Family:Whitney, Jacob M. (s1798-1861)

Jacob M. Whitney, parentage unknown, but possibly brother of Eli Whitney, was born about 1785-1800, MA, NY, or CT, and died 9 Aug 1861, Union Grove, Delaware Co., NY.

He married, about 1822-1824, Nellie C. Freeman, daughter of Jonathan and Nellie (Beardsley) Freeman. She was born about 1807, and died 9 Aug 1861 Union Grove, Delaware Co., NY.

Nellie was a descendant of "Mayflower" passenger Stephen Hopkins in the following line:

1. Stephen Hopkins, m. Mary -----
2. Constanta Hopkins, m. Nicholas Snow
3. Mary Snow, m. Thomas Paine
4. Elisha Paine, m. Rebecca Doane
5. Mary Paine, m. Robert Freeman
6. Robert Freeman, m. Anna -----
7. Jonathan Freeman, m. Nellie Beardsley
8. Nellie C. Freeman, m. Jacob M. Whitney

Newspaper notice of death:
Bloomville Mirror, Vol. II, No. 11, Tuesday, 13 Aug 1861:

Andes, Aug. 10th 1861

"Mr. Jacob Whitney and wife residing in this town in the neighborhood of Barkaboom, were consumed by fire last nite. They were aged people residing in a house on the premises of one of their sons. Nothing is known respecting the origin of the fire, but it is apprehended that the house was set on fire by Mrs. Whitney, who has for many years been the victim of insanity and often threatened destruction to herself and those about her. This apprehension is strengthened, by the fact that while the remains of the old man were found in the exact location of his bed, those of the old woman were found near the stove and far from her bed. Full particulars have not yet reached us."

Family hearsay is that a hornets nest in the attic had been burned out earlier in the day.

Jacob is thought to have a brother Eli, born 1796, CT, and died 5 Apr 1867, Shandaken, Ulster Co., NY. He was in the War of 1812, Capt. Wynkoop's Co., N.Y. Militia, from 6 Sep 1814 to 13 Dec 1814. Pension Bureau record said to have been 57 years old in 1855.

Perhaps Eli and brother Jacob came to Shandaken, Ulster Co., NY, at the same time. This Eli married a Catherine Longyear and had children, Jacob, born 5 Dec 1821; Eliza, m. Joseph Setto; John; Phoebe, m. Henry D. Knight; Hiram, b. 1828; Jane, m. Hiram W. Miller; Giles; Sarah Ann or Sally Ann, m. Cornelius Ostrander; and William H.

Children of Jacob M. and Nellie C. (Freeman) Whitney:

i.	William R. Whitney, b. 4 Jan 1823, Shandaken, Ulster Co., NY; m. Margaret J. Yeomans.
ii.	Henry Whitney, b. 24 Mar 1824; m. Margaret E. Burhans.
iii.	Mary (Polly) Whitney, b. 18 Feb 1827; d. 1904; buried Paige Cemetery, Downsville, Delaware Co., NY; m. Townsend Miller, b. 1824, d. 1901.
iv.	Eli Whitney, b. 19 Oct 1829, Shandaken, Ulster Co., NY; m. Freelove Barnhart.
v.	Sarah B. Whitney, b. 1830; d. 6 May 1847; buried Sanford Cemetery, Middletown, Delaware Co., NY; unmarried.
vi.	Freeman Whitney, b. 24 Jul 1832, Shandaken, Ulster Co., NY; m.(1) Mary Etta Gregory; m.(2) Esther M. Hammer.
vii.	John Leroy Whitney, b. 24 Jan 1834; m.(1) Caroline E. Dann; m.(2) Catherine Wilkomm.
viii.	James Whitney, b. 9 Aug 1837; m. Emily Auriela Haynes.
ix.	George S. Whitney, b. 18 Apr 1838, Margaretville, NY; m. Delilah Jane Gavett.
x.	Amanda Whitney, b. 8 Apr 1837; d. 7 Aug 1912; buried Paige Cemetery, Downsville, Delaware Co., NY; m. James Page Hitt, b. Nov 1822; d. 17 May 1909, son of James and Catherine (Miller) Hitt.
xi.	Louise Whitney, b. 1843, Ulster Co., NY; m. John Berle.
xii.	Duston W. Whitney, b. 17 Jul 1844, Union Grove, Delaware Co., NY; m. Ellen Jane Lathan.
xiii.	Jacob L. Whitney Jr., b. 1846-1847; m. Mary -----.

Census

• 1820, Shawangunk, Ulster Co., NY: Jacob Whitney, 1 male over 45, 2 males 26-44, 2 males 18-25, 2 males 0-9, 1 female 26-44, 2 females 16-25, 1 female 10-15, and 1 female 0-9; 3 engaged in agriculture.
• 1830, Shawangunk, Ulster Co., NY: Jacob Whitney, 1 male 30-39, 2 males 5-9, 1 male 0-4, 1 female 20-29, and 2 females 0-4.
• 1840, Middletown, Delaware Co., NY: Jacob Whitney, 1 male 40-49, 2 males 10-14, 2 males 5-9, 2 males 0-4, 1 female 30-39, and 1 female 0-4; 1 engaged in commerce.
• 1850, Andes, Delaware Co., NY:

2699 Jacob Whitney 65 M - Laborer N.Y. Nelly " 60 F - " Freeman " 18 M - Laborer " Jacob " 3 M - " [Notes written on schedule: Union Grove Jacob was father of William Henry Eli and John See page 977]

Jacob and Nelly's ages seem to be wrong. Jacob was probably about 50 and Nelly about 43. If Nelly had been 60, she could not have been the mother of the younger Jacob, aged 3.

• 1860, Andes, Delaware Co., NY:

485 488 John Whitney 26 M - Farmer $1000 [N.Y.] Jacob M. Whitney 60 " - Shingle Maker [N.Y.] Nelly 53 F - [N.Y.]

References

• Census and death certificates

• Cemetery Records

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Copyright © 2011, Helen Rogers, Robert L. Ward, and the Whitney Research Group.