Family:Whitney, Eliphalet (1789-1850)

Eliphalet⁷ Whitney (Eliphalet⁶, Joshua⁵, Joshua⁴, Richard³, Richard², John¹), son of Eliphalet⁶ and Sarah (Tenney) Whitney, was born 2 Aug 1789, Putney, VT, and died 23 Apr 1850, Putney, VT.

He married firstly, 28 Aug 1814, Putney, VT, Sally Ryan, daughter of Charles and Miriam (Muzzey) Ryan. She was born about 1793, and died 1 Jul 1843, Putney, VT.

He married secondly, 13 Feb 1844, Putney, VT, Annah (-----) Closson.

Children of Eliphalet⁷ and Sally (Ryan) Whitney:

i.	Charles Ryan Whitney, b. ca. Jun 1815, Putney, VT; stone mason; d. 26 Jan 1880, North Adams, MA, aged 64 years 7 months, of kidneys;[1] m. 19 Oct 1845, Stamford, VT, Diantha S. Davis, daughter of Nathaniel and Alice (Clark) Davis, b. ca. Jun 1823, Whitingham, VT, d. 21 Dec 1896, North Adams, MA, aged 73 years 6 months, of valvular of heart.[2]
ii.	Willard W. Whitney, b. 29 Aug 1818, Putney, VT; d. 25 Mar 1893, Cape Elizabeth, ME; m. Mary Ann S. Fickett; stone mason; resided Pownal and Cape Elizabeth, ME. See notes below.
iii.	Cynthia Merriam8 Whitney, b. 18 Aug 1819, Putney, VT; d. 12 May 1894, Putney, VT; m. 25 May 1842, Putney, VT, Reuben Clough.
iv.	(child) Whitney, b. ca. 1822; d. 26 Dec 1824, Putney, VT.
iv.	Merrill E. Whitney, b. ca. 1822; m. 7 Feb 1857, Portland, ME, Martha E. Fickett.
iv.	John J. Whitney, b. ca. 1828; m. 6 Nov 1866, Pownal, ME, Charlotte Sawyer.
iv.	Sarah E. Whitney, b. 10 Jun 1830, Putney, VT; d. 31 Jul 1865, Stamford, VT; m. 7 Feb 1844, Whitingham, VT, William Jillson.

Children of Eliphalet⁷ and Annah (-----)(Closson) Whitney, if any, unknown.

Notes

Willard W. Whitney's birth is recorded in the vital records of Cape Elizabeth, ME, as son of Eliphalet. This may have been recorded many years after his birth. In the 1850 and 1860 censuses, his birthplace is given as Maine, but in 1870 and 1880, it is given as Vermont. The only known Eliphalet of the right age in Maine or Vermont is the father of the above family.

In addition, in Willard's family in 1850 are Merrill E. Whitney, aged 28, born in VT, and John J. Whitney, aged 22, born in ME. It seems pretty clear that they are brothers of Willard, and so sons of Eliphalet Whitney, Jr., of Putney.

Widow Annah Closson may well be Annah (Pierce) Closson, born 13 Oct 1800, Putney, VT, and died 9 Jan 1871. She was buried in Michael Gilson Cemetery, Westminster, VT, daughter of Reuben and Arvilla (Gilson) Pierce. She had married firstly, 13 Dec 1831, Westminster, VT, Alvin Safford Closson, as his second wife, who died 25 Nov 1836, Westminster, VT.^[3] Her gravestone reads: "ANNAH WIFE OF ALVIN CLOSSON DIED JAN 9 1871 AGE 70 YRS 3 MOS." I couldn't find her in the 1850, 1860, or 1870 censuses, neither under the surname Whitney or Closson, nor under her given name Annah with birth in Vermont about 1800. She may have married a third husband.

Census

• 1820, Putney, Windham Co., VT: Eliphalet Whitney, 1 male 26-44, 2 males 10-15, 2 males 0-9, 1 female over 45, 2 females 16-25, 1 female 10-15, and 1 female 0-9; 4 engaged in agriculture.
• 1830, Putney, Windham Co., VT: Eliphlet Whitney, 1 male 40-49, 1 male 15-19, 1 male 10-14, 1 male 5-9, 1 male 0-4, 1 female 60-69, 1 female 30-39, 1 female 10-14, and 1 female 0-4.
• 1840, Putney, Windham Co., VT: E. Whitney, 1 male 50-59, 2 males 15-19, 2 males 10-14, 1 male 5-9, 1 female 30-39, 1 female 15-19, and 1 female 0-5; 5 engaged in agriculture.
• 1850: not found.
• 1850, Putney, Windham Co., VT:

139 143 Charles Whitney 33 M - Tanner Vt. Diantha " 32 F - " Louis " 3 F - " Attended school Lucy " 1 F - "

• 1850, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Co., ME:

74 74 William W. Whitney 30 M - Farmer $6000 Maine Mary A. " 34 F - Do John E. Whitney 1 M - Do Merrill E. Whitney 28 M - Laborer Vermont John J. Whitney 22 M - Laborer Maine

• 1860, Stamford, Bennington Co., VT:

19 19 Chs. R. Whitney 45 M - Farmer $300 $100 Vt. Diantha " 42 F - " Maryetta " 13 F - " Lucy " 11 F - " Alice " 9 F - " Charles " 6 M - " Mills " 3 M - "

• 1860, Pownal, Cumberland Co., ME:

189 193 Rishworth Fickett 75 M - Farmer $2000 $425 Maine Margaret " 56 F - Do Willard W. Whitney 42 M - Farmer Do Mary A. " 32 F - Do John " 11 M - Do Attended school Emma " 7 F - Do Attended school Louisa " 3 F - Do Andrew Sawyer 21 M - Farm laborer Do

• 1860, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Co., ME:

103 110 Merrill Whitney 33 M - Grocer $600 $300 Maine Martha E. 26 F - " George E. 2 M - "

• 1860, son John not found.
• 1870, Adams, Berkshire Co., MA:

919 956 Whitney, Charles 55 M W Stone Mason $2000 $500 Vermont Male citizen over 21 -----, Deantha 52 F W Keeping House " -----, Maryette 22 F W Works Cotton Mill " -----, Lucy 20 F W Works Cotton Mill " -----, Sarah 19 F W Works Cotton Mill " -----, Charles 14 M W At School " Attended school -----, Merril 12 M W At School " Attended school

• 1870, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Co., ME:

835 923 Whitney, W. W. 51 M W Farmer $1500 $400 Vermont Male citizen over 21 -----, Mary S. 42 F W Keeping House Maine -----, John E. 21 M W Farm Laborer Maine Male citizen over 21 -----, Emma F. 16 F W Maine Attended school -----, Louisa V. 13 F W Maine Attended school -----, James F. 9 M W Maine Attended school -----, Mary F. 6 F W Maine Attended school -----, Edwin F. 3 M W Maine

• 1870, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Co., ME:

447 511 Whitney, M. E. 40 M W R.R. Employee $2000 -- Vermont Male citizen over 21 -----, Martha E. 32 F W Keeping House Maine -----, Frank 5 M W Maine -----, Carrie 3 F W Maine

• 1870, New Gloucester, Cumberland Co., ME:

270 274 Sawyer, William B. 74 M W Farmer $300 Maine Male citizen over 21 -----, Eunice 74 F " Keeping House " -----, John B. 44 M " Farmer $2000 $500 " Male citizen over 21 Whitney, John J. 42 M " Laborer $100 " Male citizen over 21 -----, Charlotte 26 F " Keeping House " -----, Flora 2 F " " -----, True 5/12 M " " Born in Jan

• 1880, North Adams, Berkshire Co., MA:

Diantha WHITNEY 61 Self F W W VT Keeping House VT MA Charles WHITNEY 25 Son M M W VT Stone Mason VT VT Celestia WHITNEY 19 DauL F M W NE At Home VT VT Merrell WHITNEY 23 Son M S W VT Teamster VT VT Clarance WELLS 23 Oth M S W VT Teamster VT VT

• 1880, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Co., ME:

W. W. WHITNEY 61 Self M M W VA Stone Mason VA VA Mary A. WHITNEY 53 Wife F M W VA Keeping House VA VA Elmer F. WHITNEY 27 Dau F S W VA VA VA James F. WHITNEY 19 Son M S W VA VA VA Mary WHITNEY 16 Dau F S W VA VA VA Edw. P. WHITNEY 14 Son M S W VA VA VA Geo. WHITNEY 9 Son M S W VA VA VA

"VA" is an error for "VT", actually "Ver." in the original.

• 1880, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Co., ME:

M. E. WHITNEY 50 Self M M W VT VT VT Martha E. WHITNEY 47 Wife F M W ME Post Mistress ME ME Carrie B. WHITNEY 12 Dau F S W ME At School ME ME

• 1880, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Co., ME:

J. J. WHITNEY 39 Self F W W ME Keeping House ME ME Flora E. WHITNEY 11 Dau F S W ME At School ME ME True H. WHITNEY 10 Son M S W ME At School ME ME Chas. E. WHITNEY 8 Son M S W ME At School ME ME John R. WHITNEY 7 Son M S W ME ME ME Lottie C. WHITNEY 5 Dau F S W ME ME ME J. Lester WHITNEY 3 Son M S W ME ME ME Orlow B. WHITNEY 2 Son M S W ME ME ME

References

• Public User Trees at Ancestry.com.
• Census records.

1.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 319, page 50.

2.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 463, page 91.

3.^  Descendants of Josiah Closson and Mary Williamson.

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