Archive:War of 1812 Pension File, Stephen M. Whitney
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War of 1812 Pension File, Stephen M. Whitney
Application #SO30569
National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
He is identified as Stephen Merritt6 Whitney (Josiah5, Henry4, Josiah3, John2, Henry1)
Seaman, USS Schooner Governor Tompkins (Alleged)
Stephen M. Whitney submitted an application for a pension after service in the War of 1812 from Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania on 17 August 1876. He testifies that he is eighty-three years old, and a resident of Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He declares that his is married, and his current wife’s name was Ann Eliza Flintham, to whom he was married at Columbus, Ohio on 7 September 1851.
Stephen testifies that he served the full period of sixty days in the Naval/privateer service of the United States in the War of 1812. He was a seaman, and shipped in Captain Johnson’s Schooner “Tickler”, 1 gun, 25 men in June of 1812, and in the Schooner “Governor Tompkins”, 14 guns, 125 men, under Captain Joseph Skinner. He joined the Governor Tompkins in New York in the latter part of the summer of 1812, and was discharged at New York after a cruise of 2 or 3 months in 1812 in the West Indies, “during which time we were chased by British Frigate and had to throw overboard ten of our guns to escape. Sometime in the year 1814 shipped at Savannah, Ga. on Brig ‘James Monroe’ a Letter of Marque, 3 guns, Capt. Jos. Skinner; landed Cargo of Cotton in France and then cruised in Irish Channel capturing several prizes. One of these a British Brig from Oporto with cargo of wine was placed in charge of prise master and crew with the British Mate on board who continued to kill the prize master and convey vessel to London, where Captain Skinner demanded and reclaimed both vessel and cargo and took them to Bordeaux where I was placed in charge of her. This was near the close of the war.”
Stephen appointed as his attorney Leonard Whitney of Washington, D.C. for the purpose of prosecuting his claim for his pension. A. Q. Casselberry and Charles L. Whitney, both of Norristown, witnessed the notarizing of his declaration. It was filed on 19 August 1876, and was rejected on 28 February 1877 as follows: “Claim rejected for want of evidence of service. Name not found on Rolls of “Gov. Tompkins”. No such vessel as the “Tickler”.
Following is a transcription of a letter from Stephen M. Whitney to the Pension Board:
Norristown, Jany 15, 1877
- I don’t understand why my name not being in the shiping (sic) articles of the Schooner Gov. Tompkins of fourteen guns Capt. Joseph Skinner. I shipped before the mast on her first cruise. After we cruised in the West Indies for some length of time we went into Puerto Rico for supplies.
- The day after we sailed from Puerto Rico, we had an engagement with Gun Brig (If we had had the right kind of officer we would have taken her).
- After cruising several weeks longer, early one morning we found our selves close aboard of a British Frigate. The next thing to be done was to get away from her. After a day chase, and throwing overboard ten of guns, we succeeded in getting away, Our cruise now being broken up, we returned to New York.
- I never assumed another name than my own. I never received any land warrant or any other compensation. I was at sea all the war, but in Letter of Marque after I left the Govr. Tompkins.
- All of which is respectfully submitted,
- S. M. Whitney
The letter was stamped received at the Dept. of Interior Pension Office 17 Jan 1877. The pension was not granted, as stated above.
Hi Ken - I think I have the Stephen M. Whitney in my database. Here's what I have about Stephen Merit Whitney. All items center on central Ohio:
Knox Co. Obituary and Death Notices, pg.110. Capt. Stephen died 13 Mar., 1885. Washington (which?) Buried Mound View Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Knox Co. Mound View Cemetery is in Mt. Vernon, not Fredericktown as some sources have it. He is found in Phoenix as #1585, s/o Josiah and Hannah (Riggs). Born in Derby, CT 17 Feb., 1794. A Master-Mariner and married in Derby 22 Sep., 1822, Charlotte Lewis, d/o James and Hannah (Stone). Stephen was a resident of NY City 1808 to 1812 and followed the sea from 1812-1833 sailing to China. He settled in Gambier, Knox Co., OH in 1833, removed to Mt. Vernon, Knox Co. in 1835 where his wife died 19 Dec., 1848. They are both buried in Lot 67, Row 2, Section 6.
He moved to Columbus, Ohio and married there 7 Sep., 1851 Ann Eliza Weber of Jeffersonville, PA, she the d/o Christian & Charlotte (Casselberry) Weber of Norristown, PA. ( the IGI pg. 45, 403 shows a Stephen M. to have married a Ann E. Flintham, batch 513352, sheet 4306 in Franklin Co. where Columbus is located, on 7 Sep., 1852) In 1852 they removed to Salem, Columbia Co., OH and in 1864 to Norristown, PA where they were residing Apr., 1876. He made a pension application for the War of 1812, USS Schooner Tompkins and is also found in "Ohio Soldiers in the War of 1812"- Schrum, page 65.
Phoenix gives his children as Charles Lewis & Charlotte who were twins and born in Columbus, Ohio 19 June, 1852. Born at Salem, Columbiana Co. were Ada 1854, Rose 1856, Flora 1858, Edward Evans 6 May, 1862. He is found on the 1860 census of Perry Twp., Columbiana Co., OH.
O & D Notices, pg. 69 says his funeral was held at his daughter's home, she the wife of Dr. Woodard.
I didn't check this against Phoenix so only a small part is probably new. OH well ......
The O & D Notices also includes the information the Stephen was the father of Mrs. E. G. Woodward & Leonard Whitney of Mt. Vernon.
Notice the different spelling; Woodward and Woodard. Also the son is no doubt the Leonard who is the attorney in Washington, D.C. Could be that Stephen died there while trying to get his pension approved and his body was shipped to Ohio for burial.
Mt. Vernon, Clinton Twp., Knox Co., Ohio 1840 census. Page 374:
Stephen M. Whitney, 1 10-15, 1 20-30, 1 40-50 / 2 0-5, 1 5-10, 1 10-15, 3 15-20, 1 40-50
I haven't pursued this man since I found he wasn't mine. More census checks might help.
Ben (B.A. Whitney)
Copyright © 2006, Kenneth L. Whitney and the Whitney Research Group
