WRG:Sandbox

Welcome to the Whitney Research Group Sandbox! This page is where you should feel free to make edits to see what they'll do, without worrying that you'll cause any problems. Please feel free to make edits here to get more comfortable with how it works. To edit, click here or the edit tab above, make your changes and click the Save page button when finished. Content will not stay permanently; this page will be cleaned up periodically.

Trial Version for Importing of Phoenix Pages

Moved to Phoenix Test

Put Your Trial Edits Here

JONATHAN² WHITNEY, born England about 1634 (aged about thirty-six in 1671, Suffolk Files

1. 1050); died Sherborn, MA 1

January 1702/3 (SVR, 228); married Watertown 30 October 1656 (WVR 1:18) LYDIA² JONES, born say 1636, died Sherborn 3 February 1701/2 (SVR, 228), daughter of LEWIS¹ and ANNA (_____) JONES (see Jones Chapter). Jonathan Whitney took the oath of fidelity in 1652 (Pulsifer, 301).

In 1659, Jonathan's father gave him thirty-nine acres in Watertown, five acres of which Jonathan and Lydia subsequenfly sold to Richard Child on 7 November 1664 (Middlesex Deed 3:80-81). Lydia signed her name to this deed, as indicated in the copybook, but no original sample of her writing survives.

At the March 1664 Watertown selectmen's meeting, it was found that

whereas Jonathan whetny & Danill Meddup are intendinge to goe to

Cape Pare: & the towne feareinge thir wives or children may be in want in their absence: & thay not beinge willinge to satisfy the select-men upon thefr demand:
  The town apoynted goodman Baitow goodman Colledge & goodman Tayntor to Call Jonathan whetney & Danili Meddup before Mr Danforth or sum other magistrate
  which acordingly was done: & Jonathan whetney before mr Danforth ingaged to leave (for his wives & childrens supply in his absence: in the hand of Tho. Flegg) as a debt then due 36£: to be paid yearly in 3 years: & the vallew of 14£ in Cattell in his wives hand (WTR 1:83).

Nathan Fisk Jr. and Jonathan Whitney were chosen to be Watertown's hogreeves in the year 1674 (WTR 1:121). In 1676, Jonathan was charged for his share of the fines of hogs and cattle, 12s (WTR 1:126). He may have been away at the time, since his service from Watertown in King Philip's War dated from 24 August 1676 (Bodge, 273,376). He was paid in 1677 for his work on the mill bridge, 8s (WTR 1:132).

Jonathan Whitney and his son, John, were witnesses in the attempted rape case of Sam, an Indian. On 30 August 1671, Mary Bacon, wife of Daniel Bacon of Cambridge, was returning home with her husband on a horse-drawn cart, when they arrived at the river. Mary and Daniel crossed, but Mary was in a hurry to get home, so she asked Daniel to wait for the cart, while she went on ahead a quarter of a mile to their house. She deposed that "when I was goften within about 20 roods of[f] from the house, a man coming sudingly behind me claping his hands upon my eyes" knocked her down and flipped her clothing over her head. Pinned to the ground she struggled and called out, nearly suffocating, but succeeding in frightening the man away (Suffolk File #1050). Although

---

WHITNEY

537

she never actually saw the man who attacked her, she named Sam, an Indian, who lived nearby as her assailant

Among the deponents who came forward in the case was "John Whitney aged about 9 years" who testified that on that day he had been looking for sheep with Sam, son of William Indian, who soon ran up toward Goodman Bacon's, and it getting dark, young Whitney "went home & about one quarter of an houre after the said Sam came to my father's house near the bridge foot at Waftertown mill." Not long after Sam left, John saw a woman pass by towards Goodman Bacon's house on the highway. He told his father, who also came to testify:

Jonathan Whitney aged about 36 yeares examined sayth that in sd

evening upon ye 30 August after it ye day light was Gone, hee being abeute half a mile of[f] hee herd a doleful cry hee suposed a woman's cry & it twas toward ye house of daniel Bacon as I conseive fromm sd plase wher I was; but who it was yt so cried I know not also when he came Hom yt night & hering of the buisnes about Goodman Bacon's wife Asault had examined his sonne John Whitney who the[n] did relate unto me the substance of what is contaned in his examination taken before Capt Gookin (Suffolk File #1050)

Sam the Indian was near the scene of the crime, but no one, not even the victim, saw him attempt the assault. He was committed to prison.

Jonathan Whitney served from Watertown in King Philip's War (Bodge, 273, 376).

In 1679 Jonathan became an inhabitant of Sherborn, MA. With five other men, Jonathan Whitney was appointed to lay out highways leading from Sudbury, Sherborne, Marlborough and Framingham, and Falls upon Charles River, "so as may be most convenient for the accommodation of travaillers from Towne to town both for men & beast" (15 December 1684, Pulsifer, 4:139). His involvement with the town and colony roads continued to the end of his life, when on 15 December 1702 the Middlesex Court ordered that Jonathan Whitney Senr be paid for his work in ordering the building of a bridge on the way from Natick to Boston at the falls (Middlesex County General Sessions).

In July of 1683 Jonathan Whitney was unsuccessfully sued by George Fairbanks and others (Inferior Ct. of Pleas, Suffolk Co.).

Several days before his death, Jonathan Whitney made his will:

In the name of God, amen

I Jonathan Whitney of Sherborne in the County of Middx within her Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England yeom: being weeke of body but in sound & disposing memory Praise be given to god for the same; doe make this my last wrn & testament in manner & forme following, that is to say, first & principally I Resign my Soule into the mercyfull hands of almighty god my Creator, assuredly hoping

---

538

ANCESTRY OF EVA BELLE KEMPTON

through the merits of my blessed saviour to obtaine pardon & remission of all my sins, and my body I comit to the earth whence it was taken, to be decently buried by the desc[rJ etion of my executors herein after named; and as for the worldly goods and estate the lord hath lent me, I dispose thereof as follows
  Impr my will is that after my Just dets and funerall charges be paid, that all the rest & residue of my estate both housing lands, chattle & other my movables (ten pounds excepted) be equally divided betwen my children Jonathan Whitney, John Whitney, Josiah Whitney, Joseph Whitney, Benjamin Whitney, Lydia Addams and Abigail Whitney to them & thefr heires for ever.
  I give & bequeath to my grandchild Benjamin Fisher fower pounds towards his bringing up to be pd to my Daughter Abigaill Whitney within six months after my Deces, to be pd by my executors.
  I give and bequeath to my grandchild Anna Fisher six pounds to be pd her by my executors when she is of ye age of eighteen years or day of Marriag, which shall first happen, and I doe nominate appoint & ordaine my abovessl Sons Jonathan Whitney & John Whitney my executors to se this my last will & testament performed, making null & voide all former or other wills by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seale this twenty first Day of December one thousand seven hundred & two, and In the first year of her Majesties Reign Anne by ye grace of God of England &c. Queene
Signed, Sealed and Published
In the Prsence of us Jonathan Whitney
Nathaniel Coilldg
Thomas Whitney
Munings Sawin
(Proved Cambridge 1 March 1702[/3])

An Inventory of the Estate of Jonathan Whitney Late of Sherborne Deceas^d Jan^y 1 1702/3 as it was taken by us whose names are underwritten viz.

Imp: His wareing apparrell, books, money & armes	04.06.00
Beds and Beding and Houshold ware	11.14.00
Cart, plow & other utersills	02.12.00
one horse cattell and swine	24.08.00
Buildings & Lands and grain	88.16.00
Totall	131.16.00

Benoni Larned
John Coollidg
March 1 1702[/3] (Middlesex Probate #24690)

Following his death, on 21 January 1714/5, the heirs of Jonathan Whitney Sr., late of Sherborn, being Jonathan, John, Josiah, Joseph, and Benjamin Whitney, and Lydia Adams and Abigail Whitney, all called his "orphants," acknowledged a 1702/3 agreement to leave the real estate to

---

WHITNEY

539

Joseph and Benjamin, with these two paying small sums to their remaining siblings (Middlesex Deed 17:167-9). Benjamin had to forfeit some of his portion because he neglected to settle some of the debts of the estate.

Children, surname WHITNEY:

i.	LYDIA3, born Watertown, MA 3 July 1657 (WVR 1:18); died Sherborn, MA 27 May 1719 (SVR, 187); married Sherburn 15 April 1684 (SVR, 181) MOSES ADAMS, born 6 October 1654, died 27 May 1724 (Whitney genealogy, 24). No probate found.   Children, surname Adams: 1) Lydia, born Sherborn 2 Pebruary 1684[15] (SVR, 10) 2) Elizabeth, born Sherborn 18 September 1686 (SVR, 9) 3) Hannah, born Sherborn 8 February 1687/8 (SVR, 9) 4) Elizabeth, born Sherborn 25 October 1689 (SVR, 9) 5) Moses, born Sherborn 26 November 1691 (SVR, 10) 6) James, born Sherborn 7 July 1693 (SVR, 9) 7) Isaac, born Sherborn 4 March 1695[/6J (SVR, 9) 8) Abigail, born Sherborn 7 September 1697 (SVR, 9)
+  ii.	JONATHAN, born Watertown 20 October 1659 (WVR 1:21)
iii.	ANNA, born Watertown, MA 28 April 1660 (WVR 1:22); died Wrentham 6 March 1700/1 following the birth of her last child (WVR, 442); married as his first wile, before 1691 CORNELIUS FISHER, born 8 February 1660[/1] (Whitney genealogy, 24), died Wrentham 6 June 1743, age 84 years (WVR, 441)   Cornelius married second Dedham 29 April 1702 (Wrentham VR, 293) Mary Colburn, died Wrentham 20 September 1726 (WVR, 444), with whom he had children: Merey and Esther. Cornelius married third Wrentham 13 February 1726/7 (WVR, 293) Mary Ware.   Children, surname Fisher: 1) Jonathan, born Wrentham 22 February 169[0/]1 (WVR 1:84) 2) Cornelius, born Wrentham 29 September 1692 (WVR 1:79) 3) Isaac, born Wrentham 19 May 1694 (WVR 1:83) 4) Anna, born Wrentham 28 March 1696 (WVR 1:78) 5) Joseph, born Wrentham 11 May 1698 (WVR 1:84) 6) Benjamin, born Wrentham 6 March 1700/1 (WVR 1:78)
iv.	JOHN, born Watertown, MA 27 4mo 1662 (WVR 1:24); died before his inventory was taken 22 May 1735; married first Watertown 10 April 1688 (WVR 4:98) MARY HAPGOOD, born Sudbury, MA 2 November 1667 (SVR, 62), died Sherborn 13 January 1692[/3J (SVR, 228), daughter of Shadrack1 and Elizabeth (Treadway) Hapgood (see Hapgood Chapter); married second about 1694

---

540

ANCESTRY OF EVA BELLE KEMPTON

	SARAH HAVEN, born Lynn, MA 4 June 1665 (LVR 1:181), died 23 April 1718 (Whitney genealogy, M), daughter of Richard and Susanna (_____) Haven; married third 20 November 1718 (ibid.) MARTHA WALKER, died 14 November 1721 (ibid.).   Children with first wife, surname Whitney: 1) Mary, born Sherborn 27 March 1689 (SVR, 94) 2) Elizabeth, born Sherborn 29 January 1690f/1] (SVR, 93) 3) James, born Sherborn 28 December 1692 (SVR, 93) Children with second wife, surname Whitney: 4) Lydia, born Sherborn 18 April 1695 (SVR, 94) 5) Hannah, born Sherborn 27 September 1697 (SVR, 93)
v.	JOSIAH, born Watertown, MA 19 May 1664 (WVR 1:26); died Wrentham, MA 29 December 1717 "in his 53" year" (WVR, 515); married first by 1686 MARY (_____), died Wrentham 18 July 1710 (WVR, 514); married second Dorchester, MA 3 November 1713 (but recorded Wrentham [WVR, 397]) ABIGAIL MARTEN, died Wrentham 6 December 1734 (WVR 514).   Children with first wife, 2-5 named in father's division (Suffolk Probate 20:386), surname Whitney: 1) Josiah, baptized Watertown 21 November 1686 (WVR 4:127) 2) Jonathan, born say 1690 3) Abigail, born say 1694 4) Mary, born say 1696 5) Josiah, born about 1698 (a minor aged about twenty years on 17 April 1718 [Suffolk Probate 20:386]).
vi.	ELINOR, born Watertown, MA 12 October 1666 (WVR 1:28); died Watertown 23 November 1678 (WVR 1:44), about age 12.
vii.	JAMES, born Watertown 25 9mo 1668 (WVR 1:30); died Sherborn 30 November 1690 (SVR, 227), about age 22.
viii.	ISAAC, born Watertown 12 January 1670/1 (WVR 1:33); died Sherborn 5 December 1690 (SVR, 227), about age 19.
ix.	JOSEPH, born Watertown 10 March 1672/3 (WVR 1:36); named in his father's will; living in 1716 at bfrth of last child and certainly 4 February 1713/4 when his brother Benjamin made him a bequest (Middlesex Probate #24605); probably the Joseph who married REBECCA (_____) of Sherborn. Children, surname Whitney: 1) Jonas, born Sherborn 7 June 1708 (SVR, 93) 2) Joseph, born Sherborn 22 March 1710 (SVR, 93) 3) James, born Sherborn 23 March 1714 (SVR 93) 4) Ephraim, born Sherborn 11 March 1715/6 (SVR, 93) x. ABIGAIL, born Watertown 18 August 1675 (WVR 1:40); died Sherborn 7 June 1704 (SVR, 227). A deed by the heirs of Jonathan WHITNEY 541 Whitney selling land to their brothers Joseph and Josiah, dated 12 January 1702/3, is supposedly acknowledged 21 January 1714(5 by all the heirs, including Abigail, but the casual wording of the acknowledgement leaves room for the interpretation that since Abigail's only heirs were her siblings, it made no difference whether she acknowledged or not (Middlesex Deed 17:167-168). Consequently, there is no conflict in identifying her as the Abigail who died in 1704. xi. BENJAMIN, born Watertown, MA 6 January 1678/9 (WVR 1:44); died Sherborn 29 August 1718 in his 40th year (SVR, 227); married Sherborn 24 October 1700 (SVR, 180) MERCY TRAVIS. No children (Middlesex Probate #24605). The widow Mercy married second before 31 May 1721 Lt. Thomas Frinck.