Mr.
Edward
Dillingham
Whitten
Sr.
Born November 27, 1855
in Unity, ME
Son of
Samuel Whitten and
Lydia Mitchell
Brother of
Albion Whitten, Henry Whitten, Anna Alling, Inez Frost, Mary Whitten, Frederick Whitten, Minnie Whitten and Maurice Whitten
Husband of
May Lorman
(Married in
Lowell, MA; February 10, 1883)
Father of
Celia Yates, Edward Whitten, Emily Warren, Lena Brown, Maurice Whitten and Evelyn Whitten
Died November 12, 1930
in Fitchburg, MA
About Edward Whitten
Edward was born in Unity, Maine, and lived most of his life in Lowell and in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
On his son's marriage certificate, he listed his father's occupation as "miller".
According to an obituary in the Fitchburg newspaper:
"Edward D. Whitten, sailor, carpenter, millwright, and lover of the sea, died late yesterday afternoon at Burbank Hospital after an illness of more than a year. He was 75 years old and made his home at 86 Nashua Street. ... Mr. Whitten was born in Unity, Me. When only eight years old he shipped aboard a three-master as a cabin boy. He sailed around the world, literally, in the next 10 years in that era, when the Yankee schooners were probing to the most distant points of the globe. When he attained his majority, however, he determined on a land career and learned the trade of carpenter. He worked in Lowell and Brookline before coming to Fitchburg in 1890 where he found work with the Boston & Maine carshops, then in their hey-day. Mr. Whitten often told of his early experiences in this city when horse-cars were the only regular transportation when Moran Square was only partially settled. When business became slack at the carshops he worked successively for the Rodney Wallace Paper Co. and the Parkhill Mfg. Co. He retired about five years ago. He was a member and regular attendant at Christ Church. ... Burial will be in Forest Hill cemetary in the family lot."
Edward married Mary Olive Lorman February 10, 1882 in Lowell, Massachusetts, at St. Anne's Episcopal Church. According to a newspaper account they were living at 79 Laurel Street in Lowell at the time of their silver wedding anniversary.
An 1890(?) directory Chris Whitten found in the late 1980s lists an E.D. Whitten at working at Fitchburg Paper Company and living at 97 Charles Street.
The Whitten family bible, which Edward gave to his wife shortly after their marriage, confirms the death of Edward as November 12, 1930. It says that he died, "at the hospital after a long illness, burial from Christ Church to Forest Hill Cemetery at family lot."
Edward hand-crafted a half dozen ship models. One was given to the Christ Church. They called it the "Christian Ship" and a hymn was written for it! A picture of the ship and the lyrics of the hymn were apparently hung in many parishoners' homes. This model has since been lost. Edward's great-grandson Ted Whittenkraus did a search for it as a young man but came up empty-handed.
One of the ships he carved is at the Fitchburg Historical Society: http://www.museumresearcher.com/fitchburg/exhibit1/e11534b.htm
Ted Whittenkraus has possession of another. This one stayed in the family and was kept in the attic of the family house built by Edward's grandson Edward B. Whitten on White Street in Lunenburg for many years. Generations of kids played with it as a toy (including Edward's great-grandsons Ed and Ted, Ted's children Ted and Chris, Ted's sister Holly's son Nick, Ted sister Steph's son Alex, etc.) until it was recognized as a family heirloom.
See this WikiSpace Page devoted to the model ships.
[If you can add to this bio request to join Edward's Trusted List or write a message to the family & friends in the lower-right column.]
Memories about Edward
Nobody has recorded any memories here yet.
Login to add your own note.
Enter a memory or story here:
|
Photos with Edward
There are 2 photos with Edward.
Public Bulletin Board
There are no messages yet. Please add a note for friends, family, and other people with a special interest in Edward Whitten.
|
