Job Whitman Harrington

Notes:

The RI Death Index identifies his parents as Job & Meribah.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Whitman & Dameris are living at West Greenwich, RI. With them are Mary A. & Jobe W. Next door are Bradford J. Harrington & Rosanna.

In 1860 Whitman & Demie are still at West Greenwich. In the household are Job W., 17 (son), as well as three grandchildren: William H. 14, Benjamin A. 7, & Charles W. 4. Also there is a member of the Sweet family.

In the 1870 Federal Census, Whitman & Dimaris are ages 55 & 56, still at West Greenwich. He is a farmer and she is keeping house. It looks as if they may be keeping the town Poor House.

In 1880, Whitman & Damares are ages 75 & 76, still at West Greenwich. With them are son Job, in addition to three grandsons and two granddaughters, plus one servant.

Whitman married Dameras "Demie" Straight Abt 1821. Dameras (daughter of David Straight, Jr. and Phebe Franklin) was born 13 Jan 1804, RI; died 29 Apr 1881; was buried , Woodland Cemetery, Washington & Knotty Oak Sts., Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her name has been spelled several different ways. The gravestone has it as "Dameras." The censuses, from 1850 to 1880, spell it as follows: Dameris, Demie/Dimie, Dimaris, & Damares.

Probably her name was really Damaris, an Bible name often used in early Rhode Island, and her nickname was Demmie or Dimmie.

Her grandmother Mary Aylesworth had a sister named Damaris, so this was probably a name passed down in this family line.

Job married Meribah Whitford 14 Oct 1781, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. Meribah (daughter of Nicholas WHITFORD and Susannah CARR) was born Abt 1763, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died 5 Sep 1849; was buried , Job Harrington Lot, Division St., West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Rebecca Carr Harrington was Meribah's aunt, so it is a reasonable assumption that Meribah married her first cousin.

Notes:

One of the marriage records in Arnold's "Vital Record of RI" gives her name as Merebah; the other says Meribah.

Notes:

The Henry Straight Genealogy lists 10 children for this couple, including a son named Remington Straight (also in Beaman's RIVR, NS). I wonder what the Remington connection is in this family, other than a daughter having married a Remington.

In the 1850 Federal Census, David Strait is age 67 and living at West Greenwich, RI. With him is Freelove, age 59. Is she a second wife, or a companion? WG marriages do have a marriage of David Straight & Freelove Potter in 1847, so I am making an assumption that this pertains to this particular David Straight.

In the 1860 Federal Census, he is still at West Greenwich. Phebe Fiske is with him, a housekeeper. She is most likely his sister, Phebe (Straight) Fiske, 1781c - 27 JAN 1871.

David married Phebe Franklin 13 Oct 1800, West Greenwich, RI. Phebe (daughter of John Franklin) was born Abt 1781; died 14 Mar 1838; was buried , Strait-Wood Lot, Pond View Court, West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

According to the marriage record, Phebe was d/o of John, of Scituate.

STRAIT, PHEBE (FRANKLIN) 1781c - 14 MAR 1838 WG043 (from RI Cemetery Database)

Notes:

Straight David, Jr., of West Greenwich, and Phebe Franklin, of John, of Scituate; m. by Elder Charles Stone, Oct. 13, 1800.

Notes:

He is mentioned as Job Herrington, Jr., in the Exeter town records dated 10 April 1750, in an item regarding jury selection.

Job married Rebecca Carr 18 Mar 1748/49, West Greenwich, RI. Rebecca (daughter of Caleb CARR and Sarah RICHMOND) was born 29 May 1732, Jamestown, RI; died 15 Apr 1828, West Greenwich, RI; was buried , Harrington Lot, Division St. & Hopkins Hill Rd., West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

They were married by Samuel Hopkins, Justice. The groom was identified as Job, Jr. of Exeter.

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.

David married Mary Aylesworth 12 Feb 1766, West Greenwich, RI. Mary (daughter of David Aylesworth) was born Abt 1744; died 10 Mar 1819; was buried , Strait-Wood Lot, Pond View Court, West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

STRAIT, MARY ([AYLESWORTH]) 1744c - 10 MAR 1819 WG043 (from RI Cemetery Database)

Notes:

I have made an assumption that this birthdate for John at Scituate belongs to the father of Phebe, who was "of Scituate" when she was married.