Family:Whitney, James (c1814-1864)

James Whitney, parentage unknown, was born about 1814 (but ca. 1816 by 1850 census, and ca. 1821 by 1860 census), Bowdoin, ME, and died on board the transport Continental at sea on 14 February 1864 while on passage from New Orleans to New York. He was buried at sea.

He married firstly, about 1848, Mary J. -----, born about 1826, died about 1855.

He married secondly, 2 Sep 1855, Brunswick, ME, Mary A. Crips. She was born about 1832, 1837, or 1831, ME, and died after 1866. She remarried 3 Mar 1866, (int. 13 Feb 1866, Bowdoin, ME) Isaac Crooker II, of Boston, MA. She may be identical to Mary Ann Crips, daughter of David and Eliza (Wescott) Crips, born 21 Feb 1824, Brunswick, ME, and have understated her age on the census records.

He served in the Civil War as a Private in Company B, 15th Maine Infantry. He enlisted 1 Oct 1861, and was discharged 1 Feb 1861. He was born in Bodin (sic), Maine, was forty-seven years old, five feet ten inches tall, with a dark complexion, dark eyes, and dark hair. He had been a farmer before enlistment.

Children of James and Mary J. (-----) Whitney:

i.	Sarah Whitney, b. ca. 1846, (probably Bowdoin), ME; d. between 1850 and 1864.
ii.	Mary Jane Whitney, b. 1850, (probably Bowdoin), ME; living in Lisbon, ME, 1864.
iii.	Stephen Henry Whitney, b. 14 May 1853, (probably Bowdoin), ME; living in Lisbon, ME, 1864.
iv.	James William Whitney, b. 1855, (probably Bowdoin), ME; living in Bowdoin, ME, 1864.

Children of James and Mary (Cripps) Whitney:

v.	Ida Marie Whitney, b. 29 Jun 1856, Bowdoin, ME.
vi.	Susan Emma Whitney, b. 8 Jul 1860, Bowdoin, ME.
vii.	Hiram E. Whitney, b. ca. 1858, Bowdoin, ME; d. bef. 1860.

Census

1850 U.S. Census, Bowdoin, Lincoln Co., ME, p. 320

  2    2 James Whitney 34 M Labourer 50   Maine
         Mary J "      24 F               "
         Sarah "        4 F               " school
         Mary "        6M F               "

1860 U.S. Census, Bowdoin, Sagadahoc Co., ME, p. 73

513  510 J Whitney     39 M Laborer 30 20 Maine
         Mary "        28 F               "
         Ida M. "       4 F               " school
         Hiram E. "     2 M               "

Note: Sarah Whitney may have been the one aged 15 living with the family of Benjamin Card in Bowdoin. Where Mary Jane was living is unknown. Stephen Henry Whitney may have been the "S. Whitney" aged 6 living in the family of H. A. Carr in Bowdoinham.

1870 U.S. Census, Ward 2, Bath, Sagadahoc Co., ME, p. 9

 64   64 Crooker, Isaac     40 M W Laborer                   ME  Citizen over 21
                  Mary      33 F W Keeping house             ME
                  Susan      9 F W At home                   ME  Attended school
                  Ida       12 F W    "                      ME  Attended school
                  James     28 M W Blacksmith                ME  Citizen over 21
                  Isabell   30 F W Keeping house        $200 ME
                  Judith    68 F W At home        $550    -  ME
                  Lucretia  53 F W    "                      ME

[Note: Susan and Ida are listed with surname Crooker, instead of Whitney]

1880 U.S. Census, Wesley Lane, Ward 2, Bath, Sagadahoc Co., ME, p. 37

321  392 Crooker, Isaac D.  W M 54          Mar Laborer                       Maine Me  Me
                  Mary A.   W F 49 Wife     Mar Keeping house                 Maine Me  Me
         Whitney, Ida M.    W F 23 Daughter Sgl Servant                       Maine Me  Me
                  Susie E.  W F 19 Daughter Sgl At home                       Maine Me  Me
         Crooker, Lucy A.   W F  8 Daughter Sgl At school     Attended school Maine Me  Me

Notes

Tim Doyle wrote the following.

Searching for his parentage, it is found that in 1840, both Uriah Whitney and Samuel Whitney were in Bowdoin and had males of this age range.

1840 U.S. Census, Bowdoin, Lincoln Co., ME, p. 314

Uriah Whitney 0000100001000-1000010001000

Samuel Whitney 1000300001000-1010300001000

Uriah Whitney was probably the man of that name, b. 18 Apr 1813; "of Bowdoin" m. (int. 9 Jan 1836, Lisbon, ME), Caroline Tebbetts "of Lisbon". He was the son of Jonathan Whitney (s1764-a1813). See Family:Whitney, Jonathan (s1764-a1813) for more on this family. However, Uriah was the man in the 20-30 age bracket, so this was probably not our James.

Samuel Whitney was probably the man of that name, b. 12 Sep 1793, Bowdoin, Maine, son of Ebenezer-6 Whitney (Samuel-5, Samuel-4, John-3, Benjamin-2, John-1). See Family:Whitney, Ebenezer (1762-1849) for more on this family.

Although we can't yet be sure, I suspect there's a chance that James, b. ca. 1816, was a son of this Samuel Whitney. If so, his ancestry would be: James-8, (perhaps) Samuel-7, Ebenezer-6, Samuel-5, Samuel-4, John-3, Benjamin-2, John-1. If anyone has any additional information the family of this Samuel, please let us know.

References

• All information from his widow's application for a pension.

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