Family:Whitney, Francis William (c1819-a1880)
Francis William Whitney (Henry, Thomas), son of Henry and Amelia (Herriott) Whitney, was born circa 1819, Bermuda, and died 1895, Brooklyn, NY.
He married firstly, 11 Aug 1842, St. George's Cathedral, Demerara, Susan Frances Massiah, daughter of the late S. Massiah of Demerara,[1] and died 11 Jan 1855, Demerara "1855 Feb. 13: Susan Frances Whitney, aged 37, wife of Francis W. Whitney, died in Demerara on Jan. 11."[2]
He married secondly, before 1862, Emma -----. She was born circa 1844, New Brunswick, Canada, and died after 1892. She was perhaps the daughter of Mary Clary, age 65, b. New Brunswick, residing with the family in 1870.
An excerpt from Family Narrative by H.T. Watlington "Francis became the Hon. Francis Wm. Whitney, member of the Court of Policy, which in those days was the constituted body of law-givers of British Guiana. He received from Queen Victoria by commission the rank of captain of the second West India Regiment which was granted for his activity in suppressing a rebellion while serving as an officer in the British Guiana Militia"
"He established the firm of Francis Whitney & Co, but like many others in British Guiana, it failed, and Francis with his mother and 5 children returned to Bermuda. The eldest son, Henry, age seventeen, was at school in England. It was Francis Whitney's intention to go to New York and establish himself there. This he did and established the Whitney Line of ships between New York, the West Indies and British Guiana."
He was apparently the "Francis Whitney" who arrived in Philadelphia, PA, in 1842, age 23.[3]
On 22 Oct 1849, he and his family arrived in New York aboard the British Brig Falcon, mastered by John T. Pitt of Hamilton, Bermuda.[4] It appears that they were not emigrating to the United States, but intended to return to Demerara.
Names Age Sex Occupation The Country to which they severally belong The Country in which they intend to become inhabitants Mr. F W Whitney 30 Male Merchant Demerara Demerara Mrs " " 28 Female Lady " " Master Henry " 5 Male " Miss E " 3 Female " Miss F " 2 " " Miss Florinda 17 " Servant " "
In Dec 1850, he and his family arrived in New York aboard the Bark Cordelia.[5] It appears that this time they were emigrating to the United States.
Names Age Sex Occupation The Country to which they severally belong The Country in which they intend to become inhabitants F W Whitney 30 Male Merchant Demerara U. States Susan Whitney 25 Female Henry Whitney 6 Male Fanny Whitney 4 Female Ada Whitney 2 " Ellen Whitney 7 mos. " Eliza Whitney 50 " Elizabeth Whitney 30 "
F W Whitney and his family were traveling with seven trunks, two band boxes, one letter case, one carpet bag, one small work stand, and one small box. Eliza Whitney was traveling with one bed & bedding. Elizabeth Whitney was traveling with two trunks and three boxes.
He was apparently the "F. Whitney", age 32, who arrived in New York on the Steamer Falcon 25 Jan 1851.[6]
Children of Francis and Susan (Massiah) Whitney (possibly incomplete):
i. Henry Whitney, b. ca. 1844, probably Demerara, British Guiana (now Guyana); d. aft. 1865. This is almost certainly Family:Whitney, Henry William (c1844-a1880). ii. E. Whitney (daughter), b. ca. 1846, probably Demerara, British Guiana (now Guyana). iii. Fanny Whitney, b. ca. 1847, probably Demerara, British Guiana (now Guyana); d. aft. 1865. iv. Adelaide Susan Whitney, b. ca. 1848, probably Demerara, British Guiana (now Guyana), m. 19 Dec 1872, Demerara, James Smith Beate "1873, Jan. 21: Adelaide Susan Whitney, 3rd daughter of F.W. Whitney, late merchant of Demerara and now of New York, married James Smith Beate, son of the late John Beete, on Dec. 19, 1872, in Demerera."[7] v. Francis William Whitney, b. ca. 1853, Bermuda, d. 19 Mar 1874, Jersey City Heights, NJ. "1874, March 31: Francis William Whitney, 2nd son of F. W. Whitney, aged 19, died on March 19 at his residence, in Jersey City Heights. (N.Y. Herald, March 20)"[8]
Child of Francis Whitney, maternity uncertain:
vi. Ella Whitney, b. ca. 1858, Bermuda; d. aft. 1865.
Children of Francis Whitney and perhaps his wife Emma (-----) Whitney:
vii. Ernest Whitney, b. ca. 1862, Demerara, British Guiana (now Guyana). In 1870, his birthplace is listed as New Brunswick, Canada. viii. Stanley Whitney, b. ca. 1866, NY. ix. Eugene Whitney, b. ca. 1869, NY. In 1870, he was lised as "Aylmer" x. Percy G. Whitney, b. ca. 1871, NJ, m. Susan Van der Hoesen, no known children. xi. Amie Whitney, b. ca. 1874, NJ.
Notes
"Need information on a Francis William Whitney, who went from British Guiana to Conn. His father Henry Whitney married Amelia Herriott of Bermuda. Henry Whitney became the Harbour Master of British Guiana. His son, Francis William came to America in 1860 with his wife Susan (Nassiah), who was dead soon afterwards. Francis William took his children to New York. Please write to Editor as this is from an English Subscriber." - Archive:Whitney Whistler, Volume 3, Number 1
A descendant indicated that his family's DNA matches that of Samuel Whitney of Bermuda.
Census
173 Brick $5500 309 Francis W. Whitney 49 M - ---- Bermuda 7 3 1 - - Com. Merchant, New York - - 1 - - - - - - - - Emma Whitney 23 F - Wife Nova Scotia 1 1 1 - - Ernest Whitney 3 M - Chld West Indies - - - - - Henry Whitney 20 M - " " " - 1 1 - - Clerk, New York - - 1 - - - - - - - 1 Fannie Whitney 18 F - " " " - - - - 1 Ella Whitney 7 F - Chld West Indies - - - - 1 Susan Whitney 12 F - " " " - - - - 1 Frank Whitney 10 M - " " " - - - - 1
390 472 Murtagh, James 45 M W Butcher Ireland Parents foreign born, Male citizen over 21 ... 473 Whittney, Francis 52 M W Merchant $5000 $1500 Bermuda Parents foreign born -----, Emma 28 F W Keeping house New Brunswick Parents foreign born -----, Earnest 7 M W New Brunswick Parents foreign born, Attended school -----, Stanley 4 M W New York Parents foreign born -----, Aylmer 2 M W New York Parents foreign born Clary, Mary 65 F W At home New Brunswick Parents foreign born 474 Evans, Henry B. 54 M W Shoe dealer New York Male citizen over 21 ... 475 Low, James W. 47 M W Merchant $6000 -- Massachusetts Male citizen over 21
- 1870, Ward 16, Jersey City, Hudson Co., NJ: Frank Whitney, age 16, b. Bermuda, was attending boarding school (this was the son)
- 1880, Northfield, Richmond Co., NY:
Francis WHITNEY 61 Self M M W BERMUDA Shipping Merchant BERMUDA BERMUDA Emma WHITNEY 36 Wife F M W CAN Keeping House ENG ENG Ernest WHITNEY 18 Son M S W DEMARORA Clerk Office BERMUDA CAN Stanley WHITNEY 14 Son M S W NY At School BERMUDA CAN Eugene WHITNEY 11 Son M S W NY At School BERMUDA CAN Percy WHITNEY 9 Son M S W NJ At School BERMUDA CAN Amie WHITNEY 6 Dau F S W NJ At School BERMUDA CAN Charles HERMON 27 Othe M S W BADEN Farm Laborer BADEN BADEN
Francis W. Whitney M 75 - Bermuda C. Agent Emma E. Whitney F 48 - Canada C. Percy G. Whitney M 23 - U.S. C. Erghmie Whitney F 16 - " C. Eugene Whitney M 24 - " C. Agent Alice Whitney F 22 - " C.
514 655 Gue, David Head W M Jan 1837 63 mar 33 New York New York New York Artist, Owns mortgaged house -----, Martha Wife W F Feb 1846 54 mar 33 1ch 1liv New York New York New York -----, Harry D. Son W M Jul 1868 31 mar 2 Iowa New York New York Electrician -----, Helen S. DiL W F Sep 1874 25 mar 2 0ch 0liv Utah England England Jacobson, Johanna Srvt W F Apr 1878 25 sgl Finland Finland Finland Servant, Imm. 1896 656 Stork, Edwin Head W M Oct 1854 45 mar 10 New York Germany Germany Contractor (Gas & Paint), Rents house -----, Henrietta Wife W F Aug 1864 35 mar 10 0ch 0liv New York New York New York Smith, Anna Hskp W F Jan 1860 40 wid 1ch 0liv New York Germany England Housekeeper 657 Rolker, August Head W M May 1876 24 mar 3 New York New York New York Clerk (Dry Goods), Rents house -----, Amy M. Wife W F Dec 1877 22 mar 3 0ch 0liv New Jersey Bermuda Canada Eng. Whitney, Emma E. MiL W F Sep 1847 52 wid 6ch 4liv Canada England England Imm. 1866 -----, Percy G. BiL W M Oct 1875 24 sgl New Jersey Bermuda Canada Eng. Clerk (Carbon H Baker)
520 661 Whitney, Eugene A. Head W M Dec 1867 32 mar 11 New York Bermuda Canada Eng. Carbon House Broker, Owns mortgaged house -----, Alice D. Wife W F Sep 1869 30 mar 11 1ch 1liv New York Virginia Maryland -----, Edith M. Dau W F Oct 1895 4 sgl New York New York New York
References
- Census records
1.^ "1842, Oct. 11: Francis William Whitney married Susan Frances Massiah, daughter of the late S. Massiah of Demerara, on Aug. 11 at St. George's Cathedral, Demerara. (Demerara Gazette, Aug. 11)", Bermuda index, 1784-1914: an index of births, marriages, deaths, as recorded..., p. 1506.
2.^ Bermuda index, 1784-1914: an index of births, marriages, deaths, as recorded..., p. 1507.
3.^ Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s
4.^ New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
5.^
6.^ New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
7.^ Bermuda index, 1784-1914: an index of births, marriages, deaths, as recorded..., p. 1507.
8.^ Bermuda index, 1784-1914: an index of births, marriages, deaths, as recorded..., p. 1507.
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