Family:Whitney, Jonas (1761-1839)

Squire Jonas⁶ Whitney (Jonas⁵, David⁴, Benjamin³, John², John¹), son of Jonas⁵ and Sarah (Whittemore) Whitney,^[1] was born 10 Mar 1761, Westminister, MA,^[2] and died 3 Jan 1839, Westminster, MA, aged 78 years.^[3]

Marriage intentions were published 20 Aug 1785, Princeton, MA, for him "of Westminster" and Betty Raymond.^[4] He married 1 Dec 1785, Westminster, MA, Elizabeth Raymond, "of Princetown", MA,^[5] daughter of Jonathan and Susanna (White) Raymond. She was born 14 Feb 1766, Westminster, MA, and died 18 Nov 1857, Westminster, MA, aged 91 years 9 months 2 days, of palsy.^[6]

Jonas Whitney, Jr., was born in Westminster and succeeded to the estate of his father. He was a man of marked natural ability and strength of character. Of excellent judgment, well informed, thoroughly upright and trustworthy, he held a high place in public esteem, and was often chosen to fill important posts of public service, the duties of which he discharged with singular fidelity and effectiveness. He was 11 years selectman, 24 years assessor, and 13 years representative to the General Court, a term of service that capacity more than twice as long as that of any other person in the history of the town. He was also justice of the peace, being well known as "Squire Whitney," and had much to do in the administration and settlement of estates. His life was long, busy, useful, and full of honor. He resided Westminster, MA.

Children of Jonas⁶ and Elizabeth (Raymond) Whitney:

i.	Betsey Whitney, b. 3 Sep 1786, Westminster, MA;[7] d. 7 Jul 1787, Westminster, MA, aged 10 months 4 days.[8]
ii.	Betsey Whitney, b. 1 Apr 1788, Westminster, MA;[9] m. (int. 14 Dec 1811, Westminster, MA), Abijah6 Whitney,[10] q.v.
iii.	Arethusa Whitney, b. 26 Sep 1790, Westminster, MA;[11] d. 4 Aug 1796, Westminster, MA, aged 5 years 10 months 9 days.[12]
iv.	Polly Everett Whitney, b. 25 Oct 1792, Westminster, MA;[13] d. 10 Aug 1874; m. ("of Westminster" int. 18 Dec 1815, Leominster, MA[14]) 9 Feb 1816, Westminster, MA, John Perkins;[15] b. 25 Feb 1789: d. 3 Nov 1868, Morris, IL. Children: a. Mary Perkins, b. Nov 1816: d. 1888; m. 1839, George Brown. Children: 1. ----- Brown, b. -----; m. A. F. Barker, Monticello, MN. b. Eliza Perkins, b. 23 May 1818, Leominster, MA; m. Isaac7 Whitney. c. Joseph Perkins, b. 1820; address Monticello, MN. d. Myra Perkins, b. 1822; d. 1848. e. Harrison Perkins, b. 1824; address Westminster, MA. f. Catherine Perkins, b. 1831, d. 1853. g. Nancy Whitney Perkins, b. 4 Dec 1828; m. 10 Oct 1856, Henry E. Stevens; resided 34 Grove St., Norwich, CT. h. (child) Perkins, b. -----; d. young. i. (child) Perkins, b. -----; d. young. j. (child) Perkins, b. -----; d. young. k. (child) Perkins, b. -----; d. young.
v.	Joseph Whitney, b. 18 Dec 1794, Westminster, MA;[16] m. Sally Harrington.
vi.	Charles Whitney, b. 21 Mar 1797, Westminster, MA;[17] m. Sarah Howard.
vii.	Almira Whitney, "Myra" b. 16 Jul 1799, Westminster, MA;[18] "Myra" d. 1 Sep 1872, Westminster, MA, aged 73 years 1 month 15 days, of consumption or heart disease;[19] "Myra" m.(1) 28 Mar 1822, Westminister, MA, Leonard Minott;[20] "Myra" m.(2) 28 Apr 1846, Westminster, MA, Joel Cowee, of Gardner, MA, b. ca. 1786, Westminster, MA, son of James and Susannah (Baldwin) Cowee. She d. s. p.
viii.	Nancy Whitney, b. 9 Mar 1803, Westminster, MA;[21] d. 7 Aug 1875; m. 14 Jun 1831, Westminster, MA, Aratus Raymond;[22] resided Westminster, MA; 3 ch.; a dau. Mary resided Gardner, MA.
ix.	Jonas Whitney, b. 20 Jul 1807, Westminster, MA;[23] m. Lucinda Damon.
x.	Harrison Gray Whitney, b. 2 Jan 1812, Westminster, MA;[24] m.(1) Louisa Carpenter; m.(2) Eliza Solander.

Census

• 1790, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA: Jonas Whitney, 3 males over 16, 1 male 0-15, and 3 females.
• 1800, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA: Jonas Whitney, 1 male 26-44, 1 male 16-25, 2 males 0-9, 1 female over 45, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 10-15, and 2 females 0-9.
• 1810, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA: Jonas Whitney Esq., 1 male over 45, 2 males 10-15, 1 male 0-9, 1 female over 45, 1 female 26-44, 2 females 16-25, 1 female 10-15, and 1 female 0-9.
• 1820, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA: Jonas Whitney, 1 male over 45, 2 males 18-25, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 0-9, 1 female over 45, and 2 females 16-25; 1 engaged in agriculture.
• 1830, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA: Jonas Whitney, 1 male 60-69, 1 male 15-19, 1 female 60-69, and 1 female 20-29.
• 1840: not found. Elizabeth was apparently living in the family of her son Jonas, Jr.
• 1850, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA:

219 267 Jonas Whitney 43 M - Carpenter $1500 Massachusetts Lucinda " 40 F - " George " 15 M - Carpenter " Attended school Mary " 9 F - " Attended school Betsey " 84 F - " 266 Charles Whitman 24 M - Chairmaker " Viola " 16 F - "

• 1855, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA:

139 157 Jonas Whitney 48 M - Carpenter Mass. Lucinda Whitney 45 F - " George Whitney 20 M - Cabinet Maker " Mary Whitney 14 F - " Betsey Whitney 89 F - " Mary Damond 55 F - "

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. 156-157.

1.^  His parentage is proven by his birth record.

2.^  "Jonas [Whitney], s. Jonas and Sarah, [born] Mar. 10, 1761," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester: The Systematic History Fund, 1915) pp. 97-101.

3.^  "Jonas [Whitney], h. Elizabeth, [died] Jan. 3, 1839, a. 78," according to Westminster Vital Records.

4.^  "Jonas [Whitney] of Westminster and Betty Raymond, int. Aug. 20, 1785," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Princeton, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1902).

5.^  "Jonas [Whitney] and Elizabeth Raymond [of Princetown], [married] Dec. __, 1785," according to Westminster Vital Records.

6.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 113, page 217.

7.^  "Bettsa [Whitney], d. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] Sept. 3, 1786," according to Westminster Vital Records.

8.^  "Bettsa [Whitney], d. Jonas and Elizabeth, [died] July 7, 1787, a. 10m. 4d.," according to Westminster Vital Records.

9.^  "Bettsa [Whitney], d. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] Apr. 1, 1788," according to Westminster Vital Records.

10.^  "Betsy [Whitney] and Abijah Whitney of Lunenburg, int. Dec. 14, 1811," according to Westminster Vital Records.

11.^  "Arrathusa [Whitney], d. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] Sept. 26, 1790," according to Westminster Vital Records.

12.^  "Arrathusa [Whitney], d. Jonas and Elizabeth, [died] Aug. 4, 1796, a. 5y. 10m. 9d.," according to Westminster Vital Records.

13.^  "Molley Everett [Whitney], d. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] Oct. 25, 1792," according to Westminster Vital Records.

14.^  "Polly Everett [Whitney] of Westminster and John Perkins, int. Dec. 18, 1815," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Leominster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (n.d.).

15.^  "Polly Everett [Whitney] and John Perkins of Leominster, [married] Feb. 8, 1816," according to Westminster Vital Records.

16.^  "Joseph [Whitney], s. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] Dec. 18, 1794," according to Westminster Vital Records.

17.^  "Charles [Whitney], s. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] Mar. 21, 1797," according to Westminster Vital Records.

18.^  "Myra [Whitney], d. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] Jul. 16, 1799," according to Westminster 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 249, page 385.

20.^  "Myra [Whitney] and Leonard Minot, [married] March 28, 1822," according to Westminster Vital Records.

21.^  "Nancy [Whitney], d. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] Mar. 9, 1803," according to Westminster Vital Records.

22.^  "Nancy [Whitney] and Aratus Raymond, [married] June 14, 1831," according to Westminster Vital Records.

23.^  "Jonas [Whitney], s. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] July 20, 1807," according to Westminster Vital Records.

24.^  "Harrison Gray [Whitney], s. Jonas and Elizabeth, [born] Jan. 2, 1812," according to Westminster Vital Records.

---

Copyright © 2006-2008, 2013, 2017, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.