Ambrose Nichols Whitford

Notes:

His grave is in Providence Historical Cemetery #1, North Burial Ground. His gravestone has been photographed. Also engraved on this stone are his wife and son, and Louisa P. Remington -- probably his cousin, daughter of his mother's brother John. I have made an assumption that Ambrose's middle initial "N" stands for Nichols, because his paternal grandmother was Sarah Nichols. His grandmother Sarah (Nichols) Whitford had a brother Ambrose Nichols who mentioned, by name, Ambrose N. Whitford in his will of 1874.

The 1860 Census shows Ambrose N. Whitford, age 39, living in Kent County with Matilda Whitford, age 41, and George N. Whitford, age 7. For some reason, Albert D. Remington is also living in the household (along with a couple of other individuals). He may be the same Albert D. Remington who married Carrie Knight c.1861 (although the ages are different). This Albert is the brother of Louisa P. Remington, whose name is on the gravestone referred to above, and would likewise be a first cousin to Ambrose.

Ambrose — Matilda Potter. Matilda was born 6 Jun 1819; died 14 Dec 1891; was buried , North Burial Ground, Providence, RI. [Group Sheet]

1. George N. Whitford was born 8 Sep 1852; died 28 Oct 1925; was buried , North Burial Ground, Providence, RI.

Notes:

His gravestone in Historical Cemetery #21 on Weaver Hill Rd. has been photographed. It reads: "In memory of Mr. Levi Whitford, son of Mr. Ezekiel and Sarah Whitford, who died Jan 22, 1843 aged 44 yrs 6 mos & 25 days." There is a poem at the bottom which has not yet been deciphered.

Levi married Sally Ann Remington 11 Mar 1819, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. Sally (daughter of Thomas Remington, Jr. and Patience Matteson) was born Abt 1798, RI; died 24 Jun 1850, RI; was buried , Levi Whitford Lot, Weaver Hill Rd., West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her grave is in WG #21. Her father is named as Thomas in the marriage entry.

Sally was born in either Coventry or West Greenwich.

Notes:

I am making an assumption that the "Levi, of Ezekiel" in the marriage entry belongs in this family group, because the dates fit. Also, the names of their children reflect the names of the previous generation.

Notes:

James N. Arnold's "Vital Record of RI" has Ezekiel's date of birth as 3 June 1776, but Alden G. Beaman's "Vital Record of RI, New Series" says 2 Jan 1776. His gravestone has been photographed, in Historical Cemetery #21 off Weaver Hill Rd., West Greenwich. It says he died "aged 74 yrs 2 mos & 13 days." This agrees with the date of January 2.

Ezekiel's will is summarized in the "Rhode Island Genealogical Register," Vol. 5, #1, p. 71.

Ezekiel & Sarah 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 grandfather Nicholas)

Ezekiel married Sarah Nichols 24 Nov 1793, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. Sarah (daughter of William Nichols and Sarah Hall) was born 10 Jan 1775, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died 23 Sep 1861, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Levi Whitford Lot, Weaver Hill Rd., West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1850 Federal Census, Sarah Whitford is age 75, living at West Greenwich, RI. In her household are: William N. Whitford, 54, her son; James A. Whitford, 14; Charles C. Whitford, 8; Sarah M. Gorton, 7, a granddaughter; Abby Matteson, 52; Sheffield R. Remington, 37; and Mary Green, 70. Are all these individuals related in some way? I would like to find out. Nearby is Cyrus W. Remington, age 10, living with the family of Burrill Matteson. Is he a son of Sheffield, who may be widowed?

Cyrus later married and had a son named Levi, so perhaps there is a family relationship with Levi Whitford.

I am going to make an assumption that Sheffield is a younger brother of Sarah's daughter-in-law, Sally Ann (Remington) Whitford. (Although a reasonable assumption, this needs more research to confirm.)

Notes:

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

I believe this Thomas Remington, Jr., is the one mentioned as a cousin in the will of Thomas Collins of Foster, dated 24 May 1805. The word cousin can mean relative, or he could mean first cousin, as we use the term today.

Information on some individuals in this family group came from "Representative Men & Old Families of Rhode Island," Vol. I (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1908), p. 591. The dates for Thomas came from the RI Cemetery Database, Coventry Historical Cemetery #148.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Thomas & Patience are in their 70s and living at Coventry, RI, with their daughters Eliza and Susan.

I am not sure that Sheffield belongs in this family -- see notes for him. However, evidence of location, dates, and names strongly supports this conclusion.

Thomas married Patience Matteson Abt 1797. Patience (daughter of Silas Matteson and Patience Hall) was born 20 Sep 1779, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died 1 Nov 1860, Coventry, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Remington Family Cemetery, David Dr., Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1860 Federal Census, Patience is age 80 living, with her daughter Eliza age 50, and with Robert & Mary Williams and their three children, at Kent County, RI.

Her grave is in Coventry Historical Cemetery #148.

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.

William married Sarah Hall 24 May 1762, West Greenwich, RI. Sarah (daughter of Christopher Hall and Rosannah Matteson Sweet) was born 31 Mar 1745; died Abt Feb 1794. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her will mentions by name her father, late husband, ten sons and three daughters.

Notes:

They were married by Philip Greene, Justice.

Notes:

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

Thomas may have been from Prudence Island. See notes below.

His will mentions his wife Lydia, sons Thomas and Richmond, and daughters Mary Cruff, Elizabeth LeValley, and Sarah Sheldon (see Rhode Island Genealogical Register" Vol. 9 # 3, p. 237).

Thomas Remmington of Prudence is listed at Coventry, RI, in the 1790 Federal Census (1 free white male age 16 and over; 2 free white males under age 16; 1 free white female; and 2 other free persons).

He probably is also listed as Thomas Remmington in the 1800 census.

His gravestone indicates that he was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. I have photographed his gravestone.

This is one of the mystery Remingtons, as I don't know who his parents were. One theory is that he may be a son of Prudence, b.c.1706, daughter of Thomas. In the 1790 Federal Census, there is listed "Thomas Remington, of Prudence" at Coventry. My question is, does this mean Prudence Island, or Prudence, his mother? If it is the name of his mother, possibly it means he was illegitimate, the son of Prudence Remington and the grandson of Thomas Remington of Warwick. However, there remain the other possibilities that his mother was a widow named Prudence Remington, or, that he was from Prudence Island, where there were Remington families in the 1700s (possibly including the family of our ancestor, Joseph). I am leaning toward this latter explanation, that he was from Prudence Island.

Could he have been the Thomas born 1732, s/o Jonathan & Lorana (Arnold) Remington?

Could he have been a son of William Remington & Mary Manton, who lived on Prudence Island in the 1700s?

Or, could he be the son of Matthew Remington & Rachel Estabrook, Thomas b 23 May 1736? I am tending toward this solution, especially since the Thomas born on that date had a sister Rachel who married William Allen in Portsmouth. Also, Matthew himself was possibly born in Portsmouth.

Thomas married Lydia Collins Aft 14 Feb 1757, RI. Lydia (daughter of Thankful Collins and Lydia Burgess) was born 19 Jan 1735/36, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 30 Nov 1819, RI; was buried , Remington Family Cemetery, David Dr., Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I have photographed Lydia's gravestone.

Notes:

Silas is mentioned as being under 21 in the will of his grandfather John Greene, dated 15 Aug 1754.His will mentions his wife and ten children by name (see "Rhode Island Genealogical Register" Vol. 4, #2, pp. 188 & 189) .

Silas married Patience Hall 18 Dec 1766, West Greenwich, RI. Patience (daughter of Christopher Hall and Rosannah Matteson Sweet) was born 17 Jun 1749; died 25 Sep 1822. [Group Sheet]