Family:Whitney, William (c1796-1866)
Dea. William7 Whitney (Silas6, Timothy5, Jonas4, Moses3, Richard2, John1), son of Silas6 and Mamre (Bradley) Whitney, was born 9 Jan 1797, Stockbridge, MA, and died 26 Mar 1866, Stockbridge, MA, aged 69 years, of lung fever, farmer.[1] William and Anna lived on East Main St. diagonally across from the school.
He married, 2 Sep 1822, Stockbridge, MA, Anna Jones, daughter of Josiah and Fidelia (West) Jones. She was born 5 Dec 1801, Stockbridge, MA, and died 5 Mar 1876, Stockbridge, MA, aged 74 years, of paralysis; she was known in the family as "Aunt Nancy".[2] Anna was the sister of Electa Jones, who is said to be the author of the "History of Stockbridge" [MA].
The death of no citizen of Stockbridge would have been felt as a more severe blow or a greater loss than that of William Whitney, Esq., who died on the 26th inst., aged 69. A native of the town in which he died, his long life was one of respectability and influence. No one was more honored by his fellow-citizens; his opinion was looked for with interest on all occasions. A man of ardent feelings, positive opinions and marked idiosyncrasies, he was one to be felt and to be influential in any society. A person of inquiring mind, proving all things and holding fast that which seemed good; never believing simply because others did, nor yet desirous of differing from others for the sake of peculiarity. No opposition or dissent of others prevented his thinking and acting out his own convictions. He was ever ready to aid others by advice or otherwise; the poor remember him with the warmest regard. He was long known as an advocate of the rights of the slave; when even in Massachusetts to be an abolitionist was odious and unpopular he had no hesitation in standing up in behalf of the poor bondman. In the church of which he was a consistent member and with which he had been connected longer than any now living member, he had been a deacon for almost twenty years. He was truly a pillar in the church and in the state. May his mantle rest on one worthy to wear it. He died in Stockbridge, s. p.; resided Stockbridge, MA.
William and Anna took a nephew George Fenn Whitney into their home when the latter's father died and they "brought him up". Later this George Fenn Whitney married Mary Elizabeth Lynch, and they built a home on Church Street (Stockbridge, MA).
Census
- 1830, Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., MA: William Whitney, 1 male 30-39, 1 male 20-29, 2 males 5-9, 1 female 60-69, 1 female 30-39, and 3 females 20-29.
- 1840, Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., MA: William Whitney, 1 male 40-49, 2 males 20-29, 1 male 10-14, and 1 female 30-39; 3 engaged in agriculture.
- 1850, Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., MA:
161 173 William Whitney 53 M - Farmer $7000 Mass. Nancy J. Whitney 48 F - do Bridget Tracey 27 F - Ireland
205 209 William Whitney 58 M - Farmer Mass. Anna J. Whitney 53 F - do Patrick Collins 15 M - Laborer Ireland Bridget Tracey 30 F - do
743 689 William Whitney 63 M - Farmer $7500 $6000 Mass. Anna 58 F - House Keeper " Mary Delaney 20 F - Servant "
220 237 William Whitney 68 M - Massachusetts M Farmer - - 1 1 - Anna J. Whitney 63 F - " M House Keeper - - - - - Abbey T. Whitney 74 F - " S Invalid - - - - - Mary M. Curtis 41 F - " S Seamstress - - - - - Kate Henzey 18 F - " S Domestic - - - - -
215 214 Whitney, Anna I. 68 F W Keeping house $2000 $12000 Mass. Carnaham, Catharine 28 F W Domestic servant Ireland Parents foreign born
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. 311-312.
1.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 192, page 56.
2.^ "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 283, page 64.
Copyright © 2006, 2009, 2010, 2017, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.
