more maps and property

After spending a lot of time looking at the maps on the Historic Land and Atlas database available on ancestry, I wanted to organize some of my thoughts and research process.

I was able to locate some of my ancesters, mainly the Whiting (Whiton) families in South Scituate and South Hingham. I thought it would be interesting to track the land as it may have been passed from family member to family member. This will eventually help me when I am able to search the probate and land records. I used both the maps and the local histories of both Hingham and Hanover as a basis for my conclusions.

Benjamin Whiton (my 6th great grandfather) married Joanna Gardner in 1766 in Hingham, MA. According to The History of the Town of Hingham book, Benjamin was a farmer who lived near Accord Pond in South Hingham.

The Historical Sketch of the Town of Hanover states that this Benjamin lived in a house where Eleazer Chubbuck now lives. The book was published in 1858.

Also according to the Hanover book, Eleazer Chubbuck married Benjamin's Granddaughter Elizabeth (Betsey b. 1801). So Benjamin's land probably went to his son Archelaus. Betsey's mother died in 1803, and her father Archelaus enlisted in 1812 (probably died in war). This would have left Betsey alone at age 11, her grandparents were already dead at this time too. Maybe she moved in with one of her aunts or uncles, and the property was left to Betsey - where she later lived with her husband Eleazer Chubbuck. The property from the map looks like they lived on Gardner Street.

Another son of Benjamin that lived in this area was Joseph. The Hingham books states that Joseph resided on Gardner Street near Accord Pond and that Joseph's son Joseph (another one of Benjamin's grandchildren), stayed on at his paternal homestead. I also find J.M. Whiting on the map on Gardner Street living two houses up from Eleazer Chubbuck, which is probably Joseph and therefore his father Joseph's house. Perhaps Benjamin divided his land and gave some to his granddaughter Betsey (through his son Archelaus) and some to his son Joseph, who passed it on to his son Joseph. So Betsey and Joseph, who are living on Gardner Street in South Hingham in 1879 are cousins, both grandchildren of Benjamin Whiton and Joanna Gardner.

There is still a house between J. Whiting and E. Chubbuck on the map of Hingham. It would make sense if this house were also on Benjamin's original property. The map states the house belongs to E Beal. Looking at The History of the Town of Hingham book, this is probably Edwin Beal who married Elizabeth Chubbuck (daughter of Eleazer Chubbuck and Betsey Whiting).

Elizabeth would have been living next to her parents on the map. If this were originally Benjamin Whiting's property - Elizabeth Chubbuck Beal would be his great-granddaughter, living next to two of Benjamin's grandchildren. So perhaps Benjamin's property was split amonst them all - or further subdivided by his grandchildren. As seen in the excerpt above, The History of The Town of Hingham book does state that Edwin Beal lived on Gardner St.

Map of South Hingham which lists the properties I have discussed above

Benjamin also had a son Benjamin (my 5th great grandfather) that lived in Hingham near Accord Pond, accoring to the Hanover book. The History of Hingham book states Benjamin removed to Scituate. According to the census data, he did move to South Scituate, which was right down the street from Hingham and where his father lived. He must have built or bought his own house, as he is not in Hingham where his father lived. I have no direct evidence as to where his property went when he died, but it seems it probably went to his children as many of them are living in the same area of South Scituate near Accord Pond.

Benjamin's daughter, Joanna, married Freeman French and lived in South Scituate. We can see F. French on the South Scituate map below Accord Pond. Another daughter of Benjamin and Lydia's, Lydia Whiting, never married and lived with her brother Jared and sister Mary Whiting (both probably never married either). The censuses for 1860-1880 have this family of siblings living next door to Freeman and Joanna French. They are not listed on the property map of South Scituate, so maybe they lived on the same property in a second house. Elizabeth, another daughter of Benjamin and Lydia's, married James Burrill. On the censuses and the map of Scituate, there is a J. Burrill living across the street from Freeman French and Joanna. Elizabeth probably resides in her parent's house as she and her husband lived with her mother Lydia after her father Benjamin died. The second oldest son of Benjamin and Lydia was Richard, who married Mary Stoddard. Richard had died by the time the Scituate map was made in 1879, but his wife Mary was living in Hingham. I was not able to locate a Mrs. Mary Whiting on the map in Hingham, but as they were living in Hingham, they most likely did not have his father's property. Benjamin and Lydia's other children had either died by the time the map was created in 1879, or removed to another town after marrying.

Map of South Scituate with Benjamin Whiting's property as discussed above

to do list:
1. list picture of jos. j whiting and amasa whiting house
2. find mary whiting - widow of richard whiting on hingham map - look in census
3. create family chart to explain relationships better