Family:Whitney, Silas (1758-1837)

Silas⁶ Whitney (Daniel⁵, Richard⁴, Richard³, Richard², John¹), son of Daniel⁵ and Dorothy (Goss) Whitney, was born 26 Feb 1758, Stow, MA,^[1] and died before 4 Oct 1837, Charlestown, MA, per probate records.

Marriage intentions were published 3 Sep 1780, Stow, MA, for him and Patience Goodnow, of Stow,^[2] daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Knight) Goodnow. She was born 26 Nov 1760, Stow, MA, died Feb 1842, Charlestown, MA.

He was born in Stow, where he resided until soon after his marriage, when he moved to Ashby, MA, where several of his children were born. He afterward moved to Boston, MA, and was noted for his great strength. During the Revolutionary was he served in one of the companies from Stow. He resided Stow, Ashby, Boston and Charlestown, MA.

Children of Silas⁶ and Patience (Goodnow) Whitney:

i.	Silas7 Whitney, b. 15 Jan 1781[3] or 26 Jan 1781, Stow, MA;[4] m. Abigail M. Shedd.
ii.	John Whitney, b. 20 Nov 1782[5] or 22 Nov 1782, Stow, MA;[6] m. Susannah Vilas.
iii.	Betsey Whitney, b. 27 Apr 1785, Stow, MA;[7] bapt. 22 May 1785, Stow, MA;[8] "Elizabeth" m. 26 Apr 1807, Boston, MA, John Bates.[9]
iv.	Ephraim Whitney, b. 29 Feb 1787, Stow, MA;[10] bapt. 11 Mar 1787, Stow, MA;[11] m. Eunice Hayden.
v.	Samuel Whitney, b. 9 Feb 1789, Stow, MA;[12] bapt. 5 Apr 1789, Stow, MA;[13] d. 9 Mar 1795, Ashby, MA.[14]
vi.	James Whitney, b. 14 Aug 1791, Ashby, MA;[15] bapt. 4 Mar 1792, Stow, MA;[16] d. 2 Mar 1795, Ashby, MA.[17]
vii.	Susan Whitney, b. 1 Jul 1793, Ashby, MA;[18] m. Joseph7 Whitney, of Boston, son of Daniel6 and Sarah (Durant) Whitney, and her own cousin. She d. 30 Apr 1885, Boston, MA, aged 91 years 10 months, of consumption.[19]
viii.	Polly Whitney, b. 13 Jul 1795, Ashby, MA;[20] "Mary" m. 8 Dec 1816, Boston, MA, George Gault.[21]
ix.	Dolly Whitney, b. 1 Apr 1797, Ashby, MA;[22] d. 8 Jan 1876, Boston, MA, aged 78 years 9 months 8 days, of old age and sequlae of paralysis;[23] m. 20 Nov 1814, Boston, MA, William Beals, Sr.[24] He was b. 16 Dec 1785; died 8 Dec 1870; resided Boston, MA. Death of William Beals, Esq.: "After a long and useful life, this well-known gentleman passed to the eternal world this morning. He was the senior proprietor of the Boston Post, with which he had been connected forty years. It was here that he made an independent fortune by strict attention to every detail that came under his charge. He was universally and justly esteemed as one of the most honorable, straightforward business men in the community. His word was always as good as his bond; what he said no power on earth could induce him to gainsay. He was honest to the last nick in every personal obligation. As prosperity came to him, others shared it, and his neighbors will bear ample testimony that his charities were liberal. He was the last man to make any display of benevolence. No poor and worthy printer ever make application to him for assistance without getting relief. It was often said of him that he was a 'true man.' In his domestic relations Mr. Beals was very happy. He was married 56 years. He had ten children and forty grandchildren. He was an active member of the Baptist church, a regular attendant at the Old South prayer meetings, and often took charge of them. He has left a name of which all connected with him have reason to be highly satisfied. The deceased will be remembered by the older generation as one of the publishers of the Commercial Gazette, for many years before be became identified with the Boston Post. He was a publisher when Benjamin Russell and Joseph T. Buckingham were leaders of the Boston press. Mr. Buckingham in his 'Reminiscences of he Boston press,' says he was one of the ablest financiers ever connected with the American press. He was an active and industrious man, and the financial success of the journals with which he was identified was due to his ability and careful management of the business department. Everyone knew him, but few knew his real worth. It is not too much to say that he possessed a kind and genial heart. By sound judgment, fair dealing, scrupulous honesty, he achieved success and left an ample fortune for his own and his partner's family." Children: a. Frances A. Beals, b. -----; m. George Baker; res. 78 East 55th St., New York, NY. b. Maria A. Beals, b. -----; d. -----; m. Sumner Flagg; res. at Brookline, MA. c. Elizabeth B. Beals, b. -----; m. Isaac Kendall; res. Boston, MA. d. William Beals, b. -----; m. Nancie W. Marchant, and after her death, Sophie B. Mauvan; resided 125 Newbury St., Boston, MA. e. James H. Beals, b. -----; m. Annie M. W. Reed; res. Boston, MA. f. Harriet M. Beals, b. -----; m. George W. Tuxbury; res. Boston, MA. g. Louisa A. Beals, b. -----; m. John Wetherbee; res. at 'The Warren,' Roxbury, MA. h. Emily C. Beals, b. -----; m. Edward C. Mitchell; res. Boston, MA. i. John W. Beals, b. -----; m. Virginia Simmons; res. Boston, MA. j. Joshua G. Beals, b. -----; m. Edith Summons; res. Boston, MA.
x.	Samuel Whitney, b. 25 Feb 1803, Boston, MA;[25] d. 1826, s. p. He resided in Charlestown, MA, where he was a merchant. If he was married, she died before his decease. He was a member of the firm of Whitney & Hyde, general dealers.
xi.	James Whitney, b. 13 Feb 1807, Boston, MA;[26]

Census

• 1790, Ashby, Middlesex Co., MA: Silas Whitney, 3 males over 16, 3 males 0-15, and 2 females.
• 1800, Ashby, Middlesex Co., MA: Silas Whitney, 1 male 26-44, 2 males 16-25, 1 male 10-15, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 10-15, and 3 females 0-9.
• 1810, 6th Ward, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA: Silas Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 male 26-44, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 10-15, 2 males 0-9, 1 female over 45, and 1 female 10-15.
• 1820, 1st Parish Charlestown, Middlesex Co., MA: Patience Whitney, 1 female over 45, 1 female 0-9. Where Silas might have been is not known.
• 1830, Charlestown, Middlesex Co., MA: Silas Whitney, 1 male 70-79 and 1 female 60-69.
• 1840: not found.

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. 179-180.

1.^  "Silas [Whitney], s. Daniel and Dorathy, [born] Feb. 26, 1758," according to F. Apthorp Foster, ed., Vital Records of Stow, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1911).

2.^  "Silas [Whitney] and Pashance Goodenow, [married] Oct. 12, 1780. [Patience, M.R.] [Patience Goodenough, C.R.]," according to Stow Vital Records.

3.^  "Silas [Whitney], s. Silas and Patience, [born] at Stow, Jan. 15, 1781," according to Jeannette D. Pingrey, comp., Birth, Marriage, and Death Records in the Town of Ashby, Massachusetts, from 1754 to 1890 (Decorah, IA: Anundsen Publishing Company, c. 1989), pp. 88-90.

4.^  "Silas [Whitney], s. Silas and Pashance [Patience C.R.], [born] Jan. 26, 1781," according to Stow Vital Records.

5.^  "John [Whitney], s. Silas and Patience, [born] at Stow, Nov. 20, 1782," according to Pingrey, op. cit., pp. 88-90.

6.^  "John [Whitney], s. Silas and Pashance [Patience C.R.], [born] Nov. 22, 1782," according to Stow Vital Records.

7.^  "Betsey [Whitney], d. Silas and Patience, [born] at Stow, Apr. 27, 1785," according to Pingrey, op. cit., pp. 88-90.

8.^  "Betsy [Whitney], d. Silas and Patience, bp. May 22, [17]85. C.R.," according to Stow Vital Records.

9.^  "Elizabeth [Whitney] and John Bates, [married] Apr. 26, 1807," according to Registry Department of the City of Boston, A Volume of Records Relating to the Early History of Boston, Containing Boston Marriages from 1752 to 1809 (Boston, MA: Rockwell and Churchill, 1903), p. 236.

10.^  "Ephraim [Whitney], s. Silas and Patience, [born] at Stow, Feb. 29, 1787 [sic]," according to Pingrey, op. cit., pp. 88-90.

11.^  "Ephrain [Whitney], s. Silas and Patience, bp. Mar. 11 [17]87. C.R.," according to Stow Vital Records.

12.^  "Samuel [Whitney], s. Silas and Patience, [born] at Stow, Feb. 9, 1789," according to Pingrey, op. cit., pp. 88-90.

13.^  "Sam[ue]l [Whitney], s. Silas and Patience, bp. Apr. 5, [17]89. C.R.," according to Stow Vital Records.

14.^  "Samuel [Whitney], s. Silas and Patience, [died] Mar. 9, 1795," according to Pingrey, op. cit., pp. 246-247.

15.^  "James [Whitney], s. Silas and Patience, [born] Aug. 14, 1791," according to Pingrey, op. cit., pp. 88-90.

16.^  "James [Whitney], s. Silas and Patience, bp. Mar. 4, 1792. C.R.," according to Stow Vital Records.

17.^  "James [Whitney] s. Silas and Patience, [died] Mar. 2, 1795," according to Pingrey, op. cit., pp. 246-247.

18.^  "Susan [Whitney], d. Silas and Patience, [born] July 1, 1793," according to Pingrey, op. cit., pp. 88-90.

19.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 366, page 127.

20.^  "Polly [Whitney], d. Silas and Patience, [born] July 13, 1795," according to Pingrey, op. cit., pp. 88-90.

21.^  L.D.S. International Genealogical Index.

22.^  "Dorothy [Whitney], d. Silas and Patience, [born] Apr. 1, 1797," according to Pingrey, op. cit., pp. 88-90.

23.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 285, page 7.

24.^  L.D.S. International Genealogical Index.

25.^  "Boston Births, 1800-1849."

26.^  "Boston Births, 1800-1849."

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Copyright © 2006, 2008, 2014, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.