Richard Whitten (abt. 1763 - 1845)

Born about 1763 in Scarborough, Maine

Husband of Mercy (Jose) Whitten — married 3 Nov 1785 in Second Congregational Church in Scarbrough Maine

Descendants

Died 11 Apr 1845 at about age 82 in Troy, Waldo, Maine

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Adrian Stanley [send private message] and Keith Whitten [send private message]

Biography

Private Richard Whitten served with 2nd Massachusetts Regiment (1777), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Richard Whitten is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-319347
Rank: Private

Richard Whitten is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A125456.

Whitten: It is claimed the three brothers, Thomas, Samuel and John, emigrated from England early in the 17th century; settled in N. H. John married an English lady, Margaret McRoy, to whom was born a son Richard, [1763] 1751. He m. Mercy Jose, Scarborough, Me., Nov. 22, 1766 [should be m. 3 Nov 1785]; d. April 3, 1845. Page 412 History of Parsonsfield [Maine]

Note: Many families in New England also share the family lore of three brothers arriving on ship, being shipwrecked or jumping ship before reaching land or actually landing with the ship. The Richard Whitten descendants who have YDNA tested are no relation to the Whidden family who settled in New Hampshire and their DNA tested descendants. Mercy Jose does have a connection to the New Hampshire Whiddons (through her great grandmother Alice Whiddon and does have descendants who match to the Whiddon's of New Hampshire autosomally.

1795 Plan of Parsonsfield.

Richard was born in 1763 [Revolutionary War Pension Records] or possibly even as early as 1751 [Noted: 1751 date is from Grave Stone] (see research notes below). He married Mercy Jose on November 3, 1785.^[1][2] "Colonel Simon Jordan Whitten, was the eldest son of Richard and Mercy (Jose) Whitten and was born in Scarboro, Maine. His parents soon after moved to Cornish, Maine, then to Parsonfield, and in 1833 they removed to Troy, Maine, where Mr. Richard Whitten died, June 3, 1845 . He (Richard) was a soldier in the Revolutionary War."^[3] Richard is listed, along with a James Whitten as being settlers of Cornish prior to 1794.^[4]

Noted: Born 1763-4, Scarboro; ... from Buxton...1790 Census; ... tax list 1794 Cornish, after 1826 removed to Unity, Me. then to Troy. page 122; Early Families of Cornish, Maine. by Robert L. Taylor.[1993] Piction Press.

1859 Whitten's at Troy.

Revolutionary Service Information

Richard Whitten was a soldier of the American Revolution. He enlisted 1 April 1782, serving in 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, Col. Sproat's Regiment, Captain Williams. He was serving under Col. Jackson when he was discharged on 20 June 1784.^[5] Whitten Richard "Each applicant for pension was required to make an affidavit of his services and present conditions for record in the Court and to be transmitted to the office of the Secretary of War. These affidavits in York County were arranged alphabetically and recorded in the Common Pleas Records, vol. 38, pp. 254-506, by Daniel Sewall, clerk."^[6]

Soldiers, Sailors, and Patriots of the Revolutionary War ~ Maine, page 858, Whitten, Richard, MA, e Scarborourh, b Scarborough 1763, Col Sprout's regt, r Cornish, d Troy, bur Unity, m Mercy 1[s38462]; 3S; 4S; 5S; CL-2, 144: 277; CL-49; MOCA

Richard Whitten removed to Troy, Maine, in the year 1833. " ... 17th day of March 1835, have since and am now an inhabitant of the State of Maine, residing in Troy aforesaid, where I have resided for two years past. ..." Richard Whitten "Maine Revolutionary War Bounty Land Applications, 1835-1838," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893N-D9QX-T?cc=1881491&wc=QDRZ-1FM%3A1589653966 : 7 October 2016), Waterhouse, Joseph-Williams, Lemuel box 19 > image 357 of 412; citing Maine State Archives, Augusta.

Land Grant Application- Warren, Daniel (Limerick) Richard Whitten's acknowledgement of his affidavit for Daniel Warren's Rev. War pension application [Richard Whitten age 55 of Cornish, dated 19 June 1818.] https://digitalmaine.com/revolutionary_war_me_land_office/935/

Noted On his pension application, 5 July 1820, he states he is aged fifty seven years, resident of Cornish...

Richard Whitten, aged 57, of Cornish, July 5, 1820. Private in Capt. Williams's Co., Col. Sprout's Regt., Mass. line. Original declaration made Apr. 13, 1818. Pension No. 7,468. Affirmed. Family: Mercy, wife, aged 55; Richard, son, aged 16; Samuel, son, aged 14; Mary, daughter, aged 12. (496)Revolutionary Soldiers of York County^[7]

"Maine, Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXQ8-7JV : accessed 29 April 2016), Richard Whitten, 1845; citing Death, , State Archives, Augusta; FHL microfilm 1,001,838. Click for larger image.

He is also mentioned in his GrGrand daughters NSDAR book entry:

Lydia Armine Whitten Bridges

1790 Census

"United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYY-94GN?cc=1803959&wc=3XT9-3B7%3A1584070931%2C1584070997%2C1584071552 : 14 May 2015), Maine > York > Buxton > image 2 of 3; citing NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Cornish Tax List, 1794

Source: Harry Edward Mitchell, et al., comp., The town register: Standish, Baldwin, Cornish, Limerick, Limington, 1905 (Brunswick, Me., The H. E. Mitchell Co., 1905). https://archives.mainegenealogy.net/2009/11/cornish-tax-list-1794.html

1810 Census

"United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYD-STZR?cc=1803765&wc=QZZC-BV1%3A1588182202%2C1588180001%2C1588182444 : 1 December 2015), Maine > York > Cornish > image 7 of 7; citing NARA microfilm publication M252, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

1820 Census

A William Whitten is listed next to Richard in the 1820 Census. Since the Census pages seem to reflect an alphabetical listing, these two Whitten's may or may not live near each other in Cornish.

"United States Census, 1820", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLG-48K : accessed 30 April 2016), Richard Whitten, 1820.

1830 Census

Richard Whitten [Jr.] age 20 to 30 appears in the 1830 Census of Cornish, York County, Maine.

"United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH55-ZCM : accessed 30 April 2016), Richard Whitten, Cornish, York, Maine, United States; citing 300, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 52; FHL microfilm 497,948.

1837 Census

a Richard Whitten appears in the 1837 Census of Troy, Waldo County, Maine. Troy past & present : 1793, 1827-1977 by Mitchell, Edith M., comp; Mitchell, Leola A., joint comp https://archive.org/details/troypastpresent100mitc/page/132/mode/2up

1840 Census

Richard Whitten Sr. appears in the 1840 Census as the elder gentleman living in his son Richard's household. Richard Whitten Jr. is Head of Household. Noted; Second page Richard Whitten, Revolutionary War Pensioner aged 77 [b. 1763].

"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT6-29R : accessed 29 April 2016), Richard Whitten, Troy, Waldo, Maine, United States; citing p. 286, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 153; FHL microfilm 9,709. Click for larger image.

Second Page CITATION "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-25145-28089-86?cc=1786457 : accessed 26 May 2016), Maine > Waldo > Troy > image 10 of 16; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Richard Whitten, Troy listed in Census Pensioners for Revolutionary and Military Services returned under the Act for the Taking the Sixth Census in 1840, State of Maine, York County. ^[9]

Burial Information

He passed away in 1845. "Served in the Revolution"^[10]Whitten, Richard, MA e Scarborough b Scarborough 1763, Col Sprout's regt r Cornish 1820 d Troy 1845 bur Unity m Mercy 1[S38462]; 3S; 4S; 5S; CL-2; 144: 277; CL-49; MOCA^[11]From this information we see that he was living in Scarboroung at the time of the Revolution. Richard was buried in Unity, Maine.^[12]Richards plat location in Fowler cemetery is Row 1, F^[13]

Research Notes

• Whittens of Troy research

Possible Parents

• In a History of York County, Maine: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, p. 343, W. Woodford Clayton, Higginson Book Company, 1880 - York County (Me.)[7] Richard and a James Whitten are listed as settlers of Cornish Maine prior to 1794. Could James be a brother? Father?

• From Kieth Whitten's Ancestry Tree -

Parents:

Thomas Jefferson Whitten 3rd, 1719–1794 (Thomas Jefferson Witten lived in Maryland so is not the correct Thomas Witten to be the father of Richard See Thomas Jefferson Witten, 1719-1794) - this is a mis-attribution.

m. Margaret McRoy, 1723–1802

Spouse:

Mercy Jose, 1761–1845

Children

• Some of the Children as School teachers in Parsonfield, ME.

Children From Kieth Whitten's Ancestry Tree :

Simon Jordan Whitten 1786–1859

William Whitten 1791–1880

hannah whitten 1794–1888

betsey whitten 1795–

Ivory Whitten 1800–1885

Samuel h Whitten 1803–1877

richard eli whitten jr 1804–1860

Mary Whitten 1807–

Birthdate

As to Richard's birthdate? See highlighted notes in the Body of the Bio Section. It could be 1763 and it could be 1751. The 1820 Census lists him as between 26 and 45 years of age. The 1830 Census lists him as being between 70 and 80 years of age (unless my eyes are seeing things). So his DOB varies widely. I have no doubt that the three profiles represent the same man. Please merge and as new information and sources are discovered we can tighten up the DOB. I will be back round to this, remove this note and incorporate data into Bio Body. Thanks! Gaulden-7 10:25, 28 May 2016 (EDT)

Orphaned Nephews

Richard may have purchased his nephews, possible uncle Ebeneezer Whitten and Elisha Whitten. See their profiles for this theory.

Other Whittens - Connections

• Samuel (2), son of Samuel (1) Whitten, was born in Arundel, about 1760...In 1790, Joseph, Israel and Samuel were the heads of families of this name living in Arundel. In Arundel the spelling Whitten has been followed, but in the vicinity we find Whittum, Whitton and Whidden.' Some of the family settled at Alfred, before 1767. John Whitten married, at Alfred. Maine, before 1767. John Whitten married, at Alfred, April 27,, 1767, Sarah Hodgden ; Mary Whitten married there, November 30, 1768, Richard Dearborn ;Richard Whitten married there, November 3, 1784. Mercy Jose. The latter settled at Parsonfield, and was ancestor of the Parsfield family of Whittens."^[14]

• Other Whitten's listed in the Second Church of Scarborough Marriages, 1744-1800 - Please see Whitten Family of Troy Maine

• Richard Whitten on Geni Lists his birth as Scarborough, Cumberland County Maine, 1751.

War Information

• Richard Whitten - "Whitten, Richard - Cornish - YCCR (York County Court Records)"^[15]

• Richard Whitten - "Whitten, Richard - Troy - Maine (Maine Land Grant)"^[16]

• Massachusetts soldiers and sailors of the revolutionary war. A compilation from the archives by Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State Published 1896 Volume 17 Publisher Boston, Wright and Potter Printing Co., State Printers [8]

• Richard Whitten age 55 _ 19 June 1818 _ "Maine Revolutionary War Bounty Land Applications, 1835-1838," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-993N-DWTW?cc=1881491&wc=QDRZ-1XB%3A1589653962 : 7 October 2016), Thayer, Peter-Wasson, Thomas box 18 > image 468 of 508; citing Maine State Archives, Augusta.

Whitten Cemetery(s)

• Whitten Cemetery, Mountville, Waldo Maine. I have seen notes about a Whitten Cemetery in Troy as well - most of the notes relate to it's location, but that no one has been able to find it. Gaulden-7 11:42, 24 May 2016 (EDT),
• Whitten Cemetery - A small family cemetery about 0.4 miles north of the North Dixmont Road on a dirt track. The dirt track is about 0.3 miles west of the Dixmont Town Line.[9] Whitten Cemetery help Ivory Whitten
• Fowler Cemetery

Sources

1. ↑ Maine Genealogy Archives, Second Church of Scarborough Marriages, 1744-1800, Entry for Richard and Mercy Jose Whitten, Records of the Second Congregational Church in Scarborough, Maine, Marriages. Communicated by Wm. M. Sargent, Esq., from Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder [Ancestry.com], vol. 4 (Portland, Me.: S.M. Watson, 1887).
2. ↑ The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Volume 4, p. 91, S.M. Watson, 1887
3. ↑ A History of the First Century of the Town of Parsonsfield, Maine, p. 319, Jeremiah Wadleigh Dearborn B. Thurston, 1888.[1]
4. ↑ History of York County, Maine: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, p. 343, W. Woodford Clayton, Higginson Book Company, 1880 - York County (Me.)[2]
5. ↑ Summary letter from Pension Application of Richard Whitten, shared by Fold3.com
6. ↑ REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE,Communicated by George Walter Chamberlain, M.S., of Malden, Mass., The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 65 (Boston, Mass.: The Society, 1911). [3]
7. ↑ "Statement showing the Names, Ranks, &c. of Invalid Pensioners residing in the State of Maine," U.S. Serial Set, Number 249 Senate Document No. 514, 23rd Congress, 1st Session. Report from the Secretary of War, in Obedience to Resolutions of the Senate of the 5th and 30th of June, 1834, and the 3d of March, 1835, In Relation to the Pension Establishment of the United States. [Maine Section]. Washington, D.C.: Duff Green, 1835, p. 28.
8. ↑ Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 018 : 1897, p. 361,Ancestry.com. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.[4]
9. ↑ A census of pensioners for revolutionary or military services: with their names, ages, and places of residence, as returned by the marshals of the several judicial districts, under the act for taking the sixth census (Washington, D.C.: Blair and Rives, printers, 1841).Census Pensioners for Revolutionary and Military Services returned under the Act for the Taking the Sixth Census in 1840, State of Maine, York County.
10. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 29292274, Richard Whitten, Fowler Cemetery, Unity, Waldo County, Maine, USA. Find A Grave: Memorial #29292274
11. ↑ Soldiers, Sailors, and Patriots of the Revolutionary War ~ Maine, page 858,
12. ↑ "Maine, Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1980," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJ5-SD8T : accessed 29 April 2016), Richard Whitten, 1845; citing Unity, Waldo, Maine, United States, Fowler Cemetery, Maine State Library, Augusta; FHL microfilm 1,316,330.
13. ↑ "Maine, Tombstone Inscriptions, Surname Index, 1620-2014," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5WM-RGMN : 4 February 2019), Richard Whitten, 1845; citing Death, Maine, United States, Maine State Library, Augusta; FHL microfilm 101235239. Image
14. ↑ Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts; (Volume 3), pp. 129-145, William Richard Cutter, 2011
15. ↑ Revolutionary War Land Grants and Pension Applications S-Z, Maine State Archives [5]
16. ↑ Revolutionary War Land Grants and Pension Applications S-Z, Maine State Archives [6]

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed July 4, 2016), "Record of Richard Whitten", Ancestor # A125456.

• Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts; (Volume 3) online. (page 129 of 145) by William Richard Cutter.

A History of the First Century of the Town of Parsonsfield, Maine by Jeremiah Wadleigh Dearborn page 412 *https://archive.org/details/ahistoryfirstce00deargoog/page/n661