Family:Whitney, Joshua (c1746-1816)

Joshua Whitney, parentage unknown, was born about 1747, and died 1 Dec 1816, Bridgewater, VT, in his 70th year.

He married, 1777, Sally -----. One suggestion is that her maiden name was Haynes, another is that she was Sarah Moore of Sudbury, MA. She was born 1759, and died 1833, Bridgewater, VT.

Joshua Whitney served one year and eight months in the Revolutionary War and reached the rank of Lieutenant, although there seems to be no service record found for him. His cousin Joshua of Henniker, New Hampshire also served as a Sergeant.

He made his first land purchase in Saville, NH in 1778, according to the records there. His occupation was that of a cooper. In 1781 Joshua and William Whitney requested the town name be changed from Saville to Wendell. Later Wendell became Sunapee, which is the name by which it is now known.

Joshua Whitney moved from Wendell, NH, to Bridgewater, VT, in 1800.

Whitney, Joshua (Bridgewater). Estate Notice. We, the subscribers, appointed by Hon. Benj. Clapp, Judge of Probate, estate of Joshua Whitney, late of Bridgewater, deceased.... and six months from the 1st day of January instant being allowed the creditors.... at the dwelling house of the Widow Sarah Whitney, in said Bridgewater, on 4th Tuesday of March and 2nd Tues. of June next... Nehemiah Woodward, Elijah Brown, Aaron Lamb. Commissioners, Bridgewater, 20 Jan., 1817.

Children of Joshua and Sally (-----) Whitney:

i.	Sally Whitney, b. 5 May 1779; m. Seth Brannock.
ii.	Ruth Whitney, b. 20 Oct 1780; d. 1846; m. Enoch Eastman.
iii.	Elizabeth Whitney, b. 26 Aug 1782; m.(1) Cyrus Carpenter; m.(2) James Kelly.
iv.	John Whitney, b. 20 Sep 1784; possibly the "Calvin" Whitney who m. 29 Nov 1821, Thomaston, ME, Eliza Everton.
v.	Ichabod Whitney, b. 4 Dec 1785.
vi.	Haynes Whitney, b. 7 Dec 1787; possibly the Haynes Whitney who m. 24 Jan 1816, Thomaston, ME, Jane Robinson.
vii.	William Whitney, b. 10 Sept 1789; m. 1808, Betsey Rand.
viii.	Abigail Whitney, b. 16 Aug 1791; m. 1828, Eliphalet Angell.
ix.	Polly Whitney, b. 27 Aug 1793. Was she the Polly Abbot, b. ca. 1794, NH residing in 1850 in Bridgewater with her husband Calvin Abbot?
x.	Hannah Whitney, b. 26 Sep 1795.
xi.	Mary Whitney, b. say 1798.
xii.	Joshua Whitney, b. say 1800; m. Persis Moore.

Notes

The key to his parentage seems to be the identity of the William Whitney who lived in Saville/Wendell in 1781. It seems likely that he was a close relative, possibly a brother or father.

That William could be William⁴ Whitney of Killingly and Canaan, CT, or the latter's son William⁵ Whitney of Canaan and Salisbury, CT. The later histories of these two men seem to be unknown. That hypothesis would place Joshua as a possible youngest son of William⁴.

On the other hand, that William could be William^{5 Whitney}, and then Joshua would be his son.

All other known William Whitney individuals seem to be otherwise eliminated for various reasons.

Census

• 1790, Wendell, Cheshire Co., NH: Joshua Whitney, 1 male over 16, 4 males 0-15, and 4 females.
• 1800, Wendell, Cheshire Co., NH: Joshua Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 male 16-26, 3 males 10-16, 2 males under 10, 1 female 26-45, 3 females 16-26, 2 females under 10.
• 1810, Bridgewater, Windsor Co., VT: Joshua Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 male 10-16, 1 female over 45, 2 females 16-26.
• 1810, Bridgewater, Windsor Co., VT: William Whitney, 1 male 16-26, 1 female 16-26, 1 female under 10. (This was their son)

References

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Copyright © 2007, 2008, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group