Family:Whitney, Elisha (1747-1807)
Elisha5 Whitney (Daniel4, Benjamin3, John2, John1), son of Daniel4 and Dorothy (Tainter) Whitney,[1] was born 27 Feb 1747/8, Watertown, MA,[2] baptized 8 Mar 1747[/8], Watertown, MA,[3], and died 22 Feb 1807, Beverly, MA, aged 60 years, of dropsy.[4]
Marriage intentions for him and "Mrs." Eunice Farley were published 22 Jun 1776, Ipswich, MA.[5] He married, before 7 Oct 1777, Eunice Farley, daughter of Hon. Michael and Elizabeth (Choate) Farley.[6] She was baptized 26 Dec 1756, Ipswich, MA,[7] died 28 Apr 1819, Beverly, MA, aged 62 years,[8] and wid. "Elizabeth" was buried 1 May 1819, Beverly, MA, aged 60 years, of decline.[9]
He was also known as Dr. Elisha Whitney. He was employed as a physician, Hamilton, MA. He was employed as a physician, Beverly, MA. He graduated from Harvard College, 1766, Cambridge, MA. He was employed as a school teacher, 1769, Brighton, MA.
Pierce says the following:[10]
- Dr. Elisha WHITNEY married Eunice, dau. of Gen Michael and Elizabeth (CHOAT) FARLEY, of Ipswich. He was graduated at Harvard college in 1766 and went first to Hamilton, then a part of Ipswich, in 1772. Beverly was largely engaged in privateering and among its successful commanders were Capt. Giles and Capt. Hugh HILL with whom Dr. WHITNEY sailed several times as surgeon. On one occasion Capt. GILES was so severely wounded that amputation of one leg became necessary. Dr. WHITNEY performed the operation in so satisfactory a manner that the captain presented him with a chaise found on board the prize which had been manufactured for the governor of Barbadoes. On a later cruise they fell in with a British vessel of superior force, and after short but sharp engagement there were compelled to surrender and were carried into Halifax. "Michael FARLEY petitions the Council of Massachusetts, Dec. 20, 1777, that Dr. WHITNEY, now a prisoner at Halifax, may be exchanged for Dr. McCULLOUGH, a British prisoner, billeted at Ipswich." (Feit's History of Ipswich.) Dr. WHITNEY also volunteered as surgeon in Col. Wade's regiment, raised in 1784 to suppress SHAY's rebellion. Dr. WHITNEY removed to Beverly in 1793 where "his cheerfulness, benevolence and professional skill gave him a deserved popularity, and at his death he was universally lamented." He died at Beverly Feb. 22, 1807. Mrs. Eunice WHITNEY was buried at Beverly. It is said that Dr. WHITNEY was among those interested in introducing inoculation for smallpox, and one and perhaps more of his younger children died from the consequences of their inoculation, but there seems to be no authority for this story.
Children of Elisha5 and Eunice (Farley) Whitney, all born Beverly, MA:
i. Elisha6 Whitney, b. 7 Oct 1777;[11] bapt. 12 Jul 1778, Ipswich, MA;[12] m. Clarissa Lovett. ii. Michael Whitney, b. 11 Nov 1779;[13] bapt. 14 Nov 1779, Ipswich, MA;[14] d. 7 May 1782, Beverly, MA.[15] Michael Whitney's death is also recorded in the Vital Records of Ipswich as being 29 May 1782,[16] in addition to the death recorded in Beverly as 7 May 1782. The pattern of births taking place in Beverly and then baptisms in Ipswich, from whence Mrs. Eunice Farley Whitney seems to come, would suggest that the later date in Ipswich is that on which the death was recorded in the records of The Hamlet Parish Church (in which the baptisms also took place). iii. Elizabeth Whitney, b. 24 Dec 1782, or 25 Dec 1782, Beverly, MA;[17] bapt. 28 Dec 1782, Ipswich, MA;[18] d. 27 Mar 1878, Beverly, MA, aged 95 years 2 months 23 days, of old age;[19] m. 9 Jun 1807, Beverly, MA, Josiah Page.[20] iv. Susanna Whitney, b. 5 Jan 1785;[21] bapt. 8 Jan 1785, Ipswich, MA;[22] m. 27 Nov 1808, Beverly, MA, Benjamin Lovett,[23] son of Benjamin and Betsey (Lovett) Lovett. v. Michael Whitney, b. 10 Jul 1787;[24] bapt. 5 Aug 1787, Ipswich, MA;[25] m.(1) Nancy Leech; m.(2) Elizabeth Leech. vi. Dorothy Whitney, b. 2 May 1789;[26] bapt. 3 May 1789, Ipswich, MA;[27] d. 27 Aug 1828, Beverly, MA; m. 10 Aug 1823, Beverly, MA, Josiah Lovett.[28] She was also known as Dolly Whitney. vii. Lucy Whitney, b. 21 Jul 1791;[29] bapt. 31 Jul 1791, Ipswich, MA;[30] d. 16 Apr 1863, Beverly, MA, aged 71 years 8 months 6 days, of pneumonia;[31] m. 11 Jul 1819, Beverly, MA, Nathaniel Lamson.[32] viii. Israel Whitney, b. 4 or 16 Nov 1793, Beverly, MA;[33] d. 8 Oct 1795, Beverly, MA, aged 1 year 10 months.[34] ix. Israel Whitney, b. 4 Nov 1797;[35] m. Mary Hopkins Flagg. x. Mariam Whitney, b. 5 Feb 1800;[36] d. 25 May 1802, Beverly, MA, aged 2 years 3 months.[37] xi. Mary Ann Whitney, b. 5 Feb 1800;[38] d. 25 May 1803, Beverly, MA, aged 2 years 3 months.[39] Her twin sister died 25 May 1802, according to the Beverly VRs, with a parenthetical inclusion from the Hale Street Cemetery that the gravestone says Mary Ann.
Census
- 1790: not found.
- 1800, Beverly, Essex Co., MA: Elisha Whitney Esq, 1 male over 45, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 10-15, 2 males 0-9, 2 females 26-44, 2 females 16-25, 1 female 10-15, and 2 females 0-9.
- 1810, Beverly, Essex Co., MA: Eunice Whitney, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 10-15, 1 female over 45, 1 female 26-44, and 2 females 16-25. This was his widow.
References
- All data downloaded from Frederick C. Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635 (Chicago, IL: The Author, 1895), p. 78.
1.^ His parentage is proven by his birth record, and confirmed by Pierce, loc. cit..
2.^ "Elisha Whitney, s. Daniel & Dorothy Whitney, b. 27 Feb 1747," according to Watertown Records, Comprising the Fourth Book of Town Proceedings and the Second Book of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, from 1738 to 1822 (Watertown, MA: Historical Society, c1903), volume 3, page 131.
3.^ "8 Mar 1746/7, Elisha, s. of Daniel Whitney, bapt.," according to Watertown Records, Comprising East Congregational and Precinct Affairs, 1697 to 1737. Also, Record Book of the Pastors, 1686-1819 (Watertown, MA: Historical Society, 1906), volume 4, page 150.
4.^ "Elisha [Whitney], Dr. [dropsy. C.R.1.] [died] Feb. 22, 1807. [a. 60y. C.R.1.]," according to Vital Records of Beverly, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield, MA: Topsfield Historical Society, 1906).
5.^ "Elisha [Whitney], Dr., and Mrs. Eunice Farley, int. June 22, 1776," according to Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1910).
6.^ Her parentage is proven by her birth record.
7.^ "Eunice [Farley], d. Michael, jr. and Eliza[beth], bp. Dec. 26, 1756," according to Ipswich Vital Records.
8.^ "Eunice [Whitney], wid. Dr. Elisha, [died] Apr. 28, 1819. [a. 62y. G.R.4.]," according to Beverly Vital Records.
9.^ "Elisabeth, wid., decline, bur. May 1, 1819, a. 60y. C.R.1," according to Beverly Vital Records.
10.^ Pierce, loc. cit..
11.^ "Elisha [Whitney], s. Elisha and Eunice, [born] Oct. 7, 1777," according to Beverly Vital Records.
12.^ "Elisha [Whitney], s. Dr. Elisha and Eunice, bp. July 12, 1778. CR 5," according to Ipswich Vital Records.
13.^ "Michael [Whitney], s. Elisha and Eunice, [born] Nov. 11, 1779," according to Beverly Vital Records.
14.^ "Michael [Whitney], s. Dr. Elisha and Eunice, bp. Nov. 14, 1779. CR 5," according to Ipswich Vital Records.
15.^ "Michael [Whitney], s. Elisha and Eunice, [died] May 7, 1782," according to Beverly Vital Records.
16.^ "Michael [Whitney], s. Dr. [E]lisha, scrofulous, [died] May 29, 1782 a. 3 y. CR 5," according to Beverly Vital Records.
17.^ "Elizabeth [Whitney], d. Elisha and Eunice, [born] Dec. 24, 1782," according to Beverly Vital Records.
18.^ "Elizabeth [Whitney], d. Dr. Elisha and Eunice, bp. Dec. 28, 1782. CR 5," according to Ipswich Vital Records.
19.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 301, page 160.
20.^ "Elisabeth [Whitney], and Josiah Page, [married] June 9, 1807," according to Beverly Vital Records.
21.^ "Susanna [Whitney], d. Elisha and Eunice, [born] Jan. 5, 1785," according to Beverly Vital Records.
22.^ "Susanna [Whitney], d. Dr. Elisha, bp. Jan. 8, 1785. CR 5," according to Ipswich Vital Records.
23.^ "Susanna [Whitney], and [Capt. C.R.2.] Benjamin Lovett, [married] Nov. 27, 1808," according to Beverly Vital Records.
24.^ "Michael [Whitney], s. Elisha and Eunice, [born] July 10, 1787," according to Beverly Vital Records.
25.^ "Michel [Whitney], s. Elisha and Eunice, bp. Aug. 5, 1787. CR 5," according to Beverly Vital Records.
26.^ "Dorothy [Whitney], d. Elisha and Eunice, [born] May 2, 1789. [1790. P.R. 200]," according to Beverly Vital Records.
27.^ "Dorothy [Whitney], d. Elisha and Unice, bp. May 3, 1789. CR 5," according to Ipswich Vital Records.
28.^ "Dolly [Whitney], and Capt. Josiah Lovett, 2d, int. Aug. 10, 1823," according to Beverly Vital Records.
29.^ "Lucy [Whitney], d. Elisha and Eunice, [born] July 21, 1791," according to Beverly Vital Records.
30.^ "Lucy [Whitney], d. Elisha, Esq., bp. July 31, 1791. CR 5," according to Ipswich Vital Records.
31.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 165, page 158.
32.^ "Lucy [Whitney], and Nathaniel Lamson, [married] July 11, 1819," according to Beverly Vital Records.
33.^ "Israel [Whitney], s. Elisha and Eunice, [born] Nov. 16, 1793," according to Beverly Vital Records.
34.^ "Israel [Whitney], s. [Dr. C.R.1] Elisha and Eunice [dysentery. C.R.1], [died] Oct. 8, 1795. [a. 1y. 10m. G.R.4.," according to Beverly Vital Records.
35.^ "Israel [Whitney], s. Elisha and Eunice, [born] Nov. 4, 1797," according to Beverly Vital Records.
36.^ "Mariam [Whitney], d. twin, Elisha and Eunice, [born] Feb. 5, 1800," according to Beverly Vital Records.
37.^ "Mariam [Mary Ann. G.R.4.] [Whitney], d. Elisha and Eunice, [died] May 25, 1802, a. 2y. 3m.," according to Beverly Vital Records.
38.^ "Mary Ann [Whitney], d. twin [Dr. C.R.1.] Elisha and Eunice, [born] Feb. 5, 1800," according to Beverly Vital Records.
39.^ "Mariam [Mary Ann. G.R.4.] [Whitney], d. Elisha and Eunice, [died] May 25, 1802, a. 2y. 3m.," according to Beverly Vital Records.
Copyright © 1999, 2006, 2007, 2014, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.
