Martin Van Buren WHITNEY

Father: Benjamin Morse WHITNEY
Mother: Susan WELLS

Family 1: Nancy M. PEASE

(1) Source: Whitney Research Group: Martin Van Buren WHITNEY "… married firstly, 17 Feb 1861, Strong, ME, Nancy M. PEASE, daughter of Sewall F. and Nancy M. (-----) PEASE."

  1. Theron C. WHITNEY (1860–1936)

Family 2: Abigail Quimby TOOTHAKER

(1) Source: Whitney Research Group: Martin Van Buren WHITNEY "… married secondly, date unknown, Abbie Q. (TOOTHAKER) PRATT, daughter of Edward and Eunice (WILBUR) TOOTHAKER."

(2) Source: Year of marriage based on age of children

  1. Walter WHITNEY (1866–1867)
  2. Edward Howard WHITNEY (1867–1948)

Family 3: Catherine POOLER

(1) Source: Lewiston Evening Journal; Lewiston, Maine; Tuesday, March 11, 1890; Page 3. 
                                            _Abel WHITNEY _
                           _Micah WHITNEY _|
                          |                |_Mary CANE ____
 _Benjamin Morse WHITNEY _|
|                         |                 _Andrew COBB __
|                         |_Hannah COBB ___|
|                                          |_Hannah GREEN _
|
|--Martin Van Buren WHITNEY
|
|                                           _______________
|                          ________________|
|                         |                |_______________
|_Susan WELLS ____________|
                          |                 _______________
                          |________________|
                                           |_______________

Notes

Updated June 2, 2026. Compiled by Howder (www.howderfamily.com) from the following source(s):

(1) Whitney Research Group.

- "Martin Van Buren-7 WHITNEY (Benjamin Morse-6, Micah-5, Abel-4, Nathaniel-3, Benjamin-2, John-1), son of Benjamin Morse and Susan (WELLS) WHITNEY, was born 21 Jun 1834, Phillips, ME, and died 1924, probably Greene, ME."
- "He allegedly married one ----- ROWE. G. B. Sedgeley says that he married first _______ ROWE." No record of this marriage has been found.
- "He married firstly, 17 Feb 1861, Strong, ME, Nancy M. PEASE, daughter of Sewall F. and Nancy M. (-----) PEASE... She was born Oct 1845, Strong, ME, died 29 Jan 1865, probably Wilton, ME, and was buried in the Brown Neighborhood Cemetery, East Wilton, ME."
- Child of Martin and Nancy: Theron C. WHITNEY.
- "He married secondly, date unknown, Abbie Q. (TOOTHAKER) PRATT, daughter of Edward and Eunice (WILBUR) TOOTHAKER. She was born 9 Feb 1837, Rangeley, ME, and died 4 Feb 1889. She had married firstly, 2 Jun 1858, Dennis H. PRATT, who died 31 Aug 1863. They [Martin and Abbie] were divorced, and she married thirdly, 5 Mar 1884, Strong, ME, Ebenezer J. GILKEY."
- Child of Martin and Abbie: Edward H. WHITNEY
- "He married thirdly, Catherine (POOLER) TOWLE."

(2) 1850 United States Census for Maine, Franklin Co., Phillips: August 26, 1850.

Martin V. WHITNEY is the son of Benjamin M. and Susan WHITNEY. He is 15 years old, born in Maine and is attending school.

(3) 1860 United States Census for Maine, Franklin Co., Phillips, Phillips Post Office; Page 13 June 11, 1860.

Martin V. WHITNEY is part of the household headed by Royal T. WHITNEY, his brother. They are next door to their parents, B. M. and Susan WHITNEY.

- Age: 26
- Estate: $0 in Real Estate, $200 in Personal Estate
- Birthplace: Maine
- Occupation: Farmer

(4) U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records via Ancestry.com: Maine, 1863

- Residence: New Vineyard
- Name: WHITNEY, Martin V.
- Age: 29
- Profession: Farmer
- Marital Status: Married
- Place of Birth: Maine

(5) U.S., IRS Tax Assessment Lists via Ancestry.com: Phillips, Maine

- 1865: WHITNEY, Martin V.; Carriage; tax $1.00
- 1866: WHITNEY, Martin V.; Peddler 3rd Class; tax $5.75

(6) U.S., Family History Books via Ancestry.com: Gregory, Margaret Innes. Descendants of Roger Teethaker. Self-Published, ~1976.

Martin V. WHITNEY was Abigail (Abbie) TOOTHAKER's second husband.

(7) Maine, Divorce Records, 1798-1891 via Ancestry.com

- Plaintiff: Abbie Q WHITNEY
- Defendant: Martin V WHITNEY
- Divorce Date: Mar 1869
- Divorce Place: Franklin Maine
- Docket Number: 239
- Court: SJC
- Vol/Pg: 6/413

(8) 1870 United States Census for Maine, Androscoggin Co., Wards 4 & 5 City of Auburn (Auburn Post Office): Page 23; June 30, 1870.

Martin WHITNEY is living in the household of Catherine [POOLER] TOWLE and her daughter Ellen F. TOWLE (age 8). This is the same Catherine TOWLE who Martin would later marry. Martin is 36 years old, born in Maine, and is working in a cotton mill.

(9) 1880 United States Census for Maine, Androscoggin Co., Greene: Supervisor's District 1; Enumeration District 6; Page 24; June 18, 1880.

Martin WHITNEY resides in the James PEARE household. He is 45 years old, was born in Maine as were his parents, and is a laborer.

(10) Insolvency via Newspapers.com: Lewiston Evening Journal; Lewiston, Maine; Saturday, August 30, 1884; Page 7.

"STATE OF MAINE. Androscoggin ss. Court of Insolvency. In the case of MARTIN V. WHITNEY, in said county, an insolvent debtor. NOTICE is hereby given that a petition has, on this thirteenth day of August, A. D. 1884, been presented to said Court for said County by Martin V. WHITNEY of Greene, in the county of Androscoggin praying that he may be decreed to have a full discharge from all his debts provable under the Insolvent Act of the State of Maine relating to insolvency and upon said petition. IT IS ORDERED, by said Court that a hearing be had upon the same before said Court, at the Probate Court Room in Auburn in said County of Androscoggin on Wednesday, the tenth day of September, A. D. 1884, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, and that notice thereof be published in the Lewiston Journal a newspaper published in said County of Androscoggin once a week for three successive weeks, the last publication to be ten days before the day of hearing; and that all creditors who have proved their debts, and other persons interested, may appear at said place and time, and show cause, if any they have, why a discharge should not be granted said debtor according to the prayer of the petition. Attest: NATHAN W. HARRIS, Register of said Court for said County of Androscoggin. aug16,23&30."

(11) Marriage via Newspapers.com: Lewiston Evening Journal; Lewiston, Maine; Tuesday, March 11, 1890; Page 3.

"MARRIED. Lewiston--March 10, by John F. PUTNAM, Mr. Martin V. WHITNEY and Mrs. Catherine TOWLE, both of Lewiston."

(12) Incident via Newspapers.com: Lewiston Evening Journal; Lewiston, Maine; Saturday, October 10, 1891; Page 16.

"WANTED A WARRANT. A Curious Story Told at the Police Court Room Saturday Morning. A young man who gave his name as W. E. FOGG came into the Lewiston police court room Saturday morning and said he wanted to swear out a warrant. He said a man had struck a horse and the horse had run away and hurt one of his friends. He wanted a warrant for the arrest of a man for assault and battery. The clerk told him he couldn't get a warrant for assault and battery on that story. So he told the tale in full. He said: 'Last Wednesday afternoon, Dan STEVENS was going on to his home and asked me to go too. It's out to Sabatis. When we got out to the Benny DAVIS farm, where Martin V. WHITNEY Lives, we were driving slowly and saw some pumpkins up under the window of the house. Dan said to me, 'You go up and get one and I'll pay for it.' I went up and the lady who came to the door said that if I wanted one of those pumpkins I could ask the man who was picking apples in the field. I said 'all right' and picked up a pumpkin and put it in my team. Upon that she called to the man in the field who happened to be Martin V. WHITNEY. He came running down from the field, and struck the horse with a club right between the breast-plate and saddle. That startled it, and it shied out of the road, and we were thrown out, Dan and I, and the buggy smashed to flinders. Dan held the reins, and you ought to see the heap of stones he was dragged over. 'He was nearly killed. Now that team was hired for the occasion from Jack CURTIS. He says the damage was $200. The buggy he sold for $10. What we want to know is who's going to pay the bills. We were willing to pay for the pumpkins!' The clerk of courts told the young man that he was in a box; that he had no right to take the pumpkins into the carriage; that the man had a right to stop the horse that was to carry off his property. To this the man answered that Dan was nigh unto death up over a Lisbon street store. 'But if you had gone into Mr. WHITNEY's house an stolen one thousand dollars wouldn't he have had the right to stop the team?' asked the clerk. 'I don't know nothing about it,' said the young man. The clerk refused to give the man a warrant on the strength of the case. An officer standing near told FOGG that he thought WHITNEY was the only man who could get a warrant. The police are looking the matter up, however."

(13) 1900 United States Census for Maine, Androscoggin Co., Greene Town: Supervisor's District 109; Enumeration District 10; Sheet 11A; June 18, 1900.

M.V. and Catherine [POOLER] WHITNEY reside with Andrew J. HARRIS (age 85, a widower), head of household.

- Birth date: June 1834; age 65
- Number of Years of Present Marriage: 10 years
- Birthplace: Maine, as were his parents
- Occupation: Farmer
- Home: Owns a Farm, Free of Mortgage

(14) 1910 United States Census for Maine, Androscoggin Co., Greene: Supervisor's District 11; Enumeration District 14; Sheet 8B; May 3, 1910.

Martin WHITNEY is head of household, living by himself

- Age: 74; a widower
- Birthplace: Maine, as were his parents
- Occupation: Manager, General Farm
- Home ownership: Renting a Farm

(15) 1920 United States Census for Maine, Androscoggin Co., Greene Town: Supervisor's District 2; Enumeration District 15; Sheet 6A; January 21, 1920.

Martin V. WHITNEY resides with his grandson Walter WHITNEY (Head of household, age 29, b. Maine, a house painter) and son Theron WHITNEY (age 57, b. Maine, also a house painter).

- Home: The home is owned with a mortgage
- Age: 85
- Birthplace: Maine, as were his parents
- Occupation: None

(16) U.S., City Directories via Ancestry.com: Lewiston, Maine

- 1868: WHITNEY Martin V, watchman, bds J B. Piper
- 1872: WHITNEY Martin V., watchman Continental mill, boards at Auburn
- 1889: WHITNEY Martin V. B., farmer, house Sabattus road, beyond Greene road
- 1893: WHITNEY Martin V. B., farmer, house Sabattus road, next Bradbury rd.
- 1922: WHITNEY Martin V., retired, RFD 2
- 1924: WHITNEY Martin V., retired, RFD 2

(17) Obituary via Newspapers.com: Portland Press Herald; Portland, Maine; Thursday, May 22, 1924; Page 3.

"Martin V. WHITNEY. Special Dispatch to THE PRESS HERALD. Greene, May 21-- Martin V. WHITNEY died at his home at Ray's Corner, yesterday following a long illness, aged 91 years. Mr. WHITNEY was born in Phillips, June 21, 1833. He past his earlier years in Phillips and the Rangeley region coming to Greene almost 50 years ago, and since then has conducted a farm here. He is survived by one son, Theron C. WHITNEY, with whom he lived, and by one grandson."

(18) Funeral via Newspapers.com: Lewiston Evening Journal; Lewiston, Maine: Thursday, May 22, 1924; Page 10.

"The funeral of Martin V. WHITNEY of Sabattus was conducted at his late home Thursday afternoon. Rev. E. H. CARRITT officiated."

(19) Our Pioneering Families, Genealogies of Whitney, Groathouse and Lignitz, researched and compiled by Vivian Gail Morrow Wade, Dec. 1986, first edition. Self-published manuscript available at DAR Library, Washington DC. Page 67.

(20) Find a Grave

- Name: Martin Vanburen WHITNEY
- Birth: 21 Jun 1834; Maine, USA
- Death: 1924 (aged 89–90); USA
- Burial: Peare Cemetery; Greene, Androscoggin County, Maine, USA
- Plot: PEARE LOT
- Spouses: Nancy P. PEASE WHITNEY (1845–1865; m. 1861); Abbie Q. TOOTHAKER GILKEY (1837–1889; m. 1865); Catherine POOLER WHITNEY (1829–1906)
- Children: Theron WHITNEY (1860–1936); Walter WHITNEY (1866–1867); Edward Howard WHITNEY (1867–1948)
- Note: "Martin Vanburen WHITNEY is in the Peare lot under the cedar trees. The trees have grown around the stone but you can still see his name on the white stone"
- Memorial ID: 80309108

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Additional Notes.

Mayflower lineage: Howland/Tilley -1; Hope Howland -2; Hope Chipman -3; Samuel Cobb -4; Chipman Cobb -5; Andrew Cobb -6 (DAR/SAR ancestor); Hannah Cobb -7; Benjamin Whitney -8; Martin Whitney -9.