Family:Whitney, Erastus (1790-1862)

WRG Descendants

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Erastus⁷ Whitney (Ezra⁶, Ezra⁵, John⁴, Isaiah³, Thomas², John¹), son of Ezra⁶ and Sally (Hooker) Whitney,^[1] was born 4 Sep 1790, Athens, VT,^[2] and died 10 Aug 1862, Burns, NY.^[3] He is buried in the Canaseraga Cemetery, Burns, NY.

He married, sometime before 1823, Aurilla Gillette.^[4] She was born about 25 Sep 1802,^[5] in either Allegany County or Livingston County (both were formed after her birth, so she was probably born in Genessee County), NY, and died 6 Mar 1878.^[6] She is buried in the Canaseraga Cemetery, Burns, NY.^[7]

He moved with his parents and siblings from the family home in Vermont to Allegany County, NY in 1817.^[8] In 1821, he was a captain in the Battalion of infantry in Ossian, Allegany County, NY.^[9] He was a farmer and a miller.^[10] Erastus Whitney operated a gristmill in Burns, NY.^[11]

I, Erastus Whitney of Burns ... declare this to be my last will and testament.

I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Aurilla the use and income of the undivided one third part of all my real estate, and the appurtenances thereunto belonging during her natural life. The appurtenances above mentioned embraces my dwelling houses, barns, outhouses, grist-mill, &c &c (excepting and reserving unto my son Melvin the dwelling house and all outhouses together with about three acres of land where said buildings are located). Also of my personal property I give and bequeath unto my said wife all my household goods for her own proper use and benefit during her natural life. Also the use and benefit of my two cows and also the use of my horses in proportion to her share in the real estate and after her decease whatever remains of the above bequests to revert to my three heirs hereinafter mentioned:

I give and bequeath unto my daughter Northa, & my son Melvin and my daughter Mary E. Luthra all the residue of my undivided two thirds of real estate respectively to share and share alike excepting and reserving unto my son Melvin, the house, out-houses, and improvements around the same where he now resides. Also I forgive my son Melvin all accounts or charges I may have against him of every name or nature.

Will dated 26 Jun 1862^[12]

Children of Erastus⁷ and Aurilla (Gillette) Whitney:

i.	Northa8 Whitney, b. about 1823 in New York, probably in Burns.[13] She and her much younger sister Luthera remained unmarried and lived with their parents and next door to their brother Melvin and his family.[14] When their parents died, they remained near Melvin's family and helped out where they could, even taking in a boarder who was an apprentice to Melvin in the milling trade.[15] Northa died 26 Jan 1886, probably in Burns.[16] She was buried in Canaseraga Cemetery, Burns, NY.
ii.	Melvin Whitney, b. 2 Oct 1827, probably in Burns, Allegany County, NY;[17] d. after 1889.[18]
iii.	Arminda Whitney, b. circa Jul 1829;[19] d. 22 Sep 1841, probably in an epidemic.[20] She was buried in Canaseraga Cemetery, Burns, NY.
iv.	Sally Whitney, d. 17 Sep 1841,[21] probably in an epidemic.[22] She was buried in Canaseraga Cemetery, Burns, NY.
v.	Henrietta Whitney, d. 15 Sep 1841,[23] probably in an epidemic.[24] She was buried in Canaseraga Cemetery, Burns, NY.
vi.	Mary Jane Whitney, d. 13 Sep 1841,[25] probably in an epidemic.[26] She was buried in Canaseraga Cemetery, Burns, NY.
vii.	Mary E. Luthera "Lute" Whitney, b. 26 Apr 1844, NY, probably in Burns.[27] She was born a few years after four of her sisters had died in the span of just over a week, probably due to an epidemic, and was therefore much younger than her two older siblings. She lived with her parents and her older sister Northa, probably helping to care for her elderly parents until their deaths.[28] Her sister Northa died early in 1886, and then her sister-in-law Eliza died later that year and she was very much involved in caring for Eliza in her last days.[29] In referring to her father Melvin, Fanny wrote "Luthera will do all she can to make home pleasant for them."[30] Melvin passed away a few years later, and Luthera moved in as a boarder with a widow her age.[31] She never married, and died sometime after 1900, probably in Burns.[32]

Primary Residences

Athens Township, Windham Co, VT; Burns, Allegany Co., NY.

Census

• 1810, residing in Rockingham, Windham Co., VT with his parents.
• 1820, residing with his parents
• 1830, Burns, Allegany Co., NY: Estus. Whitney, 1 male 30-39, 1 male 0-4, 1 female 20-29, 1 female 5-9, and 1 female 0-4.
• 1840, Burns, Allegany Co., NY: Erastus Whitney, 1 male 40-49, 1 male 10-14, 1 female 30-39, 1 female 15-19, 2 females 5-9, and 2 females 0-4; 2 engaged in agriculture.
• 1850, Burns, Allegany Co., NY:

811 896 Melvin Whitney 22 M - Farmer N.Y. Ann E. Whitney 20 F - " Frances S. Whitney 2 F - " John C. F. Whitney 1 M - " 812 897 Erastus Whitney 59 M - $7500 Vt. Orrilla Whitney 47 F - N.Y. Northa Whitney 26 F - " Luthere Whitney 6 F - "

• 1855 NY State Census, Burns, Allegany Co., NY:

Frame Construction, value 200 185 192 Erastus Whitney 64 M Vt Farmer 37 (to Alleg 1818) Aurelia " 52 F Wife Livingston 34 (to Alleg 1821) Northa " 32 F Dau Allegany 32 E Luthera " 11 F " Allegany 11 193 Melvin Whitney 27 M " Allegany 27 Ann E " 25 F Wife Allegany 9 (to Alleg 1846) Frances J " 7 F Child Allegany 7 John C F " 6 M " Allegany 6 Hugh M " 3 M " Allegany 3 Eugene L " 8M M " Allegany 8M

• 1860, Burns, Allegany Co., NY:

7 7 Erastus Whitney 69 M - Farmer $8225 $600 Vermont Aurelia 57 F - New York Noratha 32 F - $50 Do Luthera 16 F - $50 Do Attended school

• 1865 NY State Census, Burns, Allegany Co., NY, p. 23 FHL Film 501955

Frame Construction, value 500 179 180 Melvin Whitney 38 M Allegany Farmer Married 1st mar Ann E Whitney 36 F Wife Allegany Married 1st mar, 5 children J C F Whitney 16 M Son Allegany Farmer Single Fany Whitney 18 F Dau Allegany Single Hugh Whitney 13 M Son Allegany Single Eugene Whitney 11 M Son Allegany Single Egbert Whitney 4 M Son Allegany Single Frame Construction, value 280 180 181 Aurilla Whitney 65 F Allegany Widow, md once, 5 children Northa Whitney 45 F Dau Do Single Lutherie Whitney 23 F Dau Allegany Single

• 1870, Burns, Allegany Co., NY:

252 262 Whitney, Orilla 68 F W Keeping House New York -----, Northa 47 F W Keeping House New York -----, Luthera 26 F W New York

• 1875 NY State Census, Burns, Allegany Co., NY, p. 14 FHL Film 501957:

Frame Construction, value 800 134 143 Aurilla Whitney 73 F Livingston Wid Northa Whitney 53 F Dau Allegany Single Mary E Whitney 31 F Dau Allegany Single

• 1880, Burns, Allegany Co., NY:

337 351 Whitney Northa W F 57 S Keeping House NY VT NY -- Luthera W F 36 S Sister At Home NY NY NY Mosher George W M 15 S Boarder Apprentice to Miller NY NY NY

• 1900, Canaseraga, Burns, Allegany Co., NY, p. 3:

60 61 Boyd Ellen Head W F Jul 6 1845 54 W 30 3 2 New York Connecticut Connecticut Whitney Luthera Boarder W F Apr 26 1844 55 S New York Vermont New York

References

1.^ 

2.^ 

3.^  Tombstone for 'Erastus, d. August 10, 1862, age 71y 11m 6d', Canaseraga Cemetery, Burns, Allegany Co., NY.

4.^  Their eldest daughter was born about 1823; Obituary for Miss M. E. L. Whitney, The Canaseraga Times, Friday, July 24, 1903.

5.^  Tombstone for 'Aurilla, d. March 6, 1878, aged 75y 5m 11d', Canaseraga Cemetery, Burns, Allegany Co., NY.

6.^  ibid.

7.^  ibid.

8.^ 

9.^  Military minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of New York, 1783-1821. N.Y.?. State of New York. 1901-02, p. 2261.

10.^ 

11.^ 

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20.^  Because gravestones record the deaths of four children in this family within mere days of each other, it is clear that something serious happened. The most likely scenario is that an epidemic hit the family.

21.^ 

22.^  Because gravestones record the deaths of four children in this family within mere days of each other, it is clear that something serious happened. The most likely scenario is that an epidemic hit the family.

23.^ 

24.^  Because gravestones record the deaths of four children in this family within mere days of each other, it is clear that something serious happened. The most likely scenario is that an epidemic hit the family.

25.^ 

26.^  Because gravestones record the deaths of four children in this family within mere days of each other, it is clear that something serious happened. The most likely scenario is that an epidemic hit the family.

27.^ 

28.^ 

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32.^ 

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Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2009-2011, Tim Doyle, Robert L. Ward, the Whitney Research Group