Joseph Whitney

Notes:

4 II. Joseph Whitney, b. in Norwalk, Conn., 1 March 1678 [1678-9]; a mill-wright; married in Norwalk, 6 July 1704, Hannah Hoyt, "the daughter of Mr. Zerubbabel Hoyt," of Norwalk.1 She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Norwalk, in 1725. After the death of his brother, John Whitney, he came in possession of the grist-mill, by deed from his father, stipulating to pay all of his debts, and give him one half of all tolls which the mill should earn during his father's lifetime. His will was dated 21 March 1740-41; and he probably died in Norwalk, in 1741. His great-grandson, James Whitney, when eighty years old, wrote an interesting letter, in which he speaks of him as follows: "He was a very excentric man, and I heard many ancedotes of him. One was as follows; he was called upon to name a stree running from the foot of Pudding Lane to the bridge at the head of the harbor, by the mill; and this was his answer, --

From Hyatt's hill to Thacher's mill, Was once a lonesome valley; Since it's become a place of fame, We'll call it Petticoat Alley, and it went by that name when I was a boy, I believe over one hundred years later."

http://www.whitneygen.org/archives/extracts/phoenix/p0011-0015.html

Notes:

'John WHITNEY was probably born before his father went to Southold, as the fact that he was of full age before 20 Jan 1665/66, is indicated by the following vote: 'At the towne meeting held the 20th of Jan. 1665, grante unto John WHITNE the sonne of Henry WHITNEY oinse unto his father's home lott extending from the Brow of the hill lying by the hiweigh leading to the Rodds cartpath by the sayd Falls.' He settled, with his father, in Norwalk, followed his business, of millwright, and miller; succeeded him in the possession of the mill and homestead; and married 17 Mar 1674/75, Elizabeth SMITH, dau. of Richard Smith. [Phoenix p11]

'Whitney, John, Norwalk, only son of Henry, married 17 Mar 1675, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard SMITH, probably of L.I . Had John, born 12 Mar 1677; Joseph, 1 Mar 1679, Henry, 21 February 1681; and Richard, 18 Apr 1687; but no more known of him except that he was a miller, had good property and his children perpetuated the name in that region.' [Savage p530]

Savage was INCORRECT in listing a child of John and Elizabeth (SMITH) WHITNEY. John and Elizabeth did NOT have a child named Samuel. This error was repeated in various publications, including several Connecticut town histories and the books by S. Whitney Phoenix. 'Saml. WHITNEY of Stratford' (who married Anne LABOREE) was the son of Nathaniel WHITNEY and Sarah HAGAR - and thus a descendant of John and Elinor WHITNEY of Watertown. Proof lies in the probate records of Samuel's father, Nathaniel WHITNEY, Middlesex County, MA, File No. 24731.

http://www.whitneygen.org/families/henryw/ctwhi002.html#id2

See also
The WHITNEY FAMILY OF CONNECTICUT AND ITS AFFILIATIONS
By Stephen Whitney Phoenix
1878
A Free Google eBook

John married Elizabeth Smith on 17 Mar 1674 in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Elizabeth was born about 1655 in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Said to have been a daughter of Richard Smith and Bathsheba Rogers. Others instead show her parents as Richard Smith and Sarah Folger.