Susan F. Whitford

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:

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:

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.

Joseph married Mary Spink 7 Oct 1731, East Greenwich, RI. Mary (daughter of Ishmael Spink and Deliverance Hall) was born 1 Apr 1710, East Greenwich, RI; died Bef Jan 1783. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

He is mentioned in the will of his daughter Sarah Nichols, dated 27 Nov 1793, West Greenwich.

Christopher married Rosannah Matteson Sweet 18 Feb 1743/44. Rosannah was born Abt 1725. [Group Sheet]