Archive:Early Families of Standish, Maine
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Sears, Albert J., Early Families of Standish, Maine (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1991), pp. 310-311.
[p. 310] WHITNEY There were a number of Whitney families living in Standish from 1790 on. The name of David Whitney is found on the 1789 and 1790 tax lists of Standish and in the 1790 census with only himself in the family. His ancestry has not been definitely determined, but he may have been the David Whitney, born Apr. 8, 1732, in Biddeford son of Nathan and Lydia (Young) Whitney, who settled in Gorham. He disappears from the local scene after 1790. Joshua Whitney, whose name is also found in the 1790 census with a family of 1-1-3, was probably son of David Whitney above by his second wife Abigail Knight of Falmouth, and born in Gorham Aug. 17, 1761. He is said to have lived in Buxton, but may have been the Joshua Whitney of Bridgton who on Dec. 16, 1793, sold to Israel Swett of Standish the 100-acre lot #53 in second division in Standish located on the Neck (21/104). Nothing further known. The name of Nathaniel Whitney appears on the 1795, 1796, and 1808 tax lists and in the 1800 census with a family consisting of two sons and one daughter under 10 years of age besides him and his wife, both of whom were between 26 and 45 years old. Undoubtedly he was the Nathan- iel Whitney born in Gorham June 20, 1769, son of Abel and Thankful (Morton) Whitney. On Mar. 16, 1794, he married Zilpha Martin, baptized in Eastham, Mass., Feb. 28, 1779, daughter of Bryan and Elizabeth (Higgins) Martin of Eastham and Standish. His twin sister Sarah Whitney [p. 311] married Robert Higgins of Standish. He died Apr. 21, 1844, age 75 years, in Standish. Children of Nathaniel and Zilpha (Martin) Whitney were as follows: i. REUBEN, born July 2, 1794. ii. HANNAH, born Oct. 14, 1796. iii. SIMEON, born Apr.12, 1799, living in 1860 in Harrison. iv. JOANNA, born Aug. 1, 1801, married Dec. 25, 1825, Joseph Stuart. v. NANCY, born Aug. 1, 1801, twin of Joanna. vi. JAMES, born Feb. 19, 1807. Simeon Whitney, whose name is found on the 1795 and 1796 tax lists was born in Gorham Feb. 9, 1774, son of Abel and Thankful (Morton) Whitney and hence brother of Nathaniel above. He did not live long in Standish and is said to have settled in eastern Maine. The name of Abel Whitney, father of Nathaniel and Simeon, is found on the 1795 and 1796 tax lists and in the 1800 census with a family consisting of him and his wife, both over 45, and one male child under 10 years of age. He was born in Biddeford Aug. 20, 1734, son of Nathan and Lydia (Young) Whitney, and on Dec. 16, 1758, married Thankful Morton, born about 1739 daughter of Bryant and Thankful (Parker) Morton of Cape Elizabeth and Gorham. He served in Capt. Josiah Jenkins' Company, Col. Brewer's 12th. Mass. Regiment in the Revolutionary. His death and that of his wife have not been discovered, but his name does not appear on the 1808 tax list. Children of Abel and Thankful (Morton) Whitney were as follows: i. JOSEPH, born May 1, 1760, died in Alfred with the Shakers Sept. 19, 1847. ii. LYDIA, born July 28, 1763, died in July 1767. iii. BETTY, born July 22, 1765, married Mar. 24, 1812, William Boynton Jr., born Dec. 18, 1766, son of William and Mary (McLu- cas) Boynton of Buxton (int. Nov. 10, 1792). They lived in Brown- field and had children Hannah, Thomas, William, Phineas, Sally, Mary, Jacob and Happy Boynton. iv. SARAH, born June 20, 1769, married (int. Sept. 19, 1789) Robert Higgins, born Jan. 17, 1769, son of William and Elizabeth (Young) Higgins of Standish. For children see Higgins family. v. NATHANIEL, born June 20, 1769, twin of Sarah, for particulars see above. He died Apr. 21, 1844, age 75 yrs., in Standish. vi. REUBEN, born July 21, 1771, married Mercy Baker, died in Litch- field Feb. 13, 1836. vii. SIMEON, born Feb. 9, 1774, went to eastern Maine after living a short while in Standish. viii. SUSANNA, born Apr. 2, 1776, married on Sept. 26, 1794, Benjamin Hale. ix. LEVI, born May 18, 1779, married Nov. 11, 1802, Happy Higgins and moved to Standish where his name is found on the 1808 tax list. x. LYDIA, born Apr. 30, 1782, married May 1,1803, Moses Starbird.
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