Family:Whitney, Elisha (c1747-1812)

Elisha Whitney, parentage unknown. He may be identical with Elisha⁶ Whitney, son of Abraham⁵ and Tabitha (Allen) Whitney, who was born 2 Mar 1743/4, Weston, MA, and was baptized 4 Mar 1743/4, Weston, MA. He was born about 1747 (calculated from age at death) and died 19 Dec 1812, Newburyport, MA, aged 65 years.^[1]

He "of Brookline" married, 4 Jun 1769, Newton, MA, Abigail Dana "of Newton",^[2] daughter of John and Abigail (Smith) Dana. She was born 8 May 1749, Cambridge, MA, and died 10 May 1821, Newburyport, MA, aged 72 years.^[3]

Children of Elisha and Abigail (Dana) Whitney:

i.	Abigail7 Whitney, bapt. 29 Oct 1769, Brookline, MA;[4] m. Enoch Titcomb.
ii.	Elizabeth Whitney, bapt. 17 Mar 1771, Brookline, MA;[5] m. Zebedee Cook.
iii.	Sarah Whitney, bapt. 14 May 1775, Marblehead, MA;[6] perhaps the Sarah Whitney who m. 23 Jul 1791, Boston, MA, Samuel Skillin.
iv.	Lydia Whitney, bapt. 29 Jul 1777, Newburyport, MA;[7] apparently d. before 1779.
v.	Lydia Whitney, bapt. 7 Feb 1779, Newburyport, MA;[8] d. 13 Apr 1819, Newburyport, MA, aged 39 years; m. 26 Sep 1803, Newburyport, MA, Benjamin Appleton, Jr.[9]

Notes

The existence of two men named Elisha Whitney, of almost the same age, both marrying women by the name of Abigail Dana, both marriages recorded in Brookline, MA, has led to confusion. The identities of the wives seem sure, because their ages at death agree with their birth dates. Which marriage record applies to which couple is an issue which I believe is now correct as given above. There were two daughters born between the two marriage dates, which must belong to the couple with the earlier marriage date. The fact that these two daughters were the women of those names married in Newburyport argues that the earlier marriage record should apply to this family, rather than the other.

Census

• 1771, Brookline, MA (tax list): Elisha Whitney
• 1790, Newburyport, Essex Co., MA: Elisha Whitney, 1 male over 16, 1 male 0-15, and 2 females.
• 1800, Newburyport, Essex Co., MA: Elisha Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 male 10-15, 1 female over 45, 1 female 26-44, and 2 females 16-25.
• 1810, Newburyport, Essex Co., MA: Elisha Whitney, 1 male 26-44, 1 female over 45, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 0-9.
• 1820, Newburyport, Essex Co., MA: Wid^o Abigail Whitney, 2 females over 45.

References

1.^  "Elisha [Whitney], [died] Dec. 19, 1812, [a. 65y. C.R.2.]," according to Vital Records of Newburyport, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1911).

2.^  "Elisha [Whitney] of Brookline, and Abigail Dana, [married] June 4, 1769," according to Vital Records of Newton, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1905). Also "Elisha [Whitney], of B., and Abigail Dana of Newton, at Newton, [married] June 4, 1769," according to Vital Records of Brookline, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1929).

3.^  "Abigail [Whitney], wid. Elisha, [died] May. 10, 1821, a. 72y.," according to Newburyport Vital Records.

4.^  "Abigail [Whitney], d. Elisha, bp. Oct. 29, 1769. C.R.1," according to Vital Records of Brookline, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1929).

5.^  "Elizabeth [Whitney], d. Elisha, bp. Mar. 17, 1771. C.R.1," according to Brookline Vital Records.

6.^  "Sarah [Whitney], d. Elisha and Abigail, bap. May 14, 1775. C.R.2," according to Vital Records of Marblehead, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1908).

7.^  "Lydia [Whitney], d. Elisha, bp. June 29, 1777. C.R.1," according to Vital Records of Newburyport, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1911).

8.^  "Lydia [Whitney], d. Elisha, bp. Feb. 7, 1779, C.R.1," according to Newburyport Vital Records.

9.^  "Lydia [Whitney], and Benjamin Appleton, Jr., [married] Sept. 26, 1803," according to Newburyport Vital Records.

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Copyright © 2007, 2008, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group