Mercy Waterman Whitford

Notes:

Marcy (Mercy) W. Church, age 29, is listed in the 1860 census as living with Jeremiah 54, Sally W. 52, and Charles C. 25. Where was Nelson?

Mercy married Nelson K. Church 26 Sep 1852, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. Nelson (son of Kenyon Church) was born 16 Sep 1824; died 1 Feb 1901; was buried , Wood River Cemetery, Rt. 3, Richmond, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

See West Greenwich Marriage Records, Volume 3, p. 1; also Washington County cemetery gravestone inscriptions (mentioned in Alden G. Beaman's "Vital Records"). I have a photocopy of the original marriage entry.

Notes:

I have a photocopy of his birth entry at West Greenwich. Also, a photograph of his gravestone has been posted on the family tree at our web site [www.thesorensens.net].

In the 1850 Federal Census, Jeremiah is 44 and Sally W. is 41. Their children, Marcy W. & Charles C., are 19 & 15. The family is living in West Greenwich, RI.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Jeremiah, 54, & Sally W., 53, are still at West Greenwich. Son Charles C., 25, is with them, as well as married daughter Marcy W. Church, 29.

In the 1870 Federal Census, Jeremiah & Sally W., ages 64 & 61, are living at West Greenwich, RI. With them is married son Charles C., 34, his wife Harty 21, and their child Hattie L. 1.

In 1880 Jeremiah & Sally W. Whitford, ages 74 & 71, are still at West Greenwich. In the household with them are Charles C. & Harty P., ages 45 & 30, and their five daughters. Jeremiah is a retired farmer; his son Charles is a farmer.

I believe the Whitford 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. At one time there was a spring there, about where a gas station is now.

Jeremiah married Sally Williams TIBBETTS 24 Dec 1826, Warwick, Kent Co., RI. Sally (daughter of Charles TIBBETTS and Maplet REMINGTON) was born 30 Dec 1808, East Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died 15 Dec 1899, Coventry, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Maple Root Cemetery, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I have copies of census pages from 1860 and 1880 showing Sally at ages 52 and 71, also a certified copy of her death certificate from the town of Coventry, as well as a photocopy of the original death record in the Coventry Book of Deaths for 1899. A photograph of her gravestone has been posted on the family tree at our web site [www.thesorensens.net].

Notes:

The marriage of Jeremiah and Sally was recorded in two newspapers: The Providence Journal of 11 Jan 1827, and the Providence Phenix of 24 Dec 1826. (See newspaper announcements transcribed in Arnold's Vital Record of RI)

I have a photocopy of the original marriage entry recorded at West Greenwich Town Hall (p. 46), which reads: "Warwick December 24th AD 1826 -- I hereby Certify that Mr. Jeremiah Whitford and Miss Sally W. Tibbits were Lawfully Joined Together in Marriage by me the Subscriber Jonathan Wilson"

The family Bible says they were married at West Greenwich. It is unclear exactly where they were married, although the record at West Greenwich has a reference to Warwick.

Under that entry the births of their two children are recorded: Mercy Waterman Whitford and Charles Carmi Whitford. Also, according to "Alden G. Beaman's Vital Record of RI, New Series," an infant son was born in 1830 and died 1 April 1830, buried in West Greenwich.

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:

The Providence Phenix recorded the death of Charles Tibbitts on Oct. 2, 1812, in his 47th year. It stated that he left a wife and two children (see James Arnold's Vital Record of RI, 1636 - 1850, Deaths From Newspapers). His gravestone has ben photographed, but it is very difficult to read.

Charles married Maplet REMINGTON 1 Jun 1806, Warwick, Kent Co., RI. Maplet (daughter of Jonathan REMINGTON and Phebe UNKNOWN) was born 2 Mar 1782, RI or MA; died 20 Dec 1861, West Greenwich, RI; was buried , Pine Grove Cemetery, Washington St., Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The RI Cemetery Database gives the name of Charles's wife as Marcy Remington. Probably this was a transcription error. Maplet Battey's grave is in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Coventry, but the gravestone is missing. The West Greenwich death record says she died 20 Dec 1861 at 79 yrs., 9 mos., and 18 days. It identifies her birthplace as Warwick, but does not name her parents. However, the 1850 WG census gives her birthplace as Massachusetts.

In the 1860 Census at West Greenwich, Maplet was age 78, living with Charles and Ann Battey, her son and daughter-in-law.

Notes:

Charles & Maplet were married by Elder Samuel Littlefield, who pastored the First Baptist Church of Warwick for 36 years. Elder Littlefield was born in 1746, and died 22 Oct 1830, at the age of 84.

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.

Notes:

Waterman Tibbitts and his wife Mercy Waterman were first cousins, both descendents of Roger Williams through his daughter Mercy, who married Resolved Waterman, whose son John Waterman married Anne Olney. Waterman's mother -- Phebe, and Mercy's father -- John, were siblings, children of John and Anne.

Waterman & Mercy joined the Six-Principle Baptist Church of East Greenwich together on 16 October 1783. According to author Cherry Fletcher Bamberg, this was 20 years after he contributed money to repair the meetinghouse, and 18 years after being married by Elder Gorton. At 12 o'clock on Christmas Day 1783, there was a church meeting held at "Brother Waterman Tibbitts." Other church meetings were noted as taking place there, also. Later, on 31 April 1787, they were given letters of recommendation to Elder Thomas Manchester's church in Coventry on 31 April 1787. Waterman became clerk of this assembly, the Maple Root Baptist Church, in 1790.

According to Bamberg's notes in the book "Elder John Gorton and the Six-Principle Baptist Church of East Greenwich, Rhode Island," he was born 13 April 1741 in Warwick, RI, by his own sworn testimony. He was a lifelong resident of Warwick. His Revolutionary War service consisted of short enlistments in various alarm companies spanning two years. Town records at Warwick in 1779 listed for Waterman Tibbetts: 93 acres of land used for hay, corn, apples, wood, pasteurage, a house, barn, cider house, corn crib, and a variety of farm animals. The 1798 Direct Tax recorded a two-story home, 40' x 24', on two acres about two miles from Apponaug. The family burial plot was originally located up on the hill where Tollgate High School is now, so I imagine his farm was in that area, probably bordering Bald Hill Road.

Waterman married Mercy WATERMAN 13 Dec 1764, Warwick, RI. Mercy (daughter of John WATERMAN and Mercy STAFFORD) was born 31 Dec 1742, Warwick, RI; died 10 May 1824; was buried , Brayton Cemetery, Apponaug, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Waterman & Mercy were married by Elder John Gorton of the Six Principle Baptist Church, where they also were members.

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, Remington researcher, and to other sources as noted herein.)

Jonathan served during the American Revolution from 1777 to 1779 as a Sergeant in Captain Thomas Carlisle's and Captain Garzia's companies, and in Colonel Robert Elliott's artillery regiment. The Revolutionary War Pension file for Jonathan Remington can be viewed at the National Archives and Records Administration (microfilm #W7559). His widow, Sarah (Rhodes) (Potter) (Remington) Greene, was age 86 in 1850 when application for the pension was made. Because Jonathan had died many years previously, in 1808, she told what she knew about Jonathan's Revolutionary War service. A statement was also made by Sarah's brother, William Nehemiah Rhodes, in which he said that Jonathan had served in the artillery with his brother John Remington.

These statements were attested to by Seth Burke, who was "well acquainted with John and Jonathan formerly of Warwick. They were brothers, and neighbors to me." Reportedly, John was a Lieutenant and Jonathan a Sergeant. Jonathan's military service was also attested to by Mary Aborn of Pawtuxet, age 82 at the time of the pension hearing in 1850. Born around 1767/68, she would have been approximately age 9 in 1776. She stated that John and Jonathan (probably stationed at Pawtuxet, Warwick, RI) "were in the habit of visiting at the house of my grandmother where I used to often see them, and they used to talk to me. I was a child of 9 or 10. My grandmother and husband was their uncle." (She was probably Mary/Marcy/Mercy Rhodes, d/o Malachi Rhodes & Waite Fenner. This makes sense, because her grandmother would have been Mercy Fenner, who married Stephen Remington as her second husband.)

Note:
Remington, Jonathan, private, Col. Elliott's regiment, 1776; pay due L 39 8 11 (Arnold's "Vital Record of RI" Vol. 12, Revolutionary Rolls & Newspapers, p. 240; also "Colwell's Spirit of '76")

Sometime before 1780 Jonathan relocated to Berkshire County, MA. Town histories give evidence that he also served in the military there.

See "History of the Town of Cheshire, Berkshire County, Mass.," by Raynor & Petitclerc, Clark W. Bryan & Co, 1885:
An abstract of the pay due to the company under Captain Daniel Brown, in Colonel Benj. Simond's regiment on the alarm at Berkshire on the 13th of October 1780 . . . Hezekiah Pierce, Levi Green, Daniel Wood, George Shearman, John Tibbits, Jonathan Remington . . . (etc.)

See also "Knurow Collection," Vol. 38, p. 120, 128, 129, 130, 132, 133, 134:
Jonathan Remington - 6th Regiment in Division & 3rd in Brigade
Jonathan Remington - 2nd Regiment in Division & 2nd in Brigade

Jonathan Remington is in the 1790 census at Adams, MA: 2 free white males 16+, 1 free white male <16, and 7 free white females. I suspect his brother John and family may have been living with them, and they aren't listed separately in this census.
Since the 1790 Census at Hancock, MA, lists another Jonathan Remington (possibly s/o Jonathan & Lorana), it may be that some of the above military records for Berkshire County, MA, could refer to him. However, the names listed for Col. Simond's regiment are names known to be of the community established by Rhode Islanders at Cheshire. It is also known that Jonathan and his brother John came to the Adams/Cheshire area and established families. John stayed in this area, but Jonathan relocated to Lansingburgh/Troy, NY around 1796, after his first wife died.

He was known in Adams and Cheshire as Colonel Jonathan Remington, and is referred to as such in the town records. He is also named as Jonathan Remington, Esq. Jonathan was owner of a tavern and store located on the southwest corner of the crossroads at the summit of the hill in Cheshire; this also may have included a hotel. At various times he served as the Town Moderator (chosen 1 Apr 1793), Justice of the Peace, Representative to the General Court at Boston, and sealer of brick molds. He is listed as a charter member of the Franklin Lodge of Masons. The names of "Jonathan and Phebe Rementon" appear in the early membership records of the First Baptist Church in Cheshire.

On 7 Aug 1792, Jonathan Remington Esq. was appointed one of a committee of nine to meet at Col. Remington's on the first Monday of September. On 5 Nov 1792, Col. Remington was nominated to issue a warrant to call the town together.

In 1793, subscribers to incorporating Cheshire as a town included Jonathan Remington (18s pd) and John Remington (4s pd).

Jonathan is mentioned in the book "The Life and Times of Samuel Gorton," by Adelos Gorton, p. 191. It states his birth date and that he married (unknown wife); settled in Berkshire Cty., MA; served in the Rev. War; and frequently represented the district of Cheshire in the Legislature previous to 1793.

While in Lansingburgh, Col. Jonathan Remington was a subscriber to "The Gleaner" by Judith Sargent Murray.

Note from Lois Remington Smith dated 9/2004: "Land Records of Adams, MA" Bks #1 thru #10, deeds signed in:
Jonathan and Phoebe Remington 1788
Thomas and Sarah Remington 1789
Jonathan and Phoebe Remington 1793
Jonathan and Mercy Remington 1797
"I found these somewhere in the past years and made a brief note of them. It may have been in 'The Berkshire Quarterly.' Thought you might be interested if you don't already have them."

For a history of Lansingburgh, NY, see the following: http://history.rays-place.com/ny/ren-lansingburgh.htm

An "inventory of visible effects late the property of Col. Jonathan Remington deceased appraised by us the subscribers appointed by the Honourable Town Council of the Town of Providence -- July 14th 1808" -- total $357.15; Administrator of the estate was William Blodget Jr. (docmuents are viewable at ancestry.com).

Jonathan married Phebe UNKNOWN Abt 1780. Phebe was born Abt 1758; died 8 Jun 1795, Cheshire, MA; was buried , Stafford's Hill, Cheshire, MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The names of "Jonathan and Phebe Rementon" appear in the early membership records of the First Baptist Church in Cheshire.

Gravestone inscription from the old burying ground, Cheshire, MA:
Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Phebe Remington, wife of Col. Jonathan Remington, who departed this life June 8th, 1795, in the 37th year of her age. (source: Berkshire Book, by its Historical and Scientific Society, Vol. 1, Part 2, p. 88 at The Athenaeum, Pittsfield, MA)

I was unsuccessful in my one attempt to locate the little cemetery where Phebe is buried. However, according to Eileen Nuttall, spokesperson for the Cheshire Historical Commission, and herself a descendant of one of the early settlers, a survey of the cemetery in 1913 recorded the gravestone as still standing and still legible: "Mrs. Phebe Remington, wife of Col. Jonathan, d. 8 June 1795, age 36."

The early vital records were destroyed in a fire, so if there were marriage and death records for my ancestors there, they no longer exist. All I have is the record in the old family Bible, which lists the children of Jonathan and Phebe, but no maiden name for Phebe.

I have wondered if she might be Phebe Tibbetts -- just a guess. But Phebe was a popular and fairly common name at that time, so she could have been from any number of families in RI or western MA.

Notes:

It is possible that Jonathan & Phebe were married in RI, or in Cheshire or Adams, MA. The vital records of Cheshire were destroyed in a fire, and there are no early records of Adams, except the Cooke Collection at the Pittsfield Athenaeum.