Archive:Memoirs of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 1
Archives > Archive:Extracts > Memoirs of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 1
William Richard Cutter, Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts (New York, NY: Lewis historical publishing company, 1908), Volume IV.
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Volume I, Volume II, Volume III, Volume IV, Part 1 Volume IV, Part 2,
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Jonathan Stone, son of Moses Stone (4), was born at Watertown, Massachusetts, February 2, 1753, died April 25, 1825. He was a farmer of prominence. He bought the present Stone homestead of fifty-eight acres which in later years was divided between his two sons, Charles and Moses. He was a Unitarian in religion. He was a soldier in the Revolution, a private in Captain Samuel Barnard's company, Colonel Thomas Gardner's regiment, on the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775. He married, May, 1783, Sarah Watson, of Cambridge, born March 15, 1763, died February 27, 1849. Children: 1. Sarah, born October 15, 1784, died May 29, 1886; married, December 1, 1806, Nathaniel P. Whitney, Jr. . . . .
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George [Flint], born November 27, 1830, married . . . Caroline A. Rice; . . . their children: Mary Caroline Flint, married Ansel Richards, of Reading, Massachusetts; their children are: Homer and Hawthorne Howe Richards. Rev. George Henry Flint, a Congregational minister at Dorchester, married Mary P. Storm, of Hinsdale, Massachusetts. Children: Caroline Emily and Philip Ephraim. Clara Louise Flint, married George L. Chapin, of Lincoln. Children: Arthur Flint Chapin, Louisa Bemis Chapin, Marion Chapín, Bertha Loring Chapin. Edward Francis Flint, was born in Lincoln, and resides on the homestead; he is unmarried. Ephraim Bemis Flint married Edith Whitney, of Weston, Massachusetts. Children: Edward Whitney, one daughter died in infancy, and George Bemis.
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(VI) Moses Eastman, son of Moses Eastman (5), was born in Sunapee, June 21, 1813, and died in Melrose, Massachusetts, in 1862. He was the founder of Eastman's Express in Melrose. He married Susan E. Treadwell, who was born at Warner, New Hampshire, daughter of Nathan D. Treadwell. Children: 1. William H., born July 12, 1839, resides in Salem. 2. Caroline A., April 25, 1841, resides in Melrose. 3. Mary E., March 4, 1843, died single May 29, 1872. 4. Alice Whitney, June 16, 1845, married George B. Barrett, died December 13, 1869, no issue. 5. Moses Franklin, July 16, 1847, see forward. 6. Albert G., September 29, 1849, died November 5, 1850. 7. Susie E., March 9, 1858, died August 7, 1864. 8. Amy Leighton, May 16, 1860, died August, 1860.
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(VII) Henry Bigelow Brigham, son of Stephen [and Lucy (White)] Brigham (6), was born in Boston, July 15, 1818. When he was a year and a half old he lost both parents, and he and his brothers and sisters went to live with their uncles and aunts. Henry and his sister, Elizabeth, went to live with their uncle Isaac Davis, of Roxbury, a farmer. They received the usual common school education provided by the town of Roxbury. Henry worked with his uncle on the farm during his youth. When a young man he refused a flattering position with a business house in Boston, at his uncle's request, and continued on the Roxbury farm, and at the death of Mr. Davis in 1857, Mr. Brigham had an equal share with the widow and daughter. He carried on the farm until the estate was divided in 1871. In the fall of 1870 he sold a section of the farm, and in April, 1871, removed to Lexington, where he had purchased a beautiful home in Hancock street, with seventeen acres of land, and virtually retired from active business devoting his time to the care of his property. He sold the remainder of his land in Roxbury, now part of the city of Boston. His home in Lexington included the old Hancock-Adams house, or Clark parsonage, which he sold to the Lexington Historical Society. The
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house was removed to its present site on the opposite side of the street and is one of the historic treasures of New England. Mr. Brigham died January 24, 1887. He was a man of public spirit, of sound judgment and sterling character, and was held in the highest esteem by his townsmen. He was for many years trustee of the Lexington Savings Bank, a position he held at the time of his death. He was a Republican in politics. He was a member of the Unitarian church of Lexington and served on its parish committee. He married, March 26, 1860, Mary E. Dudley, daughter of Samuel and Mary E. (Gay) Dudley of Roxbury, granddaughter of Colonel Joseph and Pedy (Whitney) Dudley. Colonel Dudley commanded the United States garrison at Fort Warren in Boston harbor during the war of 1812; married July 20, 1784, Pedy Whitney, descendant of John and Elinor Whitney, pioneers at Watertown. Judge Paul Dudley, grandfather of Colonel Joseph, born 1675, died 1751, married Lucy Wainwright. Governor Joseph Dudley, father of Judge Paul Dudley, born 1647, died 1720, married Rebecca Tyng. Governor Thomas Dudley, father of Governor Joseph, was born in England in 1596, died in 1652, married Catherine (Dighton) Hackburne. Governor Thomas Dudley was one of the most important and distinguished men of the colonial era in Massachusetts. Children of Samuel and Mary E. (Gay) Dudley: 1. Mary E. Dudley, married Henry B. Brigham. 2. Sarah W. Dudley, married Quincy Adams Chandler, of Lexington. 3. Samuel Dudley, married Emily Brown: he was living in 1907. 4. Joseph W. Dudley died when eight years old. Henry Bigelow and Mary E. (Dudley) Brigham had one daughter, Mary Louisa, born in Roxbury, March 3, 1862; now living with her widowed mother at the family home in Lexington.
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(I) Lewis Jones, of Roxbury and Watertown, Massachusetts, the ancestor of the Watertown-Weston family of Jones, was a resident of Roxbury as early as 1640. He removed to Watertown about 1650 or 1651, and died there April 11, 1684. His wife Ann died May 1, 1680, aged seventy-eight years, grave-[text missing] 7, 1678-9, mentions his wife Ann, sons Shubael and Josiah, daughter of Lydia Whitney; son Josiah, executor, "my loving friend and brother," John Stone, overseer. In a codicil dated April 19, 1682, he refers to his son Shubael. Children: Lydia, married, October 30, 1656, Jonathan Whitney; . . . .
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Children [of John and Elizabeth (-----) Lawrence: . . . . 8. Enoch, born March 5. 1648-49, married Ruth Whitney Shattuck. . . . .
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(XVIII) Enoch (or Enosk) Lawrence, son of John Lawrence, the immigrant, (17), was born March 5, 1648-49; married Ruth, daughter of John and Ruth Whitney, and widow of John Shattuck, of Watertown. Soon after his marriage he removed to Groton and settled in the northern part of the town. He served the town of Groton as a surveyor of highways, tithingman and fence viewer. In King Philip's war in 1675, he served in a garrison and fought the Indians; also served in King William's war. In the year 1702 the Provincial authorities granted him immunity from taxation and a pension of three pounds sterling yearly on account of physical disability contracted in an encounter with the Indians in the King William war. He died September 28, 1744, aged ninety-five. The following is from the third volume of the Groton Land Records. The lands of Enoch Lawrence "his houselot nineteen acres more or less bounded easterly by his own meadow and on all other points by the highways; twelve and a
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half (acres) of this land he had of his brother Zachary and seven acres he had of his brother Joseph Lawrence. Enoch Lawrence had also twenty-five acres near the Silver mine, ten acres at Uabbet, and three and a half in Half moon meadow." His children were: 1. Nathaniel, born February 21, 1677. 2. Daniel, born March 7, 1681, married Sarah -----. 3. Zachariah, born July 16, 1683, married Abigail Parker. 4. Jeremiah, born May 1, 1686.
(XIX) Nathaniel Lawrence, born February 21, 1677-78, married Anna Scripture, of Mason, New Hampshire, about 1701. In the Groton records he is called a sergeant. He was chosen constable in 1711, and afterwards served as surveyor of highways and tithing-man. He died September 12, 1765. His wife died September 30, 1758, aged seventy-three. Children: 1. Nathaniel, born May 13, 1702, married, February 4, 1728-29, Dorothy Chamberlain. 2. James, born August 26, 1705. 3. Anna, born July 3, 1708, married Samuel Wright. 4. Enoch, born November 15, 1710, married Sarah Stevens. 5. Sarah, born March 15, 1713, married Zachariah Lawrence. 6. Martha, born December 7, 1715, married William Blond, of Groton. 7. Joseph, born April 10, 1718, married Elizabeth Martin. 8. Benjamin, born November 6, 1720, married Ruth Dodge. 9. Rebecca, born April 17, 1724, married Joseph Blanchard. 10. Lois, born September 26, 1726, married Bezaled Sawyer. 11. Eunice, born July 25, 1728, died November 15, 1747.
(XX) Captain James Lawrence, born August 26, 1705, married Mary Martin, of Groton. He was a resident of Groton, West Parish (Pepperell), and was chosen one of the standing committee of the parish at its first meeting in 1742. The second meeting was at his house. In 1745 and 1746 he served as selectman. He died January 27, 1800, aged ninety-five. She died in 1799, aged eighty-seven. They lived in Pepperell. Children: 1. Mary, born March 17, 1734, married Josiah Stevens, of Townsend. 2. James, born April 11, 1736, married Elizabeth Fisk. 3. Lemuel, born June 1, 1745. 4. Benjamin, born October 9, 1747, married Sybil Parker, of Groton.
(XXI) Lemuel Lawrence, born June 1, 1745, married, January 21, 1768, Sarah Williams. He met with a fatal accident at the raising of a barn in Pepperell, April 24, 1773, and died in his twenty-eighth year. Children, born in Pepperell: 1. Sarah, born October 13, 1768, married Mr. Bailey. 2. Lemuel, born August 6, 1770. 3. Olive, born February 13, 1772, married Mr. Bailey, the husband of his sister Sarah, after her death.
(XXII) Lemuel, born August 6, 1770, married, November 5, 1794, Mercy Perham, of Tyngsborough. They resided in Tyngsborough, and their children were born there. He died September 20, 1832. Children: 1. Lemuel, born September 1, 1795, lived in Chelmsford. 2. Daniel, born September 12, 1797. 3. Clarissa, born October 29, 1799, died unmarried. 4. Sarah, born August 23, 1806, married Lemuel Spaulding, of Winchester.
(XXIII) Daniel Lawrence, born September 12, 1797, in Tyngsborough, married, September 25, 1823, Elizabeth Crocker, of York, Maine. He came to Medford in 1823, and entered the firm of Bishop & Goodrich, distillers. From that time until the close of the Crimean war was engaged in that business, and he was very successful; for a large portion of the time on his own account, and later under the firm name of Daniel Lawrence & Sons. He filled many positions of public trust in Medford, and great confidence was placed in his sound judgment and executive ability. At the breaking out of the civil war he showed a most loyal and patriotic interest in the effort to maintain the Union, and advanced the funds necessary for the equipment of the Lawrence Light Guard then going to the seat of war. In 1858, during a temporary residence in Tyngsborough, he represented the town in the legislature, giving his salary to the town. He died at Poland Springs, Maine, while on a visit, October 2, 1884. Children: 1. Mary Ann, born January 29, 1827. 2. Daniel Warren, October 8, 1830, married Mary Ellen Wiley, October 18, 1857. 3. Samuel Crocker, born November 22, 1832. 4. Elizabeth Maria, born August 5, 1835, married George L. Barr, November 20, 1851. 5. Rosewell Bigelow, born December 22, 1838. 6. William Harrison, born July 24, 1840.
(XXIV) General Samuel Crocker Lawrence was born in Medford, November 22, 1832, and was a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Crocker) Lawrence. His early education was obtained in the Medford schools, and he was prepared for college at the Medford high school and the Lawrence Academy at Groton. He was graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1855, with the degree of А. В., and received the degree of A. M. in 1858. After graduation he was in the banking business of Brgelow & Lawrence for three years in Chicago with success, but returned in 1858 to engage in business with his father and brother, under the firm name of Daniel Lawrence &
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Sons. Since 1867 he has been the sole proprietor. He early became interested in military affairs, and became a lieutenant in the Lawrence Light Guard at its start in 1854, an organization named in honor of his father. A little later he was chosen captain of the company, and soon after that was commissioned colonel of the Fifth Regiment of the Massachusetts militia. April 15, 1861, or three days after the attack on Fort Sumter, President Lincoln issued a call for seventy-five thousand volunteers for three months to defend the capital of the nation. On the 18th of April, Colonel Lawrence issued marching orders for the Fifth Regiment, and his brother, Daniel W. Lawrence, took the orders to the commanders of the different companies. A considerable part of Mr. Lawrence's hurried journey was over the same roads taken by Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride. The errands of the messengers were identical, and they were animated by an equally patriotic purpose. The next day the several companies of the regiment, including the Lawrence Light Guard, reported at Boston. The regiment was quartered in Faneuil Hall until the morning of the 2ist of April, when it left for New York, and then proceeded at once to Washington. Though the Fifth Regiment served only for three months, it took part in the first battle of Bull Run and suffered severely. The color-bearer of the regiment was killed and Colonel Lawrence was wounded in the battle. In June, 1862, he was commissioned brigadier-general in the state militia, but resigned in 1864. He is a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, and was its commander in 1869. For many years General Lawrence has been interested in railroad management. In 1875 the Eastern Railroad was on the verge of bankruptcy. General Lawrence became a large owner of stock in the company. He was elected its president, and by his able management it was placed on a sound financial basis, and in 1884 it was united with the Boston & Maine Railroad. He has been a director of the joint corporation until the present time. He was elected a director in the Maine Central Railroad in 1875, and has continued in that position since that time, and is a director in many other corporations. When in Harvard College he became a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was a charter member of Mount Hermon Lodge, of Medford, and the Mystic Royal Arch Chapter of Medford, and Medford Council. He joined the Boston Commandery of Knights Templar in 1858, and was eminent commander from October, 1873, to 1875; from all these organizations he has received the highest honors. He served as grand master of Masons in Massachusetts in 1881-82-83, and as grand commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in 1894-95. In 1866 he was invested with the thirty-third degree in Masonry, Northern Masonic jurisdiction, and is now lieutenant grand commander of the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic jurisdiction, and representative there of the Southern jurisdiction. General Lawrence has been chairman of the board of trustees of the Medford Public Library for more than thirty years, and was chairman of the board of sinking fund commissioners for several years.
He was unanimously nominated for congress, but declined to be a candidate. He has been averse to holding public office, but yielded to the very strongly expressed wish on the part of the citizens of Medford that he serve as the first mayor of the newly organized city. He accepted the office and brought to the service of his native town the financial and executive ability of an experienced, broad-minded and large-hearted business man. Much to the regret of his fellow citizens, he declined a re-election at the close of his two years' service. General Lawrence is a public spirited citizen with broad views. His residence is on Rural avenue, a short distance from Winthrop square, and his beautiful grounds are open to all. The northern part of his estate of nearly five hundred acres borders on the Middlesex Falls, and the best entrance way for many people is through his grounds. He has prepared roadways and proper sanitary conveniences and paths and seats at convenient points that are open to all. At the highest elevation, two hundred and twenty-nine feet above the sea level on Ramshead Hill, he has built an observatory, eighty-one feet higher, where a beautiful view can be had of the surrounding country, the sea horizon line being twenty-three and one-half miles, and Mt. Monadnock at Jaffrey, New Hampshire, fifty-eight and one-quarter miles away. He erected at large expense a few years since, an armory for the use of the Lawrence Light Guard, and in honor of his father's memory. The different rooms are fitted up for the use of the company and the Association connected with the Light Guard, in a manner unsurpassed by any in New England. He has been for many years a collector of books, and owns what is probably the best masonic library in the world. He has also a large collection of local and military
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histories which is extremely valuable. It was largely due to his co-operation that the celebration of the two hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the settlement of Medford met with such remarkable success in June, 1905. One of General Lawrence's greatest services to his native town has been his indefatigable efforts to save the trees from the gypsy moths. In order to accomplish this he has spared no labor or expense for years, not only taking care of the trees on his own estate, but also those adjoining his own grounds. It has been a source of much regret to his friends that he has persistently declined high official position both in state and in nation.
He was married in Charlestown to Carrie Rebecca Badger, daughter of Rev. William and Rebecca (Taylor) Badger, of Wilton, Maine. Children: 1. William Badger, born November 16, 1856. 2. Louise, born December 2, 1876, married George L. Batchelder.
(XXV) William Badger Lawrence was born November 16, 1856. He was prepared for college at the Boston Latin School, and graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1879. At the Latin School he was a Franklin Medal scholar, and was colonel of the Boston School Regiment at the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Boston. In college he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Signet societies. He fitted for his profession at the Harvard Law School, graduating in tine class of 1882, and received the degree of LL.B. He was admitted to the state and United States courts in the spring of 1883. Upon his return from extended travel in Europe, he began the practice of law in the office of the late Nathan Morse, one of Boston's best known lawyers. His office is now at 18 Tremont street (Kimball building), Boston. He has given special attention to railroad and corporation law. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association, and one of the proprietors of the Social Law Library. Mr. Lawrence has long been identified with public affairs of Medford. While it was a town he served on the board of selectmen, and as overseer of the poor 1888-89-90. He was mainly instrumental in securing the passage in 1890 of the original gypsy-moth legislation, appropriating $50,000. In 1891 and again in 1892, he represented Medford in the lower house of the legislature, and in 1893 and 1894 was senator for the first Middlesex district, comprising the cities of Somerville and Medford, and the towns of Arlington and Winchester. While in the house he served on the committee on judiciary, probate, insolvency and drainage, and in the senate both terms as chairman of the committees on the treasury and of the joint committee on expenditures, and was a member of the committee on the judiciary and floor chairman of the committee on rules. He has always taken a warm interest in public matters, and has been especially active in promoting progressive municipal movements, notably the passage, against vigorous opposition, of the metropolitan sewerage act, which has proved of such benefit to the district, whereby was abated the sewage nuisance in Mystic river and lower Mystic pond. In the years 1885 and 1889 he was active in averting the threatened division of the town of Medford, and later in securing the city charter. He has been for some years a trustee of the New York Savings Bank. He was a charter member and one of the organizers of the Medford Club, and has been a member of the University Club almost from its inception. He is a life member of the Medford Historical Society. In politics Mr. Lawrence is a Republican, an active member of the party organization, and for some years served on the Republican state committee. He has been much interested in congressional matters, and has been a strong supporter of the Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge and of Hon. Samuel W. McCall. He was a delegate to the last National Republican convention that nominated Theodore Roosevelt for president, and Charles W. Fairbanks for vice-president. He has been much interested in railroad matters for quite a number of years. He is clerk and director in several railroad corporations. He has given much study to the question of merging all the railroads of New England into one corporation. For ten years he was one of the directors of the Somerville Journal Company, and is now one of the proprietors of the Medford Mercury.
Mr. Lawrence for several years devoted considerable time to the Masonic fraternity, being a past master of Mount Hermon Lodge, past high priest of Mystic Royal Arch Chapter, past thrice illustrious master of Medford Council, Royal and Select Masters, past commander of Boston Commandery, Knights Templar, past district deputy grand master, past junior grand warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, past deputy grand high priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts, past grand master of the Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters of Massachusetts, also its grand treasurer, and a member since 1896 of the Supreme Council thirty-third degree, Scottish Rite, N. M. J.
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Mr. Lawrence was married October 2, 1883, to Alice May, daughter of J. Henry and Emily (Nickerson) Sears, of Brewster, Massachusetts, and a lineal descendant of Richards Sears, who settled in Plymouth in 1623. Mrs. Lawrence is also descended in eight different lines of descent from Elder William Brewster, and also from George Soule, another of the "Mayflower" passengers. Children: 1. Marjorie, born September 9, 1864. 2. Samuel Crocker, (2), born September 12, 1888. 3. Ruth, born August 10, 1890. 4. William В., Jr., born October 3, 1896. The family resides on Rural avenue, Medford, with a summer residence in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
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(XXIV) Daniel Warren LAWRENCE Lawrence, second child and eldest son of Daniel (23) and Elizabeth (Crocker) Lawrence, was born October 8, 1830. He has constantly been identified with Medford, except for two intervals—-in 1849, when he went to California, during the gold fever, and there spent several months; and in the summer of 1864, when he served for three months in the Union army. He has been efficient in various responsible public and private stations, serving as selectman in 1869-70, representative in the legislature in 1875-76-80, treasurer of the Medford Savings Bank for several years and afterward president, and for twenty-nine years a member and treasurer of the boad of commissioners of the sinking fund. He is, as was his father, a member of the Universalist Society, and he recently presented a parsonage to the society. He is a Mason, a member of Boston Commandery, Knights Templar, and has attained to the thirty-third degree of the Scottish Rite. He married, October 18, 1851, Mary Ellen Wiley, daughter of John Wiley, of Wakefield, and their children are: 1. George W., born November 8, 1852, married Mary Witherell, of Medford. 2. Rosewell В., January 31, 1856. 3. Samuel W., March 5, 1860, married Helen E. Withington,
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daughter of Henry Withington, of Medford, February 22, 1882.
(XXV) Rosewell B. Lawrence, second child and second son of Daniel Warren and Mary (Wiley) Lawrence, was born in Medford, January 31, 1856. He was educated in the schools of his native town, and at Harvard University, graduating in the collegiate course in 1878, and from the Harvard Law School in 1881. He is a lawyer by profession, having his office in the Tremont Building, Boston. He is a member of the board of trustees of Tufts College. He has been chairman of the Medford school committee since January, 1893, and is a trustee of the Medford Savings Bank, chairman of the standing committee of the Universalist Society, one of the park commissioners since the organization of the board in 1893, a vice-president of the Medford Historical Society, a member of the Medford Club, and secretary of the Appalachian Club of Boston since 1883. He is affiliated with Mount Hermon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Mystic Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Boston Commandery Knights Templar. He is unmarried.
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(XI) Benjamin Fiske . . . married . . . Rebecca Howe . . . . Children, born at Lexington: . . . . 2. Elizabeth, born April 7, 1783, married, May 29, 1802, William Whitney, of Shirley, son of Rev. Phinehas Whitney, born October 3, 1778, died January 29, 1837; resided at Shirley, Winchendon and Boston, Massachusetts; children--i. William F., born May 19, 1803; ii. George H., born May 24, 1809, married Elizabeth B. White.
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Children of John H. and Dorothy M[yra (Keeler)] Hardy: . . . . 3. Ruth Whitney, born March 4, 1904.
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His military service won him recognition in the Ladd Whitney Post, No. 185, Grand Army of the Republic, Lowell, Massachusetts, . . . .
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(VII) Prescott Hayward Hosmer, son of Abel [and Olive Parlin (Davis)] Hosmer (6), was born in Concord, July 14, 1827, died March 14, 1885. He was educated in the public schools, and was a prosperous farmer on the homestead in Concord. He married Julia Whitney, born February 26, 1852, daughter of Warren and Ann (Watson) Whitney, of Ashland, Massachusetts. (See sketch of the Whitney family herewith.)
Mr. and Mrs. Hosmer had no children, but Mrs. Hosmer adopted Edward Bailey Caiger, who was born in Boston, October 15, 1887. He was educated in the public and high schools of Concord and at Harvard College where he was graduated in 1907 with the degree of A. B., earned in three years of study. He is now in the Harvard Law School. He has made a special study of music under Professor Locke, of Harvard, and is a skillful organist.
WHITNEY
Whitney as a surname owes its origin to the ancient parish of Whitney on the western confines of Herefordshire, near the border of Wales. The estate is still owned by a descendant of the Whitnev family, which was
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very prominent. The arms: Azure, a cross chequey or and sable. Upon a canton gules, a lion rampant argent. Crest: A bull's head couped sable; horned argent; horns tipped with red. Motto: "Fortis sed non ferox."
(I) John Whitney, the first of the name in America, son of Thomas Whitney, "gentleman," and his wife Mary Bray, was baptized in St. Margarets, the parish church, July 20, 1592. He was born in 1589. He settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, June, 1635. He married in England, Elinor -----, who was born in 1599, died at Watertown, May 11, 1659. He married (second), at Watertown, September 29, 1659, Judith Clement, who died before him. He died June 1, 1673. He bought the sixteen acre homestead at what is now Waltham, then Watertown, situated on what is now Belmont and East Common streets. He was admitted a freeman March 3, 1635-36. He was constable in 1641; a selectman for many years; town clerk in 1655.
Children: 1. Mary, baptized May 23, 1619, died young. 2. John, born 1620, married Ruth Reynolds. 3. Richard, born 1626, married Martha Coldam. 4. Nathaniel, born 1627. 5. Thomas, born 1629, married Mary Kedal (Kettle). 6. Jonathan, mentioned below. 7. Joshua, born at Watertown, July, 1635, married Lydia -----; married (second) Mary -----; (third) Abigail Tarball. 8. Caleb, born July 12, 1640, died and buried December 5, 1640. 9. Benjamin, born June 6, 1643, married Jane -----; married (second) Mary Poor.
(II) Jonathan Whitney, son of John Whitney (1), was born in England in 1634. He settled first at Watertown where all his children are recorded, and where he sold his property for a considerable sum, and about 1678 or 1679 went to Sherborn and built a house. He had a home lot of thirty acres including Rocky hill north of his house, and lying near Chestnut brook, both sides of the main road; also twenty-four acres more in three other lots. In 1681 he was one of a committee about division of common lands, also about building a church. He took the oath of fidelity in 1652. His will is dated January 12, 1702. He died in 1702. He married in Watertown, October 30, 1656, Lydia Jones, daughter of Lewis Jones. Children: 1. Lydia, born July 3, 1657, married April 15, 1681, Moses Adams, of Sherborn. 2. Jonathan, born October 20, 1658, married Sarah Hapgood. 3. Anna, born April 28, 1660, married Cornelius Fisher, of Wrentham. 4. John, mentioned below. 5. Josiah, born May 19, 1664, married Abigail -----; married (second) Mary -----. 6. Elinor, born October 12, 1666, died November 23, 1678. 7. James, born November 25, 1668, died November 30, 1690. 8. Isaac, born January 12, 1670, died December 2, 1690. 9. Joseph, born March 10, 1672, married Rebecca Barge. 10. Abigail, born August 18, 1675, unmarried in 1702. 11. Benjamin, born January 6, 1678, married, October 24, 1700, Mercy Travis.
(III) John Whitney, son of Jonathan Whitney (2), was born at Watertown, June 27, 1662. He married there April 10, 1688, Mary Hapgood, daughter of Shadrack Hapgood, of Sherborn. He married (second), 1694, Sarah Haven, born at Lynn, June 4, 1665, died April 23, 1718, daughter of Richard Haven. He married (third), November 10, 1718, Mrs. Martha (How) Walker, born 1669, died November 14, 1721. He was selectman in 1714; for three years constable, 1719; tythingman 1719 and 1724; was admitted to the church July 26, 1719. He was a fuller by trade. His inventory is dated May 22, 1735, and his estate was valued at nearly six hundred and twenty pounds. He resided at Framingham, Sherborn and Wrentham, Massachusetts. He died in 1735. Children: 1. Mary, born March 27, 1689, married, February 1, 1709, Daniel Moore. 2. James, mentioned below. 3. Elizabeth, born January 21, 1690, married Jonathan Willard. 4. Lydia, born April 18, 1695, married, February 4, 1713, Richard Haven. 5. Hannah, born September 27, 1697, married, January 23, 1722, Ezekiel Rice; died before 1753.
(IV) Deacon James Whitney, son of John Whitney (3), was born at Framingham, December 28, 1692. He married (first), February 2, 1715, Martha Rice, born at Sudbury about 1692. He married (second), 1732, Mrs. Elizabeth (Holbrook) Twitchell, born July 22, 1696, died March 31, 1782, widow of Joseph Twitchell, Jr., of Sherborn. He was admitted to the church September 22, 1717. They were dismissed to the Sherborn church March 28, 1728, where he was chosen deacon, and died April 10, 1770. Children: 1. John, born April 10, 1716, died 1741; married February 8, 1738, Abigail Perry, of Sherborn. 2. James, born June 4, 1718, married Patience Leland. 3. Mary, born May 12, 1720. 4. Martha, born November 9, 1721. 5. Benjamin, born January 13, 1723, died young. 6. Micah, born June 4, 1725, married Lydia Mason. 7. Benjamin, mentioned below. 8. Ezra, born February 22, 1730, married Agnes Ross; (second) Elizabeth -----; (third)
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Mercy Morse. 9. Daniel, born December 13, 1733, married Miriam Leland.
(V) Deacon Benjamin Whitney, son of Deacon James Whitney (4), was born October 23, 1727, in Framingham. He married Esther Leland, born July 31, 1728, daughter of Joseph and Esther (Thurston) Leland. He married (second) Mary -----. He resided in Sherborn. He died in 1794. Children: 1. James]], mentioned below. 2. Joseph, born 1762, married Sally Parks.
(VI) James Whitney, son of Deacon Benjamin Whitney (5), was born in October, 1755. He married Susannah Hill, born 1751, died September 25, 1841. He received from his Grandfather Leland in 1779 a deed of half his farm, situated partly in Holliston. He sold his farm later and removed to Dover, where he died June, 1800. He was in Captain Brooks' company from Sherborn in the Revolution. Children: 1. Isaac, mentioned below. 2. Benjamin, born 1785, married Hepsibeth Moore. 3. Martin, born June 17, 1787, married Nancy Orne, of Moriah, New York. 4. Sylvia, died young. 5. Patty, died young. 6. Susan, died young.
(VII) Colonel Isaac Whitney, son of James Whitney (6), was born in Sherborn in 1782 where he always-resided. He was a prominent and public-spirited citizen. He was a colonel of the militia, and selectman 1816-18-19-20 and 23. He was editorial writer for various Boston newspapers for many years. He died September 9, 1844. He married Mary Moore; he married (second) Sarah Thayer, born December 16, 1785, died July 26, 1871, daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Robinson) Thayer, of Milford, Massachusetts. Children: 1. Susan, born 1807, married Charles Bonney. 2. Martha, born 1810, married Moses Stratton. 3. Mary, born 1812, married Ebenezer Bahcock. 4. Jane, born 1816, married James Nason Hill. 5. Sarah Robinson, born 1817, died 1818. 6. Warren, mentioned below. 7. James, born February 24, 1821, married Susan A. Clark. 8. Amanda, born 1824, died unmarried. 9. Sally Ann, born 1829, unmarried.
(VIII) Warren Whitney, son of Isaac Whitney (7), was born in Sherborn, June 15, 1819. He married, March 31, 1845, Ann E. Watson, born February 2, 1823. Her name was originally Watkins, changed by law to Watson before married. He was selectman in 1850-51-52-53. He resided at Sherborn and died there in May, 1888. He was a prominent citizen of Ashland for many years. Children, born in Ashland: 1. Abbie, born April 11, 1846, died April 15, 1889. 2. Harriet, born August 22, 1847, died April 19, 1871. 3. Phebe, born May 30, 1849, died September 20, 1851. 4. Julia, born February 26, 1852, married, March 14, 1885, Prescott Hayward Hosmer. (See Hosmer sketch). 5. Joel Thayer, born March 12, 1854, married Eva F. Clarke; no children.
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(II) John Myrick . . . married . . . Elizabeth Trowbridge . . . . Children: . . . . 6. Margaret, born October, 1695, married William Whitney. . . . .
Copyright © 2009, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group
