Deacon John WHITING

Notes:

Name:
"A virtuous and worthy character." (Ezra Stiles's Diary, 3, p. 227)

He graduated from Yale in 1740; served as tutor there for four years, became clerk of the Probate Court and afterwards Judge of that Court; represented New Haven in the General Assembly for nine sessions and later was a Judge of the County Court. For the last thirty years of his life he was Deacon in the First church. His epitaph truly states that "the last & much the Greater part of his life was Spent in the Service & to the acceptance of the Publick." (N.E. Col.Soc. Papers, 3, p. 607.)

"John Whiting, Esq., Clerk of the Courts was also a resident of this neighborhood. He was asked, previous to the possession of the town by the enemy, whether he would not make his escape. His reply was that he had not borne arms, that he was loyal to the king, and pointing to an engraving of King George, which hung on the wall of the room, he added: 'This will protect me.' but when the soldiers came into the house, they did not respect his claim of loyalty. He was holding an office under the "Rebel Government" and moreover was a Deacon in the First church, and they treated him much as the English Cavaliers would treat a Roundhead. He was carried off as a prisoner and so summarily, it is said, that he had not time to put on his wig." (New Haven Colony Historical Society Papers, 2, p. 75.)

His father being one of the Governor's Assistants and Judge of the Superior Court in 1740, he was placed at the head of his class at Yale in family rank. During the year 1741/2, he was Rector of the Hopkins Grammar School.

John married Sarah INGERSOLL on 7 Nov 1751. Sarah (daughter of Jonathan INGERSOLL and Sarah NEWTON) was born on 22 Oct 1726; died on 24 Jul 1769. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Sarah TROWBRIDGE on 24 May 1770. Sarah (daughter of Stephen TROWBRIDGE and Thankful EASTON) was born on 22 Sep 1720; died on 15 Apr 1795. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]