Family:Whitney, Moses (1789-1860)

Moses⁷ Whitney (Samuel⁶, Samuel⁵, William⁴, Nathaniel³, John², John¹), son of Samuel⁶ and Thankful (Wilder) Whitney, was born 19 May 1789, Westminster, MA,^[1] and died 23 Feb 1860, Oswego, NY.

He married, 2 Dec 1817, Hancock, New Hampshire, Mary Paige. She was born 2 Oct 1799, and died 29 Jun 1856, Oswego, NY.

The following obituary of Mr. Whitney is taken from the Oswego Palladium: Mr. Whitney was one of the landmarks of Oswego, and has long occupied a prominent position as a citizen of this community he was born at Westminster, MA, in 1789, was a graduate of Dartmouth collage. He early moved into New Hampshire and in 1826 settled in Oswego, where he embarked in the produce and vessel trade and pursued it with enterprise and success until 1837, when he was prostrated by the financial revulsion of that time. He saved something from the wreck of his fortune, and did not afterwards embark in permanent active business pursuits. He was ever among the most active citizens in advancing the prosperity of the city, and at an early day gave encouragement to the cause of education. He was among the originators in 1831 of the Oswego Academy of whom but two or three remain. During his protracted career, he occupied several official postions and evinced strong judgment and varied intellectual and literary acquirements in every station. He enjoyed a remarkable memory and his extended reading rendered him an interesting conversational companion. Few men were more familiar with ecclesiastical or church history than Mr. Whitney. He was kind and frank in his intercourse with his fellow citizens and decided in his opinions, and his domestic relations were cheerful, indulgent and affectionate. He was identified with the history and vicissitudes of Oswego, and did much for her. Of late years owing to his failing health he had little intercorse with the public. His last sickness was long and full of suffering, which he bore with philosophic fortitude and calmness and the hope of the Christian, The closing hours of his mortal life were eminently peaceful and calm, and surrounded by his family and kind friends, gently and without a perceptible struggle breathed his last. Moses Whitney has departed to the better and immortal life leaving another vacancy in the ranks of the pioneers of our city. He resided Concord, NH, and Oswego, NY.

Children of Moses⁷ and Mary (Paige) Whitney:

i.	Reid Paige8 Whitney, b. 17 Dec 1818; d. 20 Mar 1884, Chicago, IL; unmarried.
ii.	Samuel Whitney, b. 23 Jan 1821; d. 2 Feb 1863 from disease in the civil war.
iii.	Charles Whitney, b. 2 Feb 1831; unmarried; resided Chicago, address 700 Rialto Bldg.
iv.	Henry H. Whitney, b. 27 Sep 1838; unmarried; resided Chicago, Address 700 Rialdo Bldg.
v.	Katherine A. Whitney, b. 12 Aug 1834; unm.; resided Oswego, NY.

Census

• 1820, New Boston, Hillsborough Co., NH: Moses Whitney, 1 male 26-44, 1 male 18-25, 1 male 0-9, 1 female over 45, and 1 female 16-25; 2 engaged in manufacture or trades.

References

• 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. 271-272.

1.^  "Moses [Whitney], s. Samuel and Thankful, [born] May 19, 1789," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1915).

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