Family:Whitney, Mellen (1774-a1826)

Mellen⁶ Whitney (Elias⁵, Elias⁴, Jonathan³, Benjamin², John¹), son of Elias⁵ and Lucy (Barnes) Whitney, was born 9 Dec 1774, Mendon, MA,^[1] and died between 1826 and 1830.

He "of Sterling" married, 7 Jan 1796, Shirley, MA, Jane Richardson.^[2] She was born about 1780, Barre, VT, and died probably between 1840 and 1850, Peru, NY.

He first moved to Barton, VT, from Massachusetts, and was in that town in 1816, afterward resided in Barre, VT, previous to and after the time Lafayette visited this country. This fact is fixed by an incident connected with the French General's stay in Barre, in which Mellen played a part. His children were all born in Barre. In 1826 he moved to Peru, NY, where he and his wife died. Jane was listed as the head of household in 1830, so Mellen probably died before 1830. A woman of Jane's age is enumerated with their son John in 1840, but there is no sign of her by 1850, so she probably died between 1840 and 1850. Mellen was named after his paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Mellen.

Children of Mellen⁶ and Jane (Richardson) Whitney, order uncertain, possibly incomplete:

i.	Lucinda7 Whitney, b. 15 Nov 1795, Sterling, MA;[3] m. 14 Jun 1817, Rutland, VT, Ambrose Potter.
ii.	Lydia Whitney, b. 23 Jul 1797, Sterling, MA.[4]
iii.	Eliza Whitney, b. 31 Mar 1799, Sterling, MA;[5] m. and removed to Virginia.
iv.	Nancy Whitney, b. 28 May 1802, Sterling, MA;[6] m. ----- Howland; resided Barre.
v.	Nora Whitney, b. say 1804.
vi.	John Whitney, b. 14 Mar 1806, VT; m. Mary Banker.
vii.	Fidelia Whitney, b. say 1808.
viii.	Anstrus Whitney, b. say 1810.
ix.	(son) Whitney, b. 1800-1810, Barton, VT.
x.	Vinal Whitney, b. 1815-1820, Barre, VT. He was perhaps the "V Whitney", a miner residing in Negro Bar, Sacramento Co., CA in 1850.

Census

• 1790: not found. He was probably still residing with his parents.
• 1800, Sterling, Worcester Co., MA: Whitney, Mellan, 1 male 26-44, 1 female 16-25, and 3 females 0-9.
• 1810, Barton, Orleans Co., VT: Millen Whitney, 1 male 26-44, 2 males 0-9, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 10-15, and 3 females 0-9.
• 1820, Barre, Washington Co., VT: Mellon Whitney, 1 male 26-44, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 0-9, 1 female 26-44, 2 females 16-25, and 1 female 0-9; 1 engaged in agriculture.
• 1830, Peru, Clinton Co., NY: Jane Whitney, 1 male 20-29, 1 male 10-14, 1 female 50-59, 2 females 20-29, 2 females 15-19. This was his widow.
• 1840, Peru, Clinton Co., NY: John Whitney, 1 male 30-39, 1 male 20-29, 1 male 0-4, 1 female 60-69, 1 female 20-29, 2 females 5-9; 1 engaged in agriculture, 1 in manufacture or trades. This was his son John. The elderly female is probably his mother, Jane.
• 1850, Negro Bar, Sacramento Co., CA: This was perhaps his son Vinal.

1646 1711 V. Whitney 35 M - Miner VT

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), p. 238.

1.^  "Mellen [Whitney], s. of Elias Jr. and Lucy, [born] Dec. 9, 1774," according to Thomas W. Baldwin, ed., Vital Records of Mendon, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: 1920).

2.^  "Mellen [Whitney] [int. Mellens] of Sterling and Jane Richardson, [married] Jan. 7, 1796. [Mellen of Sterling, B.R.]," according to Vital Records of Shirley, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1918). Also, "Mellen [Whitney] of S., and Jane Richardson of Shirley, [married] Jan. 7, 1796, in Shirley, by Rev. Phineas Whitney," according to Frances Pratt Tapley, comp., Vital Records of Sterling, Massachusetts (Sterling, MA: Historical Commission, 1976).

3.^  "Lucinda [Whitney], in Shirley, d. Mellen and Jean, [born] Nov. 15, 1795," according to Sterling Vital Records.

4.^  "Lyddia [Whitney], d. Mellen and Jean, [born] July 23, 1797," according to Sterling Vital Records.

5.^  "Eliza [Whitney], d. Mellen and Jean, [born] Mar. 31, 1799," according to Sterling Vital Records.

6.^  "Nancy [Whitney], d. Mellen and Jean, [born] May 28, 1802," according to Sterling Vital Records.

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