Description
Rev. John Whittlesey, 1780-1864, was a strong-willed Methodist minister of the sect "New Lights". He married his cousin Sally Whittelsey in Westbrook, Connecticut; note the variation on spelling. They moved to Salem in 1801, the year Oramel was born. Togethery they had three sons, Oramel, John, and Henry and two daughters who both died at age two. John ran an ivory factory that made piano keys as his livelihood. At this time, Connecticut had 90 percent of the market on manufacturing ivory. The boys shwoed a keen interest in music at an early age. Though they purchased a secondhand piano, the elder Whittlesey would not allow them to take time off from their chores to take lessons. on their own time the boys went to New London for piano instruction. They would arrive at 8:00pm and not return until 3:00am.
-Cindy Lee Corriveau "Images of America: Salem, Connecticut"