ELIJAH WHITON (1799 - 1871)
Groton, Massachusetts
Hingham, Massachusetts

Elijah Whiton was born in Hingham, Massachusetts on March 6, 1799 and died there on February 10, 1871. He married Lydia Wilder (1/24/1801-12/4/1869) on Sept. 18, 1822 in Hingham, MA, he had a daughter also named Lydia.

He was a manufacturer of wooden ware at Groton, Massachusetts, and later at Hingham, where he resided. The history of Hingham, Massachusetts, page 436, says of him "A man of rare mechanical ability and inventor of various machines, several of which have been patented and have been found highly useful. He was active in political life, and was a man of great energy of character, persevering in whatever he undertook and carrying it out to a successful issue."

He is listed in Paul Foleys book Willard’s Patent Time Pieces as a clockmaker, watchmaker, silversmith, mathematical instrument maker and a wooden ware manufacturer. He worked in Groton for many years in various trades. Advertisements and real estate records locate him in Groton as early as 1822. It appears that he stayed and worked in several Groton locations until 1839. After which, it appears he returned to Hingham.

He lived at 163 Main Street working as an inventor and industrialist, he was issued a patent in October of 1834 for an improvement in the Suction Pump.

Elijah was active as a silversmith and clock maker from 1820-1840, after that he took up cooperage and bucket making. He had a cousin Ebed Whiton (1802-1879 who was active as a silversmith from 1826-1870.

Gurley serviced a compass made by Whiton, received from Ennis, TX in 1874. Professor William B. Plank of Lafayette College, Dept. of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Easton, PA wrote under date of February 20, 1940 that they have an instrument made by E. Whiton, Groton, Mass No. 33 in the Markle Museum.