Whiting Sweeting (Nothing Sweet About This Murderer)

I'm sure Mary Clara Worden Wilcox had no clue that one of her ancestors was a murderer when she applied for membership into the DAR*. Mary was my 3rd cousin 3 times removed. One of her ancestor's was Whiting Sweeting, and that name just demanded that I find out something about him. I'm not sure if it was just the name or the fact that I had a copy of Mary's DAR application (see online copy, page 16 for Mrs. Mary Clara Worden Wilcox) in my hand, obtained when I actually worked at the DAR in Washington, DC. We both shared the same Revolutionary War ancestor, but not used as our patriot.

Mary Clara's great-grandfather Whiting Sweeting, the murderer, was married to Sarah Kilborn, my 4th great aunt. Mary and I have Sarah's father, Jonathan Kilborn as our Revolutionary War ancestor.

Why would a young man of 27 years old from Stephentown, Rensselaer Co., New York  and from a good family kill Darius Quimby on January 3, 1791? From Wikipedia: "Constable Quimby was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man named Whiting Sweeting of Stephentown, Rensselaer County, N.Y., on a trespassing warrant. The suspect was found guilty of murdering Constable Quimby in the July session of the New York State Supreme Court and was hanged on August 26, 1791." From various records, his first name, Whiting, was his mother's maiden name, his father was a prominent doctor in the Revolutionary war, and much of the family left Massachusetts to settle in New York.

"While incarcerated, Sweeting wrote his book and was visited frequently by William Carter who thereafter authored a small book entitled: A Remarkable narrative of Whiting Sweeting; who was executed at Albany … for murder," written in 1791 and printed in 1793.(See 1791 timeline on New York State Executions by Hanging).

There are 40 pages with lots of rambling and include messages to his parents, siblings, wife and to her parents (my 5th great-grandparents). Along with the messages were poems to each of them. Obtained online as an ebook from Cornell University, Courtesy of Cornell University Library, Trial Pamphlets Collection.

"This is probably the most frequently reprinted murder pamphlet in American criminal history, with at least a dozen editions. The main interest in the story seems to have been the severe penalty for an unpremeditated murder. A small posse was pursuing Sweeting to serve a warrant for trespass. Cornered in the woods at night, he lashed out at his pursuers and struck one of them with a knife, inflicting a deadly wound." From The Bottom Up.

*DAR membership appl. of Mary C. Worden Wilcox (#41,034) on Jonathan Kilborn (1742-1807), Oct. 29, 1902.

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Generation No. 1

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1.	Whiting SWEETING (Lewis SWEETING3, Lewis SWEETING2, Henry SWEETING1) was born ABT 5 AUG 1764 in Norton, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, and died 26 AUG 1791 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. He married Sarah KILBORN, daughter of JONATHAN KILBORN and HANNAH CHAPMAN. She was born ABT 1762.
	Children of Whiting SWEETING and Sarah KILBORN were: + 2   i. Abiah SWEETING was born 11 MAY 1785 in Stephentown, Rensselaer Co., New York, and died 8 OCT 1867. 3   ii. Unknown SWEETING.

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Generation No. 2

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2.	Abiah SWEETING (Whiting SWEETING4, Lewis SWEETING3, Lewis SWEETING2, Henry SWEETING1) was born 11 MAY 1785 in Stephentown, Rensselaer Co., New York, and died 8 OCT 1867. She married Jesse WORDEN 1808, son of Walater WORDEN and Lucretia HICKS. He was born 14 OCT 1781 in Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., New York, and died FEB 1853 in Fayetteville, New York.
	Children of Abiah SWEETING and Jesse WORDEN were: + 4   i. Sweeting Whiting WORDEN was born 11 NOV 1809 in New York, and died 5 MAY 1880. + 5   ii. DeWitt Clinton WORDEN was born 1 MAY 1811 in New York, and died 29 AUG 1882 in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York. 6   iii. Thompkins D. WORDEN was born 24 MAY 1813. + 7   iv. Monroe P. WORDEN was born 1 MAR 1817 in Clinton, Oneida Co., New York.

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Generation No. 3

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4.	Sweeting Whiting WORDEN (Abiah SWEETING5, Whiting SWEETING4, Lewis SWEETING3, Lewis SWEETING2, Henry SWEETING1) was born 11 NOV 1809 in New York, and died 5 MAY 1880. He married Sally HALLETT. He married Charlotte BREED.
	Children of Sweeting Whiting WORDEN and Charlotte BREED\BLANCHARD? were: 8   i. Margaretta WORDEN was born ABT 1835. 9   ii. Julia? WORDEN. + 10   iii. Whiting Sweeting WORDEN was born 8 DEC 1858 in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York, and died 17 OCT 1933.

5.	DeWitt Clinton WORDEN (Abiah SWEETING5, Whiting SWEETING4, Lewis SWEETING3, Lewis SWEETING2, Henry SWEETING1) was born 1 MAY 1811 in New York, and died 29 AUG 1882 in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York. He was buried in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York. He married Mary White WILD, daughter of Jonathan WILD and Nancy LINFIELD. She was born 15 MAR 1820 in Massachusetts, and died 19 FEB 1910 in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York. She was buried in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York.
	Children of DeWitt Clinton WORDEN and Mary White WILD were: 11   i. Monroe C. WORDEN was born 15 JUN 1840 in New York, and died 25 APR 1862 in Washington, District of Columbia. + 12   ii. Salter D.W. WORDEN was born MAR 1850 in New York, and died 26 JUN 1927 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California. + 13   iii. Mary Clara WORDEN was born MAR 1855 in Fayetteville, Onondoga Co., New York. + 10   iv. Whiting Sweeting WORDEN was born 8 DEC 1858 in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York, and died 17 OCT 1933.

7.	Monroe P. WORDEN (Abiah SWEETING5, Whiting SWEETING4, Lewis SWEETING3, Lewis SWEETING2, Henry SWEETING1) was born 1 MAR 1817 in Clinton, Oneida Co., New York. He married Susan NORTHRUP 1 FEB 1837 in Clinton, Clinton Co., New York, daughter of Daniel Peck NORTHRUP. She was born 1 MAY 1817 in Clinton, Clinton Co., New York.
	Child of Monroe P. WORDEN and Susan NORTHRUP was: + 14   i. Lester A WORDEN.

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Generation No. 4

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10.	Whiting Sweeting WORDEN (Sweeting Whiting WORDEN6, Abiah SWEETING5, Whiting SWEETING4, Lewis SWEETING3, Lewis SWEETING2, Henry SWEETING1) was born 8 DEC 1858 in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York, and died 17 OCT 1933. He was buried in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York. He married Hattie WAY, daughter of Peter B. WAY and Amanda E. BIGELOW. She was born 16 MAR 1864, and died 21 NOV 1923 in Japan. She was buried in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York.
	Children of Whiting Sweeting WORDEN and Hattie WAY were: 15   i. Albert Clarence WORDEN was born 19 DEC 1901 in Toyko, Japan. 16   ii. Theodore Griffin WORDEN was born 29 MAY 1904 in Yokohama, Japan. + 17   iii. Mary WORDEN.

12.	Salter D.W. WORDEN (DeWitt Clinton WORDEN6, Abiah SWEETING5, Whiting SWEETING4, Lewis SWEETING3, Lewis SWEETING2, Henry SWEETING1) was born MAR 1850 in New York, and died 26 JUN 1927 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California. He married Frankie ABT 1868. She was born ABT 1854 in New York.
	Children of Salter D.W. WORDEN and Frankie were: 18   i. Clara WORDEN was born ABT 1870 in New York. 19   ii. Dewitt WORDEN was born ABT 1877 in California.

13.	Mary Clara WORDEN* (DeWitt Clinton WORDEN6, Abiah SWEETING5, Whiting SWEETING4, Lewis SWEETING3, Lewis SWEETING2, Henry SWEETING1) was born MAR 1855 in Fayetteville, Onondoga Co., New York. She married Frank Z. WILCOX. He was born DEC 1850 in New York.
	Child of Mary Clara WORDEN and Frank Z. WILCOX was: 20   i. Milton W. WILCOX was born DEC 1877.

10.	Whiting Sweeting WORDEN (Sweeting Whiting WORDEN6, Abiah SWEETING5, Whiting SWEETING4, Lewis SWEETING3, Lewis SWEETING2, Henry SWEETING1) was born 8 DEC 1858 in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York, and died 17 OCT 1933. He was buried in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York. He married Hattie WAY, daughter of Peter B. WAY and Amanda E. BIGELOW. She was born 16 MAR 1864, and died 21 NOV 1923 in Japan. She was buried in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York.
	Children of Whiting Sweeting WORDEN and Hattie WAY were: 15   i. Albert Clarence WORDEN was born 19 DEC 1901 in Toyko, Japan. 16   ii. Theodore Griffin WORDEN was born 29 MAY 1904 in Yokohama, Japan. + 17   iii. Mary WORDEN.

14.	Lester A WORDEN (Monroe P. WORDEN6, Abiah SWEETING5, Whiting SWEETING4, Lewis SWEETING3, Lewis SWEETING2, Henry SWEETING1). He married Julie E. WELTON.
	Child of Lester A WORDEN and Julie E. WELTON was: 21   i. Frank WORDEN.

As a Baby -- Wordless Wednesday

My mother at six weeks and three months. Photos taken on the roof of 432 West 119th Street, New York City in 1919. The street is next to Columbia University. My grandfather lived in NYC several times while working as an architect there.

Dover Public Library, Dover, New Hampshire -- Genealogy and History Section

Dover Public Library, Dover, New Hampshire

We Remember Peter Fuller and his Horses -- Obituary

Who was Peter Fuller?

"A son of a former Massachusetts governor, he was born to wealth, but paid it little heed. Hobbled by illness as a child, Mr. Fuller willed himself into excellent shape and became a wrestler in college (Harvard). Stepping into the boxing ring, he won the New England Amateur Athletic Union and Golden Gloves heavyweight divisions.

Before becoming president of his family’s thriving Cadillac dealership, which his family founded in the early 1900s, Mr. Fuller joined the Marines, only to be discharged because of his flat feet. In the early 1950s, he turned to horse racing and groomed winners at his Runnymede Farm in New Hampshire." 
Quote taken from a Boston newspaper article about Peter Fuller. Unfortunately, the link is no longer available.

 Peter Fuller died May 14, 2012, my photo taken on the 20th.

All photos taken at Runnymede Farm in North Hampton, N.H., where Peter Fuller kept his horses.

If you lived anywhere near Boston or the coast of New Hampshire, you heard of Peter Fuller in the 60s. He was bigger than life, especially when his horse Dancer's Image won the Kentucky Derby. There aren't a lot of horse owners in this area, this area isn't like Kentucky or Virginia, even so, his farm is a little over a mile from the Atlantic Ocean, in full view from the end of his road. When I heard of his death almost a month ago, I was reminded of my very early visits to the barn and nice memories of seeing his horses about 40 years ago. But, most of all Peter Fuller, whom most of us believed his horse did win the Derby, and in the end, he is now listed as a winner on the official Derby chart.

To learn more about Peter Fuller, and his very interesting life, many details are in the death announcement article from The New York Times for Peter Fuller.

From Wikipedia to read about the 1968 Kentucky Derby winner Peter Fuller's Dancer's Image

"Dancer's Image won the 1968 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified to last after traces of phenylbutazone were discovered in the mandatory post-race urinalysis. Second place finisher Forward Pass was declared the winner. The controversy filled the sporting news of every media outlet in North America and was the cover story for Sports Illustrated magazine who referred to it as the sports story of the year. Owner Peter Fuller and the horse's handlers believed someone else may have been motivated to give the colt another dose of the drug and filed an appeal of the disqualification.

The Kentucky State Racing Commission examined the matter and ordered distribution of the purse with first money to Forward Pass. However, owner Peter Fuller took legal action and in December of 1970 a Kentucky Court awarded first-place money to Dancer's Image.^[5] That decision was overturned on appeal in April 1972, by Kentucky's highest court in Kentucky State Racing Comm'n v. Fuller, 481 S.W. 2d 298 (Ky. 1972).

As at 2008, the Churchill Downs media guide for the Derby includes the official chart showing Dancer's Image as the winner. Controversy and speculation still surround the incident even today and the New York Times calls the ruling the "most controversial decision in all of Triple Crown racing."

Egbert Ten Eyck and his wives -- Tombstone Tuesday

Egbert Ten Eyck

Born April  18, 1779

Died April 11, 1844

Rebecca

Wife of

Egbert Ten Eyck

Aug. 15, 1788

Died

Feb. 26, 1850

Ann Pearce

Born

Dec. 8, 1799

Died

June 8, 1870

Brookside Cenetery

Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York

Egbert was my 4th cousin 5 times removed, and the father of Anthony Ten Eyck, the "US commissioner to Hawaii 1845 - 1848"

Photo was a nice surprise taken by David Derrigo.

Historical Society -- Wethersfield, Connecticut

The Wethersfield Historical Society is located in the Keeney Cultural Center.

 View looking across the street (below).

Over the past two years, I've taken a lot of Historical Society photos. Sometimes I couldn't remember if I had, because I also do a series on Libraries with genealogy collections. Below, is a running list of all the societies with appropriate links. (The list will be applied to each new Historical Society photo I post.)


CONNECTICUT
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Windsor, Connecticut

MASSACHUSETTS
Acton, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Billerica, Massachusetts
Bolton, Massachusetts
W. Boylston, Massachusetts
Carlisle, Massachusetts
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Cohasset, Massachusetts
Dracut, Massachusetts
Groton, Massachusetts
Harvard, Massachusetts
Lexington, Massachusetts

Nahant, Massachusetts
No. Andover, Massachusetts
Townsend, Massachusetts
Westford, Massachusetts

MAINE
Brunswick, Maine
Wells and Ogunquit, Maine


NEW HAMPSHIRE

Ashland, New Hampshire
Cheshire, New Hampshire
Exeter, New Hampshire
Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire
Londonderry, New Hampshire
Nashua, New Hampshire
New Castle, New Hampshire
New Ipswich, New Hampshire
Rindge, New Hampshire


RHODE ISLAND
Newport


CANADA
Quebec
Missisquoi County Historical Society

Killingworth, Connecticut, We Helped Each Other

Isaac Kelsey

Joseph Wilcox

Josiah Hull

Daniel Buel

John Wilcox

Joseph Griswold

Nathaniel Parmelee

Ebenezer Hull

Samuel Stevens

Edward Rutty

Solomon Davis

Timothy Chittenden

Theophilus Redfield

I received this letter, "We live in Killingworth and my son is doing a history project. I have had a hard time finding some of the cemeteries in town. I am wondering if I can use the image I found on Google images of the Stone House Cemetery that you took. He would be putting it on a poster board that will be displayed in the elementary school til the end of the year." I wrote Mary back, gave permission for her son to use my image, and told her exactly where the cemetery was, across the street from a fire station. I also asked if she could take a photo of the Killingworth sign.


In reply, she wrote, "So I found out from talking to people that there are 2 working fire stations in town. I had no idea and have lived here for 9 years. The one you are talking about isn't the one I was thinking of. Learn something new everyday! Mary Frances Studzinski" I loved this exchange, and of course the moral is, if you are nice to a person, they will probably be nice to you. Thanks Mary for the Killingworth sign photo. This is a town of many of my ancestors. See HERE.

Historical Society -- Windsor, Connecticut

Windsor Historical Society, Windsor, Connecticut

Please see my post about the Founders of Windsor.

Joseph Mullin and a Ten Eyck Connection -- Tombstone Tuesday

JOSEPH MULLIN.

DIED

MAY 17, 1882.

AGED 70 YRS.

LYDIA MARIA TEN EYCK.

HIS WIFE

DIED OCT. 14, 1884.

AGED 69 YRS.

BROOKSIDE CEMETERY

WATERTOWN, NEW YORK

Recently, I received a number of photos of cemetery stones for two individuals. Since I didn't ask for them, I was delighted when they appeared in the inbox from David Derrigo. The ones shown here were for the husband of my 5th cousin, 4 times removed...a quite distant cousin, but when you are trying to enter all things related to the Ten Eyck family, everything is note worthy. In addition, I had already found the death notice for Judge Joseph Mullin which appeared in the New York Times (see below) and his bios in Wikipedia and FindAGrave.

From FindAGrave: US Representative from New York. Immigrated to the United States in 1820 with his parents, who settled in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York. He graduated from Union College, Schenectady, in 1833, was principal of Union Academy, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1837. In 1841 he was appointed examiner of chancery, supreme court commissioner, and commissioner in bankruptcy and was prosecuting attorney of Jefferson County, 1843 to 1849. He was elected as a Republican to the Thirtieth Congress, March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1849, president of the village of Watertown in 1853 and 1854. His last public service was associate justice of the supreme court 1857 to 1881 and served as it's presiding justice till his death.  (bio by:John "J-Cat" Griffith, permission granted to use.)


From the New York Times, published Sept. 3, 1897.
SENATOR MULLIN IS DEAD; Stricken by Heart Disease in His Room in the University Clubhouse. BODY FOUND BY A SERVANT He Was Lying, Almost Fully Dressed, Across the Bed, with His Spectacles On -- Watertown's Representative in the Senate Since 1891.

State Senator Joseph Mullin was found dead in his bedroom at the University Club yesterday morning by the servant who went to awaken him. He retired about 1:15 A.M. He was known as an early riser, and when he was not seen at breakfast a servant was sent at 10:50 o'clock to learn the cause of his tardiness.  Continuation of the New York Times article seen HERE.

Two Soldiers Connect

There have been many wonderful stories on Memorial Day about our American soldiers. This one happened recently, and I had a part in it, so I am rather emotional writing about it. I am just afraid I am not doing this story true justice. There are four people involved; Jo, Bob, Gary, and Larry. Jo is the sister of Bob (soldier, still living, and who held dying soldier and buddy Gary in his arms). Jo is trying to locate Gary's brother as a favor to her brother Bob. The story began on May 02, 1967 in Vietnam when Gary died in the arms of Bob. Last month, I received a letter from Bob’s sister Jo.

What would you do if you received a letter like this, "Barbara. My name is Jo ___. My brother (Bob) served in the service with Gary. They were good friends and he, Bob, wants to connect up with his (Gary) family. Could you contact me. JO"

I wrote back, and the outcome was the most rewarding thing I have ever done. It turns out that Jo wrote me because I had the brothers, Gary and Larry in my genealogy program. The brothers are my 5th cousins. Jo googled their names and came across my information.

From Jo, I learned, "My brother Bob, served in the Vietnam War with Gary. He was there when he died. They were really close friends. I think they trained together and went over together. He talks about Gary after all these years and still grieves over his death. He grieved terribly when Gary died. He has been trying to find his family for years. He asked me to help find them. He knew that Gary was from Detroit, Mich. My brother was from Ohio. My brother has Agent Orange. He got it in Nam. He is under constant medical care from the VA."

There were very few facts, but I was up to the challenge. Once I realized this was a real life situation of a soldier trying to find another soldier's family, this was my priority until all the pieces came together. Was I ever in luck Or I should say, we were all in luck.

I located Larry, via internet, but didn’t want to write him, because if this was a true event, I thought an email stating, “I know who the person is who held your dying brother” would be too painful. Fortunately, Larry and Gary’s cousin, also found via internet, is a movie director / producer, so I wrotePamela Peak for information and to see if the story was true.

An immediate reply came from her, and yes, the story was true. Being a writer in addition to her director / producer roll, Pamela had a lot to say. “WOW! I was 10 when Gary died and we, as family, always wanted even more clarification about his death. Gary was such a patriotic person and received many more medals than what we could comprehend based on what was told to the family about his death. I attended many of those medal ceremonies.” Pamela and I wrote many letters and everything came together.

From Jo (the sister of Bob):
“My brother Bob was only about 17 or 18 when this happened and Gary was only a couple years older. Bob said he cried for his mother when he was dying and that memory was burned in my brothers mind as he was so close to our Mom. What happened in the last minutes of his death was important to him and helped him get closure also.”


A week or so later, I received this message from Jo. “My brother and Gary’s brother talked a long time on the phone and my brother got some closure on Gary's death. My brother held Gary in his arms when he died. They were best friends in Vietnam. My brother has grieved over his death for years and talking to Gary's family has helped them all. The war was really bad for my brother and when he came home he was a mess. I am glad we finally found someone who knew Gary that he could talk to about him. We wish to thank you for all the help you gave us in finding this family. Barbara, again we thank you so much. You were a life saver for my family."

From Pamela (the cousin):
“Of course you can write about this on your blog. I am a writer and I totally want you to write about it. In fact, I'm due to give a speech at the foot of the Polar Bear Monument on Memorial Day in Troy, Michigan, just a short step away from where Gary is buried. The speech is about my film dedicated to the Polar Bears, and I will now be telling this incredible story about how you contacted me and how we found Bob so he could deliver his communication after all these years. It's quite a story isn't it? (I still have chills and tears in my eyes as I am writing this).”

“Thank you for all the work you do and for being the wonderful person you are to put us all in communication. Please let me know when you write about this on your blog. I would love to see it and I love knowing that others will now share this incredible story and pass it on.”

Bob, Larry, Jo, Pamela this is for you, and for Gary who will forever be in our hearts. Pamela, I am sorry I waited so long to write this, it was extremely difficult, but at last, I quote you, “I love knowing that others will now share this incredible story and pass it on.”

Note: This was originally posted, May 30, 2010.