Dear WRG: Apropos Merry's question, I would suggest that anyone interested visit the WRG website (http://www.whitneygen.org) and read the two articles that may be found there that address this question. One was written back in the 1930's by Donald Lines Jacobus, one of the grand old men of American Genealogy, and one whose work is very highly respected. There is also another article by a current professional researcher from Salt Lake City (I think that's where he lives) named Paul Reed, who picks up Jacobus article and carries it further, probably based on some material that may not have been available earlier. He, too, demonstrates that it is highly unlikely that Thomas is the son of the particular Robert Whitney that would make him the grandson of Sir Robert and Sybil, but it is difficult to "prove" a negative. His case is based on Thomas's age and estimated birth year, and the customs and patterns of inheritance that shows that Thomas could not be the first or second son, and if I don't stop speaking from memory, I'll get it all muddled up. Go to the website and look them up, and I think that you will come to the same conclusion that I have, this link from Melville is flawed, and we need to find another line for Thomas' connection to the Hereford Whitneys. As to what Robert Ward thinks of this, he did publish a speculation several years ago that questioned the solidity of John--1's connection to Thomas and Mary Bray Whitney. However, there is enough to satisfy me (barring, of course, further information being found) in the connections to the Merchant Tailor's Company for John and his younger brother, Robert, whom he in turn took as an apprentice that fits with (and again I speak from memory, but it is 5:16 in the morning) some kind of relationship for Mary Bray's father, John Bray, and the same Merchant Tailor's Company. I'll let Robert speak for himself on all this. This is not a good week for me to dig back into my paper records for material I collected quite a few years ago, what with all the activities of Holy Week and guests coming for the upcoming weekend. Write to me again in a couple of weeks, and I'll dig around and see if I can come up with actual documents that I can cite. Happy Hunting. Allan E. Green