Isaac Whitehead (abt. 1624 - abt. 1691)

Born about 1624 in England

Husband of Susanna (Unknown) Whitehead — married 1650 in New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut

Husband of Mary (Unknown) Whitehead — married 1689 in Elizabeth, Essex County, New Jersey

Descendants

Died about 31 Jan 1691 at about age 67 in Elizabeth, Essex, New Jersey

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Biography

Isaac Whitehead, was born about 1624 in England. There is no evidence linking him as the son of Elizabeth (Alcock) Whitehead and her husband.

When Isaac arrived in America is not known. He first appears on the record in the New Haven Colony in 1643/44 when he is cited (twice) for being late for militia drill. (A "brother Whitehead" who was admitted as a freeman of the colony in 1642 was Samuel, no apparent relation.)^[1][2] Isaac appears to have held land as a tenant until receiving a grant of property from the town in 1650.^[3] He was chosen as a fence “viewer” (inspector) in 1661,^[3] but otherwise does not appear to have held public office.

He sold his land holdings in New Haven in early 1666. A court record of 6 March 1665/6 states that “Isaac Whitehead doth Alienate to Nathaniell Merriman all his part of Land given by the towne”. Subsequently, he sold additional property “bought of Mr. John Davenport” with a bill of sale dated 16 April 1666 (recorded in court on 1 Dec. 1668).^[4]

Isaac was married to Susanna (maiden name unknown) in New Haven before 1650, as their first child was born that year.^[5][6]

Isaac and his family relocated to the newly-established Elizabethtown, New Jersey where he signed the first oath of allegiance in February 1665/6. He is listed among the original Elizabethtown Associates receiving initial allotments of property.^[7] (There is an apparent inconsistency with his land transactions in New Haven a month and two months later. Perhaps he returned to finalize his affairs.)

Isaac was one of the principal leaders of the new colony. He was the first town clerk of Elizabethtown, serving until his death. He was for several years Clerk of the colonial House of Deputies. On March 22, 1679, he was appointed Captain in the militia. In 1683, he was a Judge of Small Causes and Essex County Coroner.^[7]

Isaac was living in Elizabeth, Essex, New Jersey on 8 Feb 1683 when he took an inventory for the estate of Leonard Headley.^[8]

After Susanna's death, Isaac was remarried to Mary Higgins sometime after 1684. It was Mary's third marriage and Isaac's second.^[9] There were no children born to this marriage. Isaac died in early 1691 in Elizabeth, Essex, New Jersey.^[10]

Will notice

1690-1 Jan. 31 - Whitehead, Isaac, of Elizabeth Town; will of. N. J, Archives, XXI, p. 184. Named wife Mary. Having disposed of his lands by deeds of gift, he appointed his sons Isaac and Joseph with son-in-law Nathaniel Bunnell executors. Wits: John Harriman, John Woodruffe. Proved 26 Feb 1691. Then 27 Feb 1691 Letters testimonial issued to the executors. ^[11][10]

Notes

All of the following information has incomplete sources. Please add specific complete citations if the sources are available. Otherwise, this information, as well as the Edwin Hatfield reference above, should be verified before being treated as valid.

From: The Schuylerite (periodical): Isaac was a minister and one of the founders of New Haven, Connecticut. 1647 (7 Mar) Took oath of fidelity. He was first known clerk of New Haven, Connecticut. 1642- Listed as a resident of New Haven- History of the Colony of New Haven, Atwater, pg. 704. 1648- Listed as a resident of New Haven- Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New Haven, Savage, pg. 516. Isaac was listed in Families of Ancient New Haven, Jacobus, p. 1971. Isaac's first seven children were born in New Haven, Connecticut: Susanne, Isaac, Mary, Sarah, Samuel, Joseph, Grace.

In New Jersey: Isaac and his wife moved in 1666 to Elizabeth, Essex, New Jersey where 2 children were born: Nathaniel and Abigail. Isaac was listed as an "Elizabeth Town Associate"-- Notes, Historical and Biographical Concerning Elizabeth Town, Murray, p. 8. He was first town clerk there, serving until his death. In 1679 Isaac was appointed captain of the militia. In 1683, Judge of small causes. In 1680, he was appointed clerk of Elizabeth Town, New Jersey. -- Narratives of Newark in New Jersey, Pierson, p. 131. In 1686 Coroner. Isaac was Secretary of the first colonial legislature. After his first wife died, Isaac married Mary, widow of John Yates and Richard Higgins. (Samuel Moore Sr. of Woodbridge, New Jersey obtained a license to marry Mary, but for some reason, the marriage never took place, and she later married Isaac Whitehead)-- from the Ancestry of Pain Higgins of Wellfleet, Massachusetts.

From New Jersey Colonial Documents, East Jersey Deeds, Etc. Library D, p. 184: 1689 (3 Dec) Deed. Isaac Whitehead Sr. to his son Joseph, for 7 acres between the road Mr. Woodruff and Ben. Ogden. One half of the meadow on the Bay, adjoining Joseph Meeker and Mr. Lyons; one half of the land on the road to Newark, adjoining Mr. Wilson. 1690/91 (31 Jan) Will of Isaac Whitehead of Elizabeth Town. Wife Mary. Having disposed of his lands by gift he appoints sons Isaac and Joseph with Nathaniel Bunnell executors. Witnesses John Harriman, John Woodruffe. Proved 26 Feb. following.

Alice Hall DeWitt in "The Whitehead Story" indicates that Isaac was a Judge of Small Causes in 1683 and Coroner in 1868. He was Secretary of the first Colonial Legislature, and continued in that office for many years. Some idea of his influence and of the confidence in which he was held may be gained from the fact that the town meeting of Newark once resolved that a controversy which had sprung up between the town and some owners of land within its borders should be submitted to his arbitrament and that his decision should be final.

"This Our Heritage" by Gladys A. Ingram"-- Ms. Ingram feels that there is no doubt that Isaac was the son of Samuel, not John as most sources report. "In Isabel Calder's fine study of the New Haven colony, already mentioned, Samuel Whitehead is listed as one of that group of Puritans who sailed from London in 1637 on the good ship Hector, arriving in Boston on 26 June to join the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She further suggests that he was probably from one of the parishes in London, as were many of the other passengers.

From: History of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, NJ, Part II, The Combined Registers, From 1742 to 1885: Isaac, who was at new Haven as early as 1643, eventually moved to Elizabeth, and was first town clerk there, serving until his death 31 Jan 1690/91.

Source states Isaac Whitehead was father of Sarah Whitehead-1577 who married Joseph Ogden 9 Nov 1642-15 Jan 1690

Sources

1. ↑ Charles J. Hoadly, ed., Records of the Colony and Plantation of New-Haven, from 1638 to 1649 (Hartford, CT: Case, Tiffany and Co., 1857), pp. 76, 122, 125. Archive.org.
2. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, et al., The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635; 7 vols. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999-), v. 7, pp. 351, 355; AmericanAncestors.org.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Franklin B. Dexter, ed., Ancient Town Records, Volume I, New Haven Town Records, 1649-1662 (New Haven, CT: New Haven Colony Historical Society, 1917), pp. 23, 476. Archive.org.
4. ↑ Franklin B. Dexter, Ancient Town Records, Volume II, New Haven Town Records, 1662-1684 (New Haven, CT: New Haven Colony Historical Society, 1919), pp. 175, 243. Archive.org.
5. ↑ Torrey, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004), p. 808. Ancestry Record 3824 #73148.
6. ↑ Clarence A. Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011), v. 3, p. 1654 AmericanAncestors.org.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Edwin F. Hatfield, History of Elizabeth, New Jersey, including the Early History of Union County (New York: Carlton & Lanahan, 1869; Carlisle, MA: Applewood Books, n.d.), pp. 56-7, 99, 186, 240. Archive.org.
8. ↑ Fretz, A. J.. A genealogical record of the descendants of Leonard Headley of Elizabethtown, N.J. : together with historical and biographical sketches and illustrated with portraits and other illustrations. Milton N.J.: Joseph W. Headley, 1905. p. 13. Archive.org.
9. ↑ Katherine E.C. Higgins, Richard Higgins: A Resident and Pioneer Settler at Plymouth and Eastham, Massachusetts, and at Picscataway, New Jersey, and His Descendants (Worster, MA, 1918), p. 41. Archive.org.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} A. Van Doren Honeyman, ed., Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey; 1st ser., v. 30; Calendar of New Jersey Wills..., v. 2, 1730-1750 (Somerville, NJ: Unionist-Gazette Assn., 1918), p. 567. Archive.org.
11. ↑ William Nelson, ed., Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. 21, Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703 (Paterson, NJ: New Jersey Historical Society, 1890), p. 184. Archive.org.

• Ogden Family Genealogy https://archive.org/stream/ogdenfamilyiname00whee#page/46/mode/2up

• Richard Higgins, a Resident and Pioneer Settler at Plymouth and Eastham, Massachusetts, and at Piscataway New Jersey and His Descendants, by Mrs. Katharine Chapin Higgins. Worcester, Massachusetts, 1918.[[1]]

• Fretz, A. J.. A genealogical record of the descendants of Leonard Headley of Elizabethtown, N.J. : together with historical and biographical sketches and illustrated with portraits and other illustrations. Milton N.J.: Joseph W. Headley, 1905. p. 13.

• Torrey, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004.

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Robin Lee Lisa Littell Liisa Small Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by others.