Nathaniel Whittier (1658 - 1722)

Born 11 Aug 1658 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Stevens) Whittier — married 26 Aug 1685 (to 1705) in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Mary (Brackett) Whittier — married Jun 1710 in Salisbury, Essex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 18 Jul 1722 at age 63 in Salisbury, Essex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Nathaniel Whittier was involved in the Salem Witch Trials

Nathaniel Whittier, son of Thomas Whittier and Ruth (Green) Whittier, was born in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony on August 11, 1658.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

In 1677, at the age of 19, Nathaniel took the oath of allegiance in Haverhill.^[3][4]

Nathaniel married, first, Mary (Stevens) Osgood, the widow of John Osgood, in Salisbury, Essex County on August 26, 1685.^[6][3][4]

Nathaniel and Mary had the following children, both born in Salisbury:

1. Reuben, b. March 17, 1685/6,^[7][3][4][5] m. int. November 13, 1708 Deborah Pillsbury^[3][4][5]
2. Ruth, b. October 14, 1688,^[7][3][4][5] m. April 4 or 9, 1723 Benjamin Green^[3][4][5]

Nathaniel was admitted as a freeman in 1680,^[3][4] and served as a corporal in the Salisbury militia.^[4] He purchased land in Salisbury in 1693 for mill purposes, but for some reason unknown at the present time, sold them the next year.^[8] He was a carpenter by trade and probably followed that vocation.^[8]

Nathaniel's wife Mary was summoned as a witness in the Salem witchcraft trial of Susannah Martin, who was executed on July 19, 1692.^{[9][3][4][10]} It is unknown, however, whether Mary actually testified in the trial or, if so, what her testimony was.^[9][10] On July 22, 1692, both Mary and Nathaniel signed a petition testifying in support of the good character of another accused witch, Mary Bradbury, who was convicted in 1692 but not executed.^[11][3]

Nathaniel's first wife Mary died in 1705.^[12][3]

Nathaniel married, second, Mary (Brackett) Ring, widow of Joseph Ring, in Salisbury in June 1710.^{[13][3][4][5]}

Nathaniel Whittier died in Salisbury on July 18, 1722, at the age of 63.^{[14][3][4][5]}

^{[1] [2] [6] [3] [4] [7] [5] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Haverhill Town Records, image 36 of 998
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Vital Records of the Town of Haverhill, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, Volume I - Births, Topsfield Historical Society, 1910, p 318
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13} William F. Whitcher, "Descendants of Chase Whitcher of Warren, N.H.," News Book and Job Print, 1907, pp 8-9
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12} David. W. Hoyt, "The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts," Part I, 1897, p 359
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7} Charles Collyer Whittier, "The Descendants of Thomas Whittier and Ruth Green," The Tuttle Publishing Company, 1937, pp 16-17
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Ancestry.com. U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2012.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Vital Records of Salisbury, Masschusetts to the year 1849 - Births, p 253
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Letter from Charles C. Whittier (author of "Descendants of Thomas Whittier") sent to Cora May Whitcher.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} "Susannah Martin Executed July 19, 1692 - Summons for Witnesses," Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} Marilyn Russell's notes on Mary (Steven) Whittier's involvement in the witch tril of Susannah Martin
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} "Mary Bradbury - Deposition for Mary Bradbury," Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Vital Records of Salisbury, Masschusetts to the year 1849 - Deaths, p 632
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, The Topsfield Historical Society, 1915, p 515
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH11-D5S : accessed 28 February 2016), Nathaniell Whiter, 18 Jul 1722; citing Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, reference v 1 p 235; FHL microfilm 890,245.

See generally:

• Charles Collyer Whittier, "The Descendants of Thomas Whittier and Ruth Green," The Tuttle Publishing Company, 1937, pp 16-17
• Whitcher, William F., Descendants of Chase Whitcher of Warren, NH, News Book and Job Print, 1907, pp 8-9
• Bernard B. Whittier, "The Ancestry and Descendents of Edmund Whittier," The College Printery, 1917, pp 9-10