Family:Whitney, Stephen (1743-1833)
Stephen5 Whitney (John4, Benjamin3, John2, John1), son of John4 and Susan (-----) Whitney , was born 14 Aug 1743 [sic], Watertown, MA,[1] was baptized 7 Aug 1743, Watertown, MA [sic],[2] and died 3 or 4 Apr 1833, Lunenburg, MA, aged 90 or 93 years.[3]
He married, 10 May 1770, Watertown, MA, Relief Stearns,[4] daughter of Josiah and Dorothy (Prentice) Stearns, "both of Watertown". She was born 10 Apr 1749, Watertown, MA, and died 17 Jan 1803, Lunenburg, MA, aged 55 years.[5]
Stephen Whitney and his wife, Relief, were listed in the records of the East Congregational Church on 30 Dec 1770 as owning the covenant.[6] He and Relief Stearns lived circa 1783 at Lunenburg, MA.
Pierce says the following:[7]
- He was born in Watertown; worked on his father's farm; learned the shoemaker's trade. After his marriage moved to Lunenburg, where he was a farmer. During the Revolutionary war he served in the Watertown company.
Children of Stephen5 and Relief (Stearns) Whitney:
i. Stephen6 Whitney, b. 25 Jan 1771, Watertown, MA;[8] bapt. 27 Jan 1771, Watertown, MA;[9] m. Sally Dexter. ii. Relief Whitney, b. 11 Nov 1772, Watertown, MA;[10] bapt. 15 Nov 1772, Watertown, MA;[11] m. (int. -- --- 1803, Groton, MA,[12] and 23 Apr 1803, Lunenburg, MA[13]) 19 Jun 1803, Watertown, MA, Asa Tarbell "of Groton",[14] son of John and Hannah (Farnsworth) Tarbell. iii. Lucy Whitney, b. 19 Oct 1774, Watertown, MA;[15] bapt. 6 Nov 1774, Watertown, MA;[16] "of Lunenburg" m. (int. 24 Dec 1796, Lunenburg, MA[17])(int. 25 Dec 1796, Fitchburg, MA[18]) 5 Mar 1797, Fitchburg, MA, Solomon Day "of Fitchburg".[19] iv. Abijah Whitney, b. 10 Aug 1776, Watertown, MA;[20] m. Betsey7 Whitney. v. Lois Whitney, b. 26 Jan 1779, Watertown, MA;[21] m. 5 Jul 1803, Brookline, MA, Francis Wolf[22] "of Boston". vi. Nancy Whitney, b. 15 Oct 1781, Watertown, MA;[23] bapt. 21 Oct 1781, Watertown, MA.[24] She "resides with her brother Prentiss, unmarried." vii. Polly Whitney, b. Nov 1783, Lunenburg, MA;[25] "Mary" m. (int. 29 Aug 1814, Lunenburg, MA), Joseph Burns "of Milford, N.H."[26] They had three children. viii. Lucretia Whitney, b. 14 Oct 1785, Lunenburg, MA;[27] d. 29 Dec 1868, Boston, MA, aged 83 years 2 months 15 days, of old age;[28] m. Robert Cunningham "of Boston," d. aft 1868. ix. Prentiss Whitney, b. 2 Nov 1787, Lunenburg, MA;[29] m. Sylvia Bicknel. x. Sukey Whitney, b. 16 Aug 1789, Lunenburg, MA; d. 1807. She was also known as Susanna Whitney.
Census
- 1771, MA (tax list): Not found
- 1790, Lunenburg, Worcester Co., MA: Stephen Whitney, 2 males over 16, 2 males 0-15, and 8 females.
- 1800, Lunenburg, Worcester Co., MA: Stephen Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 male 26-44, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 10-15, 2 females over 45, 1 female 26-44, 2 females 16-25, and 1 female 10-15.
- 1810, Lunenburg, Worcester Co., MA: Stephen Whitney, 1 male over 45, 2 males 16-25, 1 male 0-9, 1 female over 45, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 16-25, and 2 females 0-9. Who the oldest female was is unknown, but it might have been his widowed sister Susanna.
- 1820, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA: Stephen Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 female over 45, and 1 female 10-15. Who the oldest female was is unknown, but it might have been his widowed sister Susanna.
- 1830: not found.
- 1850, Gardiner, Kennebec Co., ME:
35 40 Prentiss Whitney 63 M - Com. Mercht. $3600 Mass. Sylvia " 61 F - " Mary L. " 24 F - " Edward P. " 22 M - " Nancy " 67 F - "
805 783 Prentice Whitney 65 M - None $3000 Mass. Sylvia " 62 F - Housekeeper " Nancy " 79 F - None " Edward P. " 30 M - Lock Manufact. $1500 -- "
410 Frame ---- 409 Prentice Whitney 76 M - ---- Mass. - 1 1 - - Farmer 1 - - - - - - - - - - Sylvia Whitney 74 F - Wife Mass. 1 1 1 - - Edward Whitney -- M - Chld Mass. - - - - 1 Nancy Whitney 84 F - Sist Mass. - - - - 1
References
1.^ "Stephen Whitney, s. of John & Susanna Whitney, b. 14 Aug 1743," according to Watertown Records, Comprising the Fourth Book of Town Proceedings and the Second Book of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, from 1738 to 1822 (Watertown, MA: Historical Society, c1903), volume 3, page 160.
2.^ "7 Aug 1743, Stephen, s. of John Whitney, bapt.," according to Watertown Records, Comprising East Congregational and Precinct Affairs, 1697 to 1737. Also, Record Book of the Pastors, 1686-1819 (Watertown, MA: Historical Society, 1906), volume 4, page 148.
3.^ "Stephen [Whitney] [Mr., dup.], [died] Apr. 3, 1833, a. 93 y. [Apr. 4, a. 90 y., g.s.][a. 90 y., dup.]," according to Walter A. Davis, comp., Early Records of the Town of Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Including That Part Which is Now Fitchburg, 1719-1764 (Fitchburg, MA: Fitchburg City Council, 1896), volume 3, page 314.
4.^ "Stephen Whitney & Relief Stearns, b. of Watertown, m. 10 May 1770," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 3, page 156.
5.^ "Relief [Whitney], [died] Jan. 17, 1803 [a. 55 y., g.s.]," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 3, page 314.
6.^ "30 Dec 1770, Stephen Whitney and Relief Whitney, o. c.," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 4, page 167.
7.^ Frederick C. Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635 (Chicago, IL: The Author, 1895), p. 74.
8.^ "Stephen Whitney, s. Stephen & Relief Whitney, b. 25 Jan 1771," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 3, page 160. Also, "Stephen [Whitney], s. Stephen and Relief, [born] Jan. 25, 1771," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 1, page 245.
9.^ "27 Jan 1771, Stephen, s. of Stephen Whitney, bapt.," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 4, page 167.
10.^ "Releif Whitney, d. Stephen & Relief Whitney, b. 11 Nov 1772," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 3, page 160. Also, "Relief [Whitney], d. Stephen and Relief, [born] Nov. 11, 1772," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 1, page 245.
11.^ "15 Nov 1772, Relief, d. of Stephen Whitney, bapt. by Rev. Cushing.," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 4, page 168.
12.^ "Relief [Whitney], of Lunenburg, and Asa Tarbell of Groton, int. Apr. 23, 1803," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 3, page 89.
13.^ "Relief [Whitney], of Lunenburg, and Asa Tarbell, int. ---, 1803," according to Vital Records of Groton, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1926-1927).
14.^ "Relief [Whitney], and Asa Tarbell, [married] [between Apr. 1, 1803 and Apr. 1, 1804], by Rev. Timothy Flint," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 3, page 178.
15.^ "Lucy Whitney, d. Stephen & Relief Whitney, b. 19 Oct 1774," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 3, page 160. Also, "Lucy [Whitney], d. Stephen and Relief, [born] Oct. 19, 1774," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 1, page 245.
16.^ "6 Nov 1774, Lucy, d. of Stephen Whitney, bapt.," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 4, page 108.
17.^ "Lucy [Whitney], of Lunenburg, and Solomon Day of Fitchburg, int. Dec. 24, 1796," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 1, page 13.
18.^ "Lucy [Whitney], Miss, of Lunenburg and Mr. Solomon Day of Fitchburg, [marriage intentions] Dec. 25, 1796," according to Walter A. Davis, comp., Old Records of the Town of Fitchburg, Massachusetts (Fitchburg, MA: Fitchburg City Council, 1898-1913), vol. III, p. 50.
19.^ "Lucy [Whitney], Miss, of Lunenburg, and Mr. Solomon Day, of Fitchburg, [married] Mar. 5, 1797," according to Fitchburg Vital Records, vol. III, p. 239. Also "Lucy, of Lunenburg, and Solomon Day of Fitchburg [Lunenburg, dup.], Mar. 5, 1797, by Rev. Zabdiel Adams," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 3, pages 122, 200.
20.^ "Abijah Whitney, s. Stephen & Relief Whitney, b. 10 Aug 1776," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 3, page 167. Also, "Abijah [Whitney], s. Stephen and Relief, [born] Aug. 10, 1776," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 1, page 245.
21.^ "Lois Whitney, d. Stephen & Relief Whitney, b. 26 Jan 1779," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 3, page 167. Also, "Lois [Whitney], d. Stephen and Relief, [born] Jan. 26, 1779," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 1, page 245.
22.^ "Louis [Whitney] and Francis Wolf [int. reads (Wollf)(Lois)], [married] July 5, 1803. In Brookline," 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. 384.
23.^ "Nancy Whitney, d. Stephen & Relief Whitney, b. 15 Oct 1782," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 3, page 167. Also, "Nancy [Whitney], d. Stephen and Relief, [born] Oct. 15, 1781," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 1, page 245.
24.^ "21 Oct 1781, Nancy, d. of Stephen Whitney, bapt.," according to Watertown Vital Records, volume 4, page 170.
25.^ "Polley [Whitney], d. Stephen and Relief, [born] Nov. 6, 1783," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 1, page 245.
26.^ "Mary [Whitney], of Lunenburg, and Joseph Burns of Milford, N.H., int. Aug. 29, 1814," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 3, page 16.
27.^ "Lucretia [Whitney], d. Stephen and Relief, [born] Oct. 14, 1785," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 1, page 245.
28.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 213, page 221.
29.^ "Prentice [Whitney], s. Stephen and Relief, [born] Nov. 2, 1787," according to Lunenburg Vital Records, volume 1, page 245.
Copyright © 1999, 2006-2008, 2015, 2021, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.
- Missing from 1830 Census
- Maine
- Kennebec County, Maine
- Gardiner, Kennebec County, Maine
- Massachusetts
- Middlesex County, Massachusetts
- Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
- Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
- Suffolk County, Massachusetts
- Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
- Plymouth County, Massachusetts
- Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
- Worcester County, Massachusetts
- Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts
- Lunenburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
- Milford, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
