Interesting Finds On The WRG Website: The Whitney Research Group

An interesting website called the WRG, which stands for the Whitney Research Group, I found a year ago when I was dabbling into researching the Whitney branch of my family tree. I have included the link in case anyone else out there may have Whitneys in their family line.
http://wiki.whitneygen.org/wrg/index.php/Main_Page  
The group describes itself as, "an informal group of individuals interested in the scholarly research of Whitney families around the world and throughout history." Anyway I was excited to find information about my Whitneys on the site. 

First, I want to mention what my current theory is regarding this family line. It will be most likely impossible to prove this with certainty but here goes nothing. The Samuel Whitney born around or before 1775 that I have speculated is my 4th great grandfather can be found on the 1830 and 1840 censuses of Craven County. On the 1830 Census it shows as follows:

Free Colored Persons-Males- 10 thru 23:  4

Free Colored Persons- Males 55 thru 99: 1

Total Free Colored Persons:  5

Total- All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):  5

I believe that Samuel Whitney is the male aged 55-99. Thomas Whitney born about 1810, Charles Whitney born about 1815, Frances Whitney born about 1820 and Harry Whitney--born about 1825-- died 1867, are the other 4 free persons of color.

The Whitneys listed above and their descendants resided in Craven, Hyde, Pamilico, and Onslow Counties.  Harry Whitney was a member of the USCT Co. E 37th Infantry Regiment and died in 1867 as evidenced by his widow filing for a his pension in August of that year. His wife and children lived in New Bern

Thomas Whitney resided in Hyde County for life as evidenced by the 1870 and 1880 censuses He is found on the Tax Listing for 1890 but no other information can be found for him so I have assumed he died prior to 1900. Frances and his family resided in Hyde in 1870 but later are found living in New Bern as of 1880. 

Now that I have gotten that all out. Back to the WRG site. Now I had seen this passage before about a year ago on the site about a Sarah Whitney from Hyde County but I wasn't that far in to my research on the Whitneys so I kind of just put it aside in my thoughts and said to myself I would return to it later. So later came today. LOL

From WRG website: 


Sarah Whitney, parentage unknown, d. after 1790 She was probably the widow of an unknown man of the name of Whitney, but he has not yet been identified. Perhaps this is the same Sarah Whitney, who possibly the widow, or otherwise related, to the Isaac Whitney who died in Hyde County, North Carolina, in 1777, or before. 


September Term 1777
Hyde County Court 
Hyde County, North Carolina


Ordered that Letters of Adm. be issued accordingly to the said
Sarah Whitney.  Return an Inventory of the 
Estate of Isaac Whitney Dec. on Oath.[1]


26 February 1781 
Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions 
Woodstock Court House 
Hyde County, North Carolina


Admin. is grated unto Sarah Whitney on the 
Estate of Isaac Whitney Dec'd who entered into 
Bond of L200,000.
P. Aurieny[2]

[1] Information provided was from a book called Hyde County, North Carolina County Court Minutes 1767--1784, Book IV, Pub. Durham N. C. : WP Haun c. 1985-, Entry # 207, page 80


[2] Ibid, Entry #293, page 109.

Further on the page of this site for Sarah Whitney it mentions the North Carolina State Census of 1786  where she is listed as the head of household that included 1 White Male either under 21 or over 60; 4 White Females all ages; 4 Blacks 12-50; 5 Blacks either under 12 or over 60.


In 1790 she is still found in Hyde County.

Image Courtesy of Ancestry.com.

The WRG site goes on to mention that Sarah Whitney died sometime prior to August 1797, citing the Hyde County North Carolina Court Minutes for that term where her estate is mentioned.

On the WRG site they also make mention that "Isaac Whitdney is first documented as a witness on a North Carolina land deed, in 1767. He is the only other Whitney thus far documented in Hyde County North Carolina in the mid-late  1700's. The extremely high bond posted for administration for the Estate of Isaac Whitney would suggest some wealth."


Could there be some connection with Isaac and Sarah Whitney with Samuel Whitney born around 1775? And if there is a connection, what is it? If Sarah was the widow of Isaac Whitney could I dare say perhaps Samuel Whitney born around 1775, may have been their child? I guess I have some more digging to do.