Family:Whitney, Robert (c1610-1662)
Robert Whitney (Thomas), son of Thomas and Mary (Bray) Whitney,[1] was born about 1610, probably in London,[2] and was buried in the east yard at St Peter's, Cornhill, London, 3 April 1662.[3]
He, "of Westminster, merchantailor," married 18 January 1635/6 at Stepney, Middlesex, Mary Towers, "of Tarvin in the Coun[ty] of Chester, maid,"[4] daughter of John and Margaret (-----) Tower(s) "of Cheshire" or "of Shropshire."[5] Her birth date and place are unknown. She was buried as "widow Whitney", at St. Peter's Cornhill, London, 27 October 1667.[6]
"March 8, 1624, Robert Whitney, son of Thomas Whitney of the city of Westminster, gentleman, apprenticed to John Whitney of Isleworth." "1632, Robert Whitney made free by John Whitney, his master, upon the report of his master."[7]
The wills of both Robert and Mary were proved in the Archdeaconry of London. Their residence was the parish of St. Peter Cornhill, London, where Robert Whitney, merchant tailor, was buried on 3 Apr 1662. Robert Whitney's original will was dated 19 January 1661/2 and proved 16 April 1662 (FHL Film #94,280). He was of a very low estate, though a citizen and merchant tailor. He gave his loving children John and Mary Whitney 5s. each. He also gave John the great ring he had had from his father. His daughter, Mary, was to receive the lesser ring he usually wore. Robert gave his wife Mary the lease of the house they lived in for the remainder of the term during her widowhood. Mary was made sole executrix. Though the will was sealed with a small seal which appeared to be in good condition it could not be made out on the microfilm copy.[8]
The original will of Mary Whitney was dated 23 October 1667 and proved 11 February 1667/8 (FHL Film #588,057). She left her son, John Whitney, and his wife, Elizabeth, 5s. each, to be paid within a year and a day after her decease. She gave her loving grandchild, Jane Whitney, one silver gilt spoon. She also mentioned her cousin Mary West, daughter to Edward West, to whom she left 12s. The residue was left to her daughter Maryfrances [sic] Whitney, whom she made sole executrix. Lastly, she gave 12d. to her friend Anne Stockinhall, who was to be overseer. In the following records, Mary was stated to be relict of Robert Whitney, of St. Peter Cornhill, London, deceased. William Parker, parson of St. Peter Cornhill, was assigned to administer the estate on 13 February 1667/8 during the minority of the executrix, Mary Frances Whitney. Neither will made any reference to a connection with the Whitneys of Whitney, county Hereford.[9]
Children of Robert and Mary (Towers) Whitney, baptized St. Peter's Cornhill:[10]
i. John Whitney, bapt. 10 February 1638/9, married Elizabeth -----. ii. Thomas Whitney, bapt. 27 December 1640, presumably died young, before 29 July 1645. iii. Robert Whitney, bapt. 30 October 1642, presumably died young, before 13 Jul 1654. iv. Thomas Whitney, bapt. 29 July 1645; not mentioned in his father's or mother's wills. v. Richard Whitney, bapt. 14 October 1647; not mentioned in his father's or mother's wills. vi. Margaret Whitney, bapt. 31 July 1651; not mentioned in her father's or mother's wills. vii. Robert Whitney, bapt. 13 Jul 1654; not mentioned in his father's or mother's wills. viii. Mary Frances Whitney, named in her parents' wills, a minor on 13 February 1667/8.
References
1.^ His parentage is proven by the apprenticeship records of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, cited below, combined with the fact that he was called "Robert Whitney of Westminster merchantailor" at his marriage, and "merchant tailor" in his will and at his burial.
2.^ His date of birth is estimated from the dates of his apprenticeship and freedom from it, which should be at ages 14 and 21, respectively. There is a record at St. Margaret's, Westminster, that Robert Whitney, son of Thomas, was baptized 10 November 1605, but it must pertain to a brother who died young, after whom this man was named.
3.^ Dean Crawford Smith and Melinde Lutz Sanborn, The Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton, 1878-1908. Part I: The Ancestry of Warren Francis Kempton, 1817-1879 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1996), p. 526; also Paul C. Reed, "Whitney Origins Revisited: John1 Whitney of Watertown, Massachusetts, and Henry1 Whitney of Long Island and Norwalk, Connecticut," The American Genealogist, vol. 69 (1994), p. 11, citing the parish register of St. Peter Cornhill, London.
4.^ Reed, loc. cit., citing the parish register of Stepney, Middlesex (FHL film #579,245), which says, "Robert Whitney of Westminster merchantailor & Mary Towers of Tarvin in the Coun[ty] of Chester maid maried by licence from the Office of Facult[ie]." Reed also cites Thomas Colyer-Fergusson, The Marriage Registers of St. Dunstan's, Stepney, in the County of Middlesex, 3 vols. [Canterbury, 1898-1901], 1:239.
5.^ Her father is named in Henry Melville, The Ancestry of John Whitney (New York, NY: The De Vinne Press, 1896), pp. 272, 273. On page 272, the pedigree says he was John Towers of Shropshire, but on page 273, he is called John Towers of Cheshire.
6.^ Smith and Sanborn, loc. cit.
7.^ Frederick C. Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635 (Chicago: 1895), p. 18.
8.^ Adrian Benjamin Burke, Esq. wrote to Guildhall Library enquiring about this will to which Mr Stephen Freeth replied on 11 October 2006 via e-mail: "In response to your enquiry, I have consulted the will of Robert Whitney dated 1662 (Guildhall Library Ms 9052/13) and do not believe it is worth your while getting a photograph as there is no proper seal shown on the will. Rather, part of the paper from the will has been cut and folded over, before being held in place with wax. The wax, which was never intended to be a seal, has now almost completely vanished. I am sorry if this is disappointing. Yours sincerely, Stephen Freeth, Keeper of Manuscripts, GUILDHALL LIBRARY, MANUSCRIPTS SECTION, ALDERMANBURY, LONDON EC2P 2EJ".
9.^ Reed, loc. cit.
10.^ Smith and Sanborn, loc. cit.
Copyright © 2006, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group
