Trails to the Past

Kent County, Rhode Island Biographies

Personal Paragraphs of Coventry

W - Y

Source: The History of Washington & Kent Counties
Written by J. R. Cole published in 1889 by W. W. Preston & Co.

Sheffield Waite was born in 1812 in Coventry. His father was Sheffield, son of Yelverton Waite, who was a major in the revolutionary army. Mr. Waite began at the age of eighteen to buy and drive cattle and followed that occupation for about twenty years. Since that time he has been a farmer and trader. He has recently retired from active life. He was married in 1837 to Judith A. Johnson, who died in 1855, leaving one son, William, who died aged 35 years. Mr. Waite married for his second wife Mrs. Jane C. Babson. His father and grandfather were both farmers. Mr. Waite now owns a part of the old homestead of Yelverton Waite.

Israel Whaley was born in 1838 in Coventry. He is a son of Reuben, whose father Job, was a son of Thomas and grandson of Samuel Whaley, a descendant of Theophilus Whaley, who came from England to this country about 1679 in company with Major General Goffe and Colonel Dixwell. Mr. Whaley established a variety store in Coventry Centre in June, 1883, in the new building which he had just completed. He has had charge of the post office as deputy since October, 1885. He managed the Coventry Centre store nine years prior to November 1st, 1882, as agent for the company. He was married in 1863 to Ad-aline, daughter of Philip Havens. They have two children, Benoni H. and Lottie. Mr. Whaley has been town council one year and notary and justice several years. He is a member of Maple Root church and a member of Manchester Lodge, No. 12, A. F. & A. M.

Thomas G. Whaley, born in 1829 in Coventry, is a son of Albert, whose father, Jonathan, was a son of Thomas and grandson of Thomas, whose father, Samuel, was a son of Theophilus Whaley the first. Mr. Whaley is a machinist by trade. He lived in Providence fourteen years, and in the West two years. He is now a farmer. He was president of the board of assessors in 1887 and was re-elected in 1888. He was married in 1853 to Altana, daughter of Alpheus Burdick. They have two children. He was in the war of the rebellion a short time in Company K, Tenth Rhode Island Volunteers.

Henry C. Whipple, son of Thomas and grandson of Joseph Whipple, was born in 1837. His father was judge of the court of common pleas, represented Coventry many years in the general assembly, and was two years lieutenant governor of Rhode Island. He was a manufacturer here until his death in 1859. Henry C. was a member of the town council one year and in the state legislature one year. He carried on a livery stable at Washington several years. After his father's death, he and his brother-in-law were for some time interested in manufacturing. His wife was Louise Knight Franklin, daughter of Arnold Franklin. Their daughter Anna is Mrs. Ellery C. Anthony and their son is Thomas Whipple.

Cromwell Whipple, another son of Governor Thomas Whipple, was a man of considerable distinction in the town, and in the general assembly he was a recognized champion of the temperance cause until his death in 1855. As a token of appreciation a monument has been erected to his memory.

John E. Whipple, son of Christopher and grandson of Joseph Whipple, was born in 1888 in Coventry. He has been boss farmer for the Coventry Company about ten years. Prior to that he worked at the carpenter's trade ten years and before that was a farmer. He was married in 1857 to Kate, daughter of Nicholas Brown. They have two daughters: Anna, who is Mrs. William M. Congdon, and Lillian, who is Mrs. Frederick R. Reynolds.

Charles C. Whitford was born in 1834 in West Greenwich. He is a son of Jeremiah, whose father, Jeremiah, was a son of Nicholas Whitford. Mr. Whitford has been a farmer all his life. He bought the farm where he now lives in 1884. He was married in 1866 to Hattie, daughter of Philip Johnson. Their children are : Hattie L., Angeretta W., Julia E., Lena M., Olive L., Charles W. and Nelson J. The family is said to be of Welsh descent.

Nicholas S. Whitford, born in 1839 in Coventry, is a son of John and grandson of Nicholas Whitford, who bought the farm of 70 acres where Nicholas S. now lives, in 1772, of Jeremiah Blanchard. This farm now contains 200 acres. Mr. Whitford has been a farmer excepting about five years which he spent in a store at Centreville, from 1871 to 1876. The firm was Duke & Whitford. He was married in 1863 to Sarah A. Place, who died in 1871, leaving one daughter, Ella Grace. He was married in 1881 to Mary Ann Blanchard.

Ruth B. Whitford was born in 1862 in West Greenwich. She is a daughter of James A., son of William H., son of Ezekiel, son of Levi, son of Nicholas Whitford, who came from Wales. Her mother is Phebe (Sweet) Whitford, daughter of Amos Sweet. Miss Whitford received her early education in district schools, and is a graduate of the State Normal School of Providence.  She taught school four years, two years before she graduated and two years since. Her parents were married in 1857. They have had two daughters: Mrs. Byron B. Andrews, and Ruth B.

Benjamin F. Williams, born in 1849 in Warwick, is a son of Benjamin, whose father was Pardon Williams. Mr. Williams is a blacksmith, and has worked at that business eighteen years. He was married in 1876 to Sarah C. Read, daughter of Benjamin, whose father was Thomas Read. Their children are: Clara, Mary, and Sadie. He had two brothers in the war of the rebellion.

Erastus Young, son of John, was born in 1818 in Connecticut. He was a mill operative about fifteen years. He has lived in Coventry thirty-three years. He was married in 1843 to Lydia E., daughter of Aaron Wood, of Foster. They have three children : Albert H., Susan E., and Walter E.

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