Family:Whitney, Phinehas (1747-1830)
Corp. Phinehas6 Whitney (Jonathan5, Jonathan4, Richard3, Richard2, John1), son of Jonathan5 and Sarah (Holt) Whitney, was born 3 Jul 1747, Harvard, MA,[1] and died 21 May 1830, of old age.
He married, 31 Oct 1765, Keziah Farnsworth,[2] daughter of Phinehas and Azubah (Burt) Farnsworth. She was born 1 Jun 1742, Harvard, MA, and died 26 Jun 1827, Norway, ME.
He was in the Revolutionary war from Harvard, MA. First served in Capt. Joseph Moore's company, from Groton, in Col. William Prescott's regiment, enlisting when the war broke out. From 5 Feb 1777, to 28 Jan 1780, he was corporal in Capt. Benjamin Brown's company in Col. Michael Jackson's regiment. In 1781 he re-enlisted for three years. At this time, 1781, his age is given at 23, which is incorrect. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall, dark complexion, and by occupation a farmer. He was at the battle of Bunker Hill in the rear of the breastworks, against which the British troops were advancing. He had just put the last charge in his gun when a British officer mounted the works and cried out "Rush on, the fort is ours." Whitney shot the officer and clubbing his musket escaped, though badly wounded. When he was 75 years of age he was obliged to have one of his limbs amputated on account of the wound. 11 Apr 1818, he was given a pension by the U.S. government for Revolutionary services. The town clerk at Norway, ME, writes as follows: According to the Norway town history, Phinehas Whitney lived in that part of Norway known as the "Waterford Three Tiers," and was said to be a Revolutionary soldier, and in the battle of Bunker Hill. I am unable to learn anything of his family, although the history speaks of his having one son. He resided Harvard, MA, and "Waterford Three Tiers," Norway, ME.
Children of Phinehas6 and Keziah (Farnsworth) Whitney, possibly incomplete:
i. Mary7 Whitney, b. 15 May 1766, Harvard, MA;[3] m. (int. 30 Mar 1789, Harvard, MA) 16 Apr 1789, Groton, MA, Richard Briant.[4] ii. Ester Whitney, bapt. 13 Nov 1768, Harvard, MA;[5] m. (int. 25 Feb 1786, Harvard, MA[6]) 19 Aug 1786, Winslow, ME, Edmund Wentworth.[7] iii. Sarah Whitney, bapt. 8 Jul 1770, Harvard, MA.[8] iv. Jonathan Whitney, bapt. 21 Aug 1774, Harvard, MA;[9] m. Polly Gates. v. Relief Whitney, bapt. 18 Jun 1780, Harvard, MA.[10] vi. Oliver Whitney, bapt. 4 Nov 1781, Harvard, MA;[11] apparently still living in the family in 1800. He may be the Oliver Whitney in Owasco, Cayuga Co., NY, in 1810. vii. Annis Whitney, b. 13 Feb 1785, probably in Harvard, MA; d. 7 Sep 1846, Norway, ME; m. James French, Jr.
Notes
Another possible child is Phinehas Whitney of Phillips, ME. For details, see Archive:Who Was Phinehas Whitney.
Census
- 1771, Harvard, MA (tax list): Phinehas Whitney
- 1790, Waterford, York Co., ME: Phinehas Whitney, 1 male over 16, 2 males 0-15, and 3 females.
- 1790, Waterford Plantation, Cumberland Co., ME: Phineas Whitney, 1 male over 16, 2 males 0-15, and 3 females. This appears to be the same family as the preceding one.
- 1800, Norway, Cumberland Co., ME: Phinehas "Witney", 1 male over 45, 1 male 16-25, 1 female over 45, and 1 female 10-15.
- 1810, Bridgton, Cumberland Co., ME: Phinehas Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 female over 45. Note: Bridgton is 17 miles SW of Norway. The area in which he resided was probably included in different areas in different census years.
- 1820, Norway, Cumberland Co., ME: Phinias Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 male 0-9, 1 female over 45, 1 female 16-25; 1 engaged in agriculture.
- 1830: not found.
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. 187-188.
1.^ "P[h]inehas [Whitney], s. of Jonathan Jr. and Sarah, [born] July 3, 1747," according to Thomas W. Baldwin, ed., Vital Records of Harvard, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1917).
2.^ "Phinehas [Whitney] and Kezia Farnworth, [married] Oct. 31, 1765," according to Harvard Vital Records.
3.^ "Mary [Whitney], d. of Phinehas and Kezia, [born] May 15, 1766," according to Harvard Vital Records.
4.^ "Mary [Whitney] and Richard Briant, [married] Apr. 16, 1789," according to Vital Records of Groton, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1926-1927).
5.^ "Ester [Whitney], d. Phineas bap. at Harvard Nov. 13, 1768 P.R.4," according to Vital Records of Dracut, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1907); also "Esther [Whitney], d. of Phinehas, bp. Nov. 13, 1768. C.R.1," according to Harvard Vital Records.
6.^ "Esther [Whitney] and Edmund Wentworth, int. Feb. 25, 1786," according to Harvard Vital Records.
7.^ "Ester [Whitne] and Edmond Wintworth, 19 Aug. 1786," according to Lang, Sara Drummond, comp., Vital records of Winslow, Maine, to the year 1892, births, marriages and deaths ([Auburn, Me.: Press of Merrill & Webber company], 1937).
8.^ "Sarah [Whitney], d. of Phinehas, bp. July 8, 1770. C.R.1," according to Harvard Vital Records.
9.^ "Jonathan [Whitney], s. of Phineas, bp. Aug. 21, 1774. C.R.1," according to Harvard Vital Records.
10.^ "Relief [Whitney], d. of Phinehas, bp. June 18, 1780. C.R.1," according to Harvard Vital Records.
11.^ "Oliver [Whitney], s. of Phinhas, bp. Nov. 4, 1781," according to Harvard Vital Records.
Copyright © 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.
