John Whitney
The Norwalk miller, son of Henry Whitney, whose trade he followed and whose corn mill at the falls of the Norwalk River he inherited; he also built a fulling mill there. He married Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Richard Smith, in 1674/5, had ten children at Norwalk, and died about 1720. Probably the father of Eleanor (Whitney) Fairchild; the family's descent from him is only possible.
Life
- 1674Married Elizabeth Smith17 Mar 1674/5, Norwalk, Connecticutcompiledprobable
- bef. 1720Diedbef. 11 Oct 1720, Norwalk, Connecticut
"He probably died, at Norwalk, in 1720, as his son-in-law, Joseph Keeler, was appointed administrator of his estate, 11 Oct. 1720" (Phoenix).
compiledprobable
Family
- Father
- Henry Whitney
Henry Whitney's will of 1672 leaves "vnto my Sonn John Whitnee, the Mill and all the Lands belonging to the same," and the inventory was sworn by "John Whitne the son of Henr Whitne deceased" on 8 Nov 1673; the town had granted land in 1665/6 to "John Whitne the sonne of Henry Whitney" (all as Phoenix prints them).
documentedprovenSources
- S. Whitney Phoenix, The Whitney Family of Connecticut, and Its Affiliations (1878), vol. 1
- Edwin Hall, The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Connecticut (1847)
- Reasoning:
research/mcmillan/Fairchild_Raymond_Woodworth.md
- Spouse
- Elizabeth Smithcompiledprobable
1 child
Pedigree
Notes
The Norwalk miller, father of Eleanor (Whitney) Fairchild. Of full age by January 1665/6, when the town granted “John Whitne the sonne of Henry Whitney” land beside his father’s home lot, he followed his father’s trade as millwright and miller and inherited the corn mill at the falls of the Norwalk River. “At a towne meting desember 27th 1677 … it was voted and agreed on between the towne and the miller, John Whitne, that the towns men are to carry their corne to the mill vpon the third and sixt dayes of the weak, comonly called Tuesday & Fryday, which days he is to Attend to grinde in,” and if he could clear the mill of the corn in those two days, “then the Rest of the dayes of ye week he may take to atend his own ocations” (source).
“He built a fulling-mill at Norwalk, which he gave, 14 Ap. 1707, to his son John Whitney,” for as long as a corn mill was kept for the town. In 1706/7 he renewed with the town the mill covenant his father had made. In 1712 he sold the grist mill to his son John, who died the next year, and in 1713 to his son Joseph, who was to pay his debts, give him half the tolls for life, and “after ye decease of ye said John Whitne, to maintain his mother, Elizabeth Whitne (if she survive) Honourably During her natural life.” He died about 1720.
He married Elizabeth Smith, “dau. of Richard Smith,” on 17 March 1674/5. Their children, all born at Norwalk: John, 12 March 1676/7; Joseph, 1 March 1678/9; Henry, 21 February 1680/1; Elizabeth, about 1684 (wife of Joseph Keeler); Richard, 18 April 1687; Samuel, 1688; Anne, about 1691 (wife of Matthew St. John); Eleanor, 27 January 1693/4; Nathan; and Sarah.
The family’s descent from him rests on the identification of Jonathan Fairchild of East Jewett with his great-grandson Jonathan, born at Norwalk in 1744, which is only possible (see Jonathan Fairchild).
Research: research/mcmillan/Fairchild_Raymond_Woodworth.md.
Connections
- In his ancestry
- 1 notable connection →
Every notable ancestor and famous relative that John's own ancestors lead to, with the lines drawn down to him.