Children of Joshua Whitney and one of his three wives: 9) "dr. Hutchins, mentioned in her father's Will; probably Abigail, b. about 1673, wife of John Hutchins of Groton; 5 chil."
[Note: Bond comments "his will, dated Ap. 17, 1713, mentions several children, whose births are not recorded, and the order of their births has not been ascertained". Abigail is deceased at the time of her father's will [Middlesex Probate 24703] compared to the five living daughters mentioned are living, so she is mentioned separately from them. Confusingly, two deceased daughters are named as "eldest": first there is mention of "My Eldest daughter hutchinses Children", mentioning also her Eldest son John Hutchins, and her three daughters; then later, "my Eldest daughter wife to Thomas Woods I gave unto her in ye time of her life". Were they twins? Did Hannah (Whitney) Woods die first, leaving Abigail temporarily as the oldest daughter, until she in turn died? Did he mean eldest daughter of my first wife and eldest daughter of my second wife? Was this just confusion by an old man? Among living daughters, Mary is listed first, so presumably she was the oldest surviving daughter. The estimated birth date given here for Abigail (1673) is probably based on the assumption that her given name makes it likely that she is a daughter of second/third wife Abigail Tarbell, whom Joshua m. 30 Sep 1672. Abigail and John Hutchins have children born 1693, 1696, 1698, 1700, 1705, which suggests this estimated birth is feasible, though it is not certain, as she could certainly have been born earlier (i.e., say 1668 like her husband, i.e., twin to Hannah, i.e., having a different mother). People interested in this family should read article from Whitney Research Group,which among other things argues that Joshua had only two wives, not three, refuting Bond, and necessarily Savage, since Savage merely copied from Bond for this family.]
