Archive:History of Chesterfield, New Hampshire

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Oran E. Randall, History of Chesterfield, Cheshire County, N.H. : from the incorporation of "Township Number One" by Massachusetts in 1736, to the year 1881 : together with family histories and genealogies (Brattleboro, Vt.: D. Leonard, printer., 1882).

[p. 51]

The Declaration.

WE, THE SUBSCRIBERS, DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY ENGAGE AND PROMISE, THAT WE WILL, TO THE UTMOST OF OUR POWER, AT THE RISQUE OF OUR LIVES AND FORTUNES, WITH ARMS, OPPOSE THE HOSTILE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH FLEETS AND ARMIES AGAINST THE UNITED AMERICAN COLONIES.

. . . .

[p. 52]

June 12, 1776, the selectmen made the following return:

"In obedience to the within Declaration that we Rec'd from your Honors, we proceeded According to your Directions and the persons Names underwriten are those that Refuse to sign the Declaration on your paper:

Capt. Jonathan Hildreth,	Eleazer Pomeroy,	Ebenezer Harvey,
Lieut. Ephraim Whitney,	Ebenezer Cooper,	Joseph Prentice,
Ephraim Whitney,	Ebenezer Fletcher, Jr.	Sam'l Davis Converse,
Elisha Walton,	Eseek Earl,	Silas Bennet,
	Sal. Keing [Samuel King.]

EPH. BALDWIN,	}
MOSES SMITH, JR.,	} Selectmen
MICHAEL CRESEY,	} of
EPHR'M HUBBARD,	} Chesterfield.
SAM'L HILDRETH,	}

NAMES OF THOSE WHO SIGNED THE DECLARATION.

. . . .

[p. 53]

. . . .

Joel Whitney,

. . . .

[p. 93]

The troops that went to Ticonderoga in May, had scarcely arrived home, when tidings were brought of the actual approach of Burgoyne's army toward that important post. Again the New Hampshire militia was called upon to march to the rescue. One of the companies in Col. Ashley's regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Oliver Cobleigh, of this town, and nearly, or quite, all the men belonged also to Chesterfield. The roll of Lieut. Cobleigh's company was as follows:

Josiah Hastings, Ensign.	Jonas Davis, Sergeant.
Samuel Davis, Sergeant.	James Wheeler, Sergeant.
Ezekiel Powers, Sergeant.	Dan Cobleigh, Corporal.
PRIVATES.
. . . .

[p. 94]

. . . .
Joel Whitney.
. . . .

[p. 490]

WHITNEY, EPHRAIM, was in Chfd. in 1776. His wife was Jane Bancroft, of Salem, Mass., d. in Chfd., Nov. 9, 1795, in her 73rd year. He d. Oct. 2, the same year, in his 72d year. His dau., Molly, m. 1st, Col. Samuel King (2); 2d, Capt. Simon Willard (q.v.); d. in Wincr. about 1832.

WHITNEY, EPHRAIM, Jr., probably son of Ephraim (q.v.), m. Rhoda -----. His name disappears about 1792. Only 2 ch. were recorded: Sally, b. Mar. 16, 1779; Dorcas, b. Sept. 22, 1782.

WHITNEY, JOEL, m. 1st, -----, and had, at least, 2 ch.: Joel, b. Feb. 21, 1777; Nabby, b. May 19, 1786, and m., 1806, Titus, son of Ebenezer Farr (4). Joel, Sen., m. 2d, Edee Farwell, widow of Benj. Farwell (2). She was a midwife, and was long known as "Granny Whitney."

WHITNEY, DANIEL, m. Eunice -----. His name is not found after 1794. Four ch. were recorded: Adolphus, b. Dec. 13, 1782, and d. 1785; George, b. Jan. 11, 1785; Vashni, b. June 3, 1788; Calvin, b. Aug. 23, 1790.

WHITNEY, MOSES, had a son Moses, d. 1774.

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