Caleb Bailey Whitford

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]

1. Darius Whitford was born 5 Oct 1811.
2. Delila Whitford was born 18 Jul 1813, West Greenwich, RI; died Abt 1892, Providence, RI.
3. Stephen M. Whitford was born 23 Feb 1820, RI; died Aft 1 Jun 1860.

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.

Notes:

Pasco lived in East and West Greenwich, and in Coventry, RI. The first three children were born in East Greenwich (Vital Records of Kent Co. p. 171). The rest of the children were born in West Greenwich (Vital Records of Kent Co. p. 102).

On 2 May 1727, by vote of the RI Colonial Assembly, Pasco Whitford of East Greenwich was admitted freeman of the colony (RI Colonial Records, vol. 4, p. 386).

In 1751 Pasco Whitford bought 80 acres of land from Gideon Brayton at Tarbox Corner in East Greenwich, RI. This land was originally granted to the Knight family in 1677, sold to Gideon Freeborn 1688, deeded to his daughter Mary and her husband Thomas Brayton and then passed on to their son Gideon Brayton in 1721. The house on this property has been dated at 1738 and is still standing, having been refurbished. The property passed from the Whitfords to the Tarbox family possibly through an inheritance to Pasco's granddaughter Easter (Esther?) who married Joseph Tarbox in 1788. Source: The East Greenwich Packet - Fall 1971 Vol 1 no 2.

There is a Pasco Whitford listed in the Rhode Island Colonial Census of 1 June 1774, where he is shown as head of a West Greenwich family consisting of 1 male and 1 female over 16, and 1 male under 16, and 1 black, total 4. This may be for this Pasco.

The 1777 RI Military Census shows Paskeo Whitford of West Greenwich as "60 yrs. and up."

The 1782 Census shows Pasqua Whitford's household of West Greenwich as having one male 50 and up, 2 males and 2 females 22-49, 2 boys and 2 girls 0-15. This may be for this Pasco.

He was a member of the Maple Root Church of Coventry, RI. This church was organized in 1762. His son David and David's wife, Lydia (Sweet), were also members (Arnold's Vital Records of RI, vol. 10, p. 275).

His grave site was quite challenging to find. It is located off Carr's Pond Rd. near Middle Rd., near the East Greenwich/West Greenwich border. One must trek a ways through the woods to get to it, and then it is hard to find because it is so well hidden by trees and briers. The marker is a simple rough-hewn granite stone, with a simple and rough inscription: P W 1700 - 1788. There are several other similar Whitford stones nearby, as well as quite a few Tarbox family stones. (Historical Cemetery WG 029)

Pasco married Hannah HILL Abt 1720. Hannah was born Abt 1700; died Abt 1735. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

It has been suggested that only the oldest child, Nicholas, was born to Hannah Hill, and that the next two were born to the second wife, Hannah Matteson. The age differences may indicate this. On the other hand, Reuben Whitford (son of Nicholas) mentions his Uncle Solomon Whitford in his will of 1830, which might indicate that Solomon was born of the first wife, as Nicholas was.

Notes:

From West Greenwich, RI wills recorded between July 1743 and May 1846, Book II, pp. 24-26:

Caleb Carr, dated 22 July 1762, witnessed by Ephraim Kittle, Sarah Greene, Stephen Richmond. Wife Sarah Carr; sons Robert Carr (of Sewago, Duchis County), Caleb Carr, Elezar Carr, Josua Carr, Richmond Carr, Edward Carr, Thurston Carr; daughters Patience Rogers, Mary Rogers, Rebakkah Harington, Susannah Whitford, Mereby Greene, Comfort Greene, Executrix wife Sarah Carr. Probated 1st Sat. June 1763. (Note: names spelled as given in transcription)

Caleb is also mentioned in the will of his uncle Job Carr.

(See Francis Richmond Sears' "The Carr Ancestry of Richmond Carr of Portsmouth, RI")

Caleb married Sarah RICHMOND Abt 1728, West Greenwich, RI. Sarah (daughter of Edward RICHMOND, III and Rebecca THURSTON) was born 20 Dec 1711, Little Compton, RI; died 25 Nov 1798, Rhode Island; was buried , Hancock, MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The names of Sarah's parents came from a Carr genealogy book (1947), and were emailed to me by "Sue" . Also, it says that Sarah was probably living with one of her sons at the time of her death. "At least five of the children of Caleb & Sarah migrated after the Revolution to eastern New York State. One of her sons is thought to have lived for a time across the NY State line in Hancock, MA."

Notes:

William Bailey was made freeman of East Greenwich on 2 May 1721.

William married Rebecka STRAIGHT Abt 1719. Rebecka (daughter of Henry STRAIGHT, Jr. and Hannah UNKNOWN) was born 27 Apr 1700. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her father's will gives her name as Rebeckah. The book "Records of the Bailey Family" gives her date of birth as 27 Jan 1700.

John married Susannah PEIRCE 8 Dec 1734, East Greenwich, RI. Susannah (daughter of Jeremiah PEIRCE and Abigail LONG) was born 8 Apr 1708; died Feb 1802. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Elsewhere her birthdate is given as 8 Dec 1708.