General Notes

In 1611 it is recorded Thomas paid the subsidy tax, and Dec. 6, 1615, on the probate of the will for his father-in-law, John Bray, he was appointed executor. Feb.22, 1607, he apprenticed his son John, and Nov. 8, 1624, his son Robert. The record of the latter, like the marriage license, describes him as a "gentleman". Sept. 25, 1629 he buries his wife, and in Apr. 1637 he dies. Administration of his estate was, on May 8, 1637, given to his two sons, Francis and Robert, and mention is made of his widow Margaret [note: not Mary who died in 1629]. The accounts of the latter shows he was in comfortable circumstances.

The identity of Margaret, widow, is not known for sure, but attention is drawn to a marriage of a certain Thomas Whitney and a Margaret George on Jan. 31, 1632/33, St. Gregory's by St. Pauls, London.

Buttressing the identification of immigrant John Whitney with the son of Thomas of Westminister  is the following information from the records of the Company of Merchant Tailors, connecting Thomas of Westminister to his son John
, and John to his brother Robert. Furthermore, the social standing of Thomas as "gentleman" is consistent with John's status in Watertown.

Extracts from the books of the Merchant Tailors Company of London:

Feb. 22, 1607, John Whitney, son of Thomas Whitney of the city of Westminister, yeoman, apprenticed to William Pring of the Old Bailey.
March 13, 1614,, John Whitney made free by William Pring.
Mar. 8, 1624, Robert Whitney, son of Thomas Whitney of the city of Westminister, gentleman, apprenticed to John Whitney of Islesworth.
1632, Robert Whitney made free by his master John Whitney, upon the report of his master.

Source: John I Whitney's English Ancestry by Robert L. Ward
http://www.whitneygen.org/families/johnw/ancestry.html

Thomas's lineage is under dispute. Melville ["Ancestry of John Whitney", Published by Henry Mellville, A.M., L.L.B., in 1896; DeVinne Press, N.Y.] claimed Thomas was the  son of Robert Whitney and Eizabeth ap Morgan ap Gwillims, who in turn was the 3rd son of Sir Robert Whitney of Whitney, Herefordshire. It is understood that several societies in which eligibility depends on baronial or royal ancestry have long accepted this Whitney line.

For refuted lineage, see: D.L. Jacobus [Jacobus, Donald Lines] "Pre- American Ancestories: John Whitney of Watertown, Mass.," the American Genealogist, Vol. 10 [1933-1934] pp. 84-88. Also:
http://www.erols.com/rlward1/whitney/john/ancestry.html

It is primarily based on his Father's being only 20 years of age on an estimated birthdate for his father.
Draw your own conclusions.


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