Family:Whitney, Jonas (1727-1791)

Jonas⁵ Whitney (Jonas⁴, Moses³, Richard², John¹), son of Jonas⁴ and Dorcas (Wood) Whitney, was born 2 Jul 1727, Stow, MA,^[1] and died 23 Dec 1781, Harvard, MA, in 65th year [sic].^[2] Since his will was dated 6 Dec 1791 and filed 15 May 1792, it would seem that his death date would be in that year, rather than 1781.

Jonas married, 13 Sep 1750, Harvard, MA, Zebudah Davis,^[3] daughter of John Jr. and Rebecka (Burt) Davis. She was born 11 Apr 1728, Harvard, MA, and died 21 Nov 1812, Harvard, MA, aged 85 years, widow, of old age.^[4]

He was also known as Jonas Whitney Jr. He was a Revolutionary soldier.

Pierce says the following:^[5]

He was elected one of the selectmen in 1751. In seating the meeting house in 1775 he was given the third seat. His will was probated 6 Dec 1791. Her will was probated 3 Nov 1806.

"In 1775 he was given the 3rd seat where his father-in-law, John Burt, sat. He was a soldier in the American Revolution (From the Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution," vol. 17, p. 230, and accepted by the National Society Daughter of the American Revolution, National #47718; D.A.R. Lineage Book, vol. 48. "Private Capt. Wm. Thurstons Co., Col. Josiah WHitney's Regt. service from July 30, 1778 to Sept. 13, 1778, service 1 mo. 15 days at Rhode Island. Roll sworn to in Worcester Co."

"He was also on the Committee of Correspondence and Safety for the Town of Harvard, 1780."^[6]

Since their tombstones give death dates after the dates Pierce says the wills were probated, it seems likely that Pierce has erred, and the dates are actually when the wills were dated.

Will of Jonas Whitney of Harvard, dated 6 Dec 1791, filed 15 May 1792. Executor son Salmon Whitney. Wife Zebudah Whitney; grandchild, and children of son Levi, deceades; sons Ephraim, Jonas, Joel, Isreal, Peter, and Salmon Whitney. Witnesses, James Haskell, Jacob Robins, and Benjamin Kimball.^[7]

Children of Jonas⁵ and Zebudah (Davis) Whitney:

i.	Levi6 Whitney, b. 12 Jun 1751, Harvard, MA;[8] m.(1) Sarah Lawrence; m.(2) Hepsibeth Fay.
ii.	Miriam Whitney, b. 8 Aug 1752, Harvard, MA;[9] d. 30 Aug 1775, Harvard, MA, aged 22 years 8 months 11 days.[10]
iii.	Ephraim Whitney, b. 2 Apr 1754, Harvard, MA;[11] m. Sarah Holman.
iv.	Jonas Whitney, b. 3 Mar 1756, Harvard, MA;[12] m. Relief6 Whitney.
v.	Lydia Whitney, b. 17 Oct 1757, Harvard, MA;[13] d. 1 May 1759, Harvard, MA, aged 18 months 13 days.[14]
vi.	Salmon Whitney, b. 16 Feb 1760, Harvard, MA;[15] m. Hepzibah Raymond.
vii.	Joel Whitney, b. 15 Oct 1762, Harvard, MA;[16] m. Lydia Willard.
viii.	Israel Whitney, b. 16 Jan 1767, Harvard, MA;[17] m. Susanna Gary.
ix.	Lucy Whitney, b. say 1769; guess by RLW. She is shown in Pierce on p. 81, without dates, and not in the Harvard VR's. Perhaps the same as the next child.
x.	(child) Whitney, b. before 25 Jan 1771, Harvard, MA; d. 25 Jan 1771, Harvard, MA. Perhaps the same as the previous child.
xi.	Peter Whitney, b. 17 Aug 1772, Harvard, MA;[18] m. Joanna Newhall.

Census

• 1771, Harvard, MA (tax list): Jonas Whitney

References

1.^  "Jonas [Whitney], s. Jonas and Margaret, [born] July 2, 1727," according to F. Apthorp Foster, ed., Vital Records of Stow, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1911).

2.^  "Jonas [Whitney], [died] Dec. 23, 1781, in his 65th y. Revolutionary soldier. G.R.1," according to Harvard Vital Records. This is an apparent error. Probably it is a misreading of the gravestone, and he died in 1791. The fact that his will was probated 6 Dec 1791 makes the date even more questionable. Or was the will dated 6 Dec 1791? That would make more sense.

3.^  "Jonas [Whitney] Jr. and Zebudah Davis, [married] Sept. 13, 1750," according to Harvard Vital Records.

4.^  "Zebudah [Whitney], [died] Nov. 21, 1812, a. 85 y. Widr. Old age. C.R.1," according to Harvard Vital Records.

5.^  Frederick C. Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635 (Chicago, IL: The Author, 1895), p. 81.

6.^  Elizabeth Annette (Hartshorn) Phillips, C.G.R.S., 1589-1989, Four Hundred Years and Thirteen Generations, One Line from John Whitney the Immigrant (1989), typescript; p. 15. Cites Henry S. Nourse, A.M., History of the Town of Harvard, Massachusetts, 1732-1893 (Harvard: Printed for Warren Hapgood, 1893).

7.^  Elizabeth Annette (Hartshorn) Phillips, C.G.R.S., op. cit.; p. 16. Cites Worcester County Probate Records, File #A64,935. Copy supplied by Ruth (Whitney) Major, Apr 2009.

8.^  "Levi [Whitney], s. of Jonas Jr. and Zabudah, [born] June 12, 1751," according to Harvard Vital Records.

9.^  "Miriam [Whitney], d. of Jonas Jr. and Zebudah, [born] Aug. 8, 1752," according to Harvard Vital Records.

10.^  "Miriam [Whitney], d. of Jonus and Zebudah, [died] Apr. 30, 1775. (a. 22 y. 8 m. 11 d. G.R.1.)," according to Harvard Vital Records.

11.^  "Ephraim [Whitney], s. of Jonas Jr. and Zebudah, [born] Apr. 2, 1754," according to Harvard Vital Records.

12.^  "Jonas [Whitney], s. of Jonas, Jr. and Zabudah, [born] Mar. 3, 1756," according to Harvard Vital Records.

13.^  "Lydia [Whitney], d. of Jonas Jr. and Zabudah, [born] Oct. 17, 1757," according to Harvard Vital Records.

14.^  "Lydia [Whitney], d. of Jonas Jr. and Zabudah, [died] May 1, 1759. (a. 18 m. 13 d. C.R.1.)," according to Harvard Vital Records.

15.^  "Salmon [Whitney], s. of Jonas Jr. and Zabudah, [born] Feb. 16, 1760," according to Harvard Vital Records.

16.^  "Joel [Whitney], s. of Jonas Jr. and Zabudah, [born] Oct. 15, 1762," according to Harvard Vital Records.

17.^  "Israel [Whitney], s. of Jonas (Jr., C.R.1.) and Zebudah, [born] Jan. 16, 1767," according to Harvard Vital Records.

18.^  "Peter [Whitney], s. of Jonas and Zebudah, [born] Aug. 17, 1772," according to Harvard Vital Records.

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