General Notes

Deacon
Called "John the son of John and Elinor Whitney born 15 [5] 1635;" born 13 Feb 1635/36 Watertown; m. Mary Buckmaster but he is called "Joseph Widney" in the marriage record; another source says he married Mary____ cir. 1669. His estate was probated 6 Oct 1719 Groton, Middlesex, MA. ; executors' bond posted by widow Abigail and William Whitney, yeoman, both of Groton.

He was the first of three children born in America, which occurred just a few months after the families arrival. Children after William are taken from Josua's will dated 17 Apr 1713. One source for children is James Savage, "A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England", showing three generations, originally published in 1860-62, Vol. 4, page 531. "Jothua whetmy and abigall Tarball Joyned in Maryage the laft of September" [page 72, 1673, Watertown Records}. Allen E. Green says, "Joshua, the first of the children born to John and Elinor in this country,,,married three times, the first time sometime in 1656 & 1665 to a Lydia_______, with two children, the first of which was born in 1666. The second marriage was in 1669, to a Mary, and this union apparently produced no children. The third wife was Abigail Tarbell on September 30, 1672, and I seem to have 8 children, born between 1688-90". Some of this is believed erroneous. He and Mary Buckmaster resided before 1666 Groton, Ma. Benjamin Whitney sold to Dea. Josua Whitney with the consent of his father, for L40, all rights to his father's homestead obyained 5 Apr 1670 on 9 Mar 1670/71 Watertown, Middlesex, MA. He was mentioned in his father's will on 3 Apr 1673 Watertown. He and Abigail resided after 1 Jul 1675 Watertown; began service military service on 17 Mar 1691/92 Groton, as "Joshua Whitting" and Joshua Whitting, Junr.", members of the garrison in the West Regiment of Middlesex. Dea. Joshua Whitney sold to Nathan Fiske grantor "of Groton", his father's homestall of 16 or 17 acres on 29 Oct 1697 Watertown, Ma. A list of frontier garrisons reviewed by order of the Governor, in Nov 1711, in Groton, includes' Deacon Whitney, four families, 8 inhabitants, 0 soldiers, and 32 souls. Reference is made to Mass. Archives, Vol 71, p. 874. He left a will on 17 Apr 1713 Groton: of Grotton, 'aged about 76 years', Abigail my now n[ ]ed wife; son William Whitney all housing and lands in Grotton; his mother above [i.e. Abigail] and he to be executors; son Joshua L30; son Cornelous; son David; my five daughters now living, Mary Pierce, Elenor Shepard, Sarah Juell, Martha Williams, and Elizabeth Farnsworth; eldest daughter Hutchin's children, her eldest son John Hutchins [under 21] ; her three daughters; eldest daughter, wife of Thomas Woods, having received her portion; witnesses, Jonathan Bowen, Abraham Moores, Samll. Cummings. He left a will which mentions several children whose births are not recorded, Cornelius, David, Martha, Elizabeth, daughter Hutchins, daughter Woods on 17 Apr 1713 Groton, Ma.

Ref; Robert L. Ward Genealogy Report [Modified Register]


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