Family:Whitney, William (1736-1817)

William⁶ Whitney (William⁵, William⁴, Nathaniel³, John², John¹), son of William⁵ and Hannah (Harrington) Whitney, was born 10 Apr 1736, Weston, MA,^[1] and died 10 Jul 1817, Winchendon, MA, aged 81 years^[2] (Find A Grave Memorial# 38082947).

Marriage intentions were published 10 Apr 1762, Weston, MA, for him and Mary Mansfield.^[3] He "Jr." married, 14 Jun 1762, Weston, MA, Mary Mansfield "both of Weston",^[4] daughter of Theophilus and Sybil (White) Mansfield. She was born 8 Apr 1745, Waltham, MA,^[5] and died 17 Dec 1815, Winchendon, MA, aged 70^[6] (Find A Grave Memorial# 38082961).

William Whitney owned the covenant 22 Jul 1764, Weston, MA.^[7] Mary, wife of William Whitney owned the covenant 22 Jul 1764, Weston, MA.^[8]

William Whitney settled in Winchendon about 1774, going to that place from Weston, Massachusetts. He early took a prominent place in the affairs of the new town, and during the Revolutionary war was chosen by his fellow citizens one of a committee to hire men for the army. In 1781 he was chosen a committee to carry out the resolves of the General Court respecting cattle. His farm was well stocked with horses and cattle, and according to the history of Winchendon, he was the best judge of cattle in the town. He was a great government man, and during the excitement preliminary to the Shays rebellion, when the feeling ran high, did all he could to assist the local authorities. It is stated, when the town drummer began his rounds to hunt up soldiers for volunteers, it was to both sides a moment of painful suspense; all voices were hushed, but the resolution of William Whitney soon changed the scene. Addressing his son, Phin, who was afterward Capt Phinehas, he said aloud, "Turn out, Phin!" Immediately, Phin stepped from the ranks and followed the drummer. It was a bold example, but it had its influence, for one after another stepped out until the required number of men were raised. In 1786 he was chosen on the committee of twelve to attend to the erection of school houses. In 1791 he was selected one of the committee to decide on the site for the new meeting house. He resided Winchendon, MA.

Children of William⁶ and Mary (Mansfield) Whitney:

i.	William7 Whitney, b. 26 Jun 1764, Weston, MA;[9] bapt. 29 Jul 1764, Weston, MA;[10] m. Anna Heywood.
ii.	Phinehas Whitney, b. 1 Apr 1766; bapt. 13 Apr 1766, Weston, MA;[11] m.(1) Phebe Stearns; m.(2) Bethiah Barrett.
iii.	Mary Whitney, b. 11 Apr 1773, Lincoln, MA;[12] bapt. 18 Apr 1773, Lincoln, MA;[13] m. Benjamin Heywood.
iv.	Joseph Whitney, b. 20 May 1775, Winchendon, MA;[14] m. Hannah Perley.
v.	Amasa Whitney, b. 16 Jun 1777, Winchendon, MA;[15] m. Mary Goodridge.
vi.	Sarah Whitney, b. 3 Sep 1779, Winchendon, MA;[16] d. 12 Mar 1866, Gardner, MA, aged 86 years 6 months 9 days, of pneumonia;[17] m. ("Sally" "of Winchendon" int. 23 Nov 1801, Gardner, MA[18]) 12 Jan 1802, Winchendon, MA, Smyrna Bancroft,[19] b. 15 May 1776, d. 5 May 1818; resided Gardner, MA. Children: a. Harvey M. Bancroft, b. 1 May 1803; m. Betsey C. Glazier. b. Smyrna W. Bancroft, b. 13 Dec 1804; m. Lucy Jackson; deacon and prominent citizen; resided Gardner, MA. c. Mary E. Bancroft, b. 5 Nov 1807. d. Sally W. Bancroft, b. 13 Apr 1810. e. Amasa Bancroft, b. 16 Mar 1812; m. Caroline A. Shunway; pres. Gardner Bank. f. Viola Bancroft, b. 26 Aug 1815.
vii.	Luke Whitney, b. 21 May 1783, m. Cynthia Partridge.

Notes

"William Whitney, his son, b. Apr. 10, 1736, married Mary Mansfield, and removed, probably in the spring of 1769, to Winchendon, MA, where he d. July 10, 1817. His wife d. Dec. 17, 1815."^[20]

Census

• 1771, Lancaster, MA (tax list): William Whitney
• 1790, Westminster, Worcester Co., MA: William Whitney, 2 males over 16, 3 males 0-15, and 3 females.
• 1800, Winchendon, Worcester Co., MA: W^m Whitney, 1 male over 45, 2 males 16-25, 1 male 0-9, 1 female over 45, and 1 female 16-25.
• 1810, Winchendon, Worcester Co., MA: Whitney, William, 1 male over 45, 1 male 26-44, 1 male 16-25, and 1 female over 45.

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. 140-144.

1.^  "William [Whitney], s. William and Hannah, [born] Apr. 10, 1736," according to Mary Frances Peirce, Town of Weston. Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1707-1850. 1703--Gravestones--1900. Church Records, 1709-1825. Appendix and Addenda, Cent Society, Gleanings from the Town Files, Bits of Genealogy, Error, Indexes, &c. (Boston, MA: McIncloe Bros., Printers, 1901), page 42. Also, "William [Whitney], ____ __, [born] 1736. In Weston. G.S.1," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Winchendon, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1909).

2.^  "William [Whitney], widr. Mary, [died] July 10, 1817. [a. 81. G.S.1]," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

3.^  "William [Whitney] and Mary Mansfield, b. of Weston, int. Apr. 10, 1769," according to Weston Vital Records, page 106.

4.^  "William [Whitney] Jr. and Mary Mansfield, b. of Weston, [married] June 14, 1762, by Rev. Samuel Woodward," according to Weston Vital Records, page 115.

5.^  "Mary Mansfield [Whitney], w. William, [born] ____ __, 1745. In Waltham. G.S.1," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

6.^  "Mary Mansfield [Whitney], w. William, [died] Dec. 17, 1815, a. 70. G.S.1," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

7.^  "William [Whitney], o.c. July 22, 1764," according to Weston Vital Records, page 478.

8.^  "Mary [Whitney], w. William, o.c. July 22, 1764," according to Weston Vital Records, page 478.

9.^  "William [Whitney], s. William and Mary, [born] June 26, 1764," according to Weston Vital Records, page 112.

10.^  "William [Whitney], s. William and Mary, a. 1m., bap. July 29, 1764," according to Weston Vital Records, page 480.

11.^  "Phinehas [Whitney], s. William and Mary, b. last w., bap. Apr. 13, 1766," according to Weston Vital Records, page 483.

12.^  "Mary [Whitney], d. William and Mary, born at Lincoln, Apr. 11, 1773," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

13.^  "Mary [Whitney], d. W[illia]m and w., bp. Apr. 18, 1773. C.R.1," according to Vital Records of Lincoln, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1908).

14.^  "Joseph [Whitney], s. William and Mary, [born] May 20, 1775," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

15.^  "Amasa [Whitney], s. William and Mary, [born] June 16, 1777," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

16.^  "Sarah [Whitney], d. William and Mary, [born] Sept. 3, 1779," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

17.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 194, page 195.

18.^  "Sally [Whitney] of Winchendon and Semyrna Bancroft, int. Nov. 23, 1801," according to Gardner Vital Records.

19.^  "Sally [Whitney] and Smyrna Bancroft of Gardner, [married] Jan 12, 1802," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

20.^  Weston Vital Records.

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