Richard Whitney

Notes:

V. Richard Whitney, b. at Norwalk, Conn., 18 Ap. 1687; a millwright; married, 7 Ap. 1709, at Fairfield, Conn., Hannah Darling, dau. of John and Elizabeth (Beers) Darling, of Fairfield, where she was born about 1689. Their marriage is recorded also at Norwalk. His father gave him thirteen acres of land at Horse Pound Hill, and twenty-six acres at Drum Hill, with three acres of swamp east of Horse Pound Hill, seven acres of land to take up in the unsequestered land, and "one pair of stears past three years old," 18 Oct. 1709; and, at the same date, sold him three acres of land, with a house-frame thereon, at Belden's Hill. They dwelt at Norwalk for several years; then settled in that part of Stratfield Society, which lay in the town of Fairfield.. He proposed to build a grist-mill on Sasco River, "where the sawmill stood," and asked the town to give him a small piece of land on which to set a house. His request was granted by town-meeting, 27 Ap. 1713, and a committee appointed to lay out the land and stipulate the conditions of the grant. Another town-meeting, 6 Aug 1716, granted him liberty to flow so much of the town-commons as should be needed for the mill. His mill appears to have been built before 24 Aug. 1716, when the committee laid out, and 12 Sept. 1716, formally conveyed to him, land on the east side of Sasco River, near to his mill, on his engagement "to keep a good and sufficient grist mill on said river, att or near the place where his now grismill now standeth, when it can be done with labour; and to grind all sorts of grain for two quarts a bushell into good & sufficient meal, if the grain be good; and also to keep a sufficient house over said mill to secure all such grain as shall be brought to said mill, with a good lock and key continually to said house; and to grind all such grists of all sorts of grain as shall be brought by any Inhabitant of said town to said mill seasonably and before hee or they shal grind for a stranger." He was living at Stratfield as early as 18 Oct. 1714, when he sold land in Norwalk, to "William Jarvis of Huntington, on ye Island of Nassau," and again, 21 Jan. 1725-6, when he sold to his brother, Joseph Whitney, a "Fifty pounds Right of commonage" in the undivided lands of Norwalk. He was a juror at Fairfield, 24 Dec. 1734. The date of his death has not been found. She died at Fairfield, 20 Oct. 1774.

http://www.whitneygen.org/archives/extracts/phoenix/p0016-0020.html

Notes:

'John WHITNEY was probably born before his father went to Southold, as the fact that he was of full age before 20 Jan 1665/66, is indicated by the following vote: 'At the towne meeting held the 20th of Jan. 1665, grante unto John WHITNE the sonne of Henry WHITNEY oinse unto his father's home lott extending from the Brow of the hill lying by the hiweigh leading to the Rodds cartpath by the sayd Falls.' He settled, with his father, in Norwalk, followed his business, of millwright, and miller; succeeded him in the possession of the mill and homestead; and married 17 Mar 1674/75, Elizabeth SMITH, dau. of Richard Smith. [Phoenix p11]

'Whitney, John, Norwalk, only son of Henry, married 17 Mar 1675, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard SMITH, probably of L.I . Had John, born 12 Mar 1677; Joseph, 1 Mar 1679, Henry, 21 February 1681; and Richard, 18 Apr 1687; but no more known of him except that he was a miller, had good property and his children perpetuated the name in that region.' [Savage p530]

Savage was INCORRECT in listing a child of John and Elizabeth (SMITH) WHITNEY. John and Elizabeth did NOT have a child named Samuel. This error was repeated in various publications, including several Connecticut town histories and the books by S. Whitney Phoenix. 'Saml. WHITNEY of Stratford' (who married Anne LABOREE) was the son of Nathaniel WHITNEY and Sarah HAGAR - and thus a descendant of John and Elinor WHITNEY of Watertown. Proof lies in the probate records of Samuel's father, Nathaniel WHITNEY, Middlesex County, MA, File No. 24731.

http://www.whitneygen.org/families/henryw/ctwhi002.html#id2

See also
The WHITNEY FAMILY OF CONNECTICUT AND ITS AFFILIATIONS
By Stephen Whitney Phoenix
1878
A Free Google eBook

John married Elizabeth Smith on 17 Mar 1674 in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Elizabeth was born about 1655 in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Said to have been a daughter of Richard Smith and Bathsheba Rogers. Others instead show her parents as Richard Smith and Sarah Folger.