Family:Whitney, Peter (1744-1816)
Rev. Peter6 Whitney (Aaron5, Moses4, Moses3, Richard2, John1), born Sept. 6, 1744; married 11 Mar 1768, Julia Lambert, dau. of William, of Reading, born 9 Apr 1742.
Rev. Peter Whitney, A. M., the son of Rev. Aaron Whitney, was born in Petersham, Massachusetts, 6 Sep 1744. After atttending the schools of his native town he entered Harvard College, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1762. When he entered the university he was only thirteen years and ten months old-an age much younger than but few have entered since. One of the first acts of the newly incorporated town of Fitchburg was to note in town meeting, 26 Nov 1764, " To have Sabbath days preaching the winter insuing." It was also voted, " To have preaching in Thomas Cowdin's house,"and the committee on preaching were instructed "to apply to Peter Whitney," among others Accordingly the committee applied to and secured the Rev. Peter Whitney, who went there and preached in the tavern of Thomas Cowdin, during the summer and winter. In the year 1766 there was not any preaching, and the inhabitants of the town were obliged to attend in Lunenburg. In 1767 application was made to Rev. Peter Whitney, but having recived a call elsewhere, he declined. He was ordained minister at Northborough, Massachusetts, 4 Nov 1767. He was the author of an excellent history of Worcester County (Worcester, 1793), single sermons and papers in the "Memoirs of the American Academy." He was a very methodical man,always walking with his wife to meeting, followed by his ten children, always in the exact order of their age. He was an easygoing man, perhaps more absorbed in the political issues of his day than in direct aggressive work. We give the following as illustrating a state of things which was once a matter of importance, but which has entirely passed away: A family in Northboro lost a member, and Dr. Puffer, of Berlin, was invited to officiate at the funeral. He complied, whereupon Rev. Peter Whitney, the minister of the town,
wrote that unless the matter was satifactorily explained,
all ministerial intercourse must cease. This was founded
on the fact that the old parishes had territorial limits, be
yond which a minister was regarded as an interloper. Dr.
Puffer recognized this claim, but explained his action in
this case in such a way that Mr. Whitney was satisfied,
and amicable relations were restored. The correspondence
is a fine specimen of precise, dignified and courteous com
[Photo] position. But what a change! No one would think of
resticting a protestant family in the choice of a minister
on the sad occasion of a funeral. The following notice of
Mr. Whitney is quoted from the "History of Northborough,"
by his successor, as a just tribute to his memory: Dis
tinguished for the urbanity of his manners, easy and
familiar in his intercourse with his people; hospitable to
strangers, and always ready to give a hearty welcome to his
numerous friends; punctual to his engagements; observing
Rev. Peter Whitney. an exact method in the distribution of his time; having a
time for everything, and doing everything in its time, without hurry or confusion; conscientious in the discharge of his duties as a Christian minister; catholic in his priciples and in his conduct; always taking an interest in whatever concerned the prosperity of the town and the interests of religion-he was for many years the happy minister of a kind and affectionate people." His will was probated 28 Sep 1813. Nahum Fay, Esq., of Northboro, was executor, and the document mentions his wife Julia; daughter Elizabeth; son Maj. Thomas Whitney; son Rev. Peter Whitney; daughter Julia, married Capt. Antipas Brigham; daughter Margaret, married Dr. Josiah Adams; son Capt. William Whitney; son Abel Whitney; son John Whitney; son Aaron Whitney; daughter Sally, married Lemuel Bracket. He died Feb. 19, 1816; resided Northboro, Massachusetts.
Children of Peter6 Whitney:
i. Elizabeth7 Whitney, born 6 Sep 1775; married in Quincy, Massachusetts, Ebenezer Adams. She died s. p. 26 Sep 1856. ii. Peter Whitney, born 19 Jan 1770; married Jane Lambert Lincoln. iii. Abel Whitney, born 3 Nov 1781; married Susanna White. iv. Thomas L. Whitney, born 10 Dec 1768; married Mary Lincoln. He died June, 1812. v. John Whitney, born 29 Sep 1785; married Sophia Vinal. vi. Julia Whitney, born 25 Aug 1772; married 1799, Capt. Antipas Brigham. She died 29 Nov 1800. vii. William Whitney, born 14 Dec 1776; married Zilpah Eager. 2192. vii 1/2. Julia, born -----; died in infancy. viii. Aaron Whitney, born 17 Aug 1778. Went west. ix. Sally Whitney, born 3 Nov 1781; married 6 Jan 1806, Lemuel Brackett, of Quincy. She died 3 May 1864. He was born 8 Sep 1780; died Feb. 14, 1869. Was in real estate business. - Ch.: Sally Whitney, born 7 Jan 1808; married Jeffrey Richardson, of Boston, at Quincy, Sept. 16, 1828; died 2 Dec 1837; Samuel Eaton, born 7 Oct 1806; married in Boston to Carolina S. Callender, 11 Jun 1834; died November 3, 1890; Rebecca Richardson, born 26 Mar 1809; married to William L. Whitney, of Cam., at Quincy, 28 Jul 1840; died 3 Dec 1881; James, born 26 Nov 1810; married to S. Elizabeth Whitney Jan. 31, 1856; died 21 Aug 1827; Julia Lambert, born 18 Jun 1812; married Jeffrey Richardson, 27 Jun 1839, at Quincy; died 13 Mar 1886; Nancy, born 31 Aug 1813; unm.; living; Jeffrey Richardson, born 27 Oct 1815; married to Sarah C. Richardson, of Boston, Feb. 24, 1851; died 26 Oct 1871; son of Samuel Eaton, Geo. C. Brackett, 227 Clinton St., Brooklyn, New York; dau. of Sally, Mrs. Charles F. White, 213 Commonwealth Ave., Boston; dau. of Rebecca, Miss Lucy N. Whitney, 31 Hawthorne St., Cambridge; no children of James; son of Julia Lambert, Dr. William L. Richardson, 225 Commonwealth Ave., Boston; Nancy, unm. and living; son of Jeffrey, Jeffrey R. Brackett, 10 Madison ST., W. Baltimore, Maryland.
x. Margaret Whitney, born 12 Feb 1774; married Dr. Josiah Adams, of Quincy. She died 3 Feb 1849.
References
1. All data imported from Frederick Clifton Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635, (Chicago: 1895), pp. 161-163.
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