John WHITNEY

Notes:

Name:
John Whitney was made freeman in May, 1684. The name of John Whitney appears in the list of members of the Second church in Roxbury when gathered by 'ye Rev. Nehemiah Walter, Nov. 2, 1712,' and doubtless he had previously been a member of the first church in Roxbury. His houselot, containing nine acres, was situated in that part of Roxbury called Jamaica Plain, and lying on the right as you pass up Pond street to the south part of Brookline, which town was called Muddy River until the year 1705.

He was a soldier in King Philip's war in 1676 from Roxbury, and owned Covenant at Roxbury in Feb., 1684.

He was a tailor by trade. His will was made in Sept., 1718; proved March 13, 1726-7; mentions his wife Elizabeth.

John married Elizabeth HARRIS in 1669. Elizabeth was born on 9 Nov 1644. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
"Whitney Genealogy": He was admitted freeman May 26, 1647 age 23; was selectman 1673-80, inclusive. The will of Robert Reynolds, of Boston, dated Apr 20 1658, mentions his dau., Ruth Whitney and her eldest son; his dau. Sarah Mason and her son Robert. John's estate was admr. upon by Ruth and sons, John and Benjamin. Inventory dated Oct 26, 1692, taken by Elnathan Beers and Thomas Hammond. It embraced 18 lots or parcels of land amounting to 210 acres and prized at L197:15. It embraced one lot of 17 acres, "purchased of father Arnold". Hie will was not proved, it was written Feb. 27, 1685, subscribed in the year 1690. This will, written by himself, though informal and not on record, may be found, in the fils at the Middlesex Probate office and provides "inter alia" as follows: "If any of my sonnes or sone-in laws or daughters be quarelsom by going to law or troublesom to the brethren I say they shall lose the share of what I have bequeatted to them. I desire they should live in love to God and one toward another."

Mr. Whitney first settled (1643) and always resided on a three-acre lot on the east side of Lexington Street, on land granted to E. How, and the next lot south of the residence of the Phillips family, and is probably the same lot occupied by his great-grandson, Bradshaw Whitney. The ground is somewhat elevated, and there is little doubt that it is the "Whitney Hill" sometimes mentioned in the records....

In 1675, in a warrant issued to the people of Watertown (just a few months prior to the attack on Sudbury) for impressing twenty soldiers with provisions, arms and ammunition and good clothing for the defense of the colony, Capt. Hugh Mason made a return, and in the list is found the names of John Whitney, Sr., and Moses Whitney ( the later was probably his nephew).

John married Ruth REYNOLDS in 1642. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Robert Reynolds, of Watertown, Wethersfield and Boston, Massachusetts