Family:Whitney, Billa (1775-1845)

Billa⁷ Whitney (Christopher⁶, William⁵, William⁴, William³, Joshua², John¹), son of Christopher⁶ and Mary (Ticknor) Whitney, was born 12 May 1775, Sharon, CT,^[1] and died 1845, Groton, NY.

He married, 17 Dec 1805, Towanda, PA, Clarinda French. She was born 7 Dec 1787, and died 23 May 1854, Spafford Hollow, NY.

He resided Cortlandville and Groton, NY.

Children of Billa⁷ and Clarinda (French) Whitney:

i.	Maria R.8 Whitney, b. 29 Aug 1810, PA; d. Port Byron, NY; m. Horace C. Badgley; 3 ch. Resided Mentz, Cayuga Co., NY, in 1860.
ii.	Clarissa D. Whitney, b. 6 Jul 1811, NY; m. 19 Feb 1837, Rev. John E. Robie; resided Buffalo, NY. He was born in Hanover, NH, 19 Jun 1811. In early life he was converted, and joined the Methodist Episcopal church. He continued in his profession for several years and assisted in starting the Detroit Free Press. But having his heart fixed on the ministry he attended the Cazenovia seminary for some time, to prepare himself for the work, and entered the Oneida Conference in 1834. He continued in the regular work for several years with good success, gathering many souls into the church, as results of revivals attending his labors. In 1840, what to him seemed a providential call, he started the Northern Christian Advocate. In 1843 he disposed of the Northern, and commenced the publication of the Genesee Evangelist; disposing of this in 1850 he established the Buffalo Christian Advocate, which he successfully managed until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he entered the army as chaplain of the 21st Regiment, New York Volunteers, and remained faithful in this position until the expiration of the term of service, when, with his regiment, he came home. Soon after his return he was appointed presiding elder of the Buffalo district, on which he labored with earnest effort and untiring zeal for nearly four years. In the fall of 1869 he became one of the proprietors and editors of that paper, in which position he continued to work on with his usual devotion and promptness. Feeling that he must have rest, he disposed of his interest in the paper, and soon started on a trip to New York, for the benefit of his health, returning to Cowlesville, where he suddenly died. He was genial and hearty in his friendships, benevolent almost to a fault, always ready to go on calls to visit the sick and comfort the dying. Unbending in his integrity, he lived to work for the church and humanity, and he died well. He d. 26 May 1872, Buffalo. She d. 6 Aug 1890. Children: a. Sarah Robie, b. 28 Jul 1839, Homer, NY; d. 26 Sep 1878; m. June 1868, Dr. George B. Snow; no children. b. Francis Helen Robie, b. 10 Sep 1841, d. 19 May 1842. c. Francis Ellen Robie, b. 22 Aug 1843; d. 21 Oct 1848. d. John E. Robie, b. 3 Oct 1846; m. 17 Mar 1894, Harriett L. Lovejoy; b. 23 Apr 1871. Is treasurer of the Buffalo Dental Mfg. County; s. p.; resided 587 Main St., Buffalo, NY.
iii.	Benajah Ticknor Whitney, b. 18 Dec 1813; m. Sarah E. Hathaway.
iv.	Adaline Whitney, b. 14 Jan 1814; 2 Jul 1875, Winnebago, IL; m. 24 Sep 1836, McLean, NY, Rev. David McDonald O'Farrell. They resided Spafford, NY, in 1850. She left three ch.
v.	Araminta D. Whitney, b. 30 Dec 1819; m. 25 Jan 1842, Judge Lucien B. Proctor; b. 6 Mar 1819. He resided Albany, NY. She d. 20 Jan 1889, Port Huron, MI. She was educated at Homer Female Seminary, and was a woman of fine culture. Was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was respected by all who knew her. Children: a. Whitney C. Proctor, b. 18 Dec 1843, Port Byron, NY. Dr. W. C. Proctor, a nephew and pupil of the late Dr. B. T. Whitney, has effected business relations with Dr. Charles A. Hastings, an eminent dentist of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dr. Proctor sailed for that city in the steamship South America. He took with him letters from distinguished officials at Washington to our resident minister, our consul general, and to Captain Roe, commanding the American squadron of Rio Janeiro. Dr. Proctor, though a young man, has already gained a high position in his profession, and he carries with him the best wishes of a large circle of friends; died at Gowanda, Cattaraugus County, NY, 27 Apr 1892; Whitney C., Jr., Gowanda, NY. b. Gertrude Proctor, b. 24 Jul 1850, Dansville, Livingston County, NY; m. 1 Jan 1877, Rev. W. W. Curry, a Presbyterian clergyman, b. 14 Dec 1848; resided Canaan, Four Corners, NY; s.p.
vi.	Albertus B. F. Whitney, b. 11 Jul 1820. He d. Buffalo, NY; has children living in California. Was interested in the manufacture of dental goods. On 25 Jun 1863, "Albertus B. F. Whitney" of Port Byron, NY paid IRS excise taxes on a "mechanical necromancer".[2]
vii.	Tryphena Coole Whitney, b. -----; d. ae. 8.

Census

• 1800, Solon, Onondaga Co., NY: Bela Whitney, 1 male 26-44 and 1 female 26-44.
• 1810: not found.
• 1820, Groton, Tompkins Co., NY: William B. Whitney, 1 male 45+, 2 males under 10, 1 female 45+, 1 female 26-45, 2 females 10-16, 3 females under 10, 1 person in manufacturing.
• 1830, Groton, Tompkins Co., NY: Clarinda Whitney, 1 male 15-20, 1 female 40-50, 2 females 20-30, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 10-15, 6 people total.
• 1840: not found.
• 1840, Groton, Tompkins Co., NY: Clarina Whitney, 1 female 50-59.
• 1850, widow Clarinda not found.

References

• All data imported from Frederick Clifton Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635, (Chicago: 1895), pp. 382-383.

1.^  "Billa [Whitney], s. Christopher & Mary, b. 12 May 1775," according to the Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records, Salisbury 1:155.

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