Family:Whitney, Nicholas (s1524-1587)
Nicholas Whitney, Gent. (Robert, Robert [perhaps] Robert, Eustace, Robert, Robert, Robert, Eustace, Eustace, Robert, ...), son of Robert and Elizabeth (verch Morgan ap William) Whitney,[1] born say 1524,[2] and died after making his will on 20 Nov 1587.[3]
Nothing is known of his wife, whose existence is inferred from the existence of children. She apparently died before the making of his will, 20 Nov 1587, since she is not mentioned therein.
The will of Nicholas Whitney of Castleton:
- "In the name of God Amen. the Twentith daie of November in the year [of our lord] god 1587 I [Nicholas Whitney] of Castleton in the parishe of Clifforde in the Diocesse of Hereforde being sicke [of body] and in my perfecte mind [and memory] praise be unto Almightie god Do make and ordayne this my last will and Testament in manner and forme followinge [illegible] and commit my sowle unto almightie god my maker and redeemer and my body to be buryed in christian buriall. Item I give and bequeathe all and singuler my messuages Lands tenements re[illegible]s services and hereditaments whatsoever [in the Parish] of Clifforde in the countie of Hereforde, And also all my goods, chattells, houshold stuffe moveable and unmoveable whatsoever and in whose hands use and possession the same be To my beloved brother Richarde Whitney and to my Cosen John Morgan their heires and assignes forever, Which my brother Richarde Whitney and my Cosen John [Morgan] I do make and appointe to be my true and lawfull executors and do will that they shall sell all my said messuages, lands, Tenements to the best they can, and with the money thearof comminge and with my said goods and chattells to paie and Dischardge all my debts and the residue to use and bestowe accordinge to their discrecon uppon my children. Witnesses beinge present at the makinge hearof Myle John Watkyn, Thomas ap John, Thomas ap Owen, Richard Phillip, Johan verch Morgan, Margaret vch. Harry, Elnor Whitney, Margaret Whitney, Morgan Servaunte of Nicholas Whitney, and others."[4]
Was his widow the Anne Whitney, of the parish of St. Andrew's Holborn, London, widow, who left a will dated Dec. 8, and proved, P.C.C., Dec. 14, 1610, mentioning Robert Whitney, second son, and Thomas Whitney, youngest son?[5]
Children of Nicholas and ----- (-----) Whitney, possibly incomplete:
i. Margerye Whitney,[6] b. bef. 1569,[7] m. Howell Watkins. He was killed about 1587 by Margerye's uncle, Thomas Whitney.[8] She was perhaps the "Margaret Whitney" who witnessed her father's will. ii. Eustace Whitney,[9] b. say 1578.[10] - Was he perhaps the father in this baptism: Anne Whitney, dau. of Youstis Whitney, bp. 17 Feb 1599, St. Andrew's, Holborn, London?[11]
iii. Thomas Whitney,[12] b. ca. 1581, probably Castleton, Herefordshire.[13]
References
1.^ Henry Melville, The Ancestry of John Whitney: Who, with His Wife Elinor, and Sons John, Richard, Nathaniel, Thomas, and Jonathan, Emigrated from London, England, in the Year 1635, and Settled in Watertown, Massachusetts; the First of the Name in America, and the One from Whom a Great Majority of the Whitneys Now Living in the United States Are Descended (New York, NY: The De Vinne Press, 1896), pp. 265-267, 275.
2.^ This estimate is based on the will of his father, the suggested ages of his siblings, and his position in the pedigrees as first son.
3.^ L.D.S. Film #91676, Hereford County Record Office, Wills, folio 169.
4.^ Ibid.
5.^ Henry Austin Whitney, Memoranda Relating to Families of the Name of Whitney in England (Boston: 1859), p. 7.
6.^ That he had a daughter Margery is proven by "The Joynte and Severall Answers of William Watkin lewis and Jevan lloyde to the bill of Complaynte of Thomas Whitney", Records of the Court of Requests, REQ 2/284/30, folio 3
7.^ Since Margery was married by 1587, she was most likely born by 1569, and perhaps much earlier.
8.^ REQ 2/284/30, folio 3.
9.^ That he had a son Eustace is proven by Harley 1140, folio 66b, Harley 1159, folio 65b, & Harley 1442, folio 68b.
10.^ Melville, op. cit., pp. 265, 267, 275.
11.^ L.D.S. International Genealogical Index, extraction program, batch # C010511.
12.^ "Thomas Whitney, son of Nichols Whitney of Carsleton, in the county of Hereford, gentleman, deceased", Frederick Clifton Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635 (Chicago: 1895), p. 17.
13.^ He would have been apprenticed at age 12 and freed at age 21, hence the estimate of his birth date. His father was residing in Castleton, Herefordshire at that time.
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