WHITTIER, Thomas 1790 US Census Winthrop 1-3-4-0-0

Visitors are welcome! Come back to visit again. Thomas will be glad to greet you! Oops - here he comes now! Maybe he will have some stories to tell by the time you come back again?!

In the meantime pay a visit to his brother Nathaniel Whittier and his mother Hannah Whittier and I bet they would love to tell you some stories about Thomas.

Well, I guess I could tell you a little bit about him while he is putting up his horse and taking his coat off. But be sure to still visit the rest of his family - they all love to have company out here in the wilderness!

Let's see now, seems like I remember that Thomas married Waitstill Bishop back in 1781 - she was a daughter of ole Squire Bishop over on Metcalf Road in Winthrop. They had a parcel of young'uns - TEN of em! Don't know how they managed to fit em all in that little log cabin of theirs! Maybe that's why after the youngest was born in 1802 Tom sold out to Joseph Carleton and moved on down nearer to the coast to look for a better livin' and a bigger house, I don't know for sure. He come from a coastal town down in Salisbury - maybe he felt a calling back to the sea. He died down there in Searsmont, Maine sometime around 1815. I heared tell he and Waitstill died about two months apart. Poor little Ruthie - she was only 13 years old when both her folks died! Let's see if I can remember all their kids names in order...
1) Porter b.1781
2) Benjamin b.1783
3) Lois b.1785
4) David b.1788
5) Hannah b.1790
6) Thomas b.1792
7) Waitstill b.1794
8) Elias b.1797
9) Betsey b.1798
10) Ruth  b.1802
Yep, well that's all I know for now but you never know - come back for another visit sometime and maybe there will be more to tell you!

WHITTIER, Nathaniel 1790 US Census Winthrop 2-4-6-0-0

Nathaniel Whittier was born 1743 in Raymond, NH, a son of Nathaniel and Hannah (Clough) Whittier. He, his father and brothers Thomas and William – and more than likely Benjamin - came to East Readfield in 1765 (then called Pondtown) - only one year after the very first settler came here to live in the Maine backwoods wilderness. This took courage and was an ambitious undertaking because they were entering into an unpopulated and unknown region. The "Whitcher" men, as the name was pronounced in the old days, cleared 20 acres of trees the first summer (in the area of Carleton Pond) then returned the following spring, burned the fallen timber and planted corn in unplowed soil. They were the first to clear and plant in this way and historians tell us they created quite a stir! You see, by then others had moved into this area and people came from miles away to see the corn crop with their own eyes as they could not imagine anyone being successful by planting this way. From then forward others followed the Whittier men’s lead and cleared and planted in the same way. This became such a common practice that the air was full of smoke in northern New England at times. “Good burns” became so popular in Maine that an occurrence happened, known as “dark day’, on May 19, 1780. On that day a vast canopy of thick smoke plunged northern New England into complete darkness (Joseph Baker of Readfield… by Dale Potter Clark, 2013).

Nathaniel and his father-in-law Jedediah Prescott built the first dam on the stream that feeds Carleton Pond. That provided the water power for Prescott's mills (on the Winthrop end) and the mill pond was known as Whittier Pond in those days (per Whittier Pond 1795 plan #52 Kennebec County Registry of Deeds). Thomas Whittier – Nathaniel’s brother - sold his land in Readfield to Joseph Carleton in 1802, who also operated mills at East Readfield. The mill pond was called Carleton after that time.

Nathaniel Whittier was a Revolutionary War veteran, a prominent citizen in this town and a devout Methodist. In 1788 he deeded land for East Readfield Cemetery to the people of Readfield. When the Methodist circuit rider, Rev. Jesse Lee, came to town for the first time in 1793, the meeting house was not yet built, so he preached his first sermon in Readfield at the home of Nathaniel Whittier. The first town meeting in 1771 was also held at the home of Nathaniel Whittier  - when Readfield was still a part of Winthrop.

Nathaniel's father-in-law Jedediah Prescott's original homestead was located not far from the Whittier's, on the Stanley Road, and is still standing (owned by Frake 2014).  Prescott later built a larger home on the corner of Metcalf and Stanley Road which is also still standing (owned by Bryant 2014). As mentioned earlier, he was a miller, but Prescott was also much in demand as a land surveyor in the early days, so he was privy to the availability of prime land as it opened to settlers and speculators. It is not

surprising, then, that in 1792 Nathaniel and Jedediah bought 112,118 acres of land - Wyman Plantation - which later became the town of Vienna. This inspired others in the family to move on. Nathaniel's brother, William, sold his homestead on the west shore of Whittier Pond, to Dea. Levi Morrill in 1801, and he moved to Mt. Vernon. His home still stands near the old mill in that village (owned by Cole 2014). Prescott sold his home in Winthrop in 1802 and moved to Mt. Vernon as well. Many direct descendants live in Vienna and Mt. Vernon to this day. One is Bonnie Gilman Parlin, pictured at left, standing next to Nathaniel Whittier's grave at East Readfield Cemetery.

Nathaniel remained in Readfield, where he died in 1798 and is buried with his wife and other family members in East Readfield Cemetery (see info extracted from his will below). His holdings were significant for the times. 

Eleven children of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Prescott) Whittier born in Chester and Raymond, NH: **

1) Hannah b.1769 d.1788 Raymond, NH
2) Mary b.1769 d.1836 Readfield m.1795 Samuel Page, Esq.
3) Jedediah b.1771 d.1842 Vienna, ME m.1795 Ruth Whittier (1^st cousin - d/o Benjamin)
4) Ruth Frances b.1773 d.1857 Vienna, ME
5) Thomas b.1775 d.1836 Waldo County, ME m.1796 Tamson Furber
6) Dorothy b.1777
7) Ruhamah b.1779
8) Abel b.1781 d.1829 Vienna, ME
9) Nathaniel b.1783 d.1869 Vienna, ME m1.1804 Nancy Merrill m2.1844 (Mrs. Joseph) Sarah Bodwell Jayne
10) Levi b.1786 d.1848 New Sharon, ME
11) Hannah b.1789 d.1817 Mt. Vernon, ME

** This is not a complete family register. Those who are interested in additional info i.e. death and marriage dates should pursue their own research. Information I have gathered thus far gives the children birthplaces as Chester and Raymond, NH. This is not consistent with the information about the Whittier brothers coming to Pondtown in 1765, so requires further research to prove or disprove. Additional info about these children can be gleaned from Nathaniel's will below.

Nathaniel Whittier's will probated in Lincoln County reads as follows:

Be it remembered that I Nathaniel Whittier of Readfield in the County of Lincoln and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Husbandman being weak in Body but of sound mind and memory do this tenth day of March Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninty-eight make and publish this my last Will and Testament in the following manner that is to say--

In the first place I give to my beloved Wife all my Household furniture exclusive of her Lawfull right of Dower in my Estate excepting my Clock

Also I give to my Daughter Mary Page forty Dollars to be paid in Household Furniture by my Executor hereafter to be named to be paid in one year after my Decease.

Also I give to my Son Jedediah Whittier fifty acres of Land lying in a place called Wyman Plantation in the County of Lincoln aforesaid it being the northwesterly End of Lot No. forty seven also one undivided third of Lot No. eighty two in said Plantation

Also I give to my Daughter Ruth Cochran ten Dollars to be paid by my said Executor within one year after my Decease

Also I give to my Son Thomas Whittier all my Stock Including my ??

Also I give to my Daughter Dorothy Johnson a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered one hundred and four

Also I give to my Daughter Ruhamah Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered ninty two also one hundred and fifty Dollars to be paid in household Furniture by my said Exector within one year after my Decease

Also I give to my Son Abel Whittier the northerly half of Lot No. fifty eight to be divided in the middle lengthways of said Lot also one undivided third of Lot No. eighty two said Lots lying in the aforesaid Plantation also one pair of Oxen measuring six feet and a good Cow and a good Suit of Cloaths to be Delivered to him by my Executor when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one Years until which time he said Abel shall work with my said Executor

Also I give to my Son Nathaniel Whittier the southerly half of Lot No. fifty eight excepting four Acres which I have sold off the Southeast Corner of said Lot also one undivided third of Lot No. eighty two said Lots lying in the aforesaid Plantation also a pair of Oxen measuring six feet and a Cow and a good Suit of Cloaths to be delivered to him by my said Executor when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one years untill which time he said Nathaniel shall work for said Executor

Also I give to my Son Levi Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered one hundred and seven also a pair of Oxen measuring six feet and a good Cow and a good Suit of Cloaths to be delivered to him by my said Executor when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one Years untill which time he said Levi shall work for my said Executor

Also I give to my Daughter Hannah Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbred ninty four also one hundred and fifty Dollars to be paid her in household Furniture to be Delivered to her by my said Executor when She shall arrive to the age of eighteen years untill which time she said Hannah is to be maintained by my said Executor including her Labour

Also I give to my Grandson Nathaniel Cochran a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered ninty eight

Also I give to my Grandson Cyrus Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered ninty six

Also I give to the Methodist Society in said Wyman Plantation two Plantation and to be paid by my said Executor. To the Committee who shall be appointed by said Society to Superintend said Building whenever it shall be needed for that use

Also I give to my Son Thomas Whittier all the Debts that may be owing to me at my Decease he paying to my Children and to the Methodist Society as before named also I give to my said Son Thomas Whittier all my Estate Real and Personal not herein before Bequeathed and Devised wherever the same may be found And lastly I do Constitute and Ordain my said Son Thomas Whittier sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament

In Testamony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and Year above Written Nathaniel Whittier

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said Nathaniel Whittier as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presents of us who at his request and in his presents hereunto set our names as Witneses to the same John Hubbard John Evens Samuel Judkins

Probated 31 May, 1798 . [VIII, 91.]

John Hubbard and Samuel Judkins , both of Readfield , sureties.

Be it remembered that I Nathaniel Whittier of Readfield in the County of Lincoln and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Husbandman being weak in Body but of sound mind and memory do this tenth day of March Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninty-eight make and publish this my last Will and Testament in the following manner that is to say--

Be it remembered that I Nathaniel Whittier of Readfield in the County of Lincoln and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Husbandman being weak in Body but of sound mind and memory do this tenth day of March Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninty-eight make and publish this my last Will and Testament in the following manner that is to say--

In the first place I give to my beloved Wife all my Household furniture exclusive of her Lawfull right of Dower in my Estate excepting my Clock

In the first place I give to my beloved Wife all my Household furniture exclusive of her Lawfull right of Dower in my Estate excepting my Clock

Also I give to my Daughter Mary Page forty Dollars to be paid in Household Furniture by my Executor hereafter to be named to be paid in one year after my Decease.

Also I give to my Daughter Mary Page forty Dollars to be paid in Household Furniture by my Executor hereafter to be named to be paid in one year after my Decease.

Also I give to my Son Jedediah Whittier fifty acres of Land lying in a place called Wyman Plantation in the County of Lincoln aforesaid it being the northwesterly End of Lot No. forty seven also one undivided third of Lot No. eighty two in said Plantation

Also I give to my Son Jedediah Whittier fifty acres of Land lying in a place called Wyman Plantation in the County of Lincoln aforesaid it being the northwesterly End of Lot No. forty seven also one undivided third of Lot No. eighty two in said Plantation

Also I give to my Daughter Ruth Cochran ten Dollars to be paid by my said Executor within one year after my Decease

Also I give to my Daughter Ruth Cochran ten Dollars to be paid by my said Executor within one year after my Decease

Also I give to my Son Thomas Whittier all my Stock Including my ??

Also I give to my Son Thomas Whittier all my Stock Including my ??

Also I give to my Daughter Dorothy Johnson a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered one hundred and four

Also I give to my Daughter Dorothy Johnson a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered one hundred and four

Also I give to my Daughter Ruhamah Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered ninty two also one hundred and fifty Dollars to be paid in household Furniture by my said Exector within one year after my Decease

Also I give to my Daughter Ruhamah Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered ninty two also one hundred and fifty Dollars to be paid in household Furniture by my said Exector within one year after my Decease

Also I give to my Son Abel Whittier the northerly half of Lot No. fifty eight to be divided in the middle lengthways of said Lot also one undivided third of Lot No. eighty two said Lots lying in the aforesaid Plantation also one pair of Oxen measuring six feet and a good Cow and a good Suit of Cloaths to be Delivered to him by my Executor when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one Years until which time he said Abel shall work with my said Executor

Also I give to my Son Abel Whittier the northerly half of Lot No. fifty eight to be divided in the middle lengthways of said Lot also one undivided third of Lot No. eighty two said Lots lying in the aforesaid Plantation also one pair of Oxen measuring six feet and a good Cow and a good Suit of Cloaths to be Delivered to him by my Executor when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one Years until which time he said Abel shall work with my said Executor

Also I give to my Son Nathaniel Whittier the southerly half of Lot No. fifty eight excepting four Acres which I have sold off the Southeast Corner of said Lot also one undivided third of Lot No. eighty two said Lots lying in the aforesaid Plantation also a pair of Oxen measuring six feet and a Cow and a good Suit of Cloaths to be delivered to him by my said Executor when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one years untill which time he said Nathaniel shall work for said Executor

Also I give to my Son Nathaniel Whittier the southerly half of Lot No. fifty eight excepting four Acres which I have sold off the Southeast Corner of said Lot also one undivided third of Lot No. eighty two said Lots lying in the aforesaid Plantation also a pair of Oxen measuring six feet and a Cow and a good Suit of Cloaths to be delivered to him by my said Executor when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one years untill which time he said Nathaniel shall work for said Executor

Also I give to my Son Levi Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered one hundred and seven also a pair of Oxen measuring six feet and a good Cow and a good Suit of Cloaths to be delivered to him by my said Executor when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one Years untill which time he said Levi shall work for my said Executor

Also I give to my Son Levi Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered one hundred and seven also a pair of Oxen measuring six feet and a good Cow and a good Suit of Cloaths to be delivered to him by my said Executor when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one Years untill which time he said Levi shall work for my said Executor

Also I give to my Daughter Hannah Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbred ninty four also one hundred and fifty Dollars to be paid her in household Furniture to be Delivered to her by my said Executor when She shall arrive to the age of eighteen years untill which time she said Hannah is to be maintained by my said Executor including her Labour

Also I give to my Daughter Hannah Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbred ninty four also one hundred and fifty Dollars to be paid her in household Furniture to be Delivered to her by my said Executor when She shall arrive to the age of eighteen years untill which time she said Hannah is to be maintained by my said Executor including her Labour

Also I give to my Grandson Nathaniel Cochran a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered ninty eight

Also I give to my Grandson Nathaniel Cochran a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered ninty eight

Also I give to my Grandson Cyrus Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered ninty six

Also I give to my Grandson Cyrus Whittier a Lot of Land lying in the aforesaid Plantation and numbered ninty six

Also I give to the Methodist Society in said Wyman Plantation two Plantation and to be paid by my said Executor. To the Committee who shall be appointed by said Society to Superintend said Building whenever it shall be needed for that use

Also I give to the Methodist Society in said Wyman Plantation two Plantation and to be paid by my said Executor. To the Committee who shall be appointed by said Society to Superintend said Building whenever it shall be needed for that use

Also I give to my Son Thomas Whittier all the Debts that may be owing to me at my Decease he paying to my Children and to the Methodist Society as before named also I give to my said Son Thomas Whittier all my Estate Real and Personal not herein before Bequeathed and Devised wherever the same may be found And lastly I do Constitute and Ordain my said Son Thomas Whittier sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament

Also I give to my Son Thomas Whittier all the Debts that may be owing to me at my Decease he paying to my Children and to the Methodist Society as before named also I give to my said Son Thomas Whittier all my Estate Real and Personal not herein before Bequeathed and Devised wherever the same may be found And lastly I do Constitute and Ordain my said Son Thomas Whittier sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament

In Testamony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and Year above Written Nathaniel Whittier

In Testamony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and Year above Written Nathaniel Whittier

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said Nathaniel Whittier as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presents of us who at his request and in his presents hereunto set our names as Witneses to the same John Hubbard John Evens Samuel Judkins

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said Nathaniel Whittier as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presents of us who at his request and in his presents hereunto set our names as Witneses to the same John Hubbard John Evens Samuel Judkins

Probated 31 May, 1798 . [VIII, 91.]

Probated 31 May, 1798 . [VIII, 91.]

John Hubbard and Samuel Judkins , both of Readfield , sureties.

John Hubbard and Samuel Judkins , both of Readfield , sureties.

WHITTIER, Moses

 

This square of the Moses Whittier house is one of the many included on the 1976 Bicentennial Quilt.
The masterpiece is on display at Maranacook Community High School in Readfield.


The North Road from Readfield Depot towards Mt. Vernon was called "Whitcher Road" in the early days because several members of this family lived there. Moses was the first, then his sons Moses, Jr. Josiah and Beniah settled on or near his homestead. Beniah carried on the original homestead then his son William H. H. Josiah and his son Hiram settled slightly north of the original farmhouse. Three of Moses daughters also married to local men and settled in Readfield and Mt. Vernon. Anna married Willoughby Taylor and lived in Mt. Vernon; Mary married Samuel Melvin and Lydia married Simeon Ladd, Jr. Both of them lived in Readfield.
We will be telling you more about this family soon so please do check back!

WHITTIER, Josiah

The White / Whittier homestead on Tallwood. This picture
was taken c1900.

Josiah married Samuel White's daughter, Sally, and they lived on the White homestead.  Josiah is anxious to tell you more but there is so much to share that he's got to think it over first. Besides, he can't right now... he has run out to the barn and do the chores! Come back for a visit later and maybe he'll have a cup of cider - he's got some brewing and it's probably about ready by now!

WHITTIER, Hannah, widow (Mrs. Nathaniel Whittier, Sr.)

The following is a story based on facts, a historical interpretation told from Hannah's perspective. I hope you enjoy it.

A woman's work is never done - especially since my Mister died! I'm sorry you chose my cooking day to stop by cause I'm most busy, but I can take a few minutes to tell you a little bit about myself!

Well, lets see, my Mister - his name was Nathaniel - and four of our boys came up here to God's country back in 1765 to see how the land looked. We'd lived in Salisbury and the land was all wore out down there. We couldn't even cut a tree on our own land without gettin' permission from the town fathers. So when we found out about this land the Kennebec Proprietors were offerin' up heah in the backcountry of Maine my Mister decided he wanted to look it ovah. Well, the  menfolk liked what they saw - you will have to visit my boy Nathaniel if you want to hear that story. He's quite a storyteller and he'd like your company too. My boys Thomas and William might be home too if you check in with them. They was all theah with my Mister when it happened.

Well, we moved up heah into this forsaken place. The land was all black from the great burn and bare as could be from all the cuttin' the boys done. Thank the good Lord my young'uns were all growed by that time, but my daughters-in-law - they didn't have it easy. Mrs. Nathaniel - well she had 11 to take care of, and Mrs. Thomas she had 10 and Mrs. William - well she had the most. 16 young'uns! This hill was crawlin' with Whicher kids for some years! Thank the goodness there were plenty of girls so my daughters-in-law had plenty of help. Twas so much for us womenfolk to do when we first moved up heah. The menfolk had to get the land cleared, the barns and our frame houses built, crops planted and harvested, ice cut for the ice house. My land - we didn't see em from sunrise to sunset. So, us womenfolk had to keep the home fires a burnin', take care of the young'uns, do all the washin' and cookin' and cleanin' and make soap and all that, and take care of the milkin' and animals besides. And I always stood watch for Indians every minute!

Now I am a gonna tell you a story that is hard for me to tell, but I think you ought to know about it! I got kidnapped by Indians when I was a young girl back durin' the French and Indian War, so I was always scared to death we'd get into Indians up here in the wilderness! I was knee high to a grasshopper when they snuck right onto our farm in Salisbury and took me all the way up to an encampment up here in Maine on Sandy River - my boys tell me that is where Farmington Falls is now. I thought it was awful pretty there - I could see the distant mountains from there, and the fertile intervales were somethin' to behold. The Indians raised corn there. There were mighty big trees and a quiet little winding river folks call the Sandy River now. I was made to work in the fields - I don't know for how long but it seemed like forever! I finally escaped - and I can't even tell you how or what happened I was so scared. But I made it back to Salisbury with my scalp still intact and married my Mister when I was only 16. Then I gave him 10 healthy young'uns and what did he do but drag me and our all our family up here into Indian country, and then he went and died on me in 1784. My oldest - Ben even went on up and settled right where those wretched Indians carried me to when I was a girl! I kind of blame Stephen Titcomb's wife for that! Titcombs were the first to settle up there in Sandy River Plantation - they call it Farmington now - and one time when Stephen and his wife and children were passin' through here, on their way home from Hallowell, a big snowstorm set in and they got stranded here in Readfield for four months til spring. The the men went on ahead on snowshoes but  that Mrs. Titcomb and the young'uns stayed here and she filled everybody about how beautiful it was up in there on the Sandy River and about all the land there was. I personally think she was just lonesome and wanted other women folk around and a bunch of young'uns so she could get a school agoin' for hers, but I will never know for sure. Well, whatever she said to Benjamin worked and off he - and a whole lot of other Readfield folks - went to live in Sandy River Valley - right smack dab in the middle of where those cursed Indians carried me to when I was a girl! Who'd have ever thought somethin' like that could happen? Land to glory be what will I do? Thanks be I had my other boys when my Mister died and 37 of my grandkids livin' nearby cause they watched out for me!

I've been pretty lucky about my kids - bettah than some. I know where most of em are - even though Nathaniel is the only one who still lives near me. I lost my boy Abel durin' the great Rebellion and I was afeared I'd lose the others, but they all came home. I lost track of where my Marion went. She married that Sam Shaw and they don't stay in touch with me very good. William and Thomas even moved on. I never thought they would leave me. I'm not complainin' though. They are all good kids blessed be to God.

Well that's enough for now! Come back another time when I have the time to sit down and have a cup of tea with ye - if the Indians ain't carried me off, that is!

Children of Nathaniel and Hannah (Clough) Whittier:
1) Benjamin b.1736 d.1822 Farmington m.1755 Mary Joy
2) Mary b.1739 m. Porter Kimball
3) Ruth b.1741 d.1833 m.1761 David Brown
4) Nathaniel b.1743 d.1798 Readfield m. Elizabeth Prescott
5) Hannah b.1744 d.1834 Palermo, ME m.1760 Edward Eastman
6) Sarah b.1746 d.1811 Winthrop, ME m.1778 Jonathan Whiting
7) Thomas b.1747 d.1815 Searsmont, ME m.1781 Waitstill Bishop
8) Miriam b.1749 m. Samuel Shaw
9) William b.1752 d.1814 Mt. Vernon, ME m.1774 Elizabeth Hankerson
10) Abel b.1754 d.1776 St. John, New Brunswick

WHITE, Samuel

Samuel and Mary Wyman White are buried here.
Their graves are marked with fieldstones.

Samuel White was born 1768 in MA the son of William and Rachel Coffin White. He settled early in Winthrop on lot# 99 near Waugh's Landing - on the same lot as Henry Wyman. He married Mary Jane Wyman of Sterling, MA at Readfield 17 Sep 1793.  Their land was in the same area as that of Robert Waugh and Ransford Smith. Samuel and Mary's daughter, Sally, married to Josiah Whittier and they also settled in that location. Mary Jane died 14 May 1817 and Samuel m2. Rachel Huntoon Craig 21 July 1817. There were 8 children by his first marriage and 2 with Rachel, who had seven children by her first marriage to Thomas Craig. After Rachel and Samuel were married they lived in Rachel’s home at Readfield Corner – see Thomas Craig for more. Samuel died in 1850 and is buried with Mary in Whittier Cemetery - their graves are marked with fieldstones. William (his father) died in Readfield and is probably buried in one of the unmarked graves at Whittier Cemetery as well. Rachel died 17 Nov 1848 and was laid to rest at Readfield Corner Cemetery with her first husband.
Children of Samuel and Mary Wyman White:
1. Sarah (Sally) b.1795 m. Josiah Whittier
2. Henry b.1797
3. Samuel Jr. b.1801
4. Clarissa b.1804
5. Nancy b.1806 m. 1826 Thomas Jefferson Craig (her step brother) s/o Thomas and Rachel Craig
6. Mary b.1811
7. Rachel b.1812
8. William b.1816
Twin children of Samuel and Rachel Huntoon Craig White:
9. Betsey b.8/171818
10. Emeline b.8/17/1818

WHEELER, Morris

This section of a 1942 topographical map of Readfield
shows the general area of lot #221 in Winthrop where
Mary Wheeler and her son James settled on the west shore
of Lake Maranacook. Their lot would have been in the
vicinity that lies across the reach from present day Tallwood.

Morris Wheeler was born in Ireland and a veteran of the French and Indian War. He enlisted in 1754 with Capt. James Howard to help garrison Fort Western on the Kennebec River in Hallowell (now Augusta), Maine. Wheeler was granted lot # 31 on the west side of the Kennebec River in Hallowell October 12, 1763.[i] His wife was Mary and they had a (name unknown) daughter and a son whose name was James. Morris Wheeler later settled in the northeasterly section of Winthrop / Readfield;[ii]  then in 1783 he bought 45 acres - part of lot #221 from Ephraim Stevens of Winthrop.[iii]  This land was finally deeded (for payment of $300) to his wife Mary, “labourer”, by Ephraim and Sibbel Stevens (then from) Litchfield, ME in 1803.[iv] Lot #221 bordered on the west shore of Lake Maranacook (then called Chandlers Pond) very near the Readfield / Winthrop town line.[v] According to Winthrop historian Everett Stackpole, Morris Wheeler surrendered his farm to his wife Mary. This is corroborated by a deposition given in 1814 (upon request of David and Pamela Atkins) by a neighbor, John Gray[vi] in which he testified the following:

                I John Gray of Kingsville (Troy), Maine in the county of Kennebec of lawful age do testify and say that about twenty-nine years ago when I lived in the town of Winthrop in the country of Lincoln now Kennebec, Mary Wheeler, wife of Morris Wheeler, applied to me to assist her in purchasing a piece of land and I at her request went and agreed with Ephraim Stevens for a certain piece of land which is the same land that David Atkins now lives on in said Winthrop, and the said Mary Wheeler a short time afterwards went down with me to said Stevens in order to close the bargain with him for land, her husband being absent, she carried with her a quantity of clothing principally women’s wearing apparel, which she delivered to said Stevens in partial  payment for said land, which then had a small dwelling house on the premises into  which she the said Mary Wheeler and her daughter immediately moved and lived for about five or six weeks when her husband Morris Wheeler came to Winthrop and lived on said place with her for about eighteen months when he came to my house and told me he was about to leave his wife and that he would live with her no longer and wished for me to purchase some of his tools, he at that time sold all his tools, crops and other movables and left the town and returned again in about six months apparently very poor. I was then at the house where they lived and heard said Morris Wheeler tell his wife that if she would finish paying for said land that she might have it and take a deed in her name and he would have nothing to do with it and that she might have it for herself and heirs as she had done so well in taking care of the property in his absence and furthermore your deponent sayeth not.

Morris Wheeler went to live with relatives in Readfield and died there in 1817. His descendants claim that he lived to the unusually old age of 115 years.[vii]

James Wheeler, the only son of Morris and Mary Wheeler, was a seaman in his youth. Every winter he went to Harpswell, ME for a load of fish and clams then peddled them out on the way back home to Winthrop. He married Hannah __?__.  Children:[viii]

1)      Emeline b.1808 d.1816; 2) Caroline b.1811; 3) Hannah b.1813 d.1824; 4) Sarah Partridge b.1814 d. 1887; 5) Lorinda b.1815; 6) Samuel Wood b. 1817; 7) Emily b. 1819 m. 1854 to James Rice of Waterville; 8) George Washington b. 1820; 9) Morris b. 1822 He was a sailor and was lost at sea; 10) Susan b.1824; 11) Angeline b.1826; 12) Enoch Wood b.1829; 13) Rosanna b.1832 m. 1853 Luther Wentworth.

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[i] North, James H; History of Augusta, ME pub. 1870; Reprint by The New England History Press, Somersworth, NH in 1981; page 100

[ii] Stackpole, Everett; History of Winthrop, Maine with Genealogical Notes by David & Elizabeth Keene; Heritage Books, Inc. Bowie, MD 1994; page 657 In 1791 this section became Readfield then in 1850 it was set off to Manchester.

[iii] Stackpole page 657

[iv] Kennebec County Registry of Deeds; Book 5 Page 1 4/5/1803

[v] 1771 Jones surveyors plan of Winthrop. In 2013 this lot is the first one across the Winthrop / Readfield town line on the west shore of Lake Maranacook.

[vi] Kennebec County Registry of Deeds; Book 18 Page 343 3/14/1814

[vii] Stackpole page 657 and North page 100

[viii] Stackpole page 658