Thursday, August 10, 2023

The family of John Whittemore 1639-1694

 I am reasonably sure there are errors in this post, because there are so many Whittemores by this generation with the same first names.  Many of the trees I've looked at have errors, too, so I'm not alone.  I hope I have weeded out some of the most obvious mistakes and humbly ask your help in getting this family correctly identified and located.  

John was the son of Thomas and Hannah Chawkley Whittemore.  He was born in 1639 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England and died in 1694 in Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony, having arrived here in 1642 with his parents and his brother, Benjamin.  He married at least twice, and had children with each wife.  His first wife was Mary Upham, daughter of John and Elizabeth Slade Upham, whom he married in 1661 and who died in 1677.  His second, married in 1677, was Mary or Marie Miller, the daughter of John and Lydia (maiden name not known but "Combs" has been suggested) Miller.  There were children, perhaps as many as 15, from the two marriages.  

John and Mary's children are:

John, born in 1662 and died in 1702.  He married Elizabeth Annable, the daughter of John and Anna (Whipple or Clapp? I've seen both!) Annable.  They had one child, John.  He next married Sarah Hall, the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Collicott Hall.  Their children are Jonathan, Richard, Joseph, Sarah, Experience, Thomas, Experience, Jonathan, Abigail, Anna, and Josiah. I will write more of this family in my next blog post.

Thomas was born in 1664 and died in 1717.  He married Mary, the widow of Samuel Pease, as yet not further identified.  (Some trees say he married Mary Ann Gallaudet but that marriage was much later, and a different Thomas.)  Their children are Thomas, Martha, Francis, Mary, and Daniel.  I sure would like confirmation about Francis-he may belong to a different family.

Next was Joseph, born in 1666 and died in 1716.He married first Joanna Mousall, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Richardson Mousall.  Their children are Joanna and Joseph.  He next married Susanna Frost, the daughter of Joseph and Hannah Miller Frost.  Their children are Jabez, Susanna, Hulda, Abiel, Josiah, and Abiah.  

Benjamin is the next son, born in 1669 and died in 1734.  He married Esther Brooks, the daughter of Deacon Joshua and Hannah Mason Brooks.  Their children are Mary, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Grace, Mehitable, Esther, Joel, and Aaron.  

Nathaniel was born in 1673 and died in 1754.  He married Sarah French, the daughter of William and Sarah Danforth French.  Their children are Thomas, Jacob, Sarah, Abigail, John, and Nathaniel.  

Then there are two sons named Joel.  The first was born in 1676 and died very soon.  The second was born in 1677.  He died at sea in 1711, unmarried.  It would be interesting to learn more of his story.

So Thomas and Mary had seven sons, the last one probably costing Mary her life.

Just a few months after Mary died, John married again.  I will refer to the second wife as Marie to avoid confusion; her name is seen as Marie and as Mary in records.  John and Marie had several children also, Marie being 13 years younger than John.

The first was Mary, who was born in 1678 and died sometime after she chose her half-brother, John,  to be her guardian in 1694.  Apparently there are no further records for her.

Pelatiah was born in 1680 and died in 1724.  He married Margery Pepperell, daughter of William and Margery Bray Pepperell.  Their children are Pelatiah, William, Mary, Margery, and Joel.

Next was Amos, born in 1681 and died in 1738. He married Mary, possibly Owen but unconfirmed,  and they had Daniel, Jane, Josiah, Elizabeth, Abigail, and Mary.  He next married Hannah Ellis, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Fisher Ellis.  Hannah was about 44 when they married and she is not known to have had any children with Amos.

Elizabeth was this couple's first daughter.  She was born in 1683 and died in 1728.  She married Joseph Blanchard, the son of Joseph and Hannah Shepard Blanchard.  Their children are Elizabeth, Johane, Mary, Joseph, Hannah, Jemima, Keziah, and Simon.  

Daniel was next, born in 1685 and died the following year.  (There is a slight possibility that he died in 1721 in Ridgefield, Ct but I don't think this is the same Daniel.)  

Rebecca was born in 1687 and died in 1757.  It's reported that she did not marry.  

Hannah was born in 1689 and, like her half sister Mary, was alive in 1694.  She is another female I have not been able to trace.  

Their final child was Daniel, born in 1691 and died in 1757.  He married Mary Turrell, the daughter of Samuel and Lydia Stoddard Turrell.  This couple had two children, Daniel and Samuel.  Apparently this Daniel was not the best of husbands.  He died in Halifax, Nova Scotia and his widow needed financial help to survive.  He is also said to have had little to do with his two sons.  

Fortunately, most Whittemore children were good citizens, family men (or women), and several of them fought for their colony.  John is the grandfather of 48 grandchildren, if we accept this list as complete and correct, which it may not be.  

 


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