Archive:Civil War Pension File, Isaac R. Whitney

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Archives > Archive:Military Records > Archive:Civil War, Pension Files > Civil War Pension File, Isaac R. Whitney

Civil War Pension File of Isaac R. Whitney
Widow: Elizabeth Whitney
Invalid Applic. # 97435 Cert. # 66053
Widow Applic. # 223492 Cert. # 185554
National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.

He is identified as Isaac Rogers8 Whitney (Obadiah Higgins7, Levi6, Abel5, Nathan4, Nathaniel3, Benjamin2, John1)


2nd Lieutenant, Company G, 16th Maine Infantry

Isaac R. Whitney signed a Claim for Invalid Pension on 4 December 1865 from Cumberland Co., Maine. He is twenty-five years old, and a resident of Portland, Maine. He had enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company G commanded by S.C. Belcher in the 16th Regiment of Maine Volunteers, and was honorably discharged on 20 December 1864. While in the service and in his line of duty, he had received a gunshot wound in the right leg above the knee. The ball entered on the outside and passed out on the inside of the leg. The leg is numb from the wound to the lower part of the knee. He finds considerable difficulty in walking down an inclined walk. The knee has not the usual strength. In wet weather it is very troublesome and becomes more easily tired than formerly. He was treated for his disability at Georgetown Seminary. He was wounded on 10 May 1864 at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia.

The War Department, Adjutant General's Office reports that Isaac R. Whitney was enrolled on 28 May 1862 at Windham in Co. F, 16th Regiment of Maine Volunteers, to serve three years. He was mustered in a Sergeant on 14 August 1862. He was reported sick in the hospital at Frederick, Maryland from September through December of 1862, and was then present for duty January through April of 1863. From 17 July 1863 through October 1863 he was sick at U.S.A General Hospital in Annapolis, Maryland. He was discharged 28 January 1864 for promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, Co. G, 16th Maine Regiment.

The War Department, Surgeon General's Office reports that 2nd Lieutenant Isaac R. Whitney received a slight wound of the right thigh at the battle near Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 8 through 15, 1864, He was admitted to Seminary General Hospital, Georgetown, D.C. from the field on 14 May 1864 with a gunshot wound to the lower third of the right thigh received at the Wilderness 10 May 1864, and furloughed 7 June 1864.

Elizabeth L. Whitney signed a Widow's Application for Army Pension on 15 September 1875 from Cumberland Co., Maine. She is thirty yeas old, and a resident of Deering, Cumberland Co., Maine. She is the widow of Isaac R. Whitney, who was 2nd Lieutenant, Co. G, 16th Maine Regiment, who died at Deering on 26 May 1875 from disease resulting from wounds he received in the service, and while in his line of duty. She was married to Isaac R. Whitney on 26 January 1867 at Portland, Maine by Irving W. Parker, J.P. Her name before her marriage was Elizabeth L. Varney. She has remained a widow since the death of her husband. Her children are: Mary Louise Whitney, born 13 July 1868; Willis C. Whitney, born 23 October 1869; and Frank L. Whitney, born 3 September 1871. All are residing in Deering with her. The petition is witnessed by John O. Winship and Luther Bradford.

Thomas J. Riggs, Town Clerk of Deering, Maine provides a certified copy of the town records of the births of the children of Isaac R. and Lizzie L. Whitney. They are as previously reported.

Fred Hawkes, Clerk of the Town of Windham, Maine provides a certified copy of the intentions of marriage between Isaac R. Whitney and Lizzie L. Varney. They were recorded in the Town Office on 12 January 1867 by J. Fellows, Town Clerk.

Irving W. Parker testified on 25 September 1877 from New York City, New York that in 1867 he was a resident of Portland Maine. He joined in marriage Isaac R. Whitney of Portland and Elizabeth L. Varney of Windham, Maine at his house at 213 Cumberland Street on or about 26 January 1867. According to his best knowledge, he never filed a certificate of the marriage in the Office of the Clerk of Portland. In a later deposition, he testifies that with the aid of his wife's memory, the marriage took place on 26 January 1867. The evening of that day was the stormiest of the season, and the snow fell to a great depth.

Elizabeth Whitney had to amend he application in order to change the reason for her husband's death. He did not die of the wound suffered during battle, but from disease which he contracted while in the service and in his line of duty. Much testimony is given by neighbors and acquaintances as to the condition of Isaac when he returned to Portland from his army service.

On 13 June 1876 from Danvers, Massachusetts, William W. Eaton, the former surgeon of the 16th Maine Regiment, testified concerning the health of Isaac R. Whitney during the war. He certified that Isaac was taken sick with inflammation of the larynx contracted by exposure on or about 1 October 1862. He was sent to the General Hospital at Frederick City, Maryland, where he remained about two months. On or about 13 April 1863, Isaac had an attack of jaundice which rendered him unfit for duty. About 20 July 1863 he was again taken sick with inflammation of the larynx and bronchial tubes and was sent to hospital in Alexandria, Virginia. On or about 10 May 1864 at Chancellorsville, he was wounded in the thigh by a musket ball and was sent to the General Hospital. He rejoined the regiment in the fall of 1864, but was in poor health, continually suffering from disease of his throat and lungs.

The Bureau of Pensions eventually awarded Elizabeth a pension of eight dollars per month commencing on 24 May 1865, and twelve dollars per month from 10 March 1886. In addition she was awarded two dollars per month for each child, until they reached the age of sixteen.

On 20 September 1916, Elizabeth notified the Commissioner of Pensions of a change in address. She now resides at 27 Townsend Street, Worcester, Massachusetts. Elizabeth was paid thirty dollars per month to 4 March 1921, and was dropped from the pension rolls due to her death on 4 May 1921.

Elizabeth's Certificate of Death is from the Town of Ware, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. She is recorded as having died there on 4 May 1921. She died at age 76 years, 2 months, 19 days from acute pleurisy. She had resided at 302 Pleasant St., Worcester, Massachusetts. She was buried at Hope Cemetery, Worcester. Her place of birth was Windham, Maine. Her father was Thomas Varney, born at Windham. Her mother was Mary L. Nason, born also at Windham.

Elizabeth's daughter, Mary Whitney of Ware, Massachusetts, applied for reimbursement for expenses for her mother's last illness and burial. She states that Elizabeth had lived in Worcester, but was visiting her in Ware when she died. She submitted expenses of $319.60. Frank L. Whitney and Mrs. Nettie E. Ball, both of 302 Pleasant St., Worcester, give testimony in support of the claim. The attending physician's statement dates the commencement of Elizabeth's last illness at December, 1920. He states that Elizabeth suffered from rectal cancer and pleurisy.


Copyright © 2006, Kenneth L. Whitney and the Whitney Research Group