Archive:The Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton
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Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton, Whitney Chapter
Dean Crawford Smith and Melinde Lutz Sanborn, The Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton, 1878-1908. Part I: The Ancestry of Warren Francis Kempton, 1817-1879 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1996).
[p. 523]
THOMASA WHITNEY, gentleman, born England say 1560 or earlier, buried St Margaret, Westminster, Middlesex, England 15 April 1637; married by license St Margaret, Westminster 10 May 1583 "of Lambeth Marsh, gent." MARY BRAY, baptized St Margaret, Westminster 24 December 1564, buried St Margaret, Westminster 25 September 1629, daughter of JOHN and MARGARET (HASLONDE) BRAY (see Appendix).
John Bray, tailor, died in 1615 and Thomas and Mary (Bray) Whitney were executors of his will. Unfortunately, the will does not survive, and its possible revelations regarding surviving family members are lost.
The parentage of Thomas Whitney is currently unknown. A fraudulent royal pedigree was published in Ancestry of John Whitney . . . 1896, by Henry Melville. His otherwise excellent work fell victim to a pretender's claim to the inheritance of the Whitneys of Whitney, Herts. [sic -- should be Herefordshire. RLW]
Melville used many interesting sources in tracing the movement of the early English Whitneys, among them the churchwarden's accounts from St Margaret's. About Mary (Bray) Whitney he says
[She] hired a part of a pew in St. Margaret's Church. She is on record, for example, as paying "IIIs IIIId" for it in 1605, and quot;IIIIs" in 1616 and 1621. The fact that the transaction was in her name and that a whole pew was not needed may indicate that Thomas was not particularly interested in such matters. A possible reason is that he had embraced Puritanism and becom a nonconformist to the discipline of the church of England (Melville, 215).
Another possible reason for this was that Thomas may have been splitting his time between St Margaret's and Isleworth for business or personal reasons. His eldest daughter, Margaret, died at Isleworth at the same time Mary was paying for a pew in St Margaret's.
Further records from the churchwarden's accounts show that when "Mris Marie Whitney" died, 6s 8d was paid for her grave, 2s 6d was paid for her shroud, and 6s was paid for the tolling of the church bells. Likewise, when "Mr Thomas Whitney" died, 5s 4d was paid for his grave, 2s 6d was paid for his shroud, and 6s for the tolling of bells (St Margaret, Westminster Churchwarden Account Book, 1637, Week 51).
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It was customary at the death of a leading person that friends, family, or the decedent himself would see that a small "benevolence" was given to the poor in his community. Thomas Whitney was styled "gentleman" and was a tailor and a merchant, like his father-in-law. When Thomas Whitney died, 20s was given to the "poore Hospitall Children" (St Margaret, Westminster, Churchwarden Account Books).
On 22 May 1637, adminstration of the estate of Thomas Whitney went to his sons Francis and Robert Whitney (Dean and Chapter of Westminster 4:49). Ordinarily, the eldest son or sons would be selected as administrators, yet John Whitney was Thomas' eldest surviving son and no refusal by him is recorded. If he was living in the Massachusetts Bay Colony at this time, the reason that he failed to administer his father's estate would be obvious. It is possible that, just two years before his father's death, John may have taken his patrimony with him in the form of a lump sum to assist him in his settlement in Watertown.
The administration of Thomas Whitney's estate showed an inventory total of £233 (Dean and Chapter of Westminster 4:49, Account #31).
The Accompt of Francis & Robert Whitney the Sonnes & Ad[ministra]tors of the goodes & chattells of Thomas Whitney late of the p[ar]ishe of St Margarett in Westm[inste]R deceased, made as followeth. the Charge Inprimis the s[ai]d Accomptantes doe charge themselves w[i]th the somme of two hundred thirtie & three poundes of lawfull money of England, for the true value of all & singuler the goodes chattells debtes & certaine estate of the said deceased as they are comprized & valued in an Inventary hereof made & ex[hi]b[it[ed] unto this Court & there remayning, w[hi]ch said goodes & estate have come to these Accomptants handes CCxxxiij li Item they farther charge themselves w[i]th / sixe pounds tenne shillings in p[ar]te of paym[en]t of the desp[er]ate debtes mencioned under the somme totall of the said Inventary, received by them since the said deceaseds death Summa oneris CC xxxix li x s. The discharge: Debtes owinge by the said deceased at his Death & since paied [&] satisfied by these Accompt[ants] as followe. Imprimis paied & satisfied to severall Brewers for beer w[hi]ch the said deceased had of them, the somme of lxx li.
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Item to severall workemen as Brickelayers Carpenters Glasyers & other workemen, for materialls & other charges touchinge the repayringe of the said deceaseds dwelling howse, before his death, the somme of xl li. Item to Mrs Starchie viii li. Item to Goodwife Barnes xxxs. Item to one Bridgett xx s. Item to William Watts v li. Item to John Wandricke xx li. Summa debitor[is] hui[us] mo[d]i Cxlv li x s. other paym[en]tes necessarily disbursed by these Accomptantes by reason of their said Administratorshipps, as p[ar]ticulerly followe, w[hi]ch they crave to be allowed. Inprimis for all manner of charges aboute the said deceaseds buriall xx li. Item for the letters of Ad[minstra]c[i]on the apprizeinge of the deceaseds goods, the double ingrossinge & exhibitinge the Inventary unto this Court, w[i]th the p[ro]ctors fee & other charges there unto incident, the somme of iii li. Item for the drawinge & double ingrossinge of the Accompt, w[i]th the fees of the R[ ] Judges seale, p[ro]ctors fees & other charges thereunto appertayneinge, the somme of xl s. Summa exoneraceis Clxx li x s. Soe deductis deducend[um] et allocatis allocand[um] there remaineth in these Accamtantes handes, the somme of lxix li. x:o Martii: 1637: Mr. Eresheldi fecit fidem [ ] animam &c Will: Sammes
Despite giving birth to at least ten babies, only four of this couple's children reached adulthood.
Children, surname WHITNEY:
i. MARGARET, baptized St Margaret, Westminster 18 October 1584; buried Isleworth, co. Middlesex 12 January 1604/5. ii. THOMAS, baptized St Margaret, Westminster 25 July 1587; buried St Margaret 19 August 1587.
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iii. HENRY baptized St Margaret, Westminster 11 November 1588; buried St Margaret 4 January 1588/9. iv. ARNWAYE baptized St Margaret, Westminster 2 February 1589/90; buried St Margaret 11 August 1591. v. JOHN baptized St Margaret, Westminster 20 July 1592. vi. NOWELL baptized St Margaret, Westminster 30 October 1594; buried St Margaret 28 February 1596/7. vii. FRANCIS baptized St Margaret, Westminster 27 Jan 1598/9; died Westminster August 1643; married ELIZABETH (_____), buried St Margaret 15 January 1670[/1].
Children, both deceased before their mother, names unknown. In her will Elizabeth requested that she be buried "by her husband and two children at the west end of the new Chappel by the greate window" (Dean and Chapter of Westminster 6:48).
viii. MARY, baptized St Margaret, Westminster 2 August 1600; buried St Margaret 8 August 1600. ix. ROBERT baptized St Margaret, Westminster 10 November 1605, buried in the east yard at St Peter's, Cornhill, London 3 April 1662; married say 1636 MARY perhaps WEST, buried as "widow Whitney" St Peter's, Cornhill 27 October 1667. In her will, Mary made a bequest to her "loveing Cozen" Mary West, daughter of Edward West (Archdeaconry Court of London 9:168).
Children, surname Whitney:
- John, baptized St Peter's Cornhill 10 February 1638/9.
- Thomas, baptized St Peter's Cornhill 27 December 1640.
- Robert, baptized St Peter's Cornhill 30 October 1642.
- Thomas, baptized St Peter's Cornhill 29 July 1645.
- Richard, baptized St Peter's Cornhill 14 October 1647.
- Margaret, baptized St Peter's Cornhill 31 July 1651.
- Robert, baptized St Peter's Cornhill 13 Jul 1654.
- Mary Frances, named in the wills of both her parents, a minor in 1667/8 (Archdeaconry court of London 9:168, 9:23).
x. probably THOMAS, if a son of this couple he was unrecorded, born about 1609 (calculated from age at marriage, vide post); buried St Margaret's Church, Westminster 20 May 1637; married St Gregory, London by license dated 31 January 1632/3 (Faculty Office 89) MARGARET (MOGGE) GEORGE, widow of Thomas George, born about 1591. "Whitney, Thomas, of St. Margaret, Westminster, gent., bachelor, 24, and Margaret George, of same,
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42, widow of Thomas George, late of same, butcher - at St. Gregory, London 31 Jan. 1632/3. F.* She was on the far edge of childbearing years and likely they had no children.
It was probably his administration granted to widow Margaret in Dean and Chapter of Westminster 4:48.
Margaret had married first St Margaret Westminster 19 November 1609 Thomas George, buried St Margaret 18 May 1632 (199 Camden IV, 3, Dean and Chapter of Westminster).xi. possibly JAMES, buried as "Mr. James Whitney" St Margaret, Westminster 13 March 1636/7.
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JOHN1 WHITNEY, baptized St Margaret, Westminster, England 20 July 1592; died Watertown, MA 1 June 1673, "widdower, aged abought 84 yeares" (WVR 1:36);
married first England say 1623 ELINOR (_____), born say 1600, died Watertown 11 May 1659 (WVR 1:21); married second Watertown 29 September 1659 (WVR 1:22) JUDAH CLEMENT, who probably died before 5 April 1670 when John made a deed related to his homestead and Judah was not asked to release her dower (Middlesex Deed 3:452), and certainly dead by 1673 when she was not named in her husband's will.
John Whitney, son of Thomas Whitney, of the city of Westminster, yeoman, was apprenticed to William Pring of the Old Bailey, a freeman of the Merchant Taylors Company, on 22 February 1607[/8] (Apprentice Binding Book, Vol 5, 1606-1609, Guildhall Library MS. 314[13], page 170):
As an apprentice he learned clerical duties and studied a varied curriculum, as well as a trade. William Pring probably dealt in cloth, since John Whitney is called a tailor in Watertown deeds (vide post).
When he reached his majority in 1614, John was made free by his master, William Pring (Court Minute Book, vol.6, Freemen 1607-1618, Guildhall Library Ms. 327 (31), page 483: Freedoms), and ten years later, on 8 November 1624, "Robert Whitney, son of Thomas Whitney of the city of Westminster, Gentleman, was apprenticed to John Whitney in Thistleworth" (another name for Isleworth).
- Robertus Whitney filius Thome Whitney de Civitate Westminster Gent pose appren[tice] John Whittney modo Comanone in Thistleworth pro Septem annis a die dat hor[umm] pr[e]d[i]c[tu]m dat Octavo die Novembris, Anno Dm 1624 Annoque regis Jacobis Anglie vicesimo secundo (Apprentice Binding Book, Vol.9, 1623-1628, Gulldhall Library Ms 315 [18], page 93: Apprenticeships)
Robert, in turn, was made free by his brother on 14 January 1632 (Court Minute Book: Freemen 1630-1642, Guildhall Library Ms 329 [33], unpaginated).
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In the 1620s, his children's baptisms in the St Mary Mdermary's parish register showed that John lived on Bow Lane and that he was a tailor.
John sent his eldest son to the Merchant Taylors' School, affording him the finest education available to the son of a yeoman intended for business. The younger John Whitney appears in the Merchant Taylors' School Register from 11 December 1631 until 1634 (Merchant Taylors' School Register, 132). This attendance was contemporary with the Kemptons, who likely knew the Whitneys (see Kempton chapter).
Bond says the Whitneys embarked at London, England in April of 1635 for New England in the ship Elizabeth and Ann, Roger Cooper, master. The family consisted of John, age 35; Ellin, age 30; sons John, age 11; Richard, age 9; Nathaniel, age 8; Thomas, age 6; and Jonathan, age 1 year (Bond, 642). John's age is grossly understated in this passenger list, but
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his baptism at Isleworth and his age at death are more nearly in tune. Likewise, his sons' ages are somewhat understated in this list and Elinor was more likely 35 than 30.
At Watertown, John was admitted a freeman 3 March 1635/6. He was of a comfortable social standing and had a better than average education, but claims to a stunning royal descent have been disproven (TAG 10:84- 88).
His property was in keeping with his status as a Watertown proprietor and reflected a modest amount of trading and selling, as well. His homestail of sixteen acres was bounded to the east by William Jennison, west by Martin Underwood, north by Isaac Mixer and south by William Jennison (WTR 1:120). In the third division of Watertown lands he received lot 16 containing fifty acres (WTR 1:5). In the grant of the plowlands at Beaver Brook plains, with an allowance of one acre per person and likewise for cattle, John Whitney received ten acres, 28 February 1636 (WTR 1:6). The next year he received another ten acres (WTR 1:10). His other possessions granted to him included two acres of meadow at Beaver brook, ten acres of remote meadow and the eighty- third lot, ten acres of plow land, one acre of meadow in Pond Meadow, one acre of meadow, eighteen acres of upland beyond the further plain and the forty fifth lott, six acres of upland (WTR 1:85).
Richard Woodward sold John Whitney nine acres in Watertown on the little plain bordering Whitney's land on 16 limo 1646 for "six pounds...forty shillings a yeare in Corne...in wheate, or Rie, or pease, or Indian, some of each as God shalbe pleased to afford us" between limo 1647 and 1649 (Middlesex Deed 1:150-151). Thomas Arnold discharged the debt and acknowledged Whitney's title to the land in another deed dated 27 October 1661 (Middlesex Deed 3:445). John Whitney, "Taylor" bought six acres of land near the "Little Playne" from Robert Daniel on 6 2mo 1653 (Middlesex Deed 1:192). After moving from Watertown to Providence, RI, Thomas and Phebe Arnold sold seventeen acres of land in Watertown to John Whitney on 20 October 1662 (Middlesex Deed 2:259).
John Whitney is seen many times in the records with Thomas Arnold, in both friendly and adversarial relationships. He accused Arnold in court for absenting himself from public worship.
- Mr Jno. Whitney & Henry Bright attested uppon oath that Thomas Arnold had to their best knowledge absented himself from the publike ordinances of Christ on the Lords dayes for a full yeare last past. Thomas Arnold pleaded that he had bin absent severall dayes by warding and cow keeping &c. wch he could not make appeare (Pulsifer, 72).
Arnold was given a reduced fine 3 2mo 1655.
In 1649 when Thomas Arnold was granted a small patch of land near his house, John Whitney Sr. was to set it out so that it did not prejudice the
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highway (WTR 1:19). For an unspecified service to the town, John Whitney received 2s 9d in 1651 (WTR 1:25).
John Whitney was a selectman in 1637 (WTR 1:3) and served again in 1647 and 1650 (WTR 1:10, 20). "Mr Whetny is chosen to take the Invoyce for the towne: and to have lOs for his paines; and to take Land and cattell as it was to the Country rate" (WTR 1:14).
He was paid £1.1.0 by the town in 1653 (WTR 1:41) and as town clerk, wrote out the receipt of the town's account that year (WTR 1:4041). In 1654 Mr. Whitney testified against Robert Daniel when Daniel was charged with failing to fence his land like the rest of the commoners (WTR 1:37). He was charged with making the ministry rate in 1654 (WTR 1:39).
In 1663, Watertown paid Thomas Torball 8s "for Tho whitnies Child" perhaps indicating that Whitney had a grandson who was a town charge (WTR 1:77) which seems likely in light of "Thomas whetney (in regard of his present nessesity) shall have the one half of his Sallery payd him in hand" for whipping dogs out of the meetinghouse upon the Sabbath (WTR 1:81).
John Whitney witnessed the deed of Reana Daniel to John's son, John Jr. on 7 limo 1656 (Middlesex Deed 3:364).
John Whitney gave a tract of thirty-nine acres to his son, Jonathan, in 1659, but never made a formal deed for it. Five years later, on 10 November 1664, John acknowledged that he had given the land to his son (Middlesex Deed 3:79).
About two months before his death, John Whitney Sr. made his will:
- I John Whitney Senior of Watertown, in ye County of Middlesex: being perfect and sound in memory and understanding blessed be God for it: doo declare this to be my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth
- F[ir]st I commit my spint into ye hand of god yt gave it; and my body unto ye earth whence it was taken:
- 2 ly. I give unto my son John Whitney: my meadow called beever-brook meadow with ye upland yt doth apertane thereto: and a yoake of oxen: or nine pounds ten shillings: and ten acres of my land called devedent land and a trunke and one palre of sheets and one paire of piliow beers and two pewter dishes a great one and a small one: and the bed whereon I lie with all ye furniture thereunto belonging.
- 3 ly. I give unto my son Richard Whitney: ten acres of my land called devedend and two cows and a great sea chest.
- 4 ly. I give unto my son Thomas Whitney ten acres of my land called devedend and two cows and a sad colored sute namely a paire of breeches and a close coate and pewter dish.
- 5 ly. I give unto my son Jonathan Whitney: one fron kittle and a great brass skillit.
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- 6 ly. I give unto my son Joshua Whitney: twenty acres of my land called devedend: and a cubard and a liffle table and a cheste and a great kittle and a warming pan and a skillit.
- 7 ly. I give unto my son Benjamin Whitney: the old mare if she live:
- 8 ly. My wili is yt what of my estate be left over after all is paid out as abeve sd namely of my movables yt it be equally divided betweene my executors and I doo nominate and apoynt my well beloved son John Whitney and Joshuah Whitney; to be my executors to this my Will and testament and doo desire my loving frind Wililam Bond Senior: to see yt this my will be performed according to ye true intent of it as is aforesaid and doo set to my hand this 3rd of Aprill: 1673.
- This is an Inventory of ye estate of Mr. John Whitnie Senior: taken this 4th of June, 1673: by us whose names are hereunto subscribed.
Imprs: Wearing cloths. a sad colorid Sute coat and breeches: 1.10.0 ye rest of bethe linin and woolin and shoos stoclins hats gloves: being much wome: 2.10.0 ye bed whereon he lay with all the furniture thereunto belonging 5.0.0 three pillow beers three sheets and three small old table cloaths 1.0.0 an old fether bolster and fether pillow 0.12.0 A sea chest 0.14.0 two old chests an old trunk an old box and an old cubard 0.14.0 two old tables one forme four old chairs 1.0.0 three pewter platters and basson a sacer an old great pot an old pewter bode and a chamber pot 0.12.0 a brass kitle 2 brass skillits a brass skimer a warming pan a small brass morter a litle ladle of brass 1.2.0 an iron pot and pot hooks a tramell a iron kitle a spit a smoothing iron and two old frieing pans 1.5.0 three earthen vessells a great grater two cheeny dishes a dozen of trenchers a wooden dish three chees moals 0.3.0 a small trevet a paire of tongs and a small paire of scalls pund and haif ain weights a spindle for a wheele and a iron bullet 0.2.0 a churne and other lumber 0.5.0 foure cows 10.0.0 two oxen 9.10.0 an old mare 2.10.0 an old saddle and pillon 0.10.0 an old paire of hoops and boxes for a cart a peire of iron pins for ye extree a paire of
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lince pins and washers 0.10.0 a chaine a iron bar a spoone of iron an old adze a set for a saw 2 wedges and an iron pin for a cart a hay crouse and other old iron 0.12.0 a grind stone with ye iron to it 0.4.0 an old hame a cart rope an old bage 2 old cushions 0.12.0 fifty acres of land called dividend 25.0.0 three acres of meadow at Beever brooke with an acre and half of upland to it 20.0.0 an acre of meadow called plaine meadow 10.0.0 a forke and shovall 0.2.0 also... 0.14.0 Joseph Underwood William Bond Nathan Fiske Senior. At a court at Charlestown 17.4.1673 Sworn by ye executors (Middlesex Probate #24680)
Children, surname WHITNEY:
| i. | MARY2, baptized Isleworth, Middlesex 23 May 1619; buried St Mary Aldermary, London 15 February 1626/7. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ii. | JOHN, baptized Isleworth, Middlesex 14 September 1621; died Watertown 12 October 1692 (WVR 1:65); married Watertown circa 1643 RUTH REYNOLDS, born say 1620s, living 27 May 1695 when her daughters mention the reversion of what may be left by their mother (Middlesex Probate #24681), daughter of Robert and Mary (_____) Reynolds. John served in King Philip's War (Bodge, 171).
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| iii. | RICHARD, baptized Isleworth, Middlesex 4 January 1623/4; living
Stow, MA 8 April 1691 when he petitioned the General Court to be dismissed from military service being now above seventy years of age, and not being able to serve in the capacity of a soldier (Middlesex Co. Court 1690-143-I); married Watertown 19 1mo |
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| 1650/1 (WVR 1:15) MARTHA COLDHAM, born say 1630s, living
30 June 1672 when her last child was born.
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| iv. | NATHANIEL, born say 1626; died after 1635 when he came to the
Massachusetts Bay Colony with his parents. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| v. | THOMAS, baptized St Mary Aldermary, London 10 December 1627; died Watertown, MA 20 September 1719 (WVR 2:65); married Watertown 11 lImo 1654/5 (WVR 1:17) MARY KEDEL, born say 16305, died after 30 January 1673/4 when her last child was born. Thomas served in King Phillip's War (Bodge, 375).
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| vi. | MARGARET, baptized St Mary Aldermary, London 25 December 1629; evidently died before 1635 when her family sailed for the Massachusetts Bay Colony and she did not appear on the passenger list. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| + vii. | JONATHAN, born about 1635. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| viii. | Deacon JOSHUA, born Watertown, MA 15 February 1635/6 (WVR 1:4); died Groton, MA 1 August 1719, age 83 years (GVR, 278); married first LYDIA (_____); married second say 1669 MARY (_____), died Watertown 17 March 1671 (WVR 1:35); married third Watertown 30 September 1672 (WVR 1:36) ABIGAIL TARBELL, who served as executrix of John's estate in 1719 (Middlesex Probate #24703), daughter of Thomas and Mary (_____) Tarbell. Joshua's 1713 will identifies many of his children who were not otherwise recorded (Middlesex Probate #24703). |
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Children with first or second wife, surname Whitney:
Children with third wife, surname Whitney:
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| ix. | CALEB, born Watertown, MA 12 July 1640 (WVR 1:8); may have died young. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| x. | BENJAMIN, tailor, born Watertown, MA 6 4mo 1643 (WVR 1:11); died Sherborn, MA 26 March 1723 (SVR, 227); married first Watertown or York, ME say 1669 JANE (_____), died Sherborn 14 November 1690 (SVR, 228); married second Marlborough 13 April 1696 (MVR, 396) MARY POORE. Children with first wife, surname Whitney:
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JONATHAN2 WHITNEY, born England about 1634 (aged about thirty-six in 1671, Suffolk Files #1050); died Sherborn, MA 1 January 1702/3 (SVR, 228); married Watertown 30 October 1656 (WVR 1:18) LYDIA2 JONES, born say 1636, died Sherborn 3 February 1701/2 (SVR, 228), daughter of LEWIS1 and ANNA (_____) JONES (see Jones Chapter). Jonathan Whitney took the oath of fidelity in 1652 (Pulsifer, 301).
In 1659, Jonathan's father gave him thirty-nine acres in Watertown, five acres of which Jonathan and Lydia subsequenfly sold to Richard Child on 7 November 1664 (Middlesex Deed 3:80-81). Lydia signed her name to this deed, as indicated in the copybook, but no original sample of her writing survives.
At the March 1664 Watertown selectmen's meeting, it was found that
- whereas Jonathan whetny & Danill Meddup are intendinge to goe to Cape Pare: & the towne feareinge thir wives or children may be in want in their absence: & thay not beinge willinge to satisfy the select-men upon thefr demand:
- The town apoynted goodman Baitow goodman Colledge & goodman Tayntor to Call Jonathan whetney & Danili Meddup before Mr Danforth or sum other magistrate
- which acordingly was done: & Jonathan whetney before mr Danforth ingaged to leave (for his wives & childrens supply in his absence: in the hand of Tho. Flegg) as a debt then due 36£: to be paid yearly in 3 years: & the vallew of 14£ in Cattell in his wives hand (WTR 1:83).
Nathan Fisk Jr. and Jonathan Whitney were chosen to be Watertown's hogreeves in the year 1674 (WTR 1:121). In 1676, Jonathan was charged for his share of the fines of hogs and cattle, 12s (WTR 1:126). He may have been away at the time, since his service from Watertown in King Philip's War dated from 24 August 1676 (Bodge, 273,376). He was paid in 1677 for his work on the mill bridge, 8s (WTR 1:132).
Jonathan Whitney and his son, John, were witnesses in the attempted rape case of Sam, an Indian. On 30 August 1671, Mary Bacon, wife of Daniel Bacon of Cambridge, was returning home with her husband on a horse-drawn cart, when they arrived at the river. Mary and Daniel crossed, but Mary was in a hurry to get home, so she asked Daniel to wait for the cart, while she went on ahead a quarter of a mile to their house. She deposed that "when I was goften within about 20 roods of[f] from the house, a man coming sudingly behind me claping his hands upon my eyes" knocked her down and flipped her clothing over her head. Pinned to the ground she struggled and called out, nearly suffocating, but succeeding in frightening the man away (Suffolk File #1050). Although
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she never actually saw the man who attacked her, she named Sam, an Indian, who lived nearby as her assailant. Among the deponents who came forward in the case was "John Whitney aged about 9 years" who testified that on that day he had been looking for sheep with Sam, son of William Indian, who soon ran up toward Goodman Bacon's, and it getting dark, young Whitney "went home & about one quarter of an houre after the said Sam came to my father's house near the bridge foot at Waftertown mill." Not long after Sam left, John saw a woman pass by towards Goodman Bacon's house on the highway. He told his father, who also came to testify:
- Jonathan Whitney aged about 36 yeares examined sayth that in sd evening upon ye 30 August after it ye day light was Gone, hee being abeute half a mile of[f] hee herd a doleful cry hee suposed a woman's cry & it twas toward ye house of daniel Bacon as I conseive fromm sd plase wher I was; but who it was yt so cried I know not also when he came Hom yt night & hering of the buisnes about Goodman Bacon's wife Asault had examined his sonne John Whitney who the[n] did relate unto me the substance of what is contaned in his examination taken before Capt Gookin (Suffolk File #1050)
Sam the Indian was near the scene of the crime, but no one, not even the victim, saw him attempt the assault. He was committed to prison.
Jonathan Whitney served from Watertown in King Philip's War (Bodge, 273, 376).
In 1679 Jonathan became an inhabitant of Sherborn, MA. With five other men, Jonathan Whitney was appointed to lay out highways leading from Sudbury, Sherborne, Marlborough and Framingham, and Falls upon Charles River, "so as may be most convenient for the accommodation of travaillers from Towne to town both for men & beast" (15 December 1684, Pulsifer, 4:139). His involvement with the town and colony roads continued to the end of his life, when on 15 December 1702 the Middlesex Court ordered that Jonathan Whitney Senr be paid for his work in ordering the building of a bridge on the way from Natick to Boston at the falls (Middlesex County General Sessions).
In July of 1683 Jonathan Whitney was unsuccessfully sued by George Fairbanks and others (Inferior Ct. of Pleas, Suffolk Co.).
Several days before his death, Jonathan Whitney made his will:
- In the name of God, amen
- I Jonathan Whitney of Sherborne in the County of Middx within her Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England yeom: being weeke of body but in sound & disposing memory Praise be given to god for the same; doe make this my last wrn & testament in manner & forme following, that is to say, first & principally I Resign my Soule into the mercyfull hands of almighty god my Creator, assuredly hoping
| 538 | ANCESTRY OF EVA BELLE KEMPTON |
- through the merits of my blessed saviour to obtaine pardon & remission of all my sins, and my body I comit to the earth whence it was taken, to be decently buried by the desc[rJ etion of my executors herein after named; and as for the worldly goods and estate the lord hath lent me, I dispose thereof as follows
- Impr my will is that after my Just dets and funerall charges be paid, that all the rest & residue of my estate both housing lands, chattle & other my movables (ten pounds excepted) be equally divided betwen my children Jonathan Whitney, John Whitney, Josiah Whitney, Joseph Whitney, Benjamin Whitney, Lydia Addams and Abigail Whitney to them & their heires for ever.
- I give & bequeath to my grandchild Benjamin Fisher fower pounds towards his bringing up to be pd to my Daughter Abigaill Whitney within six months after my Deces, to be pd by my executors.
- I give and bequeath to my grandchild Anna Fisher six pounds to be pd her by my executors when she is of ye age of eighteen years or day of Marriag, which shall first happen, and I doe nominate appoint & ordaine my abovessl Sons Jonathan Whitney & John Whitney my executors to se this my last will & testament performed, making null & voide all former or other wills by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seale this twenty first Day of December one thousand seven hundred & two, and In the first year of her Majesties Reign Anne by ye grace of God of England &c. Queene
- Signed, Sealed and Published
- In the Prsence of us Jonathan Whitney
- Nathaniel Coilldg
- Thomas Whitney
- Munings Sawin
- (Proved Cambridge 1 March 1702[/3])
- An Inventory of the Estate of Jonathan Whitney Late of Sherborne Deceasd Jany 1 1702/3 as it was taken by us whose names are underwritten viz.
Imp: His wareing apparrell, books, money & armes 04.06.00 Beds and Beding and Houshold ware 11.14.00 Cart, plow & other utersills 02.12.00 one horse cattell and swine 24.08.00 Buildings & Lands and grain 88.16.00 Totall 131.16.00
- Benoni Larned
- John Coollidg
- March 1 1702[/3] (Middlesex Probate #24690)
Following his death, on 21 January 1714/5, the heirs of Jonathan Whitney Sr., late of Sherborn, being Jonathan, John, Josiah, Joseph, and Benjamin Whitney, and Lydia Adams and Abigail Whitney, all called his "orphants," acknowledged a 1702/3 agreement to leave the real estate to
| WHITNEY | 539 |
Joseph and Benjamin, with these two paying small sums to their remaining siblings (Middlesex Deed 17:167-9). Benjamin had to forfeit some of his portion because he neglected to settle some of the debts of the estate.
Children, surname WHITNEY:
| i. | LYDIA3, born Watertown, MA 3 July 1657 (WVR 1:18); died Sherborn, MA 27 May 1719 (SVR, 187); married Sherburn 15 April 1684 (SVR, 181) MOSES ADAMS, born 6 October 1654, died 27 May 1724 (Whitney genealogy, 24). No probate found. Children, surname Adams:
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| + ii. | JONATHAN, born Watertown 20 October 1659 (WVR 1:21) | ||||||||||||||||
| iii. | ANNA, born Watertown, MA 28 April 1660 (WVR 1:22); died Wrentham 6 March 1700/1 following the birth of her last child (WVR, 442); married as his first wile, before 1691 CORNELIUS FISHER, born 8 February 1660[/1] (Whitney genealogy, 24), died Wrentham 6 June 1743, age 84 years (WVR, 441) Cornelius married second Dedham 29 April 1702 (Wrentham VR, 293) Mary Colburn, died Wrentham 20 September 1726 (WVR, 444), with whom he had children: Merey and Esther. Cornelius married third Wrentham 13 February 1726/7 (WVR, 293) Mary Ware.
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| iv. | JOHN, born Watertown, MA 27 4mo 1662 (WVR 1:24); died before his inventory was taken 22 May 1735; married first Watertown 10 April 1688 (WVR 4:98) MARY HAPGOOD, born Sudbury, MA 2 November 1667 (SVR, 62), died Sherborn 13 January 1692[/3] (SVR, 228), daughter of Shadrack1 and Elizabeth (Treadway) Hapgood (see Hapgood Chapter); married second about 1694 |
| 540 | ANCESTRY OF EVA BELLE KEMPTON |
| SARAH HAVEN, born Lynn, MA 4 June 1665 (LVR 1:181), died 23 April 1718 (Whitney genealogy, M), daughter of Richard and Susanna (_____) Haven; married third 20 November 1718 (ibid.) MARTHA WALKER, died 14 November 1721 (ibid.). Children with first wife, surname Whitney:
Children with second wife, surname Whitney:
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| v. | JOSIAH, born Watertown, MA 19 May 1664 (WVR 1:26); died Wrentham, MA 29 December 1717 "in his 53" year" (WVR, 515); married first by 1686 MARY (_____), died Wrentham 18 July 1710 (WVR, 514); married second Dorchester, MA 3 November 1713 (but recorded Wrentham [WVR, 397]) ABIGAIL MARTEN, died Wrentham 6 December 1734 (WVR 514). Children with first wife, 2-5 named in father's division (Suffolk Probate 20:386), surname Whitney:
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| vi. | ELINOR, born Watertown, MA 12 October 1666 (WVR 1:28); died Watertown 23 November 1678 (WVR 1:44), about age 12. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| vii. | JAMES, born Watertown 25 9mo 1668 (WVR 1:30); died Sherborn 30 November 1690 (SVR, 227), about age 22. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| viii. | ISAAC, born Watertown 12 January 1670/1 (WVR 1:33); died Sherborn 5 December 1690 (SVR, 227), about age 19. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ix. | JOSEPH, born Watertown 10 March 1672/3 (WVR 1:36); named in his father's will; living in 1716 at bfrth of last child and certainly 4 February 1713/4 when his brother Benjamin made him a bequest (Middlesex Probate #24605); probably the Joseph who married REBECCA (_____) of Sherborn. Children, surname Whitney:
JONATHAN3 WHITNEY, born Watertown 20 October 1659 (WVR 1:21); died Concord 17 March 1734/5, age 76 years, 4 months, 28 days "husband of Mrs Sarah" (CVR, 128);  married say 1692 SARAH2 HAPGOOD, born Sudbury say 1672 (age five at the time her mother gave a final account of Shadrack Hapgood's estate, 1677, Middlesex Probate #10315), died Townsend 26 July 1746 "in her 75th year, relict of John [sic], late of Concord" (TVR 348), daughter of SHADRACK and ELIZABETH (TREADWAY) HAPGOOD (See Hapgood Chapter). In December 1701, Jonathan Whitney, Hopestill Lealand, Jonathan Fairbanks and Daniel Sheffield of Sherborn, and John Whitney and Benjamin Whitney of Framingham, were ordered to be brought to court for having "with force & arms & strong hands" gone into the dwelling house of Isaac Bowen of Framingham and "riotously assaulted" Bowen (Middlesex County Court files 2X 1701). Although the depositions assert that Jonathan Whitney and Hopestill Lealand went into the house, there are no clues here regarding the reasons for the conflict. The jury hearing the case found the defendants not guilty (Middlesex County General Sessions, 9 December 1701). It is possible that Jonathan Whitney of Concord, husbandman, was the man whom David Church of Marlborough, weaver, owed £15 and promised to pay in a bond dated 13 March 1715/6 (Middlesex County Court files 247-1715/6). In 1727 Ephraim Sawtell and Samuel Jones sued Jonathan Whitney for a modest debt (Middlesex County Court files F301-1727). On 24 July 1734 Jonathan Whitney sued in the County court over the failure of the town of Sherborn to acknowledge his inhabitancy and include him in all the division of lands that were his right since 30 May 1681 (Middlesex County Court 1681-1734-103A). He won the first case, heard by the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, but the judgment was appealled (Middlesex County Court 1734-106A-4). To the County court he brought an affidavit that stated that "Jonathan Whitney Junr" had been authorized to "take up his house lot according to Town Grant at Chestnut Brook according to his invoyce, so to take up his Divident on that which was granted to Isaac Learned..." and yet another copy of a town document showing that he was one of the first twenty families to settle in Sherbom (Middlesex County Court files 1734-106A-4). His grants were also recorded as: "twenty acres of upland for a houselot"; "five acres and a half of meadowland"; "eighteen acres and a half" of Divident land (ibid.).
His will was proved in 1735:
Item I give to my son Zacheus Whitney the sum of five pounds in money to be paid at the End of one year after my Decease
This inventory implies a refined and well-educated household. Children, surname WHITNEY:
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