Family:Whitney, Benjamin (1725-1797)

Benjamin⁴ Whitney (Joshua³, Benjamin², John¹), son of Joshua³ and Hannah (Rockett) Whitney, was born 22 May 1725, Brunswick or York, Maine, or born 2 Jun 1725, York, Maine, died 8 Nov 1797, Lisbon Falls, ME, and buried Lisbon, Maine.

Marriage intentions for him and Jean Brown "of Georgetown, Maine" were published 16 Mar 1751, Brunswick, Maine. She was born circa 1731, possibly Georgetown, Maine, and died circa 1751. She was also known as Jane Brown. Since no marriage date is given, just the publishing of intentions, it is possible to surmise that either this woman died before the marriage took place, or, if it did take place, then soon after -- because Benjamin then married Mercy Hinckley in July of 1752.

Marriage intentions for him and Mercy Hinckley were published 15 Jun 1752, Brunswick, Maine. He married, 25 Jul 1752, Brunswick, Maine, Mercy Hinckley, daughter of Shubael and Mercy (Smith) Hinckley. She was born 7 or 23 Oct 1734, York or Brunswick, Maine, and died 13 Nov 1814, Lisbon Falls, ME. She was buried at Lisbon, Maine.

He and Mercy Hinckley resided Lisbon Falls, Androscoggin County, Maine. He resided in 1752 York, Maine. He was a petitioner for protection during the French and Indian War, 22 Apr 1755, Kennebec River, Maine. He owned a farm and the first grist mill in Lisbon (Falls), Androscoggin, Maine. He "served in Rv. War with son Jacob."

Pierce says the following:^[1]

He was born in York, Me., and settled in Little River, Lisbon, Me. He was part owner of the first grist mill there, and during his lifetime was the miller. He served in the Revolutionary war. The Benjamin WHITNEY mentioned above, son of John and Lettis, settled at Little River, now Lisbon Falls. His wife was Mercy HINCKLEY. I have three accounts of this couple. One copied from a printed town history gives the births and deaths; Benjamin, b. May 22, 1725; d. Nov. 8, 1797; Mercy H., b. Oct. 23, 1734; d. Nov. 13, 1814. The town clerk at Lisbon Falls, Benjamin's birth (copied) June 2, 1727, but Mr. Jacob WHITNEY, of Lisbon, Me., wrote in 1882, as follows: "There were three brothers who came to Brunswick, Me.; one went into the eastern part of the state; one settled in Gorham, Me., and the third remained at Brunswick, at a place called New Meadows. This last one had a son named Benjamin, my ancestor." He was born in 1725, and married Mercy HINKLEY, of Brunswick. They moved to Lisbon and had eleven children, as follows: Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rachel, Jacob, Benjamin, Isabel, Nathan, Joseph, Samuel, and Thankful. Samuel, Thankful, Abraham, Isaac, and Sarah all remained in Lisbon; Jacob, Joseph, Rachel, and Isabel settled in Phillips, Me.; Nathan in Augusta, and Benjamin in Bowdoin. Joseph afterward moved to Ohio.

Benjamin⁴ and Jean (Brown) Whitney had no children.

Children of Benjamin⁴ and Mercy (Hinckley) Whitney:

i.	Abraham5 Whitney, b. 19 Aug 1753, Brunswick, ME; d. 30 Sep 1831, Waterford, ME; m. Apphia Coombs.
ii.	Sarah Whitney; b. 4 May 1755, Georgetown or Harpswell, Maine.
iii.	Isaac Whitney, b. 22 May 1757, Harpswell, Maine; d. 29 Jan 1850, Lisbon Falls, ME; m. Sarah Trufant.
iv.	Rebecca Whitney; b. circa 1759; b. 15 Apr 1759, Georgetown, Maine; b. circa 1760.
v.	Rachel Whitney, b. 25 Apr 1761, Georgetown, ME, m. Miller Hinckley.
vi.	Jacob Whitney, b. 11 Jun 1763, Lisbon, ME, d. May 1846, Phillips, ME; m. Hannah Mills.
vii.	Isabella Whitney, b. 2 Aug 1765, Lisbon, ME, d. 14 Sep 1843, Phillips, ME; m. Increase blethen.
viii.	Nathan Whitney, b. circa 1768; d. Sep 1849; m.(1) Sarah Godfrey; m.(2) Fannie D. Shephard.
ix.	Benjamin Whitney, b. circa 1769; m. Mary Varnum.
x.	Joseph Whitney, b. 1 May 1770, Lisbon, ME; d. 29 Jul 1858, OH; m. Rebecca Stinchfield.
xi.	Samuel Lumber Whitney, b. 6 Feb 1774, Lisbon, ME; d. 9 Oct 1846, Lisbon, ME; m. Lydia Curtis.
xii.	Thankful Whitney; b. circa 1770, b. circa 1776; m. 1796, Lewiston, ME, Zebulon Colson; marriage intentions for her and Zebulon Colson were published 1 Sep 1796, Lisbon, ME, both "of Little River"; marriage intentions for herand Zebulon Colson were published 1 Sep 1796, Topsham, ME, "both of Little River Plantation."

Census

• 1790: Little River, Lincoln Co., ME: Benjamin Whitney, 3 males over 16, 1 male 0-15, and 6 females.

References

1.^  Frederick C. Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635 (Chicago, IL: The Author, 1895), p. 61.

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Copyright © 1999, 2006, 2007, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group