Rev. Zachariah Whitman

Who was the father of Zachariah Whitman of Weymouth?

According to Robert Charles Anderson in the Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635 John1 Whitman of Weymouth, Zachariah1 Whitman of Dorchester, New Havan and Milford and Elizabeth1 (Whitman) [Stream] Otis are all children of Richard Whitman of Lee, Buckinghamshire, England.[1] Zachariah Whitman was married on 10 Jun 1630 to Sarah Biscoe in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England just a few miles from Lee, Buckinghamshire where his father lived.[2][3] The Bishop of London issued a marriage license on 22 February 1619/20 to "Thomas Streame, cordwainer, and Elizabeth Whitman, spinster, daughter of Richard Whitman, of Leigh, co. Bucks, husbandman; at St. Bennet, Paul's Wharf, London"[4]. "Thomas Streame and Elizabeth Whiteman" were married at St. Bene't and St. Peter, Paul's Wharf, London, on 22 February 1619/20[5] Zachariah Whitman arrived on the Truelove from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England and arrived in Dorchester by 1635[6] He brought with him two of the sons of his sister, Elizabeth1 (Whitman) [Stream] Otis. On the passenger list of the Truelove, immediately following the family of Zachariah Whitman and preceding the next family group, were the following four individuals: "Rabecca Fenner," aged 25, "Tho[mas] Tibbald's," aged 20, "Thomas Streme," aged 15, and "Jo[hn] Streme," aged 14[7] His brother John Whitman arrived later arriving in Weymouth in 1638. [6] Thomas Stream and of John Stream where both the children of Elizabeth (Whitman) Stream.[1]

The will of Zachary Whitman, dated 24 April 1666 states: "Zachary Whitman of Milford" bequeathed to "my cousin Zachary Whitman my brother's son my house & land at the decease of my wife" and "all the books my wife can spare" (This clearly a reference to his brother John Whitman of Weymouth and his son Zachary Whitman) and to "my cousin John Streame" twenty pounds; "I give Dr. Preston's books to my cousin Clarke and my cousin Streame"; (This referring to his two nephews sons of Elizabeth (Whitman) Stream. [8]

The will of Zachary Whitman’s widow Sarah (Biscoe) Whitman also names the children of Zachary Whitman’s two siblings: Elizabeth (Whitman) Stream and John Whitman of Weymouth. "The nuncupative will of Mrs. Sarah Whitman widow late of Milford deceased. We whose names are underwritten do testify that Mrs. Sarah Whitman of Milford in the county of Newhaven widow, lately deceased, having a purpose to make her will & being at that time in perfect sense & memory not long before she died declared her mind for the dispose of her worldly estate as followeth or in words to that purpose & effect, viz: I will give my goods to my cousins, namely my cousin George Clarke, to my cousin John Stream & to my cousin Zachary Whitman. In witness to the truth whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names this 5th day of April 1671, Samuell Burwell, Nathan Burwell, Elnathan Botchford. This was taken upon oath this 26th of April 71 before me Alex[ander] Bryan Assistant. I also Thomas Welch of l\1ilford do testify to the substance of what is abovewritten, expressed to me & in my hearing by the said Mrs. Whitman deceased two or three days before she died, only with this addition, that she spake of the dispose of some of the best (meaning her goods) to Zachary Whitman. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name the day & year abovewritten, Thomas Welch”[9]

"We conclude that Elizabeth (Whitman) (Stream) Otis was his sister, and that Zachariah Whitman was also son of Richard Whitman of Lee,Buckinghamshire, which is about two miles from Chesham...Zachariah Whitman was brother of John Whitman {1638, Weymouth}"[10]

Sources

1. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y, (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011) Zachariah Whitman GM2:7:359-63 see also John Stream GM2:6:573-77; Thomas Stream GM2:6:578-80; Thomas Holbrook GM2:3:352,354, John Otis (GM2:5:322-26)
2. NEHGR 65:67; GM2:7:359-63
3. Torrey 3:1657 1630 Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States [WHITMAN, Zachariah (-1666) & Sarah BISCOE (1606-1671); Chesham, Eng, 10 Jun 1630; Dorchester/Milford, CT {Chesham Reg. 227; Whitman (1889) xi; Reg. 54:384, 65:67; Avery Anc. (1925) 123; Shaffer-Hunt 73; Miner Anc. 200; Brush-Bowers 45}]
4. Publications of the Harleian Society (The Society London) Register Series 26:84
5. Publications of the Harleian Society (The Society London) Register Series 39:3
6. Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration Directory: Immigrants to New England, 1620–1640 p 242 (Boston, Massachusetts. New England Historic and Genealogical Society. 2015) GMDIR p 371; John Whitman: Unknown; 1638; Weymouth [MBCR 1:375; SPR Case #2012; Weymouth Hist 4:753; Charles H Farnam, History of the Descendants of John Whitman of Weymouth, Mass. (New Haven, Connecticut, 1889)] See also his brother in GM2:7:359-63; GMDIR 371; Zachariah Whitman; Chesham, Buckinghamshire; 1635 on Truelove; Dorchester, New Haven, Milford [GM2:7:359-63]; GMDIR 322; Stream, John: London; 1635 on Truelove; Weymouth, Milford [GM2:6:573-77] and Stream Thomas; London; 635 on Truelove; Wyemouth, [GM2:6:578-80]
7. The Original Lists Of Persons of Quality . . ., John Camden Hotten, ed. (London 1874; rpt. Baltimore 1974) 131
8. New Haven, Connecticut, Probate Records 1 :2:2
9. New Haven, Connecticut, Probate Records 1:2:38
10. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y, (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011) p 359-63
11. Roberts, Gary Boyd; Ancestors of American Presidents
12. Anderson, Robert Charles, Zachariah Whitman Great Migration 1634-1635, T-Y. (Vol T-Y, Page 361) (Online database accessed February 11, 2015. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.)

Notes

The editor is Walt Whitman's "Specimen Days" adds this footnote:

The tradition connecting Whitman's ancestry and the Rev. Zachariah Whitman who emigrated from England in 1635 is not reliable. The Rev. Zachariah Whitman left no issue. See below.

There is record of Zachariah, his wife Sara, and son Zachariah, age 2 1/2, coming over in the “Truelove” from England on September 19, 1635. There is no further mention of the child; when [Reverend] Zachariah died in 1666, he left his property to his nephew, the third son of John Whitman, and the Whitman from whom the Nova Scotia Whitmans are descended.
In Farnham’s book, he states that a certain “Joseph Whitman of Huntingdon, Long Island, was made a freeman of the New Haven Colony” (Farnham, page xv). He further states that the Long Island Whitmans, from whom Walt sprung, are all descendants of this Joseph Whitman. As far as can be determined, Joseph Whitman is not a descendent of either John or Zachariah Whitman.

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Source:

History of the Descendants of John Whitman of Weymouth, Mass

by Charles Farnam 1889

Zachariah Whitman, a brother of the Ancestor.
According to Hutton he came in the " ship Truelove,
Jo. Gibbs, Master," leaving London, Sept. 19, 1635. The ship's register give the names of " Zacharia Whitman," aged 40 ; " Sara Whitman," aged 25 ; " Zacha Whitman," aged 2 1/2 ; the child probably died soon after his arrival, as no mention is afterwards made of him. Zachariah settled first in Dorchester.

He had a brother, Zachariah, who emigrated at the time he did, or soon after; and settled in Milford, in Connecticut, who is spoken of in the church records and history of that town as early as 1639. He was one of the ruling elders, and assisted at the ordination, in that town, of the Rev. Roger Newton, by the imposition of hands. These and some other circumstances concerning him are noticed in Trumbull's History. When he died is not known ; but probably not until advanced in years. He left no issue. His estate in Milford he bequeathed to his nephew, the Rev. Zechariah Whitman, son of our Ancestor. The farm which he occupied is called the Whitman farm to this day, and is now in the occupation of a man by the name of Fenn.

The Coat of Arms was obtained from Thomas Culleton of London, a well-known genealogist. It has been impossible to procure absolute proof of the right of this family to use the same. A similar shield with varying crests but the same motto has, however, been in the possession of several branches since the latter part of the last century. This fact has induced the writer to insert the plate, hoping that at some future time more absolute proof can be obtained.