Family:Whitney, Benjamin (b1746-1822)

Benjamin Whitney, parentage unknown, was perhaps a brother of Joseph Whitney of Keene, Surry, and Westmoreland, NH. He was born before 1746, and died 22 Nov 1822, Westminster, VT.

He married, before 1766, Jerusha Brockway, daughter of Wolston and Anna (Brooks) Brockway. She was born 1747, Lyme, CT, and died 15 Apr 1826, Westminster, VT.

---

Westmoreland History Committee, The History of Westmoreland (Great Meadow) New Hampshire 1741-1970 and Genealogical Data, (Westmoreland, NH: Westmoreland History Committee, 1976).

Page 581:

Whitney
1 Joseph m May 4, 1779 Bethiah Smith. Ch i Betsey b Mar 27, 1781; ii Joseph Jr. b Jan 23, 1783 m Apr 20, 1803 Eunice dau of James and Sibyl (Chamberlain) Britton qv, was in Wd 1804, in War of 1812 escaped from Prison Hosp at Lower Bijou on night of Oct 1, 1814; iii Sally b May 7, 1785; iv Polly b Sept 26, 1787; v Abigail b May 12, 1792; vi Bethiah b Apr 21, 1794.

---

Kingsbury, Frank Burnside, History of the town of Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, from date of severance from Gilsum and Westmoreland, 1769-1922, with a genealogical register and map of the town.

---

[p. 27]

The charter of the town is printed and, included in the signatures is "Beniaman Wheetney             Benjamin Whitney".

[p. 108, Surry in the Revolution]

"WHITNEY, Benjamin. Was in what is now Surry as early as July 1768 when he signed the petition for the new town. He may be the same as mentioned in Keene, as coming from Marlboro, Mass. He rem. prior to 1776 and settled in Westminster, VT, where he probably was living in 1790. Enl. May 1, 1775; dis. Aug. 1, 1775, in Capt. William Walker's Co., Col. James Reed's Reg. Gilsum History states he was at the battle of Bunker Hill."

"WHITNEY, Joseph. Doubtless kindred of Benjamin q.v. came to town 1771 and after living there possibly 10 years rem. to Westmoreland. Enl. from here June 28, 1777; dis. July 10, 1777, was appointed corpl. in Capt. Elisha Mack's Co., Col. Samuel Ashley's Reg. which went to the relief of Ti. He rec'd. a pension 1818 for services as a private in Massachusetts."

[p. 244, town industries]

"Blacksmith shops have been quite numerous. Joseph Whitney, a blacksmith, was living near No. 22 about 1767, and is supposed to have built a shop nearby, which Benjamin Whitney was running in 1772."

[pp. 933-934]

"Benjamin Whitney, so far as known, was the first blacksmith to locate in what is now Surry. His name is found as early as July 4, 1768, and when the road was surveyed 1771, his shop stood not far from No. 22. From Keene he came to this town, and after a few years removed to Westminster, VT. He married Jerusha Brockway, dau. of Wolston Brockway, q. v.

Children:

i. Parnal (dau), Keene, Jan 13, 1766.

ii. Abigail, Keene, Jan 13, 1768.

iii. Anna, Surry, July 27, 1770."

[p. ???]

"Joseph Whitney was a blacksmith in Surry, as early as 1771, at which time he purchased land; prior to 1782, he removed to Westmoreland where he resided for several years. Doubtless he was the Joseph who married in Surry May 4, 1779 to Bethiah Smith of Walpole. There was a 'Joseph Whitney' who witnessed a deed in Keene in 1762.

Children (perhaps there were others):

i. Hannah, Surry, Dec. 11, 1779.

ii. Joseph Jr., married Apr. 20 1803, Eunice Britton, dau. of James Britton."

---

Children of Benjamin and Jerusha (Brockway) Whitney:

i.	Parnell Whitney, b. 13 Jan 1766, Keene, NH;[1] d. 16 Jan 1861, Buron, Geauga Co., OH; m. Thaddeus Bradley.
ii.	Abigail Whitney, b. 13 Jan 1768, Keene, NH.[2]
iii.	Anna Whitney, b. 27 Jul 1770, Surry, NH;[3] d. 26 Nov 1850, Claridon, Geauga Co., OH; m. Jonathan Gould.
iv.	Benjamin Whitney, b. about 1772; m. Sukey Badger.
v.	Alden Whitney, b. ca. 1775; m. Sarah Carpenter.
vi.	Caleb Whitney, b. ca. 1777.
vii.	Adolphus Whitney, b. about 1786; m. Martha Powers.
viii.	Olive Whitney, b. 13 Apr 1789, Westminster, VT; d. 28 Feb 1867, Black Hawk Co., IA; m. 17 Jan 1813, Westminster, VT, Samuel Carpenter.[4]
ix.	Leland Whitney, b. ca. 1791, Westminster, VT; m. Viletta Pierce.

Notes

See Capt. Benjamin Whitney - Most Wanted by Colleen Knights & Diana Cala for more information on efforts to identify his ancestry.

Census

• 1791, Westminster, Windham Co., VT: Benj^m Whitney, 2 males over 16, 4 males 0-15, and 5 females.
• 1800, Westminster, Windham Co., VT: Whitney, Benj^a, 1 male over 45, 1 male 16-25, 2 males 10-15, 1 male 0-9, 1 female over 45, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 0-9.
• (poss.) 1800, Putney, Windham Co., VT: Whitney, -----, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 0-9, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 0-9. This could be the son Benjamin.
• 1810, Westminster, Windham Co., VT: Whitney, Benj., 1 male over 45, 1 male 16-25, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 0-9.
• 1810, Westminster, Windham Co., VT: Whitney, Alden, 1 male 26-44, 2 males 0-9, 1 female 26-44, and 1 female 0-9.
• 1820, Westminster, Windham Co., VT: Jerusha Whitney, 2 females over 45.
• 1820, Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., NH: Benjamin Whitney, 2 males over 45, 2 males 18-25, 2 males 0-9, 1 female over 45, and 1 female 16-25; 2 engaged in agriculture. This seems to be the son Benjamin, rather than the father.
• 1820, Westminster, Windham Co., VT: Alden Whitney. 1 male over 45, 1 male 18-25, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 0-9, 1 female 26-44, and 5 females 0-9; 3 engaged in agriculture.
• 1820, Westminster, Windham Co., VT: Leland Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 male 26-44, 2 males 0-9, 1 female over 45, 1 female 26-44, and 3 females 0-9; 3 engaged in agriculture.
• 1830, Westminster, Windham Co., VT: Sarah Whitney, 1 female 40-49, 1 female 20-29, 2 females 15-19, and 1 female 10-14. This is the widow of son Alden.
• 1830, Westminster, Windham Co., VT: Leland Whitney, 1 male 30-39, 1 male 15-19, 1 male 10-14, 1 male 0-4, 1 female 30-39, 1 female 15-19, 1 female 10-14, 2 females 5-9, and 1 female 0-4.
• 1840, Westminster, Windham Co., VT: Morgan Whitney, 1 male 20-29, 1 female 20-29, and 2 females 0-4; 1 engaged in manufacture or trades.
• 1850, Putney, Windham Co., MA:

247 253 Morgan Whitney 36 M - Blacksmith $1200 Vt. Lucy " 33 F - do Charlotte " 11 F - do Attended school Mary " 10 F - do Attended school James " 5 M - do Attended school Charles " 1 M - do

References

• Surry, NH, Vital Records

1.^  "Parnal [Whitney], d. Benjamin and Jerusha, [born] Jan. 13, 1766," according to Keene, NH, Vital Records.

2.^  "Abigail [Whitney], d. Benjamin and Jerusha, [born] Jan. 13, 1768," according to Keene, NH, Vital Records.

3.^  New Hampshire, Vital Records, Birth Index.

4.^  Vermont, Vital Records Index, Marriages.

---

Copyright © 2007, 2010, 2014, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.