WHITTIER, William 1790 US Census Winthrop 2-2-5-0-0

The following story is historical interpretation based on facts and documented family history. I hope you enjoy. Read on after the story for genealogical information.

 

We are too busy to visit right now! Go visit my Ma, Hannah Whittier. She abides good company. Elizabeth and I we just sold our land here in East Readfield to Deacon Levi Morrill and we are goin' to move to Mt. Vernon near where my brother Nathanial and his father-in-law, Jedediah Prescott,  just bought a big tract of land. I got a chance to build a house right on the stream up there and I think maybe I will run a mill there in the village. I ain't decided yet but I think that's a good chance for me. We got 15 kids and Elizabeth says she ain't done yet so we need a bigger house! Before we go though we gotta boil off this sap, and get everything done we can. We sure will miss livin' here on Whittier Pond near my Ma and big brother Nathaniel, but we feel the urge to move on. Stop by and visit if you ever get up to Mt. Vernon. My wife always leaves a candle glowin' for weary travelers and we vowed to each other we would keep the door unlatched. We remember what it was like when we moved up here into the wilderness and there wasn't no one to welcome us, so we want to be helpful when we can. Be sure to visit my Ma now - she will be happy to see you!

William Whittier's house in Mt. Vernon village
(on the left) is near his mill, at the end of a long
driveway between two other homes east of the mill.
A 2019 photo of Whittier house also pictured
below and below that is the mill.

William Whittier was born in 1752 in Salisbury, MA the 9th child of Nathaniel and Hannah (Clough) Whittier. He came to Readfield with his brothers, Thomas and Nathaniel, and father in 1765 to claim land in East Readfield. In 1774 he married Elizabeth Hankerson in Hallowell. She was a daughter of John and Dorcas (Wyman) Hankerson. William and Elizabeth lived in Readfield until about 1796. In 1802 they deeded their land in Readfield to Deacon Levi Morrill. William died in Mt. Vernon in 1814 and is buried in Mt. Vernon. The large house he built there, sawn at his own mill, is still standing next to the old mill in the village center. In the old days this was referred to as Whittier's Mills. Elizabeth died giving birth to their 16^th child, Samuel, on April 5, 1805. Children and years of birth are below the photos.

Children of William and Elizabeth (Hankerson) Whittier:

1) John b.1775 d.1842 Mt. Vernon m. Clymena Blake

2) Hannah b.1776 m. Daniel Ingham

3) Sarah b.1778

4) Dorcas b.1780 m1.Joseph Shaw m2.Joshua Stevens

5) Polly Porter b.1782 m. Daniel Thing

6) Betsey b.1784

7) Miriam b.1785

8) William b.1788 d.1873 Vienna m.1815 Fanny Cram

9) Abel b.1789 d.1873 Vienna m.1815 Dolly Barton Porter

10) James b.1791 d.1850 Pleasant Ridge, Somerset, ME m.1815 Sally Locke

11) Nathaniel b.1794 d.1822 Mt. Vernon m.1816 Nanna Bradley

12) Jesse b.1795 d.1848 River, Cleveland, NC m.1817 Sally Prescott

13) Betsey b.1798

14) Marion b.1800 m.1819 Stephen Barton Porter

15) Hannah b.1802 before 1870 Penobscot County, ME m. Stephen Abbott

16) Samuel b.1805 d.1884 Fremont, Nebraska m.1831 in Hope, ME Deborah Miservey