Family:Whitney, Amos (1724-a1800)

From WRG

Amos⁴ Whitney (Nathaniel³, Benjamin², John¹), son of Nathaniel³ and Sarah (Ford) Whitney, was born 5 Mar 1723/4, York, ME.^[1]

Amos married, 5 Sep 1748, Gorham, ME, Sarah Payne "daughter of Thomas Payne of York", daughter of Thomas and Mary (Gookin) Payne. The marriage is in the Gorham VR's, but this date not given - it says "bef. Apr. 2, 1763", which is the date of birth of son Elias Whitney. However, there were three earlier children, all indicated as born in York, for which we do not yet have VR's. Further, the gap between child number three, Mary G. Whitney, b. 1754 in York and number four, Elias, b. 1763 in Gorham, suggests the possibility that this family lived somewhere else between 1754 and 1763 and that there might be other children in the 9 year gap.

Marriage intentions for him and Hannah (Blake) Johnson "of Falmouth"' were published 14 Aug 1773, Gorham, ME. She was born circa 1726 (calculated from age at death). She was baptized 2 Jun 1728, Hampton, NH. Marriage intentions for her and James Johnson were published 17 Jul 1754, Falmouth, ME. She died 14 May 1815, New Gloucester, ME, aged 89 years.

He, son of Nathaniel, was an early settler in Gorham. He is said to have first built a log house in what is now Melville Cressey's field. His homestead farm in Gorham was the two thirty acres lots, 40 and 42, which he sold in 1798 to Joseph Crocker Snow of Falmouth, Mass. Mr. Whitney was the first town clerk of Gorham, from 1764 to 1769, and was one of the first selectmen; a man highly respected and of great integrity. He married Sarah, the daughter of Thomas Payne of York. Children, the three oldest born in York: Ebenezer, b. Dec. 30, 1749; amos, b. Apr. 22, 1752, m. Ann Weston, p. Oct. 5, 1776; Mary G., b. Oct. 25, 1754, m. Thomas Paine of Standish, Apr. 26, 1792; Elias, b. Apr. 12, 1763, m. Polly Fowler, Dec. 14, 1788; Jotham, b. Apr. 2, 1766, m. Elizabeth Ross, Apr. 1, 1792; Ruth, b. June 25, 1769. Mr. Whitney married second (pub. Aug. 14, 1773), Hannah Johnson of Falmouth. He lived in 1763 at Gorham, ME.

Pierce says the following:^[2]

Amos WHITNEY was born in York, Me. He was one of the earliest settlers in Gorham, and was prominent and influential in town affaris. He was the first town clerk from 1764 to 1769, and one of the first selectmen, which office he held for years. He was a man of great integrity and highly respected.

Children of Amos⁴ and Sarah (Payne) Whitney:

i.	Ebenezer5 Whitney, b. 30 Dec 1749, York, ME; m. widow Sarah Thompson.
ii.	Amos Whitney, b. 22 Apr 1752, York, ME; m.(1) Anna Weston; m.(2) Mary Smith.
iii.	Mary Gooking Whitney, b. 25 Oct 1754, York, ME; marriage intentions for her "of Gorham" and Thomas Paine "of Standish" were published 26 Mar 1792, Standish, ME. She m. 26 Apr 1792, Gorham, ME, Thomas Paine "of Standish", by Rev. Caleb Jewett.
iv.	Elias Whitney, b. 2 Apr 1763, Gorham, ME; m. Polly Fowler.
v.	Jotham Whitney, b. 2 Apr 1766, Gorham, Maine; m. Elizabeth Ross.
vi.	Ruth Whitney, b. 25 Jun 1769, Gorham, Maine

Amos⁴ and Hannah (Blake)(Johnson) Whitney had no children.

Census

• 1771, Gorham, ME (tax list): Amos Whitney
• 1790, Gorham, Cumberland Co., ME: Amos Whitney, 2 males over 16, 1 male 0-15, and 3 females.
• 1800, Buxton, York Co., ME: Amos Whitney, 1 male over 45, 1 female over 45, and 1 female 10-15.
• 1810: not found.

References

1.^ 

2.^ 

3.^  Frederick C. Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635 (Chicago, IL: The Author, 1895), pp. 62-63.

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Copyright © 1999, 2006, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group