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Archiver > WHITNEY > 2002-05 > 1021754165


From: Chris Branagan <>
Subject: Re: [WHITNEY-L] Re: The Joshua Whitney homestead of Groton, MA
Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 16:36:05 -0400
References: <KOEHIFOBEMILHHFLEBKIAEPJCAAA.waf227b@charter.net> <4.3.2.7.0.20020516043905.00b8bdc0@lambert.math.siu.edu>


HI George!

Sorry I can't add anything of value to the discussion, I've taken my
information directly from Robert. Sorry. Actually I didn't know there
was discussion involving Josiah. I find the relationship between Joshua
and Benjamin (brothers, sons of John the immigrant) really fascinating
because they seem to have shared so many experiences. Joshua always
seems to me to be a bit straight laced being called "Deacon" and
serving at selectman and tending the Meeting house etc. while Benjamin
seems to be a bit of a wild man/rebel, going off to live in the
wilderness of Maine at such a young age. Some of his children, (I
descend from his son John) grew to be Indian fighters and settlers
of Maine and they must have gotten at least some of those skills from
their father. Oh well.....This is all speculation.

I hope you and Margie can make it to the Reunion. Plans are underway!

from, Carolyn



Margie and George Parker wrote:

> Dear Carolyn:
>
>
> At 04:08 PM 05/15/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>
>> Hi Chris,
>>
>> The voluntary donation of $5 sounds reasonable to me. Some of
>> our members may be interested in the Groton Public Library
>> materials. From time to time Joshua has been the focus of lively
>> discussion on the list. I believe his younger brother Benjamin
>> lived with him for a while in Groton and at least one of
>> Benjamin's children was born in Groton. At the time of the Indian
>> raids Joshua came back to Watertown to live at his father's
>> place and then bought it from Benjamin after B. had been given
>> a major part of the homeplace by their father, John the
>> immigrant. Joshua must have had some money from someplace.
>> Then Joshua sold the home place sometime in the 1690's, as I
>> recall and went back to Groton. That must be where you pick up
>> the story!
>> How is your husband related to Benjamin?
>>
>> I'll pass all this info on to Lyn, who is organizing the program.
>> Thanks for your offer. You'll hear from either me or Lyn in a
>> few days regarding the feasibility of the tour. How far is you
>> farm from the Sheraton Inn in Lexington?
>>
>> from, Carolyn Whitney Branagan
>
>
> I found your statement about Benjamin living with Joshua and having a
> child born there very interesting. Can you give me any sources?
> Robert Ward and I have been disagreeing on a related matter for a
> while and this would bolster his argument.
>
> I descend from Josiah Whitney who married Miriam Barrett and had
> children born in Chelmsford 1707-1720 or so and then moved in 1729 to
> Willington CT. I have a family bible (printed much later) that says
> Josiah was born in Groton "about 1688". I have argued that his father
> would have to be Joshua. Robert argues that Josiah would have to be
> the son of Benjamin. I don't mind being wrong if we can show one way
> or the other that Josiah is a grandson of John and Elinor.
>
> The only reference to Josiah in the Groton histories that I have seen
> is in a letter to the Governor in 1707 where it is recorded that
> Josiah Whitney and Cornelius Whitney (son of Joshua) are among the
> residents 'already gone' because of the Indian trouble. If Josiah was
> the son of Benjamin the question remains why Josiah would still have
> been in Groton after his father (and family?) had left.
>
> George Parker
>
>


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