Delila Whitford

Notes:

The Remington/Battey/Whitford family Bible has her name written as Deliah or Deliak.

Delila — Ira Barstow. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

His birth record is on the same page as his parents' marriage record at West Greenwich Town Hall. Also, see his will dated 6 Aug 1846, proved 18 Oct 1846. He was buried in the Caleb Whitford Lot, Burnt Saw Mill Road, West Greenwich, RI. I have tried to get to this cemetery, but as yet have not been successful.

Caleb married Polly Matteson 21 Mar 1811, Coventry, Kent Co., RI. Polly (daughter of Stephen Matteson) was born Abt 1795; died 25 Feb 1854; was buried , Historical Cemetery 62, West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Several generations of Whitfords are buried, with their spouses, in Coventry Historical Cemetery #135 on Harkney Hill Road, directly across from the historic Maple Root Baptist Church. There are two cemeteries next to each other; the Whitford graves are in the one situated toward the west, which is the older one of the two, commonly known as Maple Root Cemetery. In one lot there are six stones standing in a row, representing three consecutive generations beginning with the ones for Carmi and his wife Barbary, then Jeremiah's and Sally's, then the two for Charles and Harty. I have pictures of the stones individually, as well as the whole group. There is a saying carved on Jeremiah's stone: "Dear husband, you have passed away, and left me here so lonely, But I hope to meet you in that heavenly land where we shall part no more." Some of the next generation are also buried nearby.

Pictures of these gravestones are posted on the family tree at our web site [www.thesorensens.net].

I believe Carmi's farm was up on the hill near the intersection of Rt. 3 and Interstate 95, where a motel is now. This is where my great-grandmother lived as a child.

Carmi's will was proved in West Greenwich on 28 Jan 1843. In it he mentions his father Nicholas; wife Barbara (Barbary); and sons Caleb B. and Jeremiah (our ancestor), the youngest; daughters Susannah Nichols and Phebe Potter; and granddaughter Lucitta Nichols.

An online genealogy shows this family group with two more children: John, b. c. 1800, and Lucietta, b. c. 1805. However, these names are not found on the page with the birth records of the other four children, and are not named as children in the will.

The 1850 census of Oneida County, New York shows a Lucetta Whitford, age 45, born in RI, along with Warren Tillinghast, 38. However, she was not of Carmi's family; she was Lucetta Tillinghast, daughter of Elder Pardon Tillinghast. Lucetta had married William M. Whitford on 5 Sept 1824, probably at East Greenwich. Warren was probably her younger brother.

Carmi married Barbary BAILEY 24 May 1787, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. Barbary (daughter of William BAILEY, Jr. and Phebe OLIN) was born 16 Sep 1765, East Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died 19 Dec 1846, East Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Maple Root Cemetery, Harkney Hill Rd., Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Barbary and her sister Comfort married two half brothers, Carmi and Reuben Whitford. Barbary's gravestone has been photographed along with her husband's. Some records show her name as Barbara; the gravestone says Barbary.

Notes:

I have a photocopy of their marriage entry from West Greenwich. It reads: "These May Certify all persons whom it may Concern that Carmy Whitford of Westgreenwich and Barbary Bailey of East Greenwich was Lawfully Married May the 24 AD 1787 By me James Wightman Elder"

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.

William married Phebe OLIN 19 Jun 1760, East Greenwich, RI. Phebe (daughter of John OLIN, II and Susannah PEIRCE) was born 9 Nov 1735; died Abt 1808. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

William & Phebe were married by Thomas Shippee, Justice.