Family:Whitney, Phinehas (1766-1831)

Capt. Phinehas⁷ Whitney (William⁶, William⁵, William⁴, Nathaniel³, John², John¹), son of William⁶ and Mary (Mansfield) Whitney, was born 1 Apr 1766, was baptized 13 Apr 1766, Weston, MA,^[1] and died 10 May 1831, Newton, MA, aged 65 years^[2] He was buried in the Old Centre Burial Ground, Winchendon, MA.^[3]

He married firstly, 17 Jan 1793, Winchendon, MA, Phebe Stearns,^[4] daughter of John and Martha (Cleveland) Stearns. She was born 7 Sep 1774,^[5] Petersham, MA, and died 7 Apr 1794, Winchendon, MA, aged 20 years^[6] She was buried in the Old Centre Burial Ground, Winchendon, MA.^[7]

He "of Winchendon" married secondly, 15 Feb 1796, Westford, MA, Bethiah Barrett,^[8] of Barre, daughter of Oliver and Anna (Fiske) Barrett. She was born 1774, Westford, MA,^[9] and died 2 Aug 1849, Marlborough, NH{, aged 74 years.{ref|10}} She was buried in the Old Centre Burial Ground, Winchendon, MA.^[10]

Capt. Phinehas Whitney was the most prominent business man in Winchendon from 1800 to the time of his death in 1831. Besides a large farm he kept a tavern, owned an oil mill and woolen factory and raised horses and cattle. Though esteemed by his townsmen he was rarely in office because of his business. He was the first to enlist to put down the Shays rebellion, being then but twenty years of age; afterwards he was captain of a cavalry company. He was always active in religious and temperance matters. Bethiah Barrett was a model countrywoman. She was small in stature, comely, with blue eyes and brown hair, very intelligent, dignified and grave. She was much loved and highly esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances. She was easily the first woman in Winchendon in her time. She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rev. Giles Lyman, in Marlborough, NH. He resided Winchendon, MA.

Children of Phineahas⁷ and Phebe (Stearns) Whitney:

i.	Phinehas8 Whitney, b. 1794;[11] d. 12 Jul 1804, Winchendon, MA, aged 10 years[12] He was buried in the Old Centre Burial Ground, Winchendon, MA.[13]

Children of Phineahas⁷ and Bethiah (Barrett) Whitney:

ii.	Phebe Whitney, b. 5 Apr 1797, Winchendon, MA;[14] d. 7 Mar 1876; bur. Old Centre Burial Ground, Winchendon, MA;[15] m.(1) 31 Dec 1817, Winchendon, MA, Asa Washburn,[16] b. 5 Mar 1790; d. 2 Oct 1824; m.(2) Apr 1827, Winchendon, John Woodbury, b. Aug 1784; d. 5 Dec 1870. Children: a. Nelson P. Washburn, b. 14 Oct 1818; m. Elizabeth A. Hills; resided Claremont, NH; 2 ch. He is a large boot and shoe manufacturer. b. William Barrett Washburn, b. 31 Jan 1820, Winchendon, MA; d. 5 Oct 1887, Springfield, MA; m. 6 Sep 1847, Hannah A. Sweetser; 6 ch.; resided Greenfield, MA. Gov. William Barrett Washburn as graduated at Yale in 1844 and became a manufacturer at Greenfield, where he was for many years president of the National bank and which he represented in both branches of the legislature in 1850-54. He was identified with the republican party from its organization in 1856 and at the beginning of the civil war contributed liberally to the national cause. In 1862 he was sent to Congress as a Republican and he was returned biennially till on 1 Jan 1872, he resigned his seat to become governor of Massachusetts. This office he resigned also during his third term to fill the vacancy that was made in the U. S. Senate by the death of Charles Summer, serving from 1 May 1874, till 3 Mar 1875, when he withdrew from public affairs. Besides holding many offices of trust under corporations, he was a trustee of Yale, of the Massachusetts Agricultural college, and of Smith college, of which he was also a benefactor and a member of the board of overseers of Amherst from 1864 to 1877. Harvard conferred the degree of L.L. D. upon him in 1872. By his will he made the American board and the American Home Missionary association residuary legatees, leaving to each society about $50,000. He was also a great benefactor of the Greenfield public library. He died suddenly while attending a session of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions of which he was a member. 1. William N. Washburn, b. -----, resided Greenfield, MA. 2. (child) Washburn, b. -----. 3. (child) Washburn, b. -----. 4. (child) Washburn, b. -----. 5. (child) Washburn, b. -----. 6. (child) Washburn, b. -----. c. Mary Jane Woodbury, b. 11 Mar 1828; d. 11 Oct 1840.
iii.	Lucy Whitney, b. 4 Jun 1799, Winchendon, MA;[17] d. 18 Jul 1893, Hubbardston, MA, aged 94 years 1 months 14 days, of old age;[18]; bur. Old Centre Burial Ground, Winchendon, MA;[19] m. (int. 10 Mar 1825, Deerfield, MA[20]) 29 Mar 1825, Winchendon, Rev. Benjamin Rice, of South Deerfield.[21] He was born 9 May 1784, Sturbridge, MA, graduated at Brown college in 1808, studied theology at Andover, and settled in the gospel ministry first at Skeneateles, NY, next at Deerfield, MA, and afterwards at New Gloucester and Buxton, ME; he returned to Massachusetts, and settled in Winchendon, where he d. 11 Jul 1847, in his 64th year. He m.(1) Elizabeth Bennett, who d. Feb 1818, Sharon, CT. He m.(2) Almira Whipple, of Charlton, MA. He m.(3) Lucy Whitney. Mrs. Lucy (Whitney) Rice, now in her 94th year, resides in Winchendon. Children: a. William Whitney Rice, b. 7 Mar 1826; m.(1) 21 Nov 1855, Stamford, CT, 21 Nov 1855, Cornelia A. Moen, b. 1833, d. 16 Jun 1862; m.(2) 28 Sep 1875, Worcester, Alice M. Miller, b. 22 Jul 1840. Hon. William Whitney Rice was prepared for college at Gorham academy, Gorham, ME. He entered Bowdoin college at Brunswick in 1842, and was graduated in 1846. He was preceptor at Leicester (MA) academy for four years, studied law in Worcester with Hon. Emory Washburn, and with Hon. George F. Hoard, U. S. senator from Massachusetts, and was admitted to the bar in 1854, where he has ever since resided and practiced his profession. He has been eminently successful in his profession, and is recognized as one term in that office. He was district attorney for the middle district of Massachusetts from 1869 to 1874, and member of Massachusetts general court in 1875. He was elected to the 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, and 49th congresses as a member of the house of representatives from the Ninth or Worcester district. He was an able, efficient and influential member of congress during his long term of service, and took an active part both on the floor and in the committees. He is a republican in politics, conservative upon the tariff and monetary questions, and has always kept well in advance with the progressive element of his party. In the councils of his party his opinions are always sought for, and have been and are influential in formulating party policy and molding public opinion. He was a model public man, who during his long public life served his constituents and the public with disinterested patriotism and unselfish devotion to the public welfare. He is a member of the board of overseers of Bowdoin college, member of the board of trustees of the Worcester County Institute of Industrial Science, member of the board of trustees of Clarke university, also trustee of Leicester academy. Children: 1. William Whitney Rice, b. 31 May 1858; d. 10 Feb 1864. 2. Charles Moen Rice, b. 6 Nov 1860, resided Worcester. He was prepared for college at Phillips Exeter (New Hampshire), academy, entered Harvard college in 1878, and was graduated in 1882; studied law at the Harvard law school, also in his father's office, and was admitted to the bar in 1886; is now practicing his profession and member of the firm of Rice, King & Rice. b. Lucy A. Rice, b. 26 Sep 1827; m. 24 Sep 1857, Rev. Milan H. Hitchcock; resided Hubbardston, MA. c. Charles Jenkins Rice, b. 2 Jul 1833; m. Sarah M. Cummings, s.p.; died 3 May 1892.
iv.	William Barrett Whitney, b. 14 Jun 1801, Winchendon, MA;[22] m. Lois Stone.
v.	Mary Whitney, b. 17 Mar 1803, Winchendon, MA;[23] d. 15 Nov 1870; m. 22 Jan 1828, Winchendon, MA, Dr. Alvah Godding;[24] b. 5 Nov 1796; d. 11 Jan 1875; resided Winchendon, MA. Dr. Alvah Godding was b. 5 Nov 1796, Troy, NH. He d. 11 Jan 1875, Winchendon, MA, aged 78 years, 2 months and 6 days. Dr. Alvah Godding studied medicine with Dr. Amos Twitchell, of Keene, NH, and was graduated in medicine from Bowdoin Medical college, Maine, in 1825. He practiced his profession for a short time at Royalston, MA, as a partner of Dr. Stephen Batcheldor, and subsequently removed to Winchendon, MA, where he continued to successfully practice his profession until his death in Jan 1875, a period of nearly half a century, and was greatly beloved by all who knew him. For several years he was member of the general court. Children: a. William Whitney Godding, b. 5 May 1831; m. 4 Dec 1860, Ellen R. Murdock, Supt. National Insane Asylum, Washington, DC. Dr. William Whitney Godding was prepared for college at Winchendon academy, Winchendon, MA, and at Phillips academy, Andover, MA. He entered Dartmouth college, Hanover, NH, and was graduated in the class of 1854. He studied medicine with his father, attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, and at the Castleton Medical College, VT, and was graduated from the latter institution in the class of 1857. After his graduation he practiced his profession with his father until 1859, when he was appointed assistant physician at the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane, Concord, NH. In 1862 he resigned his position in the New Hampshire Insane Asylum and went into private practice at Fitchburg, MA. In the autumn of 1863 he was appointed assistant physician of the Government Hospital for the Insane, at Washington, DC. In 1870 he was appointed superintendent of the State Lunatic Asylum at Taunton, MA, where he remained until the summer of 1877, when he was appointed superintendent of the Government Hospital for the Insane at Washington, which position he now holds. He has spent the greater part of his professional life among the insane, and has made the study and treatment of the diseases of the unfortunate class a specialty, and he is to-day recognized and admitted to be one of the highest authorities in the country on the subject of insanity and the treatment of the insane. In 1882 Dr. Godding published a small volume entitled "The Hard Cases: Sketches from a Physician's Portfolio."
vi.	(child) Whitney, d. 20 Mar 1806, Winchendon, MA, of fever.[25]
vii.	Phinehas Whitney, b. May 1806; d. 4 Mar 1808, Winchendon, MA;[26] bur. Old Center Burial Ground, Winchendon, MA.[27]
viii.	Nelson Whitney, b. May 1808 [sic]; bapt. 7 Jun 1807 [sic], Winchendon, MA;[28] d. 5 Mar 1809;[29] bur. Old Centre Burial Ground, Winchendon, MA.[30]
ix.	Sarah Ann Whitney, b. 30 Jan 1809, Winchendon, MA;[31] d. said 24 Jan 1884 [Pierce], or 6 Jan 1880, Winchendon, MA, aged 70 years 11 months 5 days, of cancer;[32] m. 28 Aug 1832, Winchendon, MA, Josiah Brown,[33] b. 1801; d. 29 Sep 1836; m.(2) 23 Apr 1839, Charles William Bigelow, b. 15 Jan 1810; d. 6 Jan 1880. Children: a. George R. Brown, b. 5 May 1835; d. 5 Nov 1838. b. Charles E. Bigelow, b. 18 Mar 1843, Winchendon, MA; m. Jennie M. Robbins. He grad. Williams College, and has charge of the New York house of the Knowles Steam Pump works.
x.	Louisa Whitney, b. 30 May 1812, Winchendon, MA;[34] d. 5 Dec 1892, Winchendon, MA, aged 86 years 6 months 6 days, of valvular disease of heart, heart failure;[35] m. (int. 28 Nov 1835, Winchendon, MA[36]) 14 Dec 1835, Winchendon, MA, Rev. Giles Lyman,[37] b. 16 Mar 1802. He d. 1837, s.p. He was grad. at Amherst in 1827, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1831. Was pastor of the Congregational church in Jaffrey, NH, 1832-7; from 1840-69 he was settled in Marlborough, NH, and preached frequently at Fowlerville, NY, Ashburnham and Gardner, MA.

Census

• 1800, Winchendon, Worcester Co., MA: Phinehas Whitney, 1 male 16-25, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 0-9.
• 1810, Winchendon, Worcester Co., MA: Whitney, Phineas, 1 male over 45, 2 males 16-26, 3 males under 10, 1 female 26-45, 2 females 10-16, 2 females under 10.
• 1820, Winchendon, Worcester Co., MA: Phinehas Whitney, 1 male over 45, 3 males 18-25, 1 male 10-15, 1 female 26-44, 3 females 16-25, 1 female 10-15, and 1 female 0-9; 1 engaged in agriculture.
• 1830, Winchendon, Worcester Co., MA: Phinius Whitney, 1 male 60-69, 3 males 20-29, 2 males 15-19, 1 male 10-14, 1 female 40-49, 1 female 15-19, and 1 female 10-14.
• 1840, Bethiah not found.
• 1850 Mortality Schedules, Marlborough, Cheshire Co., NH:

Bethiah Whitney, 74, female, white, widowed, b. Massachusetts, d. Aug, cause unknown, duration 18 days

References

• All data imported from Frederick Clifton Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635, (Chicago: 1895), pp. 266-270.

1.^  "Phinehas [Whitney], s. William and Mary, b. last w., bap. Apr. 13, 1766," according to Mary Frances Peirce, Town of Weston. Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1707-1850. 1703--Gravestones--1900. Church Records, 1709-1825. Appendix and Addenda, Cent Society, Gleanings from the Town Files, Bits of Genealogy, Error, Indexes, &c. (Boston, MA: McIncloe Bros., Printers, 1901), page 483. Also, "Phinehas [Whitney], ____ __, [born] 1766. In Weston. G.S.1," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Winchendon, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1909).

2.^  "Capt. Phinehas [Whitney], [died] May 10, 1831, a. 65. [In Newton. G.S.1]," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

3.^  FindAGrave Memorial #38082522, Capt. Phinehas Whitney.

4.^  "Phinehas [Whitney] and Phebe Stearns, [married] Jan. 17, 1793," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

5.^  "Phebe Stearns [Whitney], w. Capt. Phinehas, [born] ____ __, 1774. G.S.1," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

6.^  "Phebe Stearns [Whitney], w. Capt. Phinehas [died] [April 7, G.G.1.], 1794, a. 20.," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

7.^  FindAGrave Memorial #38082542, Phebe Stearns Whitney.

8.^  "Phineas [Whitney] of Winchendon, and Bethiah Barrett, [married] Feb. 15, 1796," according to Vital Records of Westford, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1915). Also, "Phineas [Whitney] and Bethiah Barrett of Westford, [married] Feb. 15, 1796. In Westford," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

9.^  "Bethiah Barret [Whitney], w. Capt. Phinehas, [born] _____ ___, 1774. In Westford. G.S.1," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

10.^  "Bethiah Barret [Whitney], wid. Capt. Phinehas [d. Oliver and Anna of Westford], [died] Aug. 2, 1849, a. 74 [75. In Marlborough, N.H., G.S.1.]," according to Winchendon Vital Records. Also, "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 41, page 350.

11.^  FindAGrave Memorial #38082615, Bethiah Barrett Whitney.

12.^  "Phinehas [Whitney], s. Capt. Phinehas and Phebe, [born] ____ __, 1794. G.S.1," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

13.^  "Phinehas [Whitney], s. Capt. Phinehas and Phebe, [died] July 12, 1804, a. 10. G.S.1," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

14.^  FindAGrave Memorial #38082572, Phinehas Whitney.

15.^  "Phebe [Whitney], d. Phinehas and Bethia, [born] Apr. 5, 1799," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

16.^  FindAGrave Memorial #121069206, Phebe Whitney Woodbury.

17.^  "Phebe [Whitney] and Asa Washburn, [married] Dec. 31, 1817," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

18.^  "Lucy [Whitney], d. Phinehas and Bethia, [born] June 4, 1799," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

19.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 438, page 643.

20.^  FindAGrave Memorial #17404766, Lucy Whitney Rice.

21.^  "Lucy [Whitney] of Winchendon, and Rev. Benjamin Rice, int. Mar. 10, 1825," according to Thomas W. Baldwin, ed., Vital Records of Deerfield, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, MA: 1920).

22.^  "Lucy [Whitney] and Rev. Benjamin Rice of Deerfield, [married] Mar. 29, 1825," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

23.^  "William Barrett [Whitney], s. Phinehas and Bethia, [born] Jan. 14, 1801," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

24.^  "Mary [Whitney], d. Phinehas and Bethia, [born] Mar. 17, 1803," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

25.^  "Mary [Whitney] and Dr. Alva Godding, [married] Jan. 22, 1828," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

26.^  "_____, ch. Phineas, [died] March 20, 1806. Fever. C.R.," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

27.^  FindAGrave Memorial #38082634, Phinehas Whitney.

28.^  "_____ [Whitney], ch. P., [died] March 4, 1808," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

29.^  "Nelson [Whitney], s. Capt. and Bethiah, bap. June 7, 1807. C.C.," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

30.^  "Nelson [Whitney], s. Capt. Phinehas and Bethiah, d. in infancy. G.S.1.," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

31.^  FindAGrave Memorial #38082649, Nelson Whitney.

32.^  "Sarah Ann [Whitney], d. Phinehas and Bethia, [born] Jan. 30, 18__. [bap. Apr. 30, 1809.]," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

33.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 321, page 455.

34.^  "Sarah Anne [Whitney] and Josiah Brown, [married] Aug. 28, 1832," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

35.^  "Louisa [Whitney], d. Phinehas and Bethia, [born] May 30, 1812," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

36.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 429, page 693.

37.^  "Louisa [Whitney] and Rev. Giles Lyman of Jaffrey, N.H., int. Nov. 28, 1835," according to Winchendon Vital Records.

38.^  "Louisa [Whitney] of Winchendon and Rev. Giles Lyman of Jaffrey, N.H., [married] Dec. 14, 1835. At Winchendon.* C.R.," according to Franklin P. Rice, ed., Vital Records of Gardner, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (1907).

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