WHITNEY-L Archives

From:
Subject: [WHITNEY-L] Odd name change for wife of Merrick Whitney - Harriet to Cinderilla
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 02:01:04 EDT

Dear WRG:

I've been working through the Ashburnham Vital Records and have come upon a
conundrum. There was a son, Austin Whitney, born to Merrick and Harriet
(Adams) Whitney on 22 Apr 1832, according to the VR's. The death records
show the death by drowning on 10 Jun 1846 of an Austin Whitney, son of
Merrick and "Cinderilla" Whitney. Further, it gives his time of life as 14y.
2m. 20d, which by my date calculator gives him a birthdate of 21 March 1832.
Taking the possibility of an error in mind, I tried one month instead of two
(figuring that Merrick might have been as mathematically challenged as I am)
and got 20 Apr. 1832, which is only two days off.

Now, it's not like we have a lot of Austin Whitneys to choose from, is it?
My db shows only five, and of these, only this one Austin was born anywhere
near 1832. Does anyone have any clues as to why Harriet Adams Whitney might
choose to change her name to "Cinderilla?" If any other member of the WRG
can shed any light on this curious question, I'd be grateful to hear from
them.

Otherwise, I guess I'll just have to go with the VR and enter this death date
and cause for the Austin, son of Merrick and Harriet.

(Larry, this sounds like your kind of question!)

Allan E. Green

This thread:

• [WHITNEY-L] Odd name change for wife of Merrick Whitney - Harriet to Cinderilla by

  • Re: [WHITNEY-L] Odd name change for wife of Merrick Whitney - Harriet to Cinderilla by "Robert L. Ward" <>