Family:Whitney, Warham (1786-1840)
Warham7 Whitney (John6, Joshua5, Nathaniel4, Nathaniel3, John2, John1), son of John6 and Rachel (Hiscock) Whitney, was born 27 Apr 1786, MA, and died 14 Mar 1840, Rochester, NY.
He married, 30 Jun 1811, Nancy Mordoff. She was born 2 Feb 1792, and died 21 Oct 1843, Rochester, NY.
Died, at Rochester, on the 21st day of October, in the 51st year of her age, Mrs. Nancy Whitney, relict of the late Warham Whitney, Esq. "Did not her holiness of life proclaim (as man can know) her interest in those promises of endless happiness which are conditionally made to us in the gospel covenant of grace? Did we not know her will? Did we not prize her worth? And it is for us now to praise that Christian character, one of whose eminent and peculiar features it was to retire as far as possible from human gaze and be content with spreading the light of holy example, as the best of sisters, daughters, and mothers, around an extensive circle of most devoted relatives, and conveying into the chamber of distress and hut of poverty not only the comforts of time, but also the hopes of eternity! Blessed with abundant means for such relief, how did she, as one of that band of sisters who are seeking out in the abodes of our city the suffering and the lost, industriously pervade street after street, and in secret minister those sympathies and avails which her sex only can confer upon the human family! What thanksgivings has he who is addressing you hard uttered for her kindness by the poor sufferer, whom she has raised from the lowest depth of destitution, and to whom, without hope of Christ and on the verge of the eternal world, she introduced him, that he might administer the holy consolations of the gospel! And how unobtrusive, and how modest, and how retiring in all her goodness! Few knew of the abodes of woe which she had visited till the blessing which she left behind her told them of her presence. There was no noisy public display when she did good. She stepped a hairbreadth out of her own path to assume duties which properly belonged to those of a different sphere and another sex. Hers was the ornament of that meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of the greatest prize, though by mortals often overlooked, amidst the glare of those who will make themselves conspicuous by touching functions which they have no business whatever to assume. And to the regular services of our sanctuary and our week-day assemblies of liturgy, praise and prayer how punctually did she (when possible) resort thereby to strengthen more and more the spiritual vigor of her soul! In these devotions hers, doubtless, was the rich foretaste of that sublime enjoyment which pertains to the adorning of heaven. 'We need not wonder that the last end of such a one was peace!'" [Extract from a funeral sermon.]
He was born in Massachusetts and with his parents moved to New York state. After a short residence in Plymouth and Verona, early in the twenties he moved to Rochester, NY, and erected at the Second Falls, in 1826, what is now known as the Whitney mills. He built a wooden residence on State street, between Brown and Waterloo Sts., which is still standing; some years later built a large brick house on Jay street, on his farm, which is now known as the Whitney tract and all built up. At the time of his death he owned a large farm on the Lake road half way between Rochester and Charlotte and which was divided between his sons, George and James, and the lower or James M. Whitney farm is now the Holy Sepulcher cemetery and the other is also owned by the Catholics, and the new St. Bernard's Seminary has just been completed on part of it. Of the late Mr. Warham Whitney, of whom the usual brief obituary notice has been promulgated, permit one who was long and intimately acquainted with him to sacrifice to his memory, by a brief recital of his many virtues and sterling qualities as a man and fellow-citizen. Possessed of a mind strong it its own resources, of an indomitable and untiring industry, an endearing observance of all the charities of life, and due appreciation of duties he owed to his fellow-man his course through life has been blessed by many benefits he has conferred on the public as well as individually; with competence and respectability to his family, and that well-earned trophy which is his best mausoleum, an honest man and fellow-citizen. An early settler in this city, he was one among the first to give an impetus to the ball of permanent public improvement, which conducted it to it s present proud station among the wonders of our happy country, and its citizens cannot but lament that a fatal disease has thus cut him off in the midst of his usefulness, and consigned him thus early to "that bourne from whence no traveler returns." Let friendship be tolerated to say that his manly virtues, integrity and upright conduct, while a sojourner in this vale of tears, must remain a rich legacy to his bereaved family, and endear his memory to all classes of community, over which detraction shall have no influence, not time any power, till our sensibilities shall become blasted and our memories pass away with the frail tenements they now inhabit. The universal commiseration of the whole community with his highly respected family and connections peak more feelingly to the heart that high-wrought eulogiums, heraldic honors or the feeble tribute of one who love him in life, and deplored his loss in death. Requiscat in pace. [Obituary in Rochester paper]. He resided Plymouth, Verona and Rochester, NY.
Children of Warham7 and Nancy (Mordoff) Whitney:
i. Caroline8 Whitney, b. 28 Aug 1812, Plymouth, NY; d. 23 Dec 1836; m. 19 Jun 1833, Gen. John Williams. ii. Olive Whitney, b. 19 Jun 1814, Verona; d. 24 Aug 1867; m. 2 Jan 1840, Gen. John Williams. He married for his second wife the sister of his first wife. He was b. 7 Jan 1807; d. 26 Mar 1875; was a merchant miller. The following obituary of Mrs. Williams is from the Rochester Daily Union; Death of Mrs. John Williams. - The sorrow that pervades this community to-day--that it is known that Mrs. Gen. John Williams is no more--is sincere, and the sympathy for her immediate relatives in their affliction is measured best by the esteem in which she was held. Mrs. Williams was taken ill a few days since while in Orleans county, and returned home in a condition quite critical. Since that time the hopes and fears of her friends have alternated until this morning, when she expired peacefully and happily. Mrs. Williams was a daughter of the late Warham Whitney, one of the early citizens of Rochester, remembered only by those who have resided here thirty years or more. She was the sister of Mrs. S. G. Andrews, George J. Whitney and James M. Whitney, of this city. She spent a long and useful life in our midst, raising a family of children who proved a source of comfort to her in the decline of life, and died regretted and lamented not only by those who had been the object of her tender care and solicitude, but by all who had her acquaintance. Her bereaved husband, children and other relatives are thus borne down by a weight of affliction that human sympathy can do but little to lighten. - Ch.: Edward Warham, b. 20 Oct 1840; m. 18 Jun 1863; d. 25 Mar 1893; George Daniel, b. 22 Feb 1843; m. 28 Sep 1864; d. 28 Jun 1880; Whitney, b. 6 Aug 1845; m. 2 Feb 1876; resided 709 E. Main St., Rochester, NY.
iii. Lois Ann Whitney, b. 8 Oct 1816; m. 19 May 1842, Hon. Samuel George Andrews; b. Derby, CT, 16 Oct 1796. He was engaged in the milling business in Rochester, NY; dealt largely in real estate; was a Republican, one of the founders of the anti-Masonic party and in 1857 was elected to Congress. Later served as mayor of Rochester. He d. 11 Jun 1863. - Ch.: James Sherlock, b. 5 Oct 1846; unmarried; resided Rochester, 111 No. St. Paul street.
iv. George Jay Whitney, b. 26 Jan 1819; m. Julia Bullard. v. James Mordoff Whitney, b. 24 Feb 1821, Rochester; m. Martha Louise Pond. vi. Laura Jane Whitney, b. 1824; d. 1852; m. 18 Jun 1852, Colonel DeLancy Floyd Jones. vii. Wilson Whitney, b. 1826, d. 1834.
Census
- 1810: not found. probably still with parents
- 1820, Gates, Genesee Co., NY: Whareham Whitney, 2 males 26-44, 1 male 18-25, 1 male 0-4, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 16-25, and 3 females 0-4; 1 engaged in agriculture, 1 in manufacture or trades.
- 1830, Rochester Ward 2, Monroe Co., NY: Wareham Whitney, 1 male 40-49, 3 males 20-29, 1 male 15-19, 1 male 10-14, 1 male 5-9, 1 male 0-4, 1 female 30-39, 1 female 20-29, 2 females 15-19, 1 female 10-14, 1 female 5-9.
- 1840, Rochester Ward 2, Monroe Co., NY: Nancy Whitney, 1 male 30-39, 3 males 20-29, 2 males 15-19, 1 male 5-9, 1 female 60-69, 1 female 40-49, 1 female 30-39, 2 females 20-29, 1 female 15-19, 1 female 10-14; 4 engaged in agriculture, 2 in commerce, 1 in manufacture or trades.
- 1850, Rochester Ward 9, Monroe Co., NY:
522 585 John Williams 43 M - Mercht. Miller $80000 N. York Olive " 36 F - " J. Elliott " 16 M - " Attended school Edward " 9 M - " Attended school George " 7 M - " Attended school Whitney " 5 M - " Attended school Catharine Bowes 19 F - " James M. Whitney 29 M - Farmer $20000 N. York Laura Jan " 26 F - $10000 " Catharine Shannon 20 F - " Mary O'Donohue 24 F - Ireland John Foote 32 M - Laborer Germany
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. 262-264.
Copyright © 2006, 2009, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group
