Samuel Whitney (1719-1782) is #130 on my Ahnentafel list, my 5th great-grandfather who married #131 Abigail Fletcher (1720-1783) in 1741.
I am descended through:
* their daughter, #65 Martha Whitney, who married #64 Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816), in 1783.
* their son, #32 Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825), who married #33 Abigail Gates (1797-1867) in 1817.
* their son, #16 Isaac Seaver (1823-1901), who married #17 Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884) in 1852.
* their son, #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922), who married #9 Hattie Louise Hildreth (1847-1920) in 1874.
* their son, #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942), who married Alma Bessie richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.
* their son, #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983), who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
* their son, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)
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1) PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Name: Samuel Whitney[1–17]
* Sex: Male
* Father: William Whitney (1683-1720)
* Mother: Martha Peirce (1681-1759)
2) INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Birth: 23 May 1719, Weston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[3]
* Baptism: 25 June 1738 (age 19), Weston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[4]
* Deed: 14 January 1741 (age 21), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[5]
* Children: 1742–1767 (about age 23–about 48), Westminster, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[7]
* Deed: 8 March 1747 (age 27), bought 62 acres in Lot 21 of 2nd Division from Ephraim Wood; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[8]
* Deed: 12 March 1750 (age 30), bought 62 acres in Lot 64 of second division from Philip Bemis; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[9]
* Deed: 27 November 1753 (age 34), sold two lots in Westminster to Jabez Benman; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[10]
* Deed: 20 February 1762 (age 42), bought 20 acres of lot 44 in Westminster from Jabez Bigelow; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[11]
* Deed: 15 November 1781 (age 62), sold 60 acres of Lots 51 and 52 in Westminster to Alpheus Whitney; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[12]
* Deed: 15 November 1781 (age 62), sold 21 plus acres in Lots 51 and 52 to Phineas Whitney; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[13]
* Death: 1 January 1782 (age 62), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[14–15]
* Burial: after 1 January 1782 (after age 62), Woodside Cemetery, Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[16]
* Probate: 21 February 1783 (age 63), administratrix appointed; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[17]
3) SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Spouse 1: Abigail Fletcher (1720-1783)
* Marriage 1: 20 October 1741 (age 22), Weston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[6]
* Child 1: Abigail Whitney (1742- )
* Child 2: Mary Whitney (1744- )
* Child 3: Samuel Whitney (1746-1812)
* Child 4: Abner Whitney (1748-1811)
* Child 5: Achsah Whitney (1750-1772)
* Child 6: Silas Whitney (1752-1798)
* Child 7: Martha Whitney (1755-1755)
* Child 8: Elisha Whitney (1757-1810)
* Child 9: Alpheus Whitney (1759-1821)
* Child 10: Phinehas Whitney (1761-1832)
* Child 11: Hananiah Whitney (1762-1835)
* Child 12: Martha Whitney (1764-1832)
* Child 13: Susannah Whitney (1767-1767)
4) NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
A biography of Samuel Whitney was published in the book Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts, with a History of Worcester Society of Antiquity[1]. It reads:
"(V) Lieutenant Samuel Whitney, son of William Whitney (4), was born in Weston, Massachusetts, May 23, 1719. He married, October 20, 1741, Abigail Fletcher. He was a leading man in the settlement of the town of Westminster, Massachusetts, and was frequently elected to office. He went there from his native town of Weston probably soon after his marriage, about 1742. The old Whitney homestead there was owned lately by the Hartwell family, only the cellar hole remaining to mark the site of the old house, on Lot 51 near the north common. He was prominent, capable and much esteemed, one of the executive committee of the proprietors and a selectman three years after incorporation. He was a lieutenant in the revolution. He was a man of wealth as well as influence in Westminster, and gave each of his sons a farm. He died January 1, 1782. The children of Samuel and Abigail Whitney: 1. Abigail, born August 27, 1742. probably died young. 2. Mary, born May 29, 1744, married Elijah Gibson and Edward Scott, of Westminster. 3. Samuel, born February 11, 1746, married Thankful Wilder. 4. Abner, see forward. 5. Achsah, born September 30, 1750, died May 14, 1772. 6 Silas, born October 20, 1752, married Sarah Withington. 7. Martha, born November 26, 175S. died young. 8. Elisha, born July 2, 1757, married Eunice Seaver. 9. Alpheus, born February 25, 1759. married Esther Hartwell. 10. Phinehas, born January 16, 1761, married Elizabeth Rand. 11. Hananiah, born December 18, 1762, married Azubah Keyes. 12. Martha, born September 18, 1764, married (first) Benjamin Seaver and (second) Isaac Seaver. 13. Susanna, born February 9, 1767, died young."
The History of Westminster, Massachusetts book by Heywood has this sketch for Samuel Whitney[2]:
"WHITNEY, SAMUEL, another son of William and Martha, was born May 23, 1719. He married October 20, 1741, Abigail Fletcher, and soon after came to this place, locating on lot No. 51, near the North Common, where Leander Hartwell now lives. The house he built stood a few rods south of the site of the present one. He was a prominent, capable, and much esteemed resident of the township, one of the Executive Committee of the Propriety, and Selectman 3 years after incorporation. He also held a commission as Lieutenant in the Militia of the Province. He was a man of wealth and influence, having a large landed estate, which enabled him to give each of his sons a farm, it is said, before or at his decease. He died January 1, 1782. His wife, Abigail (Fletcher), died at an unfound date."
The birth record of Samuel Whitney, son of William and Martha (Pierce) Whitney, in the Weston, Massachusetts vital records book says[3]:
"Samuell Whitney the Son of William Whitney & of Martha his
Wife was Born in Weston the 23'd day of may 1719."
Samuel Whitney was baptized as an adult in 1738. The Weston, Massachusetts vital record book says[4]:
"June 25 [1738] Samuel Whitney, adult, son of Wm. dec'd and Martha Wh."
The land records recorded in the Worcester County land record volumes appear incomplete. It is likely that he acquired more land and sold or gave more land to his sons than appear in the records listed below.
Samuel Whitney, yeoman of Weston, bought land in Lot 51 in Narragansett No. 2 which was drawn by Benjamin Brown on behalf of John Chadwick of Weston on 14 January 1741 for 150 pounds. The land consisted of a house lot, meadow, upland and swamp (recorded 31 October 1765)[5]. [Note that "Narragansett No. 2" was the original name of the town that became Westminster.]
The marriage record of Samuel Whitney and Abigail Fletcher in Weston says[6]:
"Sam'l Whitney jun'r & Abigail Fletcher both of Weston were
Married in Sd Town Oct'r 20'th 1741 W'm. Williams Min-
ist'r of the Gospel there."
The list of the children of Samuel and Abigail (Fletcher) Whitney are recorded in the Westminster, Massachusetts town record book[7]:
Births and Deaths
Leuit Samuel Whitney and Wife Mr Samuel Whitney
Abigail Whitney famely Deceased Jan^y the 1st
Recorded viz 1782
August 27th 1742 Abigail Whitney Borne
May the 29 1744 Mary Whitney Borne
February the 11th 1746 Samuel Whitney Borne
May 18 1648 Abner Whitney Borne
September 30 1750 Achsa Whitney Borne Deceased 14th May 1772
October 20 1752 Silas Whitney Born Dec^d Nov. 14^th 1798
November 26 1755 Martha Whitney Borne Deceased
July 2^d 1757 Alpheus Whitney Borne Died 7th March 1821 aged 54 years
January the 16 1761 Phenias Whitney Borne
December the 1762 Hananiah Whitney Borne
September 18 1764 Martha Whitney Borne
February 9 1767 Susanah Whitney Borne
Amen
Samuel Whitney bought 62 acres in Lot 64 of the second division in Narragansett No. 2, which was drawn from Lot 116, from Phillip Bemis for 150 pounds old tenor on 12 March 1750 ( 55.275, recorded 19 October 1765)[9].
He sold part of second division lot 13 and meadow lot 64, both in Narragansett No. 2, to Jabez Benman of Shrewsbury for 27 pounds old tenor on 27 November 1753 (recorded 20 May 1757)[10].
Samuel Whitney bought land from Jabez Bigelow of Narragansett No. 2, consisting of 20 acres on Lot 44 of the first division, for 28 pounds, 17 shillings on 20 February 1759 (recorded 31 October 1765)[11].
He sold 60 acres of the house lots 51 and 52 to his son Alpheus Whitney for 300 pounds on 15 November 1781, with Abner Holden and son Abner Whitney as witnesses (recorded 27 December 1781)[12].
On the same day he sold to his son Phineas Whitney, for 400 pounds, part of the original house lots 51 and 52, containing 21 acres and 86 rods in Westminster. Witnesses were Abner Holden and son Abner Whitney (recorded 14 January 1784)[13].
Samuel Whitney is said to have held a commission as a lieutenant during or after the Revolutionary War. However, he is not listed in the book Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution.
The death record of Samuel Whitney is in the Westminster town record book[14-15]:
" Mr Samuel Whitney Deceased Jan^y the 1st 1782"
Samuel Whitney was buried in Woodside Cemetery in Westminster, Massachusetts, but no gravestone is presently available[16].
Samuel Whitney died intestate; his probate records are in Worcester County, Massachusetts Probate Records, in Probate Packet 65,123. His widow, Abigail Whitney, was appointed administratrix of his estate on 21 February 1783, with bond in the amount of 800 pounds[17].
An inventory was taken by Abner Holden, Nathan Howard and Thomas Stearns, all of Westminster, on 20 May 1783; the inventory of the personal estate amounted to 83 pounds, 14 shillings and 11 pence; there was no real estate listed.
It is apparent that he gave or sold his land holdings to his children before his death, since the estate had such a small value. Abigail's account was allowed 20 May 1783, with a balance of over 35 pounds. This was ordered distributed, after certain debts were paid, to the children. On 15 June 1785, the heirs submitted a receipt:
"We the subscribers do hereby acknowledge that we have each of us severally and for our selves received of our honoured mother, Abigail Whitney, Adx on the estate of our honoured father - Samuel Whitney late of said Westminster deceased the sum of two pounds three shillings in full of our part of the household furniture belonging to the estate of said deceased and we do severally acquit and discharge the said administratrix for our selves and heirs of all demands or rights or Chalange we or our heirs have or may have to the same & that this shall be a full and final acquittance for our selves and heirs to the above said household furniture forever by these presents. In witness whereof we have hereunto severally set our hands the day and year aforesaid Alpheus Whitney, Elisha Whitney, Benjamin Sever, Hananiah Whitney, Mary Scott, Silas Whitney, Job Whitcomb, Hannah Whitney."
5) SOURCES
1. Ellery Bicknell Crane, Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts, with a History of Worcester Society of Antiquity (New York City : Lewis Pub., 1907), Volume 4, page 129, Samuel Whitney sketch.
2. William Sweetzer Heywood, History of Westminster, Massachusetts: (first named Narragansett no. 2) from the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893 ; with a biographic -genealogical register of its principal families (Lowell, Mass. : Vox Populi Press, 1893), page 918, Samuel Whitney sketch.
3. Mary Frances Peirce, Town of Weston. Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1707-1850. Gravestones-, 1703-1900. Church Records, 1709-1825. Appendix and Addenda, Centennial Society (Boston, Mass. : McIncloe Bros., Printers, 1901), page 10, Samuel Whitney birth entry.
4. Mary Frances Peirce, Town of Weston. Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1707-1850. Gravestones-, 1703-1900. Church Records, 1709-1825. Appendix and Addenda, Centennial Society, page 431, Samuel Whitney baptism entry.
5. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 54, page 183, Lot 51 drawn to Samuel Whitney, accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,843,182.
6. Mary Frances Peirce, Town of Weston. Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1707-1850. Gravestones-, 1703-1900. Church Records, 1709-1825. Appendix and Addenda, Centennial Society, page 55, Samuel Whitney and Abigail Fletcher entry.
7. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), "Westminster, Births, marriages and deaths," page 91 (penned), image 142 of 1195, Family of Samuel and Abigail Whitney.
8. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 27, page 304, Ephraim Wood to Samuel Whitney, accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,843,169.
9. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 55, page 275, Samuel Whitney from Philip Bemis, accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,843,183.
10. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 39. page 219, Samuel Whitney to Jabez Benman accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,843,175.
11. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 54. page 198, Jabez Bigelow to Samuel Whitney, accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,843,182.
12. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 86, page 434, Samuel Whitney to Alpheus Whitney, accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,843,364.
13. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 89, Page 513, Samuel Whitney to Phineas Whitney, accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,843,365.
14. Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Deaths, page 255: Samuel Whitney entry.
15. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, "Westminster Births, marriages and deaths," page 91 (penned), image 142, Family of Samuel and Abigail Whitney.
16. Jim Tipton, indexed database, Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com), Woodside Cemetery, Westminster, Mass., Samuel Whitney memorial #88187570.
17. "Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org), Probate Packet 65,123, Samuel Whitney of Westminster, 1783.
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Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver
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