Sylvanus WHITNEY

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 15 Feb 1747, Darien, Fairfield County, Connecticut

Notes:

Excerpt from "The Whitney Family of Connecticut...": bought a house and two acres of land in Stamford, Conn., 13 May 1742; bouth land in Stamford, with his brother Eliakim, 17 Apr 1744; married to Mary Bishop, "in Stanford by the worshipfull Samll Hait Esquier on his majesties Justices of the Peace for ye County of Fairfield on May 10, 1744," but according to his family record, one day later. She was b. 18 Aug. 1722.
He learned the arts of tanning and shoemaking, and settled in the aprish of Middlesex, in Stamford, now Darien, Conn., in a house which he built in 1751, about half a mile north of the parish church, and which, in 1866, was torn down by his grandson, Charles E. Whitney, to make room for a new house for himself on the same spot. Tradition says that when he setled there he had only a foot-path to his house, that deer were yet very plenty, and that he often exchanged a pair of shoes for a bushel of wheat. They were members, and he was chosen a deacon, of the Congregational Church of Middlesex, now Darien. She joined by letter, 7 Oct. 1744.
He was appointed society's collector, 21 Jan. 1744-5; a committee, 16 Jan. 1748; was allowed "four pounds old tenor,; 30 Jan. 1754, for "to sweep ye meeting House as often as needful for ye ensuing year,' and was committee of the society from 1755 to 1760, inclusive. He was also school committee on the Stamford side, in 1756, and from that time to 1763. His ear-mark was entered in the Stamford records, 19 Jan. 1764. He was a man of great vigor, and retained his activity till near the close of his life, so that, when nearly one hundred years old, he would go to the woods to chop wood.
He was one of those who were taken prisoners, in the Middlesex church, on Sunday 22 July 1781, during public worship, by a party of British and refugees, and taken to Long Island. Some of the prisoners never returned; but he, more fortunate, found some acquaintances, through whose influence he was released and allowed to return. He and his wife lived together nearly seventy years, sixty-three of which were passed under one roof, and her death was the first that took place in the house. She died 4 Jan. 1814, aged 91 years, 4 months and 6 days, having then living (according to an obituary written at Stamford, 13 Jan. 1814) 7 children, 47 grandchildren, 83 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren. Hhe died in Darien, 17 May 1817, aged 100 years 3 onths and 3 days, allowing for change of style. A white stone, erected to their memory, was found in 1867, lying flat on the ground, in a field in Darien.

Eliasaph married Mary BISHOP on 10 May 1744 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. Mary (daughter of John BISHOP and Mary TALMADGE) was born on 18 Aug 1722 in Connecticut ; died on 04 Jan 1814 in Darien, Fairfield County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]