Family:Whitney, Joseph Holden (1799-1872)
Capt. Joseph Holden7 Whitney (Joel6, Jonas5, David4, Benjamin3, John2, John1), son of Joel6 and Abigail (Holden)(Merriam) Whitney, was born 27 Dec 1799, Westminster, MA,[1] and died 8 or 9 Jan 1872, Phillipston, MA, aged 72 years 13 days, of heart disease, or Westminster, MA, aged 73 years.[2]
He married, 19 May 1822, Westminster, MA, Betsey Pratt,[3] daughter of Aaron Pratt. She was born 16 Nov 1799, Gardner, MA, and died 17 Mar 1880, Phillipston or Westminster, MA, aged 79 years 4 months 1 day, of heart disease and cerebral congestion.[4]
He was active and influential in public life, held nearly every town office, presided frequently at town meetings, and was for four consecutive years a member of the lower branch of the state legislature. He was greatly interesting in military affairs, and did much to keep the military spirit alive in the community. He rose to the distinction of captain in the Westminster Rifle County, and was elected to the same office in a County of volunteers formed after the riflemen disbanded. After passing middle life he removed with his family to Phillipston, where he became also an active citizen. He resided Westminster and Phillipston, MA.
Heywood says the following:[5]
- "Whitney, Joseph H.7, s. of Joel6 and Abigail (Holden) Whitney, m. Betsey, dau. of Aaron and Betsey (Warren) Pratt (pub. April 27), 1822. He was active and influential in public life, held nearly every town office, presided frequently at town meetings, and was for four consecutive years a member of the lower branch of the State Legislature. He was greatly interested in military affairs, and did much to keep the military spirit alive in the community. He rose to the distinction of Captain in the Westminster Rifle Co., and was elected to the same office in a Co. of Volunteers formed after the Riflemen disbanded. After passing middle life, he rem. with his family to Phillipston, where he became also an active citizen, and where he d. Jan. 9, 1872, a. 72. His wid., Betsey, d. March 17, 1881, a. 81."
Children of Joseph Holden7 and Betsey (Pratt) Whitney:
i. George8 Whitney, b. 14 Oct 1822;[6] m. Aldice Adams. ii. Lucy Whitney, b. 14 Sep 1827;[7] m. 10 Aug 1858, Phillipston, MA, Hiram Polley, b. 2 Jun 1820, New Salem, MA, son of Amos and Jerusha (-----) Polley;[8] resided Phillipston. s. p. iii. Eliza Whitney, b. 19 Aug 1829;[9] m. 3 or 8 May 1851, Phillipston, MA, Francis A. Merriam, b. 4 Sep 1828, Westminster, MA, d. 16 Feb 1891, son of Jonas J. and Pruda (-----) Merriam;[10] resided Westminster, Bx 113; a lawyer in Westminster. Children: a. Sarah Ellen Merriam, b. 26 Feb 1861; m. 9 Jan 1878, Frank H. Battles; resided Westminster, MA. b. Clara Laura Merriam, b. 27 Jul 1864; d. 30 Aug 1865.
iv. Sarah Ann Whitney, b. 7 Jun 1838,[11] Westminster, MA; d. 18 Apr 1877, Templeton, MA, aged 40 years 10 months 14 days, of spinal disease;[12] "Sarah H." m. 25 Nov 1858, Phillipston, MA, Aaron W. Merriam, b. ca. 1834, Westminster, MA, son of Jonas and Prudence (-----) Merriam.[13] Children: a. Katie E. Merriam, b. -----; res. Westminster, MA b. Jennie L. Merriam, b. -----; m. ----- Hillman; resided Furnace, MA. c. Lizzie E. Merriam, b. -----; m. ----- Denton; resided Templeton, MA.
Census
- 1830, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA: Joseph H. Whitney, 1 male 30-39, 1 male 15-19, 1 male 5-9, 2 females 20-29, and 2 females 0-4.
- 1840, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA: Joseph H. Whitney, 1 male 70-79, 1 male 40-49, 1 male 15-19, 1 female 80-89, 1 female 70-79, 1 female 30-39, 2 females 10-14, 1 female 0-4; 3 engaged in agriculture.
- 1850, Phillipston, Worcester Co., MA:
59 67 Joseph H. Whitney 50 M - Farmer $1000 Mass. Betsey " 49 F - " Eliza " 22 F - " Sarah " 21 F - " Lucy " 14 F - " Attended school 68 George Whitney 27 M - Farmer $1000 " Aletia " 22 F - " Mason Richardson 12 M - " Attended school
451 541 Joseph H. Whitney 55 M - Farmer Mass.
Betsey Whitney 54 F - Do
Edward Hale 64 M - Do Do Pauper
Susan Hale 57 F - N.H. Do
Field Booth 59 M - Do England Do
Eliza Booth 44 F - Mass. Do
Jane Booth 5 F - Do Do
Harriet Booth 2 F - Do Do
Joel Noyes 55 M - Do Do Do
Charles Curtis 42 M - Do Do Insane Pauper
Roxana Curtis 52 F - Do Deaf & Dumb
Pauper
Betsey Darling 67 F - Do Pauper
Mary Scott 47 F - Do Insane Pauper
Caroline Divoll 49 F - Do Insane Pauper
Mary Dunham 75 F - Do Insane Pauper
Emily Tuttle 6 F - Do Pauper
113 113 George Whitney 33 M - Farmer Mass. Aldice Whitney 27 F - " Malcomb R. Whitney 4 M - " Lucy Whitney 27 F - " Sarah A. Whitney 19 F - " Mason Richardson 16 M - Farmer "
530 699 Sarah M. Newton 51 F - $3000 $1700 Mass. Joseph H. Whitney 60 M - Farmer $2100 $900 " Betsey " 59 F - " George " 37 M - Farmer " Alice " 31 F - " Macol R. " 8 M - " Attended school Albert Pierce 14 M - " Attended school
30 30 Joseph H. Whitney 65 M - Mass. M Farmer - - 1 1 - Betsy Whitney 64 F - Mass. M House Keeper - - - - - George Whitney 41 M - Mass. M Farmer - - 1 1 - Aldice Whitney 36 F - Mass. M House Keeper - - - - - Malcom R. Whitney 13 M - Mass. - - - - - - Albert Pierce 19 M - Mass. - - - - - -
64 76 Whitney, Joseph H. 70 M W Farmer $1750 $460 Mass. Male citizen over 21 -----, Betsy 69 F W Keeping house " 65 77 Whitney, George 47 M W Farmer $1750 $460 " Male citizen over 21 -----, Aldice 42 F W Keeping house " -----, Malcolm R. 18 M W Works in Farm " Attended school
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), p. 289.
1.^ "Joseph Holden [Whitney], s. Joel and Abigail, [born] Dec. 27, 1799," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1915).
2.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 249, pages 352 and 385.
3.^ "Joseph H. [Whitney] and Betsey Pratt, [married] May 19, 1822," according to Westminster Vital Records.
4.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 321, pages 417 and 454. Also, 1880 Mortality Schedule.
5.^ William Sweetzer Heywood, History of Westminster, Massashusetts (First named Narragansett No. 2), From the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a Biographic-Genealogical Register of its Principal Families, (Vox Populi Press: S.W. Huse & Co., Lowell, Mass.: 1893), pp. 929-930.
6.^ "George [Whitney], s. Capt. Joseph H. and Betsey, [born] Oct. 14, 1822," according to Westminster Vital Records.
7.^ "Lucy [Whitney], d. Capt. Joseph H. and Betsy, [born] Sept. 14, 1827," according to Westminster Vital Records.
8.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 119, page 190.
9.^ "Eliza [Whitney], d. Capt. Joseph H. and Betsey, [born] Aug. 19, 1829," according to Westminster Vital Records.
10.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 56, page 235.
11.^ "Sarah Ann [Whitney], d. Capt. Joseph H. and Betsy, [born] June 7, 1836," according to Westminster Vital Records.
12.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 294, page 371.
13.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 119, page 190.
Copyright © 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.
