{Immigrant Hills Ancestors}
The following information comes from:
Vol. I, pp. 55-61 of Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, edited by Cuyler Reynolds (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company,1911),
and from
http://wiki.whitneygen.org/wrg/index.php/Family:Whitney,_John_(1592-1673), Copyright © 2006, Robert L. Ward and The Whitney Research Group, which shows their compiled research. Their references are listed at the end of this biographical sketch.
John Whitney, son of Thomas and Mary (Bray) Whitney, was born in Westminster, England, was baptized in St. Margaret's church, July 20, 1592,3ii and coming to America in 1635, died at Watertown, Massachusetts, June 1, 1673. His father, Thomas, was recorded "Gentleman" in his marriage license taken out in England.3ix
In 1895, Frederick C. Pierce, quoting Henry Melville, said that John was educated in the famous "Westminster School" now known as St. Peter's College. 3ix On 22 February 1607[/8], when he was fourteen, John Whitney, "son of Thomas Whitney, of the city of Westminster, yeoman," was apprenticed by his father to William Pring of the Old Bailey, London, a freeman of the Merchant Taylors Company (Apprentice Binding Book, Vol 5, 1606-1609, Guildhall Library MS. 314[13], page 170). As an apprentice he had clerical duties and studied a varied curriculum, as well as a trade.1 The Merchant Tailors' Company was then the most famous and prosperous of all the great trade guilds, numbering in its membership distinguished men of all professions, many of the nobility and the Prince of Wales.3ix On March 13, 1614, when twenty-one years of age, John Whitney became a full-fledged member.
About 1618, he married Elinor ----, who was born in England about 1599. They made their residence in the parish of Isleworth-on-Thames, opposite Richmond, nine miles from London, and eight miles from his Westminster family home. While there, three of their children were born, according to the parish register of All Saints Church: Mary, bapt. May 23, 1619; John, bapt. September 14, 1621; and Richard, bapt. January 6, 1623/24.3ix
The records of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors show that on "March 8, 1624, Robert Whitney, son of Thomas Whitney of the city of Westminster, gentleman, [was] apprenticed to John Whitney in Thistleworth" (another name for Isleworth). " Robert was Thomas Whitney’s youngest son. He was apprenticed to his brother for seven years and in "1632, Robert Whitney [was] made free by John Whitney, his master, upon the report of his master." 3
The family removed, about 1631, to London, where entries in the register of St. Mary Aldermary Church indicate that they resided in "Bow Lane, "near Bow church, where hang the famous bells." 3ix (Bow Bells are the bells of the church of St. Mary -le-Bow, Cheapside, London. To be born within the sound of Bow Bells is the tradidional definition of a Cockney. The church occupies a central position in the City of London, and the area that the bells can be heard in has become synonymous with ‘within the city boundary.’") 4 These records indicate that John was a Taylor.
In London, oldest daughter, Mary, died and was buried at St. Aldermary Parish on 15 February 1626/27. Four more children were born to John and Elinor there: Nathaniel, circa 1625, Thomas, baptized 10 Dec 1627, Mary, baptized 29 Dec. 1629; and Jonathan, circa 1631.
"John sent his eldest son, John, to the Merchant Taylors' School, affording him the finest education available to the son of a yeoman intended for business. The younger John Whitney appears in the Merchant Taylors' School Register from 11 December 1631 until 1634 (Merchant Taylors' School Register, 132)." 1xiv
All this changed when early in April, 1635, John registered with his wife, Elinor, and five sons as passengers in the ship "Elizabeth and Ann," Roger Cooper, master. "The record of embarkation, states, "These p'ties hereunder expressed are to be imbarqued for New England, having taken the oaths of Allegeance and Supremacie and likewise brought Certificate both from the Ministers and Justices when their abidings were latlie, of their conformitie to the Discipline and order of the Church of England, and yet they are no Subsedy Men." It gave the names and ages of the family as follows : John Whitney [the father] - 35, Elinor Whitney [the mother] - 30, John - 11, Richard - 9, Nathaniel - 8, Thomas - 6, Jonathan -1. 3ix Second daughter Mary is not named, and it is assumed that she died before this time. The known birth records of the children show that the ages in this record are significantly understated. 3
The family arrived at Watertown, Massachusetts, in June, and settled there. Elinore was pregnant on this voyage, and their son, Joshua, was born 15 July 1635. Two more children were born to the Whitneys in Watertown: Caleb, born 12 July 1640, buried 5 December 1640; and Benjamin, born at June 6, 1643. 3ix
John Whitney purchased a sixteen-acre homestall which had been granted to John Strickland, who had been dismissed from the Watertown church, May 29, 1635. Mr. Strickland and was one of those who left to establish Wethersfield, Connecticut, the oldest town on the Connecticut River. His Watertown homestall of sixteen acres was bounded to the east by William Jennison, west by Martin Underwood, north by Isaac Mixer and south by William Jennison (WTR 1:120). It was just north of the present Mt. Auburn St. and east of Common Street. This became the permanent home of John Whitney.2
At Watertown, John was admitted a freeman 3 March 1635/6. He was of a comfortable social standing and his property was in keeping with his status as a Watertown proprietor, and reflected a modest amount of trading and selling, as well. In the third division of Watertown lands he received lot 16 containing fifty acres (WTR 1:5). In the grant of the plowlands at Beaver Brook plains, with an allowance of one acre per person and likewise for cattle, John Whitney received ten acres, 28 February 1636 (WTR 1:6). The next year he received another ten acres (WTR 1:10). His other possessions granted to him included two acres of meadow at Beaver brook, ten acres of remote meadow and the eighty- third lot, ten acres of plow land, one acre of meadow in Pond Meadow, one acre of meadow, eighteen acres of upland beyond the further plain and the forty fifth lott, six acres of upland (WTR 1:85).1 Henry Austin Whitney said that before 1642 the town had granted him nine other lots of land, amounting to 198 acres. The Registry of Deeds, which contains comparatively few of the early conveyances, shows that he made several purchases of land. 3ix
Richard Woodward sold John Whitney nine acres in Watertown on the little plain bordering Whitney's land on 16 limo 1646 for "six pounds...forty shillings a yeare in Corne...in wheate, or Rie, or pease, or Indian, some of each as God shal be pleased to afford us" between limo 1647 and 1649 (Middlesex Deed 1:150-151). Thomas Arnold discharged the debt and acknowledged Whitney's title to the land in another deed dated 27 October 1661 (Middlesex Deed 3:445). John Whitney, "Taylor" bought six acres of land near the "Little Playne" from Robert Daniel on 6 2mo 1653 (Middlesex Deed 1:192). After moving from Watertown to Providence, RI, Thomas and Phebe Arnold sold seventeen acres of land in Watertown to John Whitney on 20 October 1662 (Middlesex Deed 2:259).1
John Whitney is seen many times in the records with Thomas Arnold, in both friendly and adversarial relationships. John Whitney accused Arnold in court for absenting himself from public worship.1
Mr Jno. Whitney & Henry Bright attested uppon oath that Thomas Arnold had to their best knowledge absented himself from the publike ordinances of Christ on the Lords dayes for a full yeare last past. Thomas Arnold pleaded that he had bin absent severall dayes by warding and cow keeping &c. wch he could not make appeare (Pulsifer, 72)1.
Arnold was given a reduced fine 3 2mo 1655.1
In 1649 when Thomas Arnold was granted a small patch of land near his house, John Whitney Sr. was to set it out so that it did not prejudice the highway (WTR 1:19). For an unspecified service to the town, John Whitney received 2s 9d in 1651 (WTR 1:25).1
John Whitney of Watertown is identified as a tailor in a deed dated 22 Dec 1651. (Bond, Watertown, p. 197,
John Whitney was chosen selectman, 1638 to 1655, inclusive. "Mr Whetny is chosen to take the Invoyce for the towne: and to have lOs for his paines; and to take Land and cattell as it was to the Country rate" (WTR 1:14). He was appointed constable of Watertown, June 1, 1641, by the general court. He was paid £1.1.0 by the town in 1653 (WTR 1:41) and as town clerk, wrote out the receipt of the town's account that year (WTR 1:4041). In 1654 Mr. Whitney testified against Robert Daniel when Daniel was charged with failing to fence his land like the rest of the commoners (WTR 1:37). He was charged with making the ministry rate in 1654 (WTR 1:39).1
In 1663, Watertown paid Thomas Torball 8s "for Tho whitnies Child" perhaps indicating that Whitney had a grandson who was a town charge (WTR 1:77) which seems likely in light of "Thomas whetney (in regard of his present nessesity) shall have the one half of his Sallery payd him in hand" for whipping dogs out of the meetinghouse upon the Sabbath (WTR 1:81).1
John Whitney witnessed the deed of Reana Daniel to John's son, John Jr. on 7 l mo. 1656 (Middlesex Deed 3:364).1
In 1659, three years after the marriage of his son, Jonathan, to Lydia Jones, John Whitney gave Jonathan a tract of thirty-nine acres, but failed to file a formal deed for it. Five years later, on 10 November 1664, John formally acknowledged that he had given the land to his son (Middlesex Deed 3:79).1
Elinor Whitney died in Watertown on 11 May 1659. (Watertown Records, vol. 1, p. 21.) Sept. 29, 1659, John Whitney married widow Judah or Judith (---) Clement. She is not mentioned in his will and may have died by 1668 when John requested his youngest son, Benjamin, who had settled in York, Maine, to return and live with him at the homestead, assuring him that it should be his after his death. With the father's consent, Benjamin conveyed his rights for forty pounds, in 1671, to his brother, Joshua.
John Whitney Sr. made his will about two months before his death on 1 June 1673 in Watertown. (See Appendix A for the full will.) Nathaniel is not mentioned and had probably died previously. It is probable that John had aided all his other sons in their settlements as he did Jonathan and Benjamin, because after his death, his inventory, dated June 4, 1673, only included 50 acres dividend land, 3 acres Beaver Brook meadow, and 1 1/2 acres upland; 1 acre plain meadow, besides his personal property, consisting of household goods and stock on the farm. This shows that he then held but a small part of his lands granted and purchased, which had probably been distributed to his sons. 3ix Jonathan and Benjamin received their gifts from their father when they were quite young, and it is possible that they shared in some later division of his estate, which may account for the fact that their father, in his will, bequeathes parcels of land to all his other sons, but merely gives to Jonathan "one iron kitle and a great brass skilet;" and to Benjamin, "the old mare if she live."3ix
After his father died, Joshua returned to Groton, and October 29, 1697, sold the homestead to Deacon Nathan Fiske.3
John and Elinor Whitney are almost certainly buried in Watertown's "Old Burying Ground", now called the Arlington Street Cemetery. If they ever had grave markers, they have long since vanished or eroded, and the exact location of their graves may never be known. This is based upon information from Dr. Bond, the Watertown historian who stated that this was the active cemetery at that time, and that few burials were performed outside of the cemetery.3
Eli Whitney who invented the cotton gin is a descendant of John and Elinor Whitney.
I John Whitney Senior of Watertown, in ye County of Middlesex: being perfect and sound in memory and understanding blessed be God for it: doo declare this to be my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth
F[ir]st I commit my spint into ye hand of god yt gave it; and my body unto ye earth whence it was taken:
2 ly. I give unto my son John Whitney: my meadow called beever-brook meadow with ye upland yt doth apertane thereto: and a yoake of oxen: or nine pounds ten shillings: and ten acres of my land called devedent land and a trunke and one palre of sheets and one paire of piliow beers and two pewter dishes a great one and a small one: and the bed whereon I lie with all ye furniture thereunto belonging.
3 ly. I give unto my son Richard Whitney: ten acres of my land called devedend and two cows and a great sea chest.
4 ly. I give unto my son Thomas Whitney ten acres of my land called devedend and two cows and a sad colored sute namely a paire of breeches and a close coate and pewter dish.
5 ly. I give unto my son Jonathan Whitney: one fron kittle and a great brass skillit.
6 ly. I give unto my son Joshua Whitney: twenty acres of my land called devedend: and a cubard and a liffle table and a cheste and a great kittle and a warming pan and a skillit.
7 ly. I give unto my son Benjamin Whitney: the old mare if she live:
8 ly. My wili is yt what of my estate be left over after all is paid out as abeve sd namely of my movables yt it be equally divided betweene my executors and I doo nominate and apoynt my well beloved son John Whitney and Joshuah Whitney; to be my executors to this my Will and testament and doo desire my loving frind Wililam Bond Senior: to see yt this my will be performed according to ye true intent of it as is aforesaid and doo set to my hand this 3rd of Aprill: 1673.
This is an Inventory of ye estate of Mr. John Whitnie Senior: taken this 4th of June, 1673: by us whose names are hereunto subscribed.
Imprs:
Wearing cloths. a sad colorid Sute coat and breeches: 1.10.0
ye rest of bethe linin and woolin and shoos stoclins hats gloves: being much worne: 2.10.0
ye bed whereon he lay with all the furniture thereunto belonging 5.0.0
three pillow beers three sheets and three small old table cloaths 1.0.0
an old fether bolster and fether pillow 0.12.0
A sea chest 0.14.0
two old chests an old trunk an old box and an old cubard 0.14.0
two old tables one forme four old chairs 1.0.0
three pewter platters and basson a sacer an old great pot an old pewter bode and a chamber
pot 0.12.0
a brass kitle 2 brass skillits a brass skimer a warming pan a small brass morter a litle ladle of
brass 1.2.0
an iron pot and pot hooks a tramell a iron kitle a spit a smoothing iron and two old frieing pans 1.5.0
three earthen vessells a great grater two cheeny dishes a dozen of trenchers a wooden dish
three chees moals 0.3.0
a small trevet a paire of tongs and a small paire of scalls pund and haif ain weights a spindle for
a wheele and a iron bullet 0.2.0
a churne and other lumber 0.5.0
foure cows 10.0.0
two oxen 9.10.0
an old mare 2.10.0
an old saddle and pillon 0.10.0
an old paire of hoops and boxes for a cart a peire of iron pins for ye extree a paire of lince pins
and washers 0.10.0
a chaine a iron bar a spoone of iron an old adze a set for a saw 2 wedges and an iron pin for a
cart a hay crouse and other old iron 0.12.0
a grind stone with ye iron to it 0.4.0 an old hame a cart rope an old bage 2 old cushions 0.12.0
fifty acres of land called dividend 25.0.0
three acres of meadow at Beever brooke with an acre and half of upland to it 20.0.0
an acre of meadow called plaine meadow 10.0.0
a forke and shovall 0.2.0
also... 0.14.0
Joseph Underwood
William Bond
Nathan Fiske Senior.
At a court at Charlestown 17.4.1673
Sworn by ye executors (Middlesex Probate #24680)