Archive:Civil War Pension File, Chester Adams Whitney
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Civil War Pension File of Chester Adams Whitney
Mother: Olive Whitney
Mother's Applic. # 131376 Cert. # 86798
National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
He is identified as Chester Adams8 Whitney (Gorham7, Reuben6, Abel5, Nathan4, Nathaniel3, Benjamin2, John1).
Corporal, Co. I, 2nd Maine Cavalry
On 10 July 1866 from Kennebec Co., Maine Olive Whitney, the mother of Chester Whitney, signed a Declaration for a Mother's Pension. She is 57 years old, the widow of Gorham Whitney, and a resident of Gardiner, Kennebec Co., Maine. Chester Whitney was a corporal in Company I commanded by Captain Haskell in the 2nd Regiment of Maine Cavalry. He died at or near Marianna, Florida on or about 27 September 1864 in the service and in the line of duty. He was taken prisoner and shot by the rebels. He left no widow or children under the age of sixteen. She was financially dependent upon her son in whole or part for five years prior to his death. During all of that time he contributed almost all of his earnings to her support. It was worth to her at least $8.00 per month, and was used by her to pay land rent and buy food, clothing and other necessities of life. When he enlisted, he gave her $50.00 of his bounty. She was not paid after he left the state, as she believes he could not send home any money. All the property she owns is a small house in which she lives, standing on land she does not own, but has to pay rent at $30.00 per year, and worth no more than four hundred dollars. She is in feeble health and is not able to work more than 2/3 of the time on account of neuralgia in the hip and lung disease. She has no other resources, source of income, or means of support other than her own earnings. Harriet O. Whitney and Zilpha E. Whitney, both of Gardiner (Note: her daughters), attest that what Olive has written in the declaration all its particulars is true.
Two witnesses provide testimony in support of the application. N. C. Mitchell and James Marsh testify on 10 July 1866. They are residents of Gardiner, Maine and have been intimately acquainted with Olive Whitney, the widow of Gorham Whitney, for seven years. Gorham Whitney died 14 May 1859. The confirm all of the information she has given in her declaration.
On 17 July 1866 from St. Charles, Minnesota the Lieutenant of Company I, 2nd Maine Cavalry (name not ascertained) provided an Officer's Certificate to Disability of Soldier. He certifies that he was well acquainted with Chester Whitney, late of Gardiner, Maine, who was in his company. He knows personally that Chester Whitney was an able bodied man when he entered the service. Chester was shot while in the service and in the line of duty at or near Marianna, Florida on or about 27 September 1864. He was captured in the battle at Marianna on that day. His horse was taken from him, and he was required to run by the side of the horse and keep up without taking hold of the stirrup. Being very weary and faint, he violated the order and took hold of the stirrup and was shot by the rebel in charge. The Lieutenant was not in the fight at the same time Chester was captured. He knew that Chester was missing, and some time after he was on the same ground and took pains to ascertain from the most reliable sources the above facts, which he has no doubt are correct.
On 20 September 1890, the U.S. Pension Agency in Augusta, Maine, informed the Commissioner of Pensions that the name of Olive Whitney, who was last paid at twelve dollars per month to 4 March 1890, has been dropped because of death on 31 March 1890.
Copyright © 2006, Kenneth L. Whitney and the Whitney Research Group
