Family:Whitney, Charles Barnes (1814-1874)

Charles Barnes⁷ Whitney (Jonathan⁶, Elias⁵, Elias⁴, Jonathan³, Benjamin², John¹), son of Jonathan⁶ and Lavina (Coombs) Whitney, was born 16 Apr 1814, Milford, MA,^[1] and died 14 May 1874, Hingham, MA, aged 60 years 1 month 28 days, of pneumonia.^[2]

He "of Philadelphia, Pa." married, 9 Apr 1837, Medway, MA, Mary Ann Cary.^[3] She was born 8 Jan 1813.

He was born in Milford, one of eleven children of Jonathan and Lavina. He attended school in Milford during winters, and summers worked on his father's farm. He early manifested a predilection for business, trade and traffic. At the age of 18 he purchased his time of his father, for which he paid $100. In an old-fashioned building near his father's house, with his brother-in-law, Joseph Welch, he began the manufacture of boots on contract. In 1830 he went to Medway, MA, and manufactured on a larger scale. About the time of his marriage he moved to Philadelphia and started a commission business for the sale of boots and shoes for Boston firms; also for the sale of manufactured straw goods. Desiring to increase his capital, he took a partner who proved treacherous and dishonest, and he found himself in debt eight thousand dollars. Closing out his business in Philadelphia he went to Baltimore, MD, as salesman for Wheelwright & County. There he showed his great abilities as a judge and buyer of leather, making for this employers thousands of dollars by his shrewdness in manipulating the leather market. Paid the debt. Then the climate of Baltimore seemed prejudicial to his health, he returned north in 1852 to Medway, MA, re-engaged in the manufacture of boots on a large scale, which continued to the close of the war, at the same time being a commission agent for one of the largest firms in Boston. In 1870 he turned over his Medway manufactory to his son and removed to Boston, where he resided until his death. Was a man of great force of character, and inherited all the qualities of economy, industry and integrity which have made the descendants of the Pilgrims famous from the Atlantic to the Pacific. He resided Milford, MA, and Philadelphia, PA.

Children of Charles Barnes⁷ and Mary Ann (Cary) Whitney:

i.	Mary Helen8 Whitney, b. 5 Feb 1838; m. 22 May 1856, Dr. Henry W. Browne, of Boston; res., Hubbardston, MI. Henry N. Browne is the youngest son of the late Hon. Artemus Browne, of Medway, MA, an eminent physician and noted public man of his day. Henry W. Browne was born in Medway, MA, 24 Nov 1831. He received his education in the Medway common and high school, and entered Harvard University Medical Department in 1853, graduating in March 1856. He practiced his profession in his native town until the beginning of the war of the rebellion. May 1861, he raised a company which was mustered into the 2d Massachusetts Volunteers. He declined a commission, enlisted with his company and was made sergeant, but owing to illness was discharged in July following. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted as private in Company I, 16th Massachusetts Volunteers. 24 Jul 1862, was promoted to assistant surgeon 31st Massachusetts Volunteers, and on 12 Sep 1863, was commissioned surgeon 76th U.S.C.T.; mustered out and honorably discharged 31 Dec 1865. In the summer of 1869 he removed to Hubbardston, MI, where he resided, engaged in the practice of his profession. He was admitted to the bar in the Ionia County Circuit Court 1 Jan 1883. Has been justice of the peace, three terms trustee and president of the town of Hubbardston, member of the board of education, three terms commander of G.A.R. Post, No. 234, aide-de-camp on staff of commander-in-chief. He has represented his township on county committees, etc., and was elected on the Republican ticket to the Michigan legislature by a plurality of 231 over his opponents. Dr. Browne is a noted Shakespearean scholar and his recitals from the works of the great dramatist delighted large audiences during his stay at the capitol, as he had often done before. Children: a. Alice Gertrude Browne, b. 1857; d. 1857. b. Maria Virginia Browne, b. 1858; d. 26 Feb 1877. c. Caroline Bancroft Browne, b. 1860; m. C. E. George. d. Harry Artemus Browne, b. 1864; d. Jan 1867. e. Mary Viola Browne, b. 1868; d. 30 Sep 1874 f. Bessie Browne, b. 1874. g. Marguerite Browne, b. 1877.
ii.	Charles Emour Le Baron Whitney, b. 10 Nov 1839; m. Augusta G. Nichols.
iii.	George W. Whitney, b. 14 Feb 1844, Milford, MA [given name omitted];[4] m. Jenny True.
iv.	Frank Le Prelate Whitney, b. 6 Jul 1851; m. Mary E. Brooks.
v.	Jerry Wheelwright Whitney, b. 19 Feb 1854; resided Sylvania, OH.

Census

• 1840, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., MA: Charles B. Whitny, 1 male 20-29, 1 male 0-4, 2 females 20-29, and 1 female 0-4; 1 engaged in agriculture.
• 1850, Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD:

824 1010 Charles B. Whitney 36 M - Merchant Massachusetts Mary M. " 36 F - " Mary H. Whitney 12 F - Pennsylvania Attended school Charles E. Whitney 9 M - Massachusetts Attended school George B. " 6 M - " Attended school

• 1855, Medway, Norfolk Co., MA:

90 93 Charles B. Whitney 41 M - Mass. Mary Ann Whitney 42 F - N.H. Mary H. Whitney 17 F - Penn. Charles E. L. Whitney 15 M - Mass. George W. Whitney 11 M - Mass. Francis L. Whitney 4 M - Maryland Perry W. Whitney 1 M - Mass.

• 1860, Medway, Norfolk Co., MA:

1130 1236 Charles B. Whitney 46 M - Boot Manufacturer Mass. Mary A. " 47 F - N.H. Charles LeB. " 20 M - Boot Maker Mass. George W. " 16 M - " Attended school Frank D. " 9 M - Me.D. Attended school J. W. " 6 M - Mass. Attended school

• 1865 State, Medway, Norfolk Co., MA:

224 244 Whitney, Charles B. 51 M - Bootmaker M Boot Manufactr. - - 1 1 - Mary A. 52 F - " M - - - - - Charles E. L. 26 M - " S Clerk - - 1 1 - Whitney, Geo. W. 21 M - Massachusetts S Soldier - - 1 1 - Frank S. 14 M - " S - - - - - Jerry W. 11 M - " S - - - - -

• 1870, Boston Ward 8, Suffolk Co., MA:

540 981 Whitney, Charles 65 M W Leather Dealer Mass. Male citizen over 21 -----, Mary 58 F W Keeping House " -----, Jeremiah 16 M W Attending School Mass. Attended school Stillman, Blanch 21 F B Domestic Servant Virginia

• 1880, Chelsea, Suffolk Co., MA:

Frank L. WHITNEY 27 Self M S W MD Horticulternist MA NH Mary A. WHITNEY 67 Moth F W W NH Keeping House MA MA

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), pp. 418-419.

1.^  "Charles Barns [Whitney], s. of Johnathan and Levina, [born] Apr. 16, 1814," according to Thomas W. Baldwin, ed., Vital Records of Milford, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: 1917).

2.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 266, page 304.

3.^  "," according to Vital Records of Medway, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1905).

4.^  "______ [Whitney], s. of Charles and Mary A., [born] Feb. 18, 1844," according to Milford Vital Records. Also, "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 5, page 209.

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Copyright © 2006, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.