Archive:The Ancestry of John Whitney, Chapter VIII, Part 3
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Melville, Henry, A.M., LL.B., The Ancestry of John Whitney: Who, with His Wife Elinor, and Sons John, Richard, Nathaniel, Thomas, and Jonathan, Emigrated from London, England, in the Year 1635, and Settled in Watertown, Massachusetts; the First of the Name in America, and the One from Whom a Great Majority of the Whitneys Now Living in the United States Are Descended (New York, NY: The De Vinne Press, 1896).
The Ancestry of John Whitney 241
Pages 50, 51:
At a generall towne metting Desember
the 4th, 54.
Voated that they will chose the selectmen for the yeer in-
sueing. Chossen to order the affaier of the town for this
yeer these men whose names are vndder written:
Deaken Stone, Mr. Whitney, Edward Garfield, Isaac
Mixer, Samuell Thatcher, Nathaniell Treadway John
Winkall:
* * * * * * *
At a meting of the select men the
29 of the 11
Ordered that John Whitney is tew Joyn with John Win-
coll and tew act in & tew dispose of parte of the goodes
and estate of the widow Brobroke for the painge of severall
Debtes and for mayntinans of hur and hur Children and the
are tew let hur house and land and are tew inquier after
hure Detes and to reseve them as shall bee fonnd due tew
hur and tew make returne tew the rest of the select men.
It was agreed upon that John Whitney sener is tew take
the Acounte of the rate that was Comited in tow the hands
of Mr. Norcrose and Thomas Vndrwood.
Granted unto Gorge Ademes fower akers of ground upon
Kinges Comen and is tow bee layd out by Ensine Sherman.
Granted at apublike meeting that Deaken Stone and
Samuell Thacher shall laye out for tew by goodman Leson
Clothes for his nesety the some or ether forty or fifty
shillings.
Ordered that John Whitney sener shall take an acount of
the Cunstabeles Thomas Underwood and [ ]
Pages 53 and 54, written by Whitney as town
clerk, show that he was a better penman than any
of the first ten holders of that office, except John
Sherman, and in composition and spelling was cer-
tainly equal to the best of them. If handwriting
242 The Ancestry of John Whitney contains any indication of character we also justified in assuming that he was a man who at some time in his life had been carefully taught and who then, at the age of sixty-three, was in excellent physical and mental condition. A photograph of page 53 is shown, which reads, in part, as follows: At ameeting of the select men at John Whitney1 house the 27 of 12, 1654. Ordered that all swine shall bee sufficiently ringed all the yeare and yoaked from the first of Aprill to the end of In- dian harvest with sufficient yoakes vnder the throat upon ye penalty of payinge one shilling for every defect the one halfe to the towne & the other halfe to him or them that shall find any swine not according to this order either in common or high way and if any swine not regulated ac- cording to this order shall brake Into any garden or corne feild then the owners of the said swine shall shutt them up for 14 dayes and not suffer them to come in Shutting up to common or high way til the 14 dayes be ex- repealed. pired vpon penalty of paying 12d for euery default to the use of the aforesaid. William Page and Anthony White are Chosen to prose- cute orders concerning swine and fenses &c. On page 54 there is an agreement drawn up and signed by him in a manner that would do credit to a practising attorney. A facsimile of it is shown in the printed edition of the "Watertown Records," pub- lished in 1894: At a meeting of the select men at Leiut. Beres on the first Day of October 1655. It was agreed betwixt the select men of the one party & 1 This may be the signature to minutes of previous meeting.
The Ancestry of John Whitney 243 Christopher Grant of the other ptie that the said select men in the behalfe of the towne shall giue vnto the said Chris- topher Grant assureance of six acres of land formerly sold by the select men to the said Christopher & shall pay also vnto the said Christopher or his assaynes twentie shillings in wheate & one & fortie shillings & six pense more out of the next towns rates: all which payments the said Christo- pher shall take in full satisfaction of all Debts dues & De- mands whatsoeuer from the towne of Watertowne from the beginning of the world to this present: in witnesse whereof both parties haue Interchangably set to their hands the Day & yeare aboue written. Christopher x Grant JOHN WHITNEY. his marke A photograph is given of a petition relative to lands in Watertown, now among the Archives in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, which also contains a good specimen of Whitney's signature. Owing to the loss of some pages of the first book of Town Records and the mutilation of others, it is impossible to say with certainty how many terms he served as a town officer--often enough to show con- clusively that he was one of Watertown's most re- spected citizens. There was no political position of greater honor. The "selectmen" were then what their name would suggest,--the pick of the freemen, administering all the town's affairs. There were some curious enactments which they were expected to enforce. For example, one affixing a penalty upon whoever "should suffer his dog to come to the Meeting upon the Lord's Day." In this connection the following entry in the rec- ords, made in 1664, is interesting:
244 The Ancestry of John Whitney 14/1/64. Thomas Whitney was chosen to take care that no dogs come into the Meeting house upon the Sabath days or other times of Publique worship; by whipping them out of the house: or any that bee near to the house at such times: and to have for his paines and care thirty shillings pr yeare. Att a Meeting of the Select Men at John Hamonds the 28/1/1664. Ordered that Thomas Whetney in regard of his present necessity shall have the one half of his sallery paid him in hand. This "Thomas" was John Whitney's fourth son. In addition to their regular duties it was provided that the "selectmen" should take turns "every man his day to site upon the gallery to look to the youths that they may prevent miscarriages in the time of public services on the Lords Day." The community had no objection to a man's dress- ing handsomely if he could afford it, but disliked dis- play or foppishness. They shrewdly turned the love of display of some impecunious individuals to public advantage, by providing that they should be rated for taxation in accordance with their apparent wealth. The "selectmen," were directed "to take notice of sundry persons in this towne who are in their habits contrary to the law concerning the excess of appa- rell," and to see that none "except such as the law doth allow do either wear silke goods or silke scarfes, gould or silver lace or buttons, ribbons at knees or trassed handkerchiefs, upon the forfeiture of what penalty the law doth apoynt which is that they shall be rated in the country rate after £200 in the same." The following was the provision for a school: Att a generall Towne Meeting upon ye 6th of the 11th month (50)
[Picture omitted]
PETITION AS TO LANDS IN WATERTOWN.
Showing signature of John Whitney.
The Ancestry of John Whitney 245 It was voted and agreed upon that Mr. Rich: Norcrosse was chosen School Master for the teaching of children to read and write and soe much Lattin according to an order of Courtt, as also if any of the Sd Towne have any maidens that haue a desire to learne to write that the Sd Richard should attend them for the learning off them as also that he teach Such as desir to cast accompt and that the Towne did promise to allow the Sd Richard for his employment thirty pounds for this yeare. In June, 1641, the "Quarter Court" of the colony commissioned Whitney "Constable of Watertown." This office, which to held for many years, was one of much dignity. Henry Austin Whitney thus speaks of it: "At that time constables were appointed by the General Court, and, besides the duties attached to the office in latter times, they were required to col- lect the taxes of the town and the levies made by the General Court; to pay the debts of the Colony due to individuals in their respective towns; to supply the town with sealed weights and measures; to set in order the watch in those towns where no captain dwelt; and to inflict the punishments ordered by judicial authority when there was not another ap- pointed to do it. As a badge of his office, a constable was required to carry a black staff five or five and one-half feet long with a top or head five or six inches long." He continued constable up to 1656, and probably longer. This entry is on the record: Dece. the 9th 1656 Reced from the County Treasurer warrant for a rate of fifty fiue pounds thirteen shillings three pence halfe peny £55 13s, 3 1/2d.
246 The Ancestry of John Whitney Deliuered at the same time into the hands of Mr. Whittney Constable, a rate signed vnder the hand of the townes Clarke somed vp and amounted to fifty-seven pounds £57. In 1658 this appears: Att a publique Towne meeting the 10th January 1658. Eph. Child chosen moderator. £ s. dew to Mr. Whittney for 2 Invoyces . . . 1 - 5 - 0 dew to Mr. Whittney for 7 foxes . . . 0 - 7 - 0 There was a bounty of one shilling for every fox killed, and he collected similar bills on several other occasions. There is a suggestion in the following that he con- tinued in public office until, through old age--he was then in his seventy-second year--his powers began to fail: Att a meeting of the Select men at Seargeant Brights the 8th of the 12 mo. 1663: Mr. Whittney making sum mistakes in Castinge the in- voyce whereby sum wrong is done in seuerall rates it is Ordered that Joseph Tainter and Nathaniell Treadway shall revue the invoyce and what they find not to be right cast up thay are to cast it up right and amend it on the rates It is noticeable how often he is referred to as "Mr. Whitney"1. This title was then comparatively seldom used and always with fine discrimination. None but the most highly respected citizens were considered entitled to it. Seven instances of its application to him have al- ready been noted. Here are some of the others: 1 His father is given the same title in the Westminster Records (see his burial).
The Ancestry of John Whitney 247 Page 45. At a meeting of the Select men the 8/ 4/ 1654 Robert Geneson and John Knapp Complaining that Ro- bert Daniell that hee Did not fence his portion within their field-- It Did appeare by testymony of Mr. Whitny, and his own Confession, that all his Land was by his owne act in agen- erall feild with them and hee Could not make it appeare that he hath taken himsefe orderly out. The sentance of the Select men is that wher as it Dooth apeere that Robert Daniel hath apassell of Land within their field Containing 8 or 10 akers mor or Less, that he shal fence for it by equall portion with the use of the Commoners. Page 56: Credits given the last yeare. £ s d In pri Edward Garfeild . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 6 John Wincoll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 6 Widow Mixter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 0 Mr. Whittney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 3 Nath Treadaway . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3 0 Thomas Vnderwood . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 12 8 Mr. Norcrosse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 9 3 Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 12 0 Edmond Bloyse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 10 0 To John Randoll for foxes . . . . . . . . 0 2 0 Charles Chadwick . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 0 Mr. Browne for beeing Deputie . . . . . . 2 8 0 To John Winckoll . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 0 Parks 2 foxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 2 0 Bush 1 fore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 Fle 1 foxe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 Sttratton 1 Day worke . . . . . . . . . . 0 2 0 Bright to widow Brabrooke . . . . . . . . 0 3 0 Thacher for Mr. Feake . . . . . . . . . . 4 10 0
248 The Ancestry of John Whitney
£ s d
for Phillpott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 0
For Beech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 0 0
Christopher Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 12 6
----------
48 8 8
Page 66:
Creditor to the town
£ s d
Cha: Chadwick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 10 0
Will Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2
Mr. Whittney for taking the townse
invoyce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
for 3 foxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
John Stone 1 foxe . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thomas Fleg 1 foxe . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Rich. Child 3 foxes . . . . . . . . . . . 3
& 1 fox more . . . . . . . . . . . &1
Joshua Fassum 1 foxe . . . . . . . . . . 1
John Witherall under the hands of John
Hamond Constable for 8 foxes . . . . 8
more John Witherall 8 foxes . . . . . . . 8
John Bisko Constable brings in
Thomas Smith for 6 foxes . . . . . . 6
Rich: Sawtell 2 foxes . . . . . . . . . . 2
John Winter 2 foxes . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chri: Grant 1 foxe . . . . . . . . . . . 1
more for the caring of things concerning Mary
Davise her child to Garett Church . . 3 8
for the widow Brabroke to Bro. Bearsto . 10 6
more for widow Brabroke to him . . . . . 1 8 0
Seargt. Bloyse for the pound . . . . . . 5 0 0
Mr. Norcrosse creditor to the 13th of Jan 13 02 0
Left Beeres in Sundry pticulars wth. the tran-
sportation of the corne . . . . . . . 13 6 8
to Left Beeres . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 8
Goodman Bloyse . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 10 0
[Picture omitted]
MINUTES OF THE QUARTER COURT.
Showing appointment of John Whitney as Constable of Watertown.
The Ancestry of John Whitney 249
£ s d
Brother Thacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 5 10
more to Brother Thacher
For 52 weekes at 2s the weeke . . . . 7 16 0
& for the losse he ptends will be in the taking of
this some . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 17 4
Page 95:
Reckoned wth Mr. Whittney & John Hammond £ s d
Constables & apo a Country rate of this yeare
in some . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 0 0
ye are indebted apon yt rate & apo a towne
rate of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 13 2
ye are indebted to the towne . . . . . . 3 12 7
& the bill of debts committed into there hand
is in pt unsatissffied as it stands apo record.
Page 98:
Credit given to the towne. £ s d
Mr. Norcrosse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 3 0
2 County warents . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 0 0
to John Witheral
to Geo Woodward
to Mr Whittney
Thacher
Mr Whittney
Crisp for widow Brabrooke
Bearsto for Knop
Left Beeres
Cha. Chadwick
bro. Bloyse
for ould Knop
Page 105:
Att a meeting of the Select men
att Capt Masans the 23 of march. 59
There beeing a Case psented unto the select men of diffar-
ence concerning Fences, betwixt Will Bond & Mr Whittney,
250 The Ancestry of John Whitney and the sd Willi was wiling to referr the case to the 7 men; but in the interim all pties concerned in the case, yt is to say Mr. Whittney, Martin Vnderwood & Henry Spring, in reference to the fence in deference, namely the fence yt is the betwixt Will Bond one ptie & the three aboue named the other ptie who doe ingage to make thirty rod of the sd Fence diffarence, & to maintaine it from henceforth. Page 108: towne Creditors. £ s d Edmond Bloyse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 0 Mr. Whittney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 0 Brother Thacher for foxes . . . . . . . . 1 4 0 Chosen to Order the towne affaires for this yeare Capt Masan, Ephraim Child, Leftt Beeres, Sargt Bright Michakk Bearsto, Charles Chadwick, Tho. Hastings. Chosen to keepe the towne Booke is Emphraim Child. John Coolig Senior & Nathan Fiske for Sarueires. Josep Mosses & Willia Shattock are Chosen for to looke to the order concerning hogs & Fences, & are to be regu- lated by such orders as shall be apoynted by the Select men. Mr Norcrosse was Chosen for Schoolemaister for this yeare apon the same tearmes as in former yeares. Page 111: Mr Norcrosse complaining of some neglect of the schoole howse as yett not finished, the select men promised a re- dresse. Charles Chadwick, & Ephraim Child are apoynted to make the Country rate, & to call into them Mr. Whittney who hath the invoyce. Page 116: A meeting of the Select men the 8th of January 1660. att Bro. Bearstoe. Upon a complaint of such as haue to gather the Country
The Ancestry of John Whitney 251 rate wee weare informed yt the estate of the deceased Joh Flemin was left out of the sd rate. It is ordered yt Mr Whittney shall enquire apon whose head it is, to lett John Bernard know yt if he will not make it knowne, yt then Mr Whitney doe warne the sd John Bernard to make his answer the next meeting of the Select men, yt the country may not be wronged. Page 117: Creditor to the towne: £ s d Mr. Norcrosse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 0 0 Roger Willington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 16 8 Mr. Whittney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 0 John Sawin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 10 0 John Larance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 01 6 Tho. Tarboll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 6 0 Daniel Metup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 2 0 John Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 Tho. Whittney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 Rich. Bloyse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 Rich. Sautle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 2 0 John Bigula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 2 0 Jona: Browne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 5 0 John. Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 Left Beeres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 10 0 For the country rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 9 6 Samuel Thacher for Mr Pheakes . . . . . . . . 7 16 0 Edmond Bloyse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 0 Edward Garfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 4 0 John Benjamin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 John Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 For the meeting howse . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 16 0 For the buying of the amunition . . . . . . . 1 0 0 For the releefe of the pore . . . . . . . . . 10 0 0 For the meeting howse . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 0 0 For the exspencses of the deputies at boston . 2 6 4 The fines of hogs comes to . . . . . . . . . . 10 10 0
252 The Ancestry of John Whitney Page 126: November the 16th 1663 at a General meeting. It was agreed that the pastuor shall have for his maintainance this yeer on hundered and forty pounds. Mr Whetney was Chossen to take an inventory of the es- tate of the towne. It will be noticed that, though many citizens are mentioned, "Mr." Whitney shared his distinction with but three others, of whom one was Mr Norcross, the schoolmaster, and another Mr. Browne, the deputy to the general court. Of his wife Elinor, mother of his eight sons, noth- mg appears except that she died in Watertown, May 11, 1659, at the age of sixty. His children were: 1. Mary, Baptized at Isleworth, England, May 23, 1619. Probably died young. 2. John, Baptized at Isleworth, England, Sept. 14, 1621; m. 1642, Ruth Reynolds, daughter of Robert Reynolds of Watertown and Boston; had a family of five sons and five daughters, viz: (1) John, (2) Ruth, (3) Nathaniel, (4) Sam- uel, (5) Mary, (6) Joseph, (7) Sarah, (8) Elizabeth, (9) Han- nah, (10) Benjamin; d. in Watertown, Oct. 12, 1692, aged 71 years. From him was descended ELI WHITNEY the inventor of the "cotton gin." 3. Richard, Baptized at Isleworth, England, January 6, 1624. Came to Watertown, Mass., with his father in 1635; m. in Wat. March 19, 1651, Martha Coldam. Moved from Wat. to Stow, Mass. in 1681. Had family of four sons and four daughters, viz: (1) Sarah, (2) Moses, (3) Johanna, (4) Debora, (5) Rebecca, (6) Richard, (7) Elisha, (8) Ebenezer; d. in Stow.
The Ancestry of John Whitney 253 His descendants include General Josiah Whitney, Gen- eral James Scollay Whitney, Henry Melville Whitney, Hon. William Collins Whitney, Rev. Dr. Henry Whitney Bellows, Prof. Josiah Dwight Whitney, Prof. William Dwight Whit- ney, and many other persons of distinction. 4. Nathaniel, Born in England; not mentioned in father's will. Probably died young. 5. Thomas, Born in England; m. Mary Kedall (Kendall) of Watertown. Had seven sons and four daughters, viz: (1) Thomas, (2) John, (3) John, (4) Eleazer, (5) Elnathan, (6) Mary, (7) Bezaleel, (8) Sarah, (9) Mary, (10) Isaiah, (11) Martha; d. in Watertown, Sept. 20, 1719, aged about 90 years. 6. Jonathan, Born in England about 1634; m. Oct. 30, 1656, Lydia Jones. Moved from Watertown to Sherbourne, 1679. Had seven sons and four daughters, viz: (1) Lydia, (2) Jonathan, (S) Anna, (4) John, (5) Josiah, (6) Elinor, (7) James, (8) Isaac, (9) Joseph, (10) Abigail, (11) Benjamin; d. in Sherbourne, Dec. 1702, aged 68 years. From him was descended Asa Whitney, b. Dec. 1, 1791, in Townsend, Mass., who invented corrugated and annealed car wheels, was president of Reading R. R., &c. &c. 7. Joshua, The first Whitney born in America; b. in Watertown July 15, 1635, a few weeks after the landing of the family. Was one of the first settlers of Groton, Mass.; had three wives, viz: Lydia, Mary, and Abigail; and four sons and seven daughters, viz: (1) Hannah, (2) Joshua, (3) Sarah, (4) Abigail, (5) Mary, (6) William, (7) Cornelius, (8) David, (9) Martha, (10) Elizabeth, (11) Eleanor; d. in Groton, Mass., August 7, 1719, aged 83 years. 8. Caleb, Born in Watertown, and died 1640. 9. Benjamin, Born in Watertown, June 6, 1643. Lived in Watertown, York, Me., Cocheco and Sherbourne, Mass.; had two wives, Jane and Mary; one daughter and three sons, viz: (1) Jane, (2) Benjamin, (3) Jonathan, (4) Joshua; d. in Sherbourne, 1723, aged 80 years.
254 The Ancestry of John Whitney These records, though meager, are perhaps enough to enable us to form some idea of Mr. Whitney's characteristics, physical and mental. That he was above the average in size and strength may be in- ferred from the fact that he was selected for the office of constable, representing the majesty of the law and the dignity of the State, and from his liv- ing to be eighty-one and maintaining the manage- ment of his farm until he was seventy-six. That he had a good education for the times is shown by an examination of his accounts, made up in a neat and orderly manner, and of the handwriting, spelling, and expression of his other records, and a comparison of them with those of his contemporaries. That he was scrupulously honest is evident from the fact that for so many years he was selected to handle the public money. That he was an active, energetic man of superior ability is certain from the fact that his merits were recognized so quickly in a community composed of an excellent class of citizens. Finally, we can be certain that he was a God-fearing Chris- tian of the strictest conduct in private life, from the fact that he was a member of one of the earliest Puritan churches in the New World. In the Watertown Records for 1673 is this entry: John Whitney, widdower, deceased first of June, aged abought eighty-four years.1 His will, made upon his death-bed, written by his friend William Bond, is on file in the office of the Re- 1 His actual age was eighty-one. An overestimate in case of an octogenarian is not surprising. The "abought" indicates that the clerk had no accurate information.
The Ancestry of John Whitney 255 gister of Probate for Middlesex County at East Cam- bridge, Mass. The following is a copy: I JOHN WHITNEY SENIOR of Watertown, in ye County of Middlesex: being perfect and sound in memory and under- standing blessed be God for it: doo declare this to be my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth Fst. I commit my spirit 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 beaver-brook meadow with ye upland yt doth aper- taine thereto: and a yoake of oxen: or nine pounds ten shillings: and ten acres of my land called devedend land and a trunke and one paire of sheets and one paire of pil- low beers and two pewter dishes a great one and a small one and the bed whereon I lie with all ye furniture there- unto 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 pew- ter dish. 5 ly. I give unto my son Jonathan Whitney: one iron kittle and a great brass skillit. 6 ly. I give unto my son Joshua Whitney: twenty acres of my land called devedend: and a cubard and a little 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 will is yt what of my estate be left over after all is paid out as above 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 Joshua Whitney; to be my executors to this my Will and testa-
256 The Ancestry of John Whitney
ment and doo desire my loving friend William Bond Senior
to see yt this my will be performed according to ye true in-
tent of it as is aforesaid and doo set to my hand this 3rd of
Aprill: 1673.
ye interline in ye line
24 ye word divided:
was done before any
subscribing or Sealing
In ye presence of us:
William Bond Senior ye marke of
Sarah Bond Senior x (L. S.)
John Whitney Senior
17. 4 .73. at Charlestown Court attested on oath by Wm.
Bond and Sarah his wife attest
Thos. Danforth.
[Endorsement] This is the last and third will of John
Whitney.
The small amount given to some of his sons was
because he had previously provided them with farms.
The following is a copy of the inventory, also on
file at East Cambridge. It is gratifying to note that
"the old mare" lived.
This is an Inventory of ye estate of Mr. John Whitnie
Senior: taken this 4th of July, 1673: by us whose names
are hereunto subscribed.
Imprs:
Wearing cloths. £ s. d.
a sad colorid Sute coat and breeches: 1 10 0
ye rest of bothe linin and woolin and shoos
stockins hats gloves: being much worne: 2 10 0
ye bed whereon he lay with all the furniture
thereunto belonging 5 0 0
The Ancestry of John Whitney 257
£ s. d.
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 botle 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 vessels 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 half in 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 paire of iron pins for ye extree a paire of
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
258 The Ancestry of John Whitney
£ s. d.
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 etc. etc. of 0 14 0
Joseph Underwood
William Bond
Nathan Fiske Senior.
At a court at Charlestown
17. 4. 1673.
Sworn by ye executors
Thos. Danforth.
It is probable that differences of opinion in religion
and politics restricted intercourse between the two
branches of the family long before the emigration,
and that this event cut it off entirely. The imme-
diate descendants of the Puritan were content to date
the commencement of their history in 1635, and, with
a new world of boundless possibilities before them,
they neither knew nor cared what had gone before.
If there were still Whitneys of Whitney, they
would doubtless have traditions of many an event
as joyous as the marriage feast of Robert and Alice,
and as terrible as the slaughter at Pilleth; tales
would have been handed down of thrilling adven-
ture in border forays, of romance and intrigue, of
gallant feats of arms at tournament and on battle-
field--tales the truth of which would be capable of
confirmation; but for more than two centuries, a
lord of another name has held the manor and resided
at Whitney Court.
When, therefore, at this late day, two hundred
and sixty years after he settled at Watertown,
The Ancestry of John Whitney 259 we attempt to learn something of "the Ancestry of John Whitney," we have hardly a clue to guide us, and can only search at random among the great mass of, often unassorted, materials that makes up the archives of England, in the hope that some- thing of interest has escaped destruction and that we may happen upon it. The foregoing pages embody what has thus far been discovered, and there is no stronger proof of the worth of the gallant knights and squires who made their home on the banks of the Wye, than that, with all this handicap, we can learn enough to tell a connected story of their lives. They certainly had in their veins some of the best blood of England and were held in high regard by their contemporaries. Mr. Green's remark that the family "yielded in nearly every generation one or more members of eminence" was fully justified. What little we know is of such a character as to render it sure that the full truth would do them even greater credit. They deserved a better fate than to be forgotten by their descendants, and it is hoped that hereafter many will rise up to do them reverence, so that, in the words of the Oxford scholar: Though Whitney's dead his name shall never dye.
[Picture omitted]
THE IMPALED ACHIEVEMENT OF
SIR ROBERT WHITNEY, OF WHITNEY, KNIGHT,
AND DAME SYBIL, HIS WIFE,
AS BY THEM ENTITLED TO BE BORNE ON THE DEATH OF
SYMON BREYNTON, OF STRETTON SUGWAS, ESQUIRE,
UNCLE TO THE SAID SYBIL, WITHOUT ISSUE LAWFUL,
ANNO . . . ELIZ.
MARSHALED BY C. E. GILDERSOME-DICKINSON
OF LONDON.
DEXTER, QUARTERLY OF TWENTY-SIX.
SINISTER, QUARTERLY OF THIRTY-EIGHT.
+-----------+----------+----------+---------+-----------+----------+----------+---------+
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | |Baskerville| Rees | | |
| Whitney |Milbourne |Eynesford |Furnival | of | of | Lenthall | Le Gros |
| of | of | of | of | Eardisley | Wales | | |
| Whitney |Tillington|Tillington| Munden | | | | |
| | | |Furnival +-----------+----------+----------+---------+
| | | | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|-----------+----------+----------+---------+ | | | |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Botler |Pedwardine| Solers | Paveley |
| | | | | | | | |
| Luvetot | Ledet | Folliot |Reincurt | | | | |
| of | of | of | of +-----------+----------+----------+---------+
| Worksop | Ramerick | Ramerick |Ramerick | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Bruges | | | |
| | | | | of | Pycard | Sapie |Delamere |
|-----------+----------+----------+---------+ Letton | | | |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | | | | |
| | | | +-----------+----------+----------+---------+
| Morville | | |Stutville| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| of | Engayne | Trivers | of | | | | |
| Isell | | | Kirk | Breynton |Milbourne |Eynesford |Furnival |
| | | | Oswald | of | of | of | of |
| | | | | Stretton |Tillington|Tillington| Munden |
| | | | | Sugwas | | |Furnival |
|-----------+----------+----------+---------+-----------+----------+----------+---------+
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| | | | | | | | |
|Baskerville| Rees | | | Luvetot | Ledet | Folliot |Reincurt |
| of | of | Lenthall | Le Gros | of | of | of | of |
| Icomb | Wales | | | Worksop | Ramerick | Ramerick |Ramerick |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | +-----------+----------+----------+---------+
| | | | | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|-----------+----------+----------+---------+ | | | |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Morville | | |Stutville|
| | | | | of | Engayne | Trivers | of |
| | | | | Isell | | | Kirk |
| Botler |Pedwardine| Solers | Paveley | | | | Oswald |
| | | | +-----------+----------+----------+---------+
| | | | | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | |Baskerville| Rees | Lenthall | Le Gros |
|-----------+----------+----------+---------+ of | of | | |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Icomb | Wales | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Bruges | | | +-----------+----------+----------+---------+
| of | Pycard | Sapie |Delamere | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Letton | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Botlar |Pedwardine| Solers | Paveley |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
|-----------+----------+----------+---------+-----------+----------+----------+---------+
| 25 | 26 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| | | | | | |
| Blacket | Whitney | Bruges | Pycard | Sapie |Delamere |
\ of | of | of | | | /
\ Icomb | Whitney | Letton | | | /
\ | +-----------+-----+----+----------+------/
\ | | 37 | 38 /
`. | | | .'
`. | | Blacket | Baskerville ,'
`. | | of | of ,'
`. | | Icomb | Eardisley ,'
`. | | | ,'
`. | | | ,'
`. | | | ,'
`. | | | ,'
`-| | | ,-'
`-. | |-'
`-. | ,-'
`-._ | _,-'
`-._______|_______,-'
KEY TO IMPALED ACHIEVEMENT SHOWN ON OPPOSITE PAGE.
Dexter, 1 and 26, azure, a cross chequy or and gules. Dexter 2 and Sinister 14, gules, a chevron between 3
escalops argent. Dexter 3 and Sinister 15, gules, fretty ermine. Dexter 4 and Sinister 16, argent, a bend
between 6 martlets gules, a crescent for difference. Dexter 5 and Sinister 17, argent, a lion rampant per
fess gules and sable. Dexter 6 and Sinister 18, gules, a fess dancetté between 14 cross crosslets 4 and 3, 3
and 4, or. Dexter 7 and Sinister 19, barry nebulé of 6, ermine and gules. Dexter 8 and Sinister 20, azure,
a fess dancetté between 6 garbs or. Dexter 9 and Sinister 21, azure, semée de lis, fretty or. Dexter 10
and Sinister 22, gules, a fess dancetté between 6 cross crosslets or. Dexter 11 and Sinister 23, argent, 3 bears
statant in pale sable. Dexter 12 and Sinister 24, barry of 12 argent and gules. Dexter 13 and Sinister 25,
argent, a chevron gules between 3 hurts, a crescent for difference. Dexter 14 and Sinister 2 and 26, quar-
terly per fess indented gules and ermine, in chief a file of 3 per fess or and sable. Dexter 15 and Sinister 3
and 27, gules, a fess ermine, in chief a file of 5 or. Dexter 16 and Sinister 4 and 28, quarterly argent and
azure, on a bend sable 3 martlets or. Dexter 17 and Sinister 5 and 29, gules, a fess chequy argent and sable
between 6 cross crosslets or. Dexter 18 and Sinister 6 and 30, argent, 2 lions passant in pale, their tails in-
terlaced between the hinder legs azure, langued gules. Dexter 19 and Sinister 7 and 31, argent, a chevron
azure between 3 lions' heads erased gules. Dexter 20 and Sinister 8 and 32, azure, a cross fleuretté or. Dex-
ter 21 and Sinister 9 and 33, argent, on a cross sable a leopard's face or. Dexter 22 and Sinister 10 and 34,
gules, a fess or between 3 escalops argent. Dexter 23 and Sinister 11 and 35, argent, on a bend gules 3
buckles or. Dexter 24 and Sinister 12 and 36, argent, a fess between 3 cinquefoils gules. Dexter 25 and
Sinister 37, azure, a bend coticed between 6 cross crosslets fitchée or. Sinister 13, argent, a chevron be-
tween 3 martlets sable. Sinister 1 and 38, argent, a chevron gules between 3 hurts.
Copyright © 2004, 2006, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group
Categories:
- England
- London, England
- Westminster, Middlesex, England
- Middlesex, England
- Isleworth, Middlesex, England
- Herefordshire, England
- Pencombe, Herefordshire, England
- Gloucestershire, England
- Surrey, England
- Lambeth, Surrey, England
- Massachusetts
- Middlesex County, Massachusetts
- Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
- Heraldry
