William Whiting

The Founders of Hartford

Major William Whiting was an original proprietor of Hartford; his home-lot in 1639 was on the east side of the street now Governor St. In 1633 “the Bristol men had sold their interest in Pimataqua to the Lords Say and Brooke, George Wyllys, and William Whiting, who continned Thomas Wiggin their agent.” Mr. Whiting retained his interest in Piscataqua until his death, and was one of the most efficient promoters of the trade and commerce of Hartford. He was also engaged in a patent for lands at Swampscott with Lords Say and Brook. He was one of the Committee who for the first time eat with the Court of Magistrates in 1637 ; freeman, Feb., 1640; Treasurer of the Colony from 1641 until 1647 ; chosen magistrate 1642, end continued in office until his death in 1647. In 1638 he was allowed to trade with the Indiana; and he was appointed with Major Mason and others to erect fortifications in 1642, and the same Year. he was appointed with Mason to collect tribute of the Indians on Long Island and on the Main. He was a merchant of wealth, and had dealings with Virginia and Pimataqua; had a trading-house Rt the Delaware River, and also at Westfield. He begins his will, dated March 20, 1643, by stating that he intends "a voyage presently unto sea;"1 the last addition to his will was made July 24, 1647, and he probably d. soon after, leaving widow Susanna, who m. in 1650 Samuel Fitch, of Hartford, and (3), Alexander Bryan, of Milford; she d. at Middletown, July 8, 1673. Amount of Whiting's inv. X2854.-Ch.: i. William, went to England, was a merchant in London, and d. there in 1699. In 1686 the Assembly of Connecticut appointed him their “agent to present their petition (in reference to the Charter) to the King_” ii. John, b. 1635 ; grad. Harvard Coll., 1653; m. about 1654, Sybil, dau. of Deacon Edward Collins, of Cambridge, joined the church in Cambridge, and lived there, and in Salem, where he rendered ministerial assistance to Rev. Edward Norris. In 1660 he removed to Hartford, and was ordained pastor of the First Church, as colleague with Rev. Samuel Stono ; after Stone's death, in 1664, Rev. Joseph Haynes was settled as his colleague, and after many controversies Whiting withdrew with his followers, and organized, Feb. 12,1670, the Second Church. He was appointed as chaplain of the troops in 1675. He d. in Hartford, Sept. 8, 1679. He had m. a second wife, in 1673, Phobe, dau. of Thomas Gregson, of New Haven, and she m. after his death, Rev. John Russell, of Hadley. His son, Col. William, was a distinguished military officer, fought in all the French and Indian wars of his time, led a company of "Fusaleers" to the fight at Pemaquid in 1697, and later a company of Dragoons, for the security of the County of Albany. iii. Samuel, mentioned in his father's will, but we hear nothing more of him. iv. Sarah, b. about 1637; m. (1) about 1654, Jacob Mygatt, of Hartford (q.v.); (2) John King, of Northampton. v. Mary, m. Aug. 3, 1664, Rev. Nathaniel Collins, of Middletown; d. Oct. 25, 1709. vi. Joseph, b. Oct. 2, 1645; settled in Westfield, Mass.; m. (l) Oct. 5, 1669, Mary, dau. of Hors. John and Amy (Wyllys) Pynchon, of Springfield; (2) in 1676, Anna, dau. of Col. John Allyn; he returned to Hartford in 1675 or 1676; held the office of Treasurer of Connecticut from 1678 until his death in 1717, when his son John succeeded him and held the office thirty-two years.

1 Several of his letters written in 1637, now in the State Archives, are sealed with his arm, as above given. These arms are A variation of those of the family of Whiting of Boston in Lincolnshire.-See Heraldie Jour. i. 160.