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Archiver > WHITNEY > 1997-09 > 0873176332


From: "Robert L. Ward" <>
Subject: Which John WHITNEY m. 1754, Weston, Beriah PEIRCE?
Date: Mon, 01 Sep 1997 21:58:52


Dear WRG,

The intentions of marriage of John WHITNEY and Beria PEIRCE "of Waltham" were
recorded on Sept. 28, 1754 in the _Town of Weston. Births, Deaths and
Marriages, 1707-1850_ (1901), p. 89. The marriage of John WHITNEY and Beria
PIERCE "of Waltham" was recorded on Nov. 28, 1754 in the same reference, p.
92. In the _Vital Records of Waltham, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850_
(1904), is recorded the marriage of John WHITNEY "of Weston" and Beria PEIRCE,
Nov. 28, 1754, in Weston. The question arises, who were this couple?

The identity of the bride is not hard. Her death is recorded in Waltham as
"Beriah, widow of John WHITTNEY of Weston, formerly widow of Daniel CHILD", in
her 88th year, on Nov. 4, 1768, from her tombstone in Grove Hill Cemetery,
Waltham. On 11 July 1755, she had made her will. An abstract of the will is
as follows:

Will of Beriah Whitney of Weston; "I having before marriage to my
present husband Mr. John Whitney made an agreement with each other to have
the Dispositions of our Estates separate ..."; estate to be divided
among her children and the children of her deceased daughter Sarah FISK,
to wit: Daniel CHILD; David CHILD; John CHILD; Samuel CHILD; Elisha
CHILD; Susanna CHILD; Elizth. STEARNS; Mary WHITNEY; Joshua CHILD;
granddaughter Sarah MIXER; grandson Danll. FISK, under 21; granddaughter
Beulah FISK, under 21; witnesses Ebenr. CUTLER, Jonas CUTLER, Abijah
CHILD. (_Middlesex County Probate Records_, File #24612)

Her inventory was taken in Weston on Nov. 4, 1768 by Capt. Ebenezer CUTLER,
Capt. Bradyll SMITH, and Mr. Jacob BIGLOW. Her will was proved 13 Dec 1768
in Weston. In Weston, on May 31, 1769, the heirs agreed to the executor's
account, signed by David, John, Joshua, Samuel, and Susanna CHILD, Isaac
STEARNS, Joseph WHITNEY, and David FISK. On 28 Nov 1769, her inventory was
exhibited and the executor's account was presented (_ibid._).

This information is sufficient to identify Beriah PEIRCE as Beriah BEMIS,
daughter of John and Mary (HARRINGTON) BEMIS, born June 23, 1681, Watertown,
MA. She married firstly, Feb. 10, 1701/2, Watertown, MA, Daniel CHILD, who
died 29 Jan 1723/4, Watertown. She married secondly, as his third wife, Aug.
12, 1736, Watertown, MA, Joseph PEIRCE, who died Mar. 13, 1753, Weston, MA.

Fine, but who was John WHITNEY? Three possible solutions have been proposed
in various sources:
A. John-5 WHITNEY, b. 22 Jun 1714, Watertown, MA, son of John-4 and Sarah
(CUTTING) WHITNEY [Joseph-3, John-2, John-1].
B. John-4 WHITNEY, b. 15 Jun 1694, Watertown, MA, son of Benjamin-3 and
Abigail (HAGAR) WHITNEY [John-2, John-1].
C. John-4 WHITNEY, b. 29 Jul 1680, Watertown, MA, son of Joseph-3 and
Martha (BEACH) WHITNEY [John-2, John-1].

The first possibility (A) is known to have married on 6 Oct 1737,
Watertown, MA, Bethia CUTTER "of Watertown", he being called "of Weston".
The intentions were recorded in Weston. His date of death is not known,
but he is mentioned in the will of his father on Nov. 17, 1749. Bethia's
date of death is also not known.

The second possibility (B) is known to have married, before 1730, Susan
-----, and died before 18 May 1776 in Watertown, MA, when his heirs were
cited (_Middlesex County Probate Records_, File #24685). Her date of death
is unknown, but it was after the birth of a daughter on 6 July 1748, and
probably before the above citation of heirs. He seems to have always lived
in Watertown.

The third possibility (C) is known to have married, Feb. 22, 1703/4, in
Watertown, Sarah CUTTING, who died July 10, 1753, Weston, MA. He left a
will which is abstracted as follows:

John WHITNEY of Weston; wife Sarah; son Joseph (executor), all land in
Weston and Waltham, all cattle, and utensils of husbandry; son Isaac, L80;
son Zachry., L70; son John, L70; son Abrahm., L70; witnesses John WARREN,
Elisha WARREN, Ebenr. CUTLER (_Middlesex County Probate Records_, File
#24684).

This will was proved 15 Dec 1760, when the executor's bond was posted by
Joseph WHITNEY, husbandman, with John WARREN, gentleman, of Weston, as surety
(_ibid._). His death is clearly the one recorded in the Weston vital records
on Nov. 11, 1760.

As you can see, there is no _a priori_ reason why any one of the three
possibilities might not be the husband of Beriah (BEMIS)(CHILD)(PEIRCE)
WHITNEY. Nevertheless, I believe that the correct husband was (C) above.

My reason to eliminate (A) is his age: he was 33 years younger than Beriah.
While this is not impossible, it seems extremely unlikely! We also do not
know that he was still alive, nor do we know that his known wife had died.

My reason to eliminate (B) is his residence: he always lived in Watertown,
as nearly as I can determine. Of course, he may have lived in Weston for
long enough to qualify, but I find no record of that. We likewise do not
know that he was still alive, nor do we know that his known wife had died.

My reasons for choosing (C) are his age, his residence, and his known
eligibility. He was one year senior to Beriah. He lived in Weston, where he
made his will, where his known wife died, and where he died. His known wife
Sarah died a little more than a year before the marriage to Beriah.
Furthermore, Beriah's daughter Mary CHILD is proven by the estate papers of
her estate to have married Joseph WHITNEY. This man can be identified as
Joseph-5 WHITNEY, bp. June 12, 1719, Weston, MA, aged about 2 months, son of
(C) and his wife Sarah (CUTTING). He married Mary CHILD on 11 Mar 1743 in
Weston. This appears to explain how John and Beriah met, as father of the
groom and mother of the bride.

While this analysis is short of proof, I am going to accept this solution
until proof is found. A possible source which has not been examined yet is
Middlesex County Land Records. The deeds may shed light on either which John
had a wife or widow Beriah between 1754 and 1768, or on the death dates of
(A), (B), and their spouses, or else reveal some other useful piece of
information.

All this being said, it seems unlikely to matter much genealogically what the
truth is here, since Beriah had no children by her husband John WHITNEY,
whoever he was. It does make a difference historically and biographically,
of course.

I would be interested to correspond with anyone who might be able to shed
more information on the above subject. I have posted this to my page of
WHITNEY genealogical corrections at
<http://www.erols.com/rlward1/whitney/correct.html>;.

Regards,

Robert

Robert L. Ward

http://www.erols.com/rlward1/
12236 Shadetree Lane, Laurel, MD 20708-2832
301-776-1659

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