WRG: Larry Tracy has found in Bridgton, Cumberland Co., ME a transcription of early Bridgton records. The original records are unavailable at this time for public inspection. We are submiting to you a transcription of the WHITNEY entries in these records. The town clerks' names who recorded the families are available in the transcription, but not copied here. Our hope is that if you can identify a family in this record, you will let us know. It may help us in our search for the elusive Josiah Whitney. Ken Whitney Silver Spring, MD The transcription of the records is dated 12 January 1963 in Bridgton, Maine by Blynn Edwin Davis. The transcription is entitled Bridgton Maine Families. The following is the opening statement: Sources: Early records kept by various town clerks, as recorded in the old leather-bound book, purchased March 15, 1796, and now kept in the town vault. Also, the personal records kept by Dr. Theodore Ingalls in his own record book. Some of the latest records were taken from an old record book kept in the office of the town clerk, J. Bennett Pike. All dates given as found, or reconciled where possible. Page 6: Children of Edward P. and Mary WHITNEY Barnard born in Bridgton: 1. Mary Anne, born March 8 1815, died in Rochester, N.H., Feb 3 1845 2. Edward, born Nov 22 1818 3. Almira, born Nov 20 1816, died Aug 13 1819 (Theodore Ingalls diary) 4. Almira, born Aug 3 1821 5. Caroline W., born Dec 31 1823 6. Laurancy H., born Feb 22, 1826 7. Abigail S., born Jan 9 1828 Edward P., the Elder, died Dec 24 1833 Page 10: Child of Edward M. and Lucy A. WHITNEY Berry: 1. Dora Isabel, born April 27 1866 in Danville, Canada Page 57: Children of Benjamin and Emily R. WHITNEY Hamblin born in Brdgton: 1. Albion W., born Mat (sic) 23 1844, died Aug 1 1849 2. Preston U., born Dec 26 1846 3. Albert G.(?), born May 15 1853 Page 91: Child of Willis E. and Margie D. WHITNEY Marriner: 1. Ernest C. born Oct 16 1891 Page 104: Children of Stephen and Patience WHITNEY Paine born in Bridgton: 1. Richard H., born Aug 15 1819 2. Sarah Ann, born May 25 1821 3. Martha M., born April 3 1823 4. Patience Julia, born Aug 31 1826 5. Stephen W., born May 16 1828 6. Octavia B., born July 27 1830 Page 105: Children of John and Asenath Stevens Peabody born in Bridgton: 8. Charles Cotesworth Pinkney, born April 13 1808, married Cordelia E. WHITNEY. (Note: she was the daughter of Paul and Catherine (Barker) Whitney; KLW) Page 124; Children of Benjamin WHITNEY and Mary E. Staples Stevens: 1. Ernest Nichols, born Sept 21 1880 2. Charles Ambrose, born June 28 1882 Page 138: Children of Amos M. and Mary WHITNEY: 1. Mary F., born Dec 28 1830 2. Josephine S., born Aug 12 1832 Children of Asa and Eunice WHITNEY: 1. (typeset illegible) born in Bridgton Nov 29 1843 Page 139: Children of Benjamin and Anna WHITNEY all but two oldest born in Bridgton: 1. Louisa, born May 12 1807 in Buxton 2. James, born Jan 10 1809 in Buxton 3. Jonathan, born April 11 1811 in Bridgton 4. Mehitable, born Feb 14 1813 5. Harriet, born Jan 31 1815, died Nov 5 1842 in Sweden 6. Nancy B., born April 19 1818 7. Benjamin F., born Aug 2 1820 8. Robert A., born Nov 6 1822 died Feb 22 1841 in Bridgton 9. Mary, born Feb 6 1827 10. Rebecca, born June 6 1831 Children of Benjamin F. and Susan L. Bennett WHITNEY born in Bridgton: 1. Harriet A., born Feb 3 1846 died Dec 29 1854 2. Arrabella S., born Oct 31 1847 3. Benjamin Austin, born Aug 5 1854 Children of George W. and May WHITNEY born in Bridgton: 1. Asa P., born July 19 1819 2. Jonathan, born March 26 1823 3. Mary Jane, born Dec 10 1824 4. Phebe Ann, born Nov 19 1827 5. Amanda, born July 28 1829 6. Sarah F., born Aug 30 1831 7. George W., born April 12 1833 8. Charles P., born Jan 16 1839 Children of James and Rachel R. Holden WHITNEY born in Bridgton: 1. John C., born May 24 1835 2. Eli W., born Aug 15 1839 Children of Josiah and _________ WHITNEY: 1. Josiah, born Sept 27 1776 in St. Johns 2. Hannah, born June 18 1778 in St. Johns 3. Moses, born Nov 12 1780 4. John, born July 23 1783 in Nova Scotia 5. Sarah, born Sept 26 1786 in Beverly 6. Lydia, born Aug 16 1789 in Bridgton Child of Josiah and Betsy WHITNEY born in Bridgton: 1. Alonzo, born Nov 26 1815 in Bridgton Here endeth this record of early Bridgton families as found in these ancient record books. It is a safe assumption that Dr. Samuel Farnsworth, the Elder, began this record in his meticulously fine, copper-plate handwriting. He became Town Clerk in March of 1795, only one year after the incorporation of the Town, and he served in that capacity for nearly twenty years. Dr. Farnsworth took the census of the inhabitants of Bridgton at the date of the incorporation in 1794, and was thereby inspired to make a detailed record of the early families. This conclusion is based on internal evidence, because Dr. Farnsworth never signed his name to any of the records, as did his successors. He did this as a labor of love, above and beyond the call of duty. His pupil and co-worker, Dr. Thomas Ingalls, continued this work when the failing hand of Dr. Farnsworth dropped the pen in 1817, and he held the office of Town Clerk about fifteen years, adding many families to the list, and recording births and deaths in the families already listed. He carefully compiled his own record of Bridgton families, including several that are not found in the larger book. he was a careful workman. January 12 1963 Bridgton, Maine Blynn Edwin Davis