Notes for John Whitney: Eli Whitney, who invented the cotton gin, is a descendant of John. From "Whitney Genealogy" by Frederick Clifton Pierce, p. 22: JOHN WHITNEY (John), b. England, 1620; res. in Watertown m. 1642, Ruth Reynolds, dau. of Robert, of Watertown, Weathersfield and Boston.
He was admitted freeman May 26, 1647 ae. 23; was selectman 1673-80, inclusive. The will of Robert Reynolds, of Boston, dated Apr. 20, 1658, mentions his dau., Ruth Whitney and her eldest son; his dau. Sarah Mason and her son Robert. John's estate was admr. upon by Ruth and sons, John and Benjamin. Inventory dated Oct. 26, 1692, taken by Elnathan Beers and Thomas Hammond. It embraced 18 lots or parcels of land amounting to 210 acres and prized at œ197:15. It embraced one lot of 17 acres, "purchased of father Arnold." His will was not proved, it was written Feb. 27, 1685, subscribed in the year 1690. This will, written by himself, though informal and not on record, may be found, in the files at the Middlesex Probate office and provides inter alia as follows: "If any of my sonnes or sone-in laws or daughters be quarelsom by going to Law or troublesom to the brethren I say they shall lose the share of what I have bequeatted them. I desire they should live in love to God and one toward another."
Mr. Whitney first settled (1643) and always resided on a three-acre lot on the east side of Lexington street, on land granted to E. How, and the next lot south of the residence of the Phillips family, and is probably the same lot occupied by his greatgrandson, Bradshaw Whitney. The ground is somewhat elevated, and there is little doubt that it is the "Whitney Hill" sometimes mentioned in the records, Dr. Bond thinking it very probable that his supposition, p. 1031, respecting this hill, is incorrect.
In 1675, in a warrant issued to the people of Watertown (just a few months prior to the attack on Sudbury) for impressing twenty soldiers with provisions, arms and ammunition and good clothing for the defense of the colony, Capt. Hugh Mason made a return, and in the list is found the names of John Whitney, Sr., and Moses Whitney (the latter was probably his nephew).
More About John Whitney and Ruth Reynolds: Marriage: 1642
Children of John Whitney and Ruth Reynolds are:
+Elizabeth Whitney, b. June 09, 1656, Watertown, MA, d. date unknown.
+Nathaniel Whitney, b. February 01, 1645/46, Watertown, MA, d. January 07, 1731/32, Weston, MA.
John Whitney (b. Bef. September 14, 1621, d. October 12, 1692)
Notes for John Whitney: