tombstone ("aged 71 years 5 mos. and 20 days"); death date from tombstone (26 Feb 1878). Buried Java Village Cemetery, Java Village, NY.

27.^  Birth year calculated from tombstone ("aged 57 years"); death date from tombstone (19 Oct 1861). Buried Java Village Cemetery, Java Village, NY.

28.^  Birth date calculated from tombstone ("aged 7 mos."); death date from tombstone (20 Jun 1845). Buried Java Village Cemetery, Java Village, NY.

29.^  Birth year and death date: Letter from J. G. Wilson, Wyoming Co., NY Historian, to Gary E. Swinson, dated. 29 Oct 1986. Reports Java Village Whitney burials and 1850 Whitney and Barber census entries. Birth state from 1880 US Census for Java, NY.

30.^  Birth year calculated from tombstone ("aged 71 years"); death date from tombstone (19 May 1882). Buried Java Village Cemetery, Java Village, NY.

---

Copyright © 2006-2008, Robert L. Ward, Gary Swinson, and the Whitney Research Group