Archive:The Descendants of John Whitney, page 124
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The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635, by Frederick Clifton Pierce (Chicago: 1895)
Transcribed by the Whitney Research Group, 1999.
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| 124 | WHITNEY GENEALOGY. |
settled finally on the paternal homestead. He was the worthy head of a worthy fam- ily. He was so strictly conscientious that when the pension law had passed, favor- ing with pensions the surviving Revolutionary soldiers, and his papers were all made out making perfectly valid his claim, on hearing them read over and finding that he had got to swear that he was a needy applicant, he positively refused to make oath or to have his pension on such terms, declaring that he was not thus needy, but had lived and could live without the pension. He was told that others much richer than himself made no scruples of swearing that they needed the proferred pension; but, though in really moderate circumstances, he persistently stuck to his scruples. He made his will Jan 16, 1825. It was probated July 1, 1828. He served in the Revolu- tionary army, in Capt. JENNISON's company from Mendon, Mass. He d. May 22, 1828; res. Milford, Mass. 1690. i. ABIGAIL, b. Mar 6, 1773; m. 1798, Barnard BOYDEN [NOTE]; b. Mar 6, 1773 [NOTE]. Ch.: Elias, b. July 5, 1779; Ellis, b. ----- [NOTE]; res. Milford. 1691. ii. MELLEN, b. Dec 9, 1774; m. Jane RICHARDSON. 1692. iii. REBECCA, b. Dec 14, 1776; m. June 22, 1797, Amos HOWARD [NOTE], b. Oct 2, 1769; d. Sept 1, 1829. She d. Nov 25, 1827 [NOTE]; res. Milford. Ch.: Sibbia, b. May 22, 1798; Lucy, b. Dec 22, 1799; d. June 30, 1822 [NOTE]; John, b. June 10, 1802; m. Chloe A GOULD; Margaret, b. Feb 9, 1805; d. Mar 3 1832; Amos, b. Apr 2, 1807; m. Elvira GOULD; Emery, b. Apr 11, 1809; d. Jan 9, 1829; Rebecca, b. Aug 4, 1812; m. Sewell H. GOULD; Andrew J., b. Dec 7, 1818; m. Laurinda HOWARD. 1693. iv. LYDIA, b. Apr 12, 1779; m. 1798 [NOTE] Abijah CLARK; b. Sept 1776 [NOTE]; res. Becket, Mass. She d. bef. 1808. Ch.: Alexander, Whitney, Eliza and Stearnes. 1694. v. JONATHAN, b. May 9, 1781; m. Lavina COOMBS. 1695. vi. LABAN, b. Oct 24, 1783; m. Olive GREEN. 1696. vii. LUCY, b. Jan 6, 1786; m. Feb 1, 1803 [NOTE], John WOOD; rem. Barre, Vt. Although the records of Mrs. WOOD's native town show her to have been born Jan 6, it is related that Mrs. WOOD a few years ago changed the date in the family bible to the 16th, and she now insists on observing the later date. Mrs. WOOD was born at Jaffrey, NH, Jan. 6, 1786, and is therefore three years older than the Federal government. She has witnessed the rise and fall of every political party and every presidential campaign from the days of WASHINGTON to those of Grover CLEVELAND's second triumph? Her maiden name was Lucy WHITNEY, being one of a family of 11 children. At the age of 9 years her father moved to Milford, Mass. During her 16th year she was a pupil in a Milford singing school, John WOOD, a young man from the adjoining town of Mendon, also trying to master the difficult "do, me, sol" While rehearsing their parts together Cupid accomplished his purpose, and on Feb 1, 1803, the young couple were made man and wife by Amariah FROST. They went to Vt. to Barre. The young husband built a cottage on the east hill. There were no doors or windows. The fireplace and chimney were constructed of stone, and the house was divided into two rooms by a blanket hung in the center. Mr. WOOD erected an oven in the clearing outside the house, and Mrs. WOOD proudly declares that the best cooking she has ever done was performed in that ancient oven. As soon as the house was finished both husband and wife worked early and late to clear the land and burn the brushwood about the dwelling. On many nights dur- ing the absence of Mr. WOOD, who had gone to the nearest sett- lement for supplies, the good wife has sat by the candle light through the midnight hours keeping a bright fire burning to scare away the wolves that were howling about the house. Sometimes they were brave enough to come by the blanket which covered the door not daring to proceed further for fear of the flames. Mr. WOOD was a teamster for the United States government in the war of 1812, his route being from Wells river to Burling- ton. The care of the farm and family devolved upon Mrs. WOOD. During her husband's absence the house caught fire
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