Jesse Whitford

Notes:

The record at West Greenwich reads: "Jesse Whitford the Second Son of Nicholas Whitford and Susannah his wife was Born June the 19th Day 1755 And Deseased July the 16th Day 1755"

Notes:

Some information on the Whitford family can be found in Beaman's Vital Records, Vol. 7, Washington County, pp. 408 - 414. This includes the marriage record of Nicholas and Susannah, as well as the births of several of their children.

The 1774 census shows Nicholas with 4 males over 16, 3 under 16, 3 females over 16, and 1 under 16, living in West Greenwich. The 1777 military census shows Nicholas of West Greenwich as 16-50 and able to bear arms. The 1782 census shows Nicholas Whitford of West Greenwich with 1 male over 50, 2 males and 2 females 22-49, 1 boy and 1 girl 16-21, and 2 boys under 16. (While there is a possibility that some or all of these records were for another Nicholas Whitford, most likely they pertain to this particular Nicholas.)

See his will dated 29 Oct 1785, proved last Mon Aug 1790, West Greenwich pp. 348-350. I have made an assumption that Nicholas died in West Greenwich.

In 1769 Nicholas Whitford bought from Thomas Comstock some property on Weaver Hill Road in West Greenwich. This became the Whitford farm and stayed in the family until 1866. Nicholas passed on the farm to his son Levi, and from him it went to Levi's sons Ezekiel & Nicholas. Ezekiel bought the rights from his brother Nicholas in 1814. In 1866 James A. Whitford, grandson of Ezekiel, sold the farm to Rhodes Greene & Ephraim B. Harrington; in 1884 Greene & Harrington sold it to Burrill Andrews. Along the way sections of it were sold to other individuals. In 1886 Andrews sold his portion, consisting of 70 acres and the house, to George W. Fish. Thereafter it stayed in the Fish family until 1979 when it was sold to John Searle. The house is still standing and occupied; the family grave plot is adjoining. (source: historical collections at the Louttit Library, 274 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, RI)

In recent years, descendant Ray Whitford and family of North Attleboro, MA, spent much time and effort cleaning up this family burial plot.

Nicholas married Susannah CARR 18 Nov 1752, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. Susannah (daughter of Caleb CARR and Sarah RICHMOND) was born 3 Feb 1733/34, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died 1802, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her will dated 24 July 1799, and proved on the last Monday of March 1802, describes Susannah as a widow, being aged. It mentions sons Levi, Asa, and Carmi, and daughters Mary (wife of Samuel Johnson) and Meribah (wife of Job Herington). A copy of this will is at the West Greenwich Town Hall.

I have made an assumption that Susannah died in West Greenwich.

Notes:

I have a photocopy of the original marriage entry in the Town of West Greenwich. They were married by Samuel Hopkins, Justice of the Peace.

Notes:

Pasco lived in East and West Greenwich, and in Coventry, RI. The first three children were born in East Greenwich (Vital Records of Kent Co. p. 171). The rest of the children were born in West Greenwich (Vital Records of Kent Co. p. 102).

On 2 May 1727, by vote of the RI Colonial Assembly, Pasco Whitford of East Greenwich was admitted freeman of the colony (RI Colonial Records, vol. 4, p. 386).

In 1751 Pasco Whitford bought 80 acres of land from Gideon Brayton at Tarbox Corner in East Greenwich, RI. This land was originally granted to the Knight family in 1677, sold to Gideon Freeborn 1688, deeded to his daughter Mary and her husband Thomas Brayton and then passed on to their son Gideon Brayton in 1721. The house on this property has been dated at 1738 and is still standing, having been refurbished. The property passed from the Whitfords to the Tarbox family possibly through an inheritance to Pasco's granddaughter Easter (Esther?) who married Joseph Tarbox in 1788. Source: The East Greenwich Packet - Fall 1971 Vol 1 no 2.

There is a Pasco Whitford listed in the Rhode Island Colonial Census of 1 June 1774, where he is shown as head of a West Greenwich family consisting of 1 male and 1 female over 16, and 1 male under 16, and 1 black, total 4. This may be for this Pasco.

The 1777 RI Military Census shows Paskeo Whitford of West Greenwich as "60 yrs. and up."

The 1782 Census shows Pasqua Whitford's household of West Greenwich as having one male 50 and up, 2 males and 2 females 22-49, 2 boys and 2 girls 0-15. This may be for this Pasco.

He was a member of the Maple Root Church of Coventry, RI. This church was organized in 1762. His son David and David's wife, Lydia (Sweet), were also members (Arnold's Vital Records of RI, vol. 10, p. 275).

His grave site was quite challenging to find. It is located off Carr's Pond Rd. near Middle Rd., near the East Greenwich/West Greenwich border. One must trek a ways through the woods to get to it, and then it is hard to find because it is so well hidden by trees and briers. The marker is a simple rough-hewn granite stone, with a simple and rough inscription: P W 1700 - 1788. There are several other similar Whitford stones nearby, as well as quite a few Tarbox family stones. (Historical Cemetery WG 029)

Pasco married Hannah HILL Abt 1720. Hannah was born Abt 1700; died Abt 1735. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

It has been suggested that only the oldest child, Nicholas, was born to Hannah Hill, and that the next two were born to the second wife, Hannah Matteson. The age differences may indicate this. On the other hand, Reuben Whitford (son of Nicholas) mentions his Uncle Solomon Whitford in his will of 1830, which might indicate that Solomon was born of the first wife, as Nicholas was.

Notes:

From West Greenwich, RI wills recorded between July 1743 and May 1846, Book II, pp. 24-26:

Caleb Carr, dated 22 July 1762, witnessed by Ephraim Kittle, Sarah Greene, Stephen Richmond. Wife Sarah Carr; sons Robert Carr (of Sewago, Duchis County), Caleb Carr, Elezar Carr, Josua Carr, Richmond Carr, Edward Carr, Thurston Carr; daughters Patience Rogers, Mary Rogers, Rebakkah Harington, Susannah Whitford, Mereby Greene, Comfort Greene, Executrix wife Sarah Carr. Probated 1st Sat. June 1763. (Note: names spelled as given in transcription)

Caleb is also mentioned in the will of his uncle Job Carr.

(See Francis Richmond Sears' "The Carr Ancestry of Richmond Carr of Portsmouth, RI")

Caleb married Sarah RICHMOND Abt 1728, West Greenwich, RI. Sarah (daughter of Edward RICHMOND, III and Rebecca THURSTON) was born 20 Dec 1711, Little Compton, RI; died 25 Nov 1798, Rhode Island; was buried , Hancock, MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The names of Sarah's parents came from a Carr genealogy book (1947), and were emailed to me by "Sue" . Also, it says that Sarah was probably living with one of her sons at the time of her death. "At least five of the children of Caleb & Sarah migrated after the Revolution to eastern New York State. One of her sons is thought to have lived for a time across the NY State line in Hancock, MA."

Notes:

It is believed that Nicholas lived in Portsmouth, West Greenwich, and North Kingstown, RI. He was reportedly a weaver by occupation. His name is found in several legal documents:
On 13 March 1683 he received a legacy of a loom from Orpheus Pomeroy of Portsmouth.
On 21 January 1697 he bought land in East Greenwich from David Shippee for 6 pounds.
On 29 November 1703 he sold a house and 30 acres of land in East Greenwich to William Underwood for 15 pounds (witnessed by John and Elizabeth Pearse and John Heath, Vol. 3 p. 96).
On 3 February 1709/10 he was granted a "quarter right" in the vacant lands of Narragansett, apportioned by the 13 original proprietors as per Act of the RI Assembly (Narra. Hist. Reg., Vol.3, p. 3); this land comprised the present town of West Greenwich.
On 14 August 1721 he and his wife, Mary, mortgaged 25 1/2 acres and a house, for 30 pounds.
On 12 March 1733 he deeded his son Pasco 20 acres.
On 7 November 1733 the mortgage of 1721 was discharged.

In his will, dated 3 December 1743, proved 28 March 1748 W. G., Nicholas mentions:
his eldest son, Pasco, second son Robert, son David, youngest son Ezekiel, eldest daughter Catherine Peckham, and daughters Dinah Weaver, Mary Greene, Ruth Summers, grandsons Jonathan Hill and Thomas Jackwaise, and great-grandson Henry Jackwaise son of granddaughter Elizabeth Jackwaise.

(for additional info see Carl Stone's notes [Dutton family] at Rootsweb's Worldconnect)

Nicholas — Mary CARR. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

It is known that Nicholas's wife was Mary. It is believed she was Mary Carr because some of the male given names of Nicholas's sons and grandsons are names found among male relatives of Mary Carr, possibly indicating that they were named after these relatives. Alden Beaman says she was Mary Casey, born ca. 1674.

If she was Mary Carr, born about 1676-1678, her parents may have been Caleb and Phillip/Phillis Carr, and her paternal grandparents were Robert and Elizabeth Carr. These are our ancestors through the Carr/Kerr line.

Notes:

Sometime after marrying his second wife, possibly around 1731 Caleb moved, with his family, from Jamestown to West Greenwich, RI. There he bought 282 & 1/2 acres of land on what was afterward to be called Carr's Pond, on the East Greenwich-West Greenwich border.

Caleb married Joanna SLOCUM 30 Apr 1701, Newport, RI. Joanna (daughter of Ebenezer SLOCUM and Mary THURSTON) was born 30 Dec 1680, Newport, RI; died 30 Dec 1708, Jamestown, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her name is sometimes spelled as Johanna. She died on her 28th birthday, four days after the birth of her fifth child.

Edward married Rebecca THURSTON 6 May 1711, Little Compton, RI. Rebecca was born 28 Nov 1689, Little Compton, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Edward & Rebecca were married by Richard Billings, Justice.