Archive:History of Westminster, Heywood, Whitney 5

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Archives > Archive:Extracts > Archive:History of Westminster, Massachusetts > History of Westminster, Heywood, Whitney 5

Heywood, William Sweetzer, History of Westminster, Massashusetts (First named Narragansett No. 2), From the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a Biographic-Genealogical Register of its Principal Families, (Vox Populi Press: S.W. Huse & Co., Lowell, Mass.: 1893); New England Historic Genealogical Society Call No. F/74/W72/H6.

WHITNEY
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[146.] Whitney, Jonas5, another s. of Ensign David4 of Waltham, and hence bro. of Nathan (82), was b. June 25, 1733. He followed his elder bro. to Nar. No. 2, and on the 20th July, 1757, bought of Samuel Merriam of Lex. the farm and buildings

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originally belonging to Nathan (76) Merriam, dec'd. The estate consisted, substantially, of the present homestead of Daniel (15) Harrington and his s., James, in the south part of town. The house then standing on the premises was located some twelve or fifteen rods N. E. of the now existing one, in the open field, all marks of which were long since obliterated. He m. Sept. 27, of the same year, Sarah Whittemore of Lexington, by whom he had 5 chn. Jonas Whitney d. Sept. 8, 1778, a. 45; his wid. d. July 26, 1821. Chn.:
147. Jonas6, March 10, 1761; m. Betsey (6) Raymond; res. W.
148. Ruhamah6, b. April 11, 1763; m. Ebenezer Buss; res. Stg.; 7 chn.; d. 1786.
149. Joel6, b. Sept. 13, 1765; m. twice; res. W.
150. Joseph6, b. April 27, 1768; d. Sept. 13, 1778.
151. Benjamin6, b. April

28, 1770; m. Nancy Fuller; res. Marlboro', N. H.; sev. chn.

[147.] Whitney, Jonas6, son of the last, m. Betsey (6), dau. of Jonathan and Susannah (White) Raymond, Dec. 1, 1785, and succeeded to the estate of his f. He was a man of marked natural ability and strength of character. Of excellent judgment, well informed, thoroughly upright and trustworthy, he held a high place in public esteem, and was often chosen to fill important posts of public service, the duties of which he discharged with singular fidelity and effectiveness. He was 11 years Selectman, 24 years Assessor, and 13 years Representative to the Gen. Ct., a term of service in that capacity more than twice as long as that of any other person in the history of the town. He was also Justice of the Peace, being well known as "Squire Whitney," and had much to do in the administration and settlement of estates. His life was long, busy, useful, and full of honor. He d. Jan. 3, 1839, a. 77. His wid., Betsey (Raymond) Whitney, d. Nov. 18, 1857, a. 91. Chn.:
152. Betsey7, b. Sept. 3, 1786; d. July 7, 1787.
153. Betsey7, b. April 1, 1788; m. Abijah Whitney; res. Lunenburg; sev. chn.
154. Arethusa7, b. Sept. 26, 1790; d. Aug. 4, 1796.
155. Polly E.7, b. Oct. 25, 1792; m. John Perkins; res. Leom.; sev. chn.; d. Aug. 20, 1874.
156. Joseph7, b. Dec. 18, 1794; m. Sally (14) Harrington; res. W.
157. Charles7, b. March 21, 1797; m. Sally (14) Howard; res. W., etc.
158. Myra7, b. July 16, 1799; m. Leonard (8) Minott, etc.; res. W. and Gr.; no chn.; d. Sept. 1, 1872.
159. Nancy7, b. March 9, 1803; m. Aretas (69) Raymond; res.W.; 3 chn.; d. Aug. 7, 1875.
160. Jonas7, b. July 10, 1807; m. Lucinda (18) Damon; res. W.
161. Harrison G.7, b. Jan. 2, 1812; m. twice; res. W.
[149.] Whitney, Joel6, bro. of the last, and like him a man of vigorous intellect, good practical judgment, and great force of character. His positive convictions and love of argument won for him in certain circles the expressive title of "Old Reason." He lived for a few years with his bro. Jonas on the paternal estate, but at length sold to him, and purchased the place now owned by J. C. (2) Goodridge on the No. Common, where his remaining life was spent. His services were much

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in demand as arbitrator for the settlement of personal differences and questions of controversy, requiring for their proper adjustment, good sense, an impartial judgment, freedom from prejudice, and the disposition to deal fairly and honorably with all parties concerned. He m. (1) Lucy (23), dau. of Abner and Elizabeth (Darby) Holden, in 1790. She bore him 1 chd. and died Dec. 1, 1791, a. 21, and he m. (2) her sr. Abigail (22) (Holden) Merriam, wid. of Nathan (76) (pub. June 4, 1796), by whom he had 6 chn. He d. Jan. 3, 1839, a. 77. His wid. d. Nov. 18, 1848, a. 84. His chn. were:
162. Lucy7, b. Nov. 25, 1791; m. Joseph (7) Brown; res. W.; 4 chn.; d. Oct. 18, 1821.
163. Cynthia7, b. Oct. 12, 1797; m. Ebenezer Jones; res. W., etc. 1 chd.; d. 1891.

[p. 728-729] 8. Jones, Ebenezer6, was s. of Timothy5 of Pn., birth date unkn. He also came to W. as a teacher as early as 1813, and m. Sept. 21, 1820, Cynthia, dau. of Joel and Abigail (Holden) Whitney. He was associated in business with his bro.-in-law, Farwell Cowee, as stated on p. 592, and was a sharer with him in whatever of folly, recklessness, or dishonor was involved in the financial catastrophe, which brought their partnership to an end and caused much trouble to the community at large. Mr. Jones, however, remained here a few yrs. after the disaster occurred, but eventually followed his old associate to Troy, N. Y., where he kept a hotel awhile, and where he d. Aug. 18, 1836, a. 43. His wid., Cynthia, d. April 7, 1891, at the advanced a. of 92. They had but 1 child:
9. John Walter7, b. Aug. 7, 1821; m. Harriet Carter; res. Troy; 1 chd.; dec'd.

164. Joseph H.7, b. Dec. 27, 1799; m. Betsey Pratt; res. W., etc.
165. Horace7, b. April 26, 1802; m. Mary (55) Sawin; res. W., etc.
166. Elizabeth B.7, b. May 27, 1804; m. Timothy Weeks; res. Lowell; sev. chn.
167. Theodore7, b. April 2, 1807; m. Betsey (46) Wheeler; res. W.
168. Relief F.7, b. Feb. 22, 1810; m. ---- Tripp; res. N. Y. State.
[156.] Whitney, Joseph7, s. of Jonas and Betsey (Raymond) Whitney, m. Sally (14), dau. of Benjamin and Sarah (Woodward) Harrington, Nov. 20, 1823. He was a carpenter by trade, and for many years a leading contractor and builder in W. and neighboring towns. Several meetinghouses in this general vicinity were erected under his supervision, his thorough acquaintance with his business, and his well-earned reputation for integrity and honor creating a demand for his services wherever he was known. He was a strong temperance man, having the courage of his convictions, and was a member of the first Board of Selectmen elected on that issue, in 1843. As the infirmities of age came upon him he disposed of his property in W. and rem. to Leom., where his chn. were living, spending his last days in the immediate neighborhood of his entire family. He d. April 6, 1873, a. 80. His w., Sally (Harrington) Whitney, dec'd. Their chn. were:
169. Susan E.8, b. Oct. 25, 1826; m. Philip Lothrop; res. Leom.; 3 chn.; living.
170. Francis A.8, b. Feb. 5, 1830; m. twice; 5 chn.
171. William B.8, b. Aug. 23, 1841; m. Julian P. Tilton; 1 chd; d. Sept. 30, 1891.
Francis A. Whitney8 (170), upon starting out in life, located in Leominster, where he has been actively engaged in the manufacture of children's carriages and other industrial enterprises. He is a man of high standing in the business world and has contributed largely to the prosperity of his adopted town. His bro., Wm. B., a man of genuine worth, was for some years associated with him in the carriage trade.
[157.] Whitney, Charles7, bro. of the last, m. Sally (14), dau. of Joseph and Hannah (Pollard) Howard, and lived on the ancestral farm till after the decease of his f., when he disposed of the property and spent a few years elsewhere in town. He finally rem. to Monticello, Minn., where himself and w. d. at an unkn. date. Chn.:
172. C. Orlando8, b. Feb. 4, 1830. 173. Merrill8, b. Dec. 24, 1831.
174. Henry8, b. March 4, 1834. 175. Sarah H.8, b. June 23, 1836.
176. William H.8, b. Jan. 16, 1840.  

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[160.] Whitney, Jonas7, another s. of Jonas6 and Betsey, m. Lucinda (18), dau. of Timothy and Phebe (Miller) Damon, and settled on Bacon St., where he res. through life. He was also a carpenter by trade and an exemplary citizen. He d. Dec. 15, 1884, a. 77. His w. d. April 10, 1868, a. 58. Chn.:
177. George8, b. Oct. 15, 1834; m. Julia Crocker; res. Leom.
178. Mary8, b. Feb. 6, 1841; m. George W. (40) Eaton; res. W.; no chn.
[161.] Whitney, Harrison G.7, youngest s. of Jonas6 and Betsey, m. (1) May 18, 1837, Laura L. Carpenter, dau. of Alanson and Avis of Keene, N. H. She d. Nov. 12, 1854, a. 39, and he m. (2) Eliza Ann, dau. of Cheney and Mary Solander of Brimfield, Dec. 25, 1855. For many years Mr. Whitney was a merchant in the Central village, but later in life he purchased the bakery and carried on awhile the manufacture of the celebrated "Westminster Bread." Was also engaged somewhat at last in probate and insurance business.

Possessing many of the qualities which distinguished his f., he also shared to a large degree the regard and confidence of the public. He held all the important offices in the gift of his fellow-citizens, including that of Rep. to the Gen. Ct. for two successive terms. He was a public spirited citizen, lending his sympathy and co-operation to whatever was deemed by him conducive to the general welfare. A thorough-going temperance man, his influence was on the right side of that beneficent reform. Hostile to the system of Am. Slavery, he joined the so-called Free Soil party of 1848, and its lineal successor, the Republican party of 1856, remaining its devoted adherent to the last. Having considerable natural musical ability, improved by training and practice, he was for many years the efficient leader of the Congregational Chh. choir. His useful and honorable life came to its close Jan. 19, 1890, at the ripe age of 78. His second w., an estimable woman, passed away a few months before, June 25, 1889, a. 69. Chn.:
179. Harrison B.8, b. Feb. 14, 1841; m. Francillia Spalding; res. Leom.; 4 chn.; l.
180. Ellen L.8, b. May 30, 1844; m. John B. Day; res. Worc.; 4 chn.; living.
181. Jane A.8, b. Oct. 15, 1846; m. Loring Burgess and John H. Lockey; res. Leom.; 1 chd.; d. 1889.
182. Charles S.8, b. July 24, 1861; m. Flora A. Davis; res. Fg. and W.

Copyright © 2000, 2006, 2011, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.

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