John Whitney’s life is extensively documented, and Smith213 summarizes what is known. Whitney was apprenticed to William Pring of the Merchant Taylors Company in London on 22 Feb 1607/8. His brother Robert was in turn apprenticed to him (John) on 8 Nov 1624. Smith reproduced portions of their apprenticeship documents. John lived on Bow Lane in London, and sent his eldest son to the Merchant Taylors’ School on Suffolk Lane. The family emigrated to New England in Apr 1635 aboard the Elizabeth and Ann, Roger Cooper, master. Their ages at embarkation as quoted in Shattuck’s Memorials and elsewhere are imprecise estimates. John Whitney settled at Watertown and became a freeman on 3 Mar 1635/6. “He was of comfortable social standing and had a better than average education, but claims to a stunning royal descent have been disproven (TAG 10: 84-88).”214 Smith provides many details about his property holdings, a transcription of his will, and an inventory of his estate at the time of his death, along with a facsimile of his signature.

See Anderson 2011.7: 366-372 (GM 1634-1635 T-Y) for a comprehensive sketch, with revisions to some earlier works.