Joseph Whiton (November 9, 1759 – August 16, 1828) was an American farmer, merchant, and politician from Lee, Massachusetts.
He served through much of the American Revolutionary War as an enlisted man and junior officer in Connecticut militia regiments.
Most notably, his youngest son, Edward V. Whiton, became the first elected chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
[1] In August 1776, not yet 17 years old, Whiton enlisted with the Connecticut militia for service in the American Revolutionary War.
With that regiment, he participated in the Battles of Saratoga preceding the surrender of British general John Burgoyne.
[1] In April 1780, he enlisted again and was acting steward in Captain Bottome's company, in Colonel Levi Wells's regiment.
The following year, he was adjutant of the battalion of Major Elijah Humphrey in the regiment of Colonel David Waterbury.
He also received a pension, including a tract of land in the Connecticut Western Reserve (now northern Ohio).
Massachusetts—like the rest of New England—had been strongly opposed to the new war, and prominent leaders in Massachusetts had denounced President James Madison.
Despite their attempt to stay out of the war, the British blockaded the Massachusetts coast and began raids on several coastal towns.