Deane Merrill and Eli Whitney are 5th cousins 5 times removed, as follows. (source: GENDEX database Whitney, Whitney discussion group, whitney@rmgate.pop.indiana.edu).

	John Whitney (1592-1673) m. Elinor _____ (1599-1659)
Thomas Whitney (1629-1719)		John Whitney (1621-1692)
Thomas Whitney (1656-1742)		Nathaniel Whitney (1645/6 - 1731/2)
Thomas Whitney (b.1680)			Nathaniel Whitney (1674/5 - 1730)
Joseph Whitney (1716-1796)		Nathaniel Whitney (1695/6 - 1776)
Joseph Whitney (1747/8-1813)		Eli Whitney (1740-1807)
Lucinda Whitney (1776-1857)		Eli Whitney (1765-1825)
Moses Whitney Merrill (1817-1859)	
Cordeanio Harley Merrill (1840-1908)	
Charles Arthur Merrill (1875-1968)	
Deane Whitney Merrill (1908-1987)	
Deane Whitney Merrill Jr. (1938-)