Family:Whitney, John (1785-b1830)

John⁶ Whitney (Timothy⁵, Daniel⁴, Jonathan³, Jonathan², John¹), son of Timothy⁵ and Katherine (Davenport) Whitney, was born 6 Apr 1785, Shrewsbury, MA,^[1] apparently in that part which in 1786 became part of Boylston, and died before 1830 (when his widow appears a head of household in the 1830 census), probably Boston, MA. It is alleged that he died 4 Jul 1827, Boston, MA, but on what authority is not known.

He "of Boston" married, 23 Sep 1811, Sherborn, MA, Silence Holbrook,^[2][3] daughter of Daniel Holbrook or of Micah and Lydia (Kendall) Holbrook. She was born about 1783, Northborough or Sherborn, MA,^[4] was baptized 18 May 1783, Sherborn, MA, and died 29 Apr 1853, Westborough, MA, aged 70 years, of erysipelas, widow, born Northborough, daughter of Daniel Holbrook.^[5]

Marriage intentions were published 12 Feb 1835, Boylston, MA, for her and Benjamin Houghton.^[6] She "Mrs." married secondly, 5 Mar 1835, Northborough, MA, Benjamin Houghton "of Boylston",^[7] son of Solomon and Deliverance (Ross) Houghton.^[8] He was born 3 Feb 1767, Lancaster, MA,^[9] and died 4 Jul 1837, Boylston, MA, aged 69 years.^[10]

Marriage intentions were published 4 Apr 1838, Westborough, MA, for her "of Boylston" and Barnabas Miller.^[11] She married thirdly, 24 Apr 1838, Boylston, MA, Barnabas Miller "of Westborough",^[12] son of James and Elizabeth (Hardy) Miller.^[13] He was born 18 Mar 1763, Westborough, MA,^[14] and died 6 Sep 1852, Westborough, MA, aged 90 years, of old age, married, farmer, b. Westborough, son of James Miller.^[15]

Children of John⁶ and Silence (Holbrook) Whitney, possibly incomplete.

i.	Frederick Henry7 Whitney, b. ca. 1816, Boston, MA; m. Sarah C. Anthony.
ii.	Charles A. Whitney, b. ca. 10 Feb 1817, Boston, MA; m.(1) Charlotte Ellen Chaffee; m.(2) Sarah R. Ainsworth.
iii.	(son) Whitney, b. 1820-1825; prob. Nathaniel Perry Whitney, b. Apr 1824; m.(1) Sarah Dexter Brown; m.(2) Elizabeth -----.

Benjamin and Silence (Holbrook)(Whitney) Houghton had no children.

Barnabas and Silence (Holbrook)(Whitney)(Houghton) Miller had no children.

Census

• 1820, Boston Ward 11, Suffolk Co., MA: John Whitney, 2 males 26-44, 2 males 0-9, 1 female 26-44, and 1 female 16-25.
• 1830, Boston Ward 11, Suffolk Co., MA: Silence Whitney, 1 male 10-14, 2 males 5-9, and 1 female 40-49.
• 1840, Westborough, Worcester Co., MA: Barnabas Miller, 1 male 70-79 and 1 female 50-59.
• 1850, Westborough, Worcester Co., MA:

300 362 Barnabas Miller 88 M - None Mass. Silence Miller 67 F - do

References

1.^  He died before his widow appears in the 1830 census.

2.^  "John [Whitney], s. Timothy and Katherine, [born] Apr. 6, 1785," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1904).

3.^  "John [Whitney] of Boston and Silence Holbrook, [married] Sept. 23, 1811," according to Baldwin, Thomas W., ed., Vital Records of Sherborn, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850, Boston, MA: 1911.

4.^  See her death record below.

5.^  See her death record below.

6.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 77, page 181.

7.^  "Silence [Whitney] and Benjamin Houghton, pub. Feb. 12, 1835," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Boylston, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1850 (1900).

8.^  "Mrs. Silence [Whitney] and Benjamin Houghton of Boylston, [married] March 5, 1835," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Northborough, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1850 (1901).

9.^  His parentage is proven by his birth and death records.

10.^  "Benjamin Son to Solomon & Deliverance Houghton born Febry. 3, 1768," according to Henry S. Nourse, The Birth, Marriage and Death Register, Church Records and Epitaphs of Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1643-1850 (Lancaster, MA: 1890), p. 97.

11.^  "Benjamin [Houghton], [died] July 4 1837 a. 69," according to Boylston Vital Records.

12.^  "Silence [Houghton] of Boylston and Barnabas Miller, int. April 4, 1838," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Westborough, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1903).

13.^  "Mrs. Silence [Houghton] and Barnabas Miller of Westborough [married] April 24, 1838," according to Boylston Vital Records.

14.^  His parentage is proven by his birth and death records.

15.^  "Barnabas [Miller], s. James and Elezebeth, [born] March 18, 1762," according to Westborough Vital Records.

16.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 68, page 161.

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Copyright © 2008, 2012, 2013, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.