Captain Nicholas Whitford

Notes:

I am making an assumption that "Nicholas Whitford, of Levi" as shown in the marriage record belongs in this family group. The gravestones of Nicholas & Martha are with the other family members.

Nicholas married Martha Spencer 9 Mar 1799, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. Martha (daughter of Nicholas Spencer) was born Abt 1773; died 23 May 1828; was buried , Levi Whitford Lot, Weaver Hill Rd., West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

1. Mary Whitford was born 29 Jul 1799, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI.
2. Martha Whitford was born 24 Nov 1800, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI.

Notes:

The original birth entry reads: "Levi Whitford the First Son of Nicholas Whitford and Susanna His wife was Born October ye 21st Day 1753 the First Day of the week about 3 of the Clock in the morning"

Levi and Mary lived on Weaver Hill Road in West Greenwich, RI. The house and farm were in the Whitford family for nearly 100 years. The house is still standing and occupied. (See notes for his father Nicholas)

I have made an assumption that Levi and his wife both died in West Greenwich.

Levi married Mary Marcy Johnson 5 Nov 1772, Coventry, Kent Co., RI. Mary (daughter of Ezekiel JOHNSON and Elizabeth GREENE) was born Abt 1754, RI; died 26 Jun 1834, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Levi Whitford Lot, Weaver Hill Rd., West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I am assuming this marriage in Arnold's "Vital Record of Rhode Island" applies to this Levi, because he is identified as "Levi, of Nicholas." They were married by Samuel Wall, Justice. The Rhode Island Cemetery Database confirms these birth dates, and that they are both buried in West Greenwich Historical Cemetery #21.

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:

I have assumed that these dates from the RI Cemetery Database belong to this Ezekiel, because they are in the right time frame and the grave is in the right area.

Some genealogies show that Ezekiel married Elizabeth's sister, Abigail. It is a confusing puzzle that needs more research.

The will of Ezekiel Johnson, of Coventry, was dated 18 Apr 1789 and proved 7 Nov 1791. In it he mentions his wife Elizabeth, four sons, and four daughters, the last of which - at least - is under 18.

I have wondered if he had another son named Philip who died in 1785. There was a Philip Johnson who is noted in the Maple Root records as having died 13 July 1785. This might explain why Ezekiel Jr. had a son named Philip. Based on his age at death and place of burial (information from Linda Mathew), I am including him in this family group.

From Linda Mathew: "Ezekiel . . . when he made his [will] in 1789 left all of his real estate, undivided, to his sons Ezekiel, Edmund, and Daniel. Ezekiel, Sr., died in 1791 and the following year the brothers divided the land. Daniel received 50 acres in West Greenwich. Ezekiel and Edmund got the Coventry portions of their father's land, but Edmund sold his to Ezekiel a few years later when he moved to upstate New York."

Ezekiel married Elizabeth GREENE Abt 1754. Elizabeth (daughter of Uzal GREENE and Susannah HILL) was born 28 Jan 1735/36. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The name and birthdate of Elizabeth came from the database of Vicki Michael at Rootsweb's Worldconnect.

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:

I have estimated the birth years of some of the children, based on the order in which they are named in Elisha's will.

Some genealogies show Elisha as having an earlier wife named Mary Spencer. (needs more research)

Elisha's father Elkanah deeded to him on 4 February 1720 a piece of land located in Warwick that he had bought from Samuel & Susannah Gorton.

Elisha married Mary GREENE Abt 1726. Mary (daughter of John GREENE and Abigail WARDWELL) was born Abt 1706; died Between 4 May 1741 and Jul 1750. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

His will dated 11 Jan 1781 says he is 84, which would make him born in 1697. Perhaps he had lost track of his age. He is probably the "Usual" Greene who was a member of the Maple Root Baptist Church of Coventry, RI, in 1785.

Uzal married Susannah HILL Jan 1726/27, Warwick, RI. Susannah (daughter of Henry HILL and Elizabeth Unknown) was born Abt 1703. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Greene Usal, of John, of Warwick, and Susanna Hill, of Henry, of East Greenwich, Jan. --- 1727 (from Warwick city records)