Family:Whitney, Israel (1751-1826)
Dea. Israel5 Whitney (Elijah4, Isaiah3, Thomas2, John1), son of Elijah4 and Mercy (Heald) Whitney,[1] was born 22 Jun 1751, Harvard, MA,[2] and died 20 Dec 1826, Harvard, MA, aged 75 years 5 months 15 days,[3] or Feb 1827.[4]
Israel married firstly, 14 May 1772, Harvard, MA, Hannah Mead.[5] She was born about 1754, calculated from age at death, and died 14 Aug 1788, Harvard, MA, aged 34 years.[6] Could this Hannah Mead possibly be a sister to the Mary Mead, born 1 May 1753, Watertown, MA, who married Abraham Whitney?
Israel married secondly, 22 Apr 1789, Bolton, MA, Abigail (Fairbanks) Puffer both "of Harvard,"[7] daughter of Joseph and Abigail (Tarbell)(Hodgman) Fairbanks.[8] She was born 24 Nov 1756, Harvard, MA,[9] and died 13 Sep 1841, Harvard, MA, aged 85 years.[10] She had married firstly, 5 May 1774, Harvard, MA, Jonathan Puffer.[11]
Pierce says the following:[12]
- He was born on his father's farm, which had been purchased before the town was incorporated. He enlisted early in the Revolutionary war. In 1778 he was a member of Capt. Manasseh SAWYER's company in Col. Josiah WHITNEY's regiment which took part in the operations in Rhode Island. In 1775 he was corporal of Capt. Isaac GATE's company, which marched to the Lexington Alarm April 19, but which company was not mustered into the American service. In 1781 he was first lieutenant in Capt. Thaddeus POLLARD's company, and had seen active service most of the time since 1775. In seating the meeting house in 1775 he was given the "fore seat in the side gallery." In 1795 he was chosen one of the deacons of the church, and for nearly twenty-five years filled the office, but to the horror of all the members of the church Mar. 9, 1819, having adopted the views of the Universalists, he was dismissed. He held a number of town offices, and in 1786 was selectman. The epitaph on his first wife's tombstone reads as follows:
- With serious joy the enlightened soul
Surveys a part, admires the whole,
Nor always silently surveys,
But fir'd, with gratitude to praise;
In holy confidence is blest,
And calmly waits eternal rest."
- With serious joy the enlightened soul
- He made his will Dec. 11, 1826. It was probated Feb. 6, 1827. Capt. Ephraim WARNER was executor. He mentions his wife, Abigail, sons and daughters, viz: Israel, Oliver, Hannah SAWYER, Rebecca FAIRBANK, Lydia SPRAGUE, Betsey FAIRBANK, Arathena FARWELL and Neoma Sawyer and Luther WHITNEY.
Children of Dea. Israel5 and Hannah (Mead) Whitney, all born Harvard, MA:
i. Hannah6 Whitney, b. 23 Apr 1773; m. 17 May 1791, Bolton, MA, "both of Harvard",[13] or 19 May 1791, Harvard, MA, Phinehas Sawyer, son of Caleb and Sarah (Patch) Sawyer, both "of Harvard". ii. Israel Whitney, b. 18 Apr 1775. His gravestone says 18 Apr 1776. iii. Rebecca Whitney, b. 13 Apr 1777; m. 26 Apr 1795, Harvard, MA, Amose Fairbank. iv. Lydia Whitney, b. 25 May 1779; m. 18 Jan 1798, Harvard, MA, Samuel Sprague. v. Betsey Whitney, b. 24 May 1782; m. 7 Jun 1803, Harvard, MA, Joseph Fairbank. vi. Arathusa Whitney, b. 12 Dec 1783; m. 22 Jun 1802, Harvard, MA, John Farwell, Jr. vii. Oliver Whitney, b. 16 May 1786; m. 16 Mar 1809, Harvard, MA, Mercy Whitcomb.
Children of Dea. Israel5 and Abigail (Fairbanks)(Puffer) Whitney, all born Harvard, MA:
i. Luther6 Whitney, b. 5 Feb 1790; m. 3 Jan 1814, Harvard, MA, Melinda Wetherbee. ii. Luke Whitney, b. 8 Feb 1793; d. 2 May 1795, Harvard, MA, aged 2 years 2 months 24 days. iii. Naomi Whitney, b. 28 Apr 1797; m. 17 Jun 1817, Harvard, MA, James Sawyer.
Census
- 1790, Harvard, Worcester Co., MA: Israel Whitney, 1 male over 16, 4 males 0-15, and 9 females.
- 1800, Harvard, Worcester Co., MA: Israel Whitney, 1 male over 45, 2 males 10-15, 1 female 26-44, 2 female 16-25, and 1 female 0-9.
- 1810, Harvard, Worcester Co., MA: Israel Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 female over 45, 1 female 10-16.
References
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5.^ Source of marriage. Also see Frederick W. Bailey, ed., Early Massachusetts Marriages Prior to 1800 (1897-1914), 3 vols.
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7.^ "Israel [Whitney] and Abigail Puffer, both of Harvard, [married] April 22, 1789," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Bolton, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1910).
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12.^ Frederick C. Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635 (Chicago, IL: The Author, 1895), p. 95.
13.^ "Hannah [Whitney] and Phineas Sawyer Jr., both of Harvard, [married] May 17, 1791," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Bolton, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1910).
Copyright © 1999, 2006, 2007, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group
