Valentine Whitman (1747 - 1820)

Born 12 Jul 1747 in North Kingstown, Kings, Colony of Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Barbara (Olin) Whitman — married 1769 in North Kingstown, Kings, Rhode Island

Descendants

Died 12 Oct 1820 at age 73 in Lenox, Madison, New York, United States

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Biography

Privateer Valentine Whitman served with Rhode Island during the American Revolution.

Valentine Whitman is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A126094.

Captain Valentine Wightman, born 1747 in North Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island; died 12 October 1820 in Lenox, Madison County, New York, aged seventy-three (gravestone). He married in North Kingstown about 1769, Barbara Olin (No. Kings. V. S., i, 100), born 4 September 1748 in North Kingstown; died 20 January 1830 in Lenox, daughter of John (John) and Susannah (Pierce) Olin.

Captain Valentine Wightman was a master mariner, engaged in coast-wise trade out from Wickford, North Kingstown. The records show orders drawn on the Town Council for services rendered and for cargoes delivered.

During the War for Independence he commanded a privateer, "Lady Washington" commissioned 24 August 1776. In this commission his name is spelled Valentine Whightman, Jr. (Rev. files, R. I. Serv., State House, Providence).

Following the War, the family removed from Rhode Island to South Shaftsbury, Vermont, probably about 1783. The Rhode Island census of 1782 shows him still a resident of North Kingstown, and a child was born there that year; but the younger children were probably all born in Vermont. It is family tradition that Barbara was determined that their son William should not follow the sea, the boy having already made a trip to Boston as cabin boy, and as her family the Olins had gone to South Shaftsbury, Vermont, they removed thither. They remained in South Shaftsbury until after 1790 (census), but were residents of Norway, Herkimer County, New York in 1800 (census). They lived in their later years in Madison County, New York, all of their children having located there on in Oneida County. The graves of both are in a rural neighborhood cemetery about two and a half miles south of the village of Clockville in Madison County, called the Whitman Cemetery. Their descendants have generally called the family name Whitman.

Children, the first eight recorded in North Kingstown:

1. William Whitman, born 27 April 1770.
2. John Whitman, born 17 March 1772; died 21 September 1777.
3. Gideon Whitman, born 27 February 1774; died 3 September 1777.
4. Phebe Whitman, born 24 October 1775; died 19 January 17(78).
5. Giles Whitman, born 26 November 1776; died 8 February 17(78).
6. Gideon Whitman, born 22 February 177(8).
7. John Whitman, born 14 April 178(0).
8. Phebe Whitman, born 27 June 178(2); married (1) Amos Stafford, widower, of Manlius, Onondaga County, New York; married (2) after 1825, Aaron Brownell, born 27 March 1779 in Little Compton, Rhode Island; died 12 October 1862 in Rochester, New York, son of Charles and Content (Shaw) Brownell. She is said to have died at the home of her step-daughter Polly (Stafford) Whitman, wife of her own nephew Ira Whitman, at Conesus, Livingston County, New York.
9. Benjamin Whitman, born about 1784. He lived in New York state, probably in Oneida County. He was a shoemaker. No further data.
10. Susan Whitman, born --- 1786; married William Hasted of Weedsport, New York.
11. Giles Whitman, born 19 April 1788.
12. Peleg Olin Whitman, born 4 February 1791.
13. Henry Harrison Whitman, born about 1794; died 29 October 1825 at Weedsport, New York, from an injury received from a bursting cannon during the ceremonial opening of the Erie Canal.

Sources

• North America, Family Histories: Whitman, Mary Ross. George Wightman of Quidnessett, R.I. (1632-1721/2) and descendants : Waitman, Weightman, Whiteman, Whitman, Whytman, Wightman, Wyghtman. Chicago, Ill. 1939. Pages 80-81.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #33124443