I just discovered that the Proceedings of the Old Bailey in London are now online. The collection is indexed and covers 1674 to 1834. The website is located at: http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/ I found 58 records containing people with the surname Whitney and one with the surname Whitnie. 100,000 trials are included, as are 60,000 scanned pages of the original documents. Here is one record as an example: James Whitney, Benjamin Kallow, theft with violence: robbery, 16 Jan 1693 James Whitney, otherwise called Captain Whitney, Butcher, the great Highway-man, was a second time Indicted, together with Benjamin Kallow, Gent, for Robbing one John Smith at South-Mims-wash on the 10th of November last, of 100 yards of Lace, value 50 l. Neither of them made any Exceptions against the Jury; only Mr. Whitney desired none might be sworn amongst them, that were of the Hundred where the Robbery was done, which was granted by the Court; then the Witnesses were call'd and sworn for the King; The first was Mr. Smith, who said he was Robbed by seven Men, but he did not know them: The next Witness swore flatly against Mr. Whitney, that he Robbed him first, and afterward he went to Mr. Smith and Robbed him, and that he stob'd several Carriers Horses at the same time; but there was no Evidence could charge Kallow, so he was acquitted of this Indictment. Whitney being ask'd what he had to say for himself; answered in short, That he knew nothing of the Matter, and that the Man was hard-mouth'd. But was answer'd, That his mouth was soft enough to do his business. And could not prove where he was at that time, so he was found guilty of the Robbery.