Archive:Civil War Pension File, Joseph Whitney (1847-1908)
Archives > Archive:Military Records > Archive:Civil War, Pension Files > Civil War Pension File, Joseph Whitney (1847-1908)
Civil War Pension File of Joseph Whitney
Widow: Ida E. Whitney
Widow Applic. # 891875 Cert. # 658039
National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
I don't know how he and his parents connect to the Whitney family, and the census record of the family is confusing. The 1850 census for Waterville, Kennebec Co., Maine shows Aaron Whitney with son Joseph B., age 3. In the household are Deziah and John Dillingham. If Deziah is Joseph's mother, would she not be Deziah Whitney? Yet, in the pension file, Joseph's death certificate says Deziah Dillingham was Joseph's mother. Either Joseph was born to he a few years before the marriage, or she was Joseph's step-mother. If anyone has any knowledge of how Joseph and his parents connect to the Whitney family, I would appreciate the knowledge.
Private, Co. B, 2nd Maine Cavalry
Joseph Whitney enlisted in the army 16 November 1863, was mustered in 30 December 1863, and was discharged 6 December 1865. He lived in Fairfield, Somerset Co., Maine at the time of enlistment.
Joseph Whitney and Ida E. Wyman were married in Fairfield, Maine on 21 May 1869 by A. P. Fuller, Trial Justice. A copy of the birth certificate of their daughter, Grace M. Whitney, says that she was born 29 December 1893 in Canaan, Maine. (Another reference to her birth in the file says 1883.) Her father's name was Joseph Whitney, birthplace Fairfield, Maine, color white, residence Canaan, Maine, occupation farmer. Her mother's maiden name was Ida E. Wyman, birthplace Skowhegan, Maine, color white, occupation housekeeper.
The death certificate in the file says that Joseph B. Whitney died in Canaan, Maine 26 April 1908, age 60 years, 4 months, 4 days. (This means he was 15 years old when he enlisted.) He was born in Fairfield, Maine, where he was a farmer. His father was Aaron Whitney, a farmer, and his mother's maiden name was Deziah Dillingham. The cause of Joseph's death was pulmonary tuberculosis. In May of 1908, the widow Ida Whitney's address is RD2, Skowhegan, Somerset Co., Maine.
At some point after the death of Joseph, Ida was declared incompetent, and a guardian, Basil B. Ames, was appointed so that she could collect Joseph's pension. On 7 September 1926, Ida was said to be 77 years old. Ida died 10 September 1927.
Copyright © 2006, Kenneth L. Whitney and the Whitney Research Group
