Archive:Sangerville, Maine, Vital Records
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LDS Film #0012073
Vital Records of Sangerville, Piscataquis Co., Maine, 1793-1885
Whitney Entries
Intentions of Marriage: 16 November 1833, Intention of marriage of William N. Thompson and Miss Sarah L. Whitney, both of Sangerville. Samuel Whitney and Helen Lowell, both of Sangerville (no date). Certificate issued 21 May 1853. George W. Labree of Sangerville and Elizabeth H. Whitney of Parkman (no date). Certificate issued 10 April 1855. Family Records: Children of William and Sarah Thompson: Martha N. Thompson, born 13 September 1834 William G. Thompson, born 22 May 1836 Children of Stephen Lowell, born in Buckfield 11 February 1801, and Delana Lowell, born in Minot 4 July 1805 (all born in Sangerville): George Lowell, born 31 December 1827 Helen Lowell, born 30 June 1829 Margery Lowell, born 26 October 1831 Charles Lowell, born 23 August 1834 Henry Lowell, born 31 October 1838 Louisa Lowell, born 24 November 1841 Deaths: Helen Lowell Whitney died in Fitchburg, Massachusetts 20 November 19___. (Year is not legible, as it was cut off in microfilming.)
Challenges in the Sangerville Records
There are three Whitney family members of interest, who must be identified. Elizabeth H. Whitney of Parkman is identified as the daughter of Annas Spears and Drusilla Whitney of Parkman. Samuel and Sarah L. Whitney remain to be identified.
It is possible to conjecture that all three were siblings. However, because of their ages, Samuel and Sarah will not fit into the Annas Spears Whitney family. Therefore, Samuel and Sarah could still be siblings, but children of whom? Who lived in Sangerville in 1850? There are no Whitney families or individuals in the 1850 census for Sangerville. Both Samuel and Sarah probably moved to Sangerville subsequent to the 1850 census, and married local people.
Who lived in Sangerville in 1840? Still no Whitneys. Who lived in Sangerville in 1830? Jonathan Whitney and family, another mystery. This mystery to be discussed later.
It would be more difficult to identify Sarah, but if they were siblings, then the identity of Samuel may reveal Sarah. The identity of Samuel is complicated by the fact that he undoubtedly died between 1853 and 1860. In 1860, Helen lives alone in Sangerville. The value of her real estate is four hundred dollars. She either inherited the real estate from her Lowell family, or her husband died and left it to her. The whole US census for 1860 yields no attractive candidate to be Samuel.
The 1870 census for Fitchburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts shows Helen, a dressmaker, living there in the family of Samuel Etheridge, who is the husband of Helen’s sister Margery. In the 1880 census, Helen remains with the same family in Fitchburg, and the census reveals that she is indeed a widow. So, Samuel must have died between 1853 and 1860. I found no record of his death in the Sangerville records film.
There is a Samuel Whitney, age 21 (born 1829), in the 1850 census for Orono, Penobscot Co., Maine. But, I cannot connect this Samuel either to Sangerville or to the Whitney family.
Jonathan Whitney, found in Sangerville in 1830 remains problematic. The 1830 census for Sangerville, Penobscot Co., Maine shows Jonathan as head of household. In the family is one male born between 1780 and 1790, one male born between 1800 and 1810, one male born 1820 to 1825, and one male born 1825 to 1830. There are four females: one born between 1790 and 1800, two born 1815 to 1820, and one born 1825 to 1830. Samuel could be the youngest male child of Jonathan, and Sarah could be one of the two females born 1815 to 1820. Did Jonathan die after the 1830 census, and where were his family members after that? I have one candidate for Jonathan: the son of Isaac and Sarah (Trufant) Whitney of Lisbon, Maine. Jonathan would have named his daughter Sarah after his mother. Jonathan was born in Lisbon 10 June 1788. I have no more information about him. If Samuel was single and living in Orono in 1850, then this may be indicative that Jonathan had indeed died by then. Or not.
Addendum:
The 1840 census for Bangor, Penobscot has a “Jona Whitney”, undoubtedly Jonathan, who looks like he could be a son of Jonathan of the 1830 census of Sangerville. He was born between 1800 and 1810, his wife was born between 1810 and 1820, and they have two male sons born between 1835 and 1840.
The 1840 census also contains a Sarah D. Whitney as a head of household in Dover, Piscataquis Co., Maine. She looks like the widow of Jonathan of Sangerville. She has four children at home: 1 male born between 1835 and 1840, 1 male born between 1820 and 1825, 1 female born between 1825 and 1830, and 1 female born between 1810 and 1820. Sarah D. Whitney was born between 1790 and 1800, the same as the wife of Jonathan of Sangerville. The microfilm of the Dover-Foxcroft records goes only to 1854, so she and her children may be mentioned later.
Sarah D. Whitney does not appear in the 1850 Maine census. However, Jonathan does appear once again in Bangor. He is 46 years old, born about 1804, with a wife Margaret, age 44, and four children: Jeremiah age 14, James F., age 13, George H., age 1, and Mary E. Whitney, age 9. He is a mill man, and they were all born in Maine.
The 1860 census finds Jonathan living in Fort Edward, Washington Co., New York, where he works in a mill. He has a new wife, Sally, age 47, born in New York. None of the previous members of Jonathan’s family can be found in this census. A Jonathan of this description does not appear in the 1850 census for New York State. He does not appear in the 1870 census.
Copyright © 2011, Kenneth L. Whitney, and the Whitney Research Group.
