James K P Whitten (1846 - 1864)

Born 20 Nov 1846 in Gray, Cumberland County, Maine, United States

Ancestors

Died 21 Aug 1864 at age 17 in Andersonville Prison, Macon County, Georgia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carol Baldwin [send private message]

Biography

James K P Whitten was born in Maine.

Birth and Parents

James, the youngest of six children of James E. Whitten and Ruth Bradbury was born on 20 November 1846 at Gray, Maine.

In 1846, James (middle initials "R S" on this census) was 4 years of age and living with his parents James (45 years, b. ME, occupation Farmer) and Ruth (46 years, b. ME) and siblings Eliza B. (14 years, b. ME), Lorenzo D. (12 years, b. ME), Brent [sic] (10 years, b. ME) and Eunice W. (7 years, b. ME) at Gray, Cumberland, Maine.^[1]

U.S. Civil War Service

Pvt. James K P Whitten served in the United States Civil War.
Side: USA

Pvt. James K P Whitten was a POW in Andersonville Prison during The United States Civil War.

Pvt. James K P Whitten Died while a Prisoner of War in Andersonville Prison during The United States Civil War.

James was listed in an index to compiled military records from 1861-1865 at Maine.^[2]

His enlistment papers show that he was recruited on 11 February 1864 at Augusta, Maine. He was 18 years of age, single, a resident of Gray, Maine and listed his occupation as Farmer.^[3]

The Maine Civil War Soldiers card indicates that James was mustered on 23 March 1864 at the rank of Private, US Army Company C, 32nd Regt Maine Infantry. He was listed as MIA on 27 May 1864, and was imprisoned at Andersonville, Georgia.^[4]

Death and Burial

Private James K. P. Whitten died on 21 August 1864 in his 18th year from sickness at Andersonville Prison. He is buried in the Andersonville National Cemetery at Andersonville National Historic Site, Macon, Georgia.^[5]

James has a cenotaph in Gray Village Cemetery at Gray, Cumberland, Maine.^[6]

Research Notes

• Sources for James K. P. Whitten can be found FamilySearch.^[7]

• Birth and death dates are drawn from the Maine Civil War Veteran records. His cenotaph indicates that he was 17 years of age at the time of death in August 1864 and was 4 months away from his 18th birthday. This age/date is supported by his Maine Military Veterns Death Index.

• Andersonville FindAGrave contacted regarding birth information on 3 February 2024.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6J2-C85 : Tue Oct 03 23:42:33 UTC 2023), Entry for James Whitter and Ruth Whitter, 1850.
2. ↑ "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F9RZ-YM9 : 25 August 2021), James K. P. Whitten, 1861-1865.
3. ↑ "Maine, Civil War Enlistment Papers, 1862-1865", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QB-N573 : Fri Oct 06 17:17:54 UTC 2023), Entry for James K P Whitten, 11 Feb 1864.
4. ↑ "Maine, State Archive Collections, 1718-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:246J-2GP : Fri Dec 08 17:55:28 UTC 2023), Entry for James K P Whitten, 11 Feb 1864.
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51146044/james-k_p-whitten: accessed 03 February 2024), memorial page for James K P Whitten (unknown–21 Aug 1864), Find a Grave Memorial ID 51146044, citing Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville National Historic Site, Macon County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by John C. Anderson (contributor 47208015).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116233250/james-k_p-whitten: accessed 03 February 2024), memorial page for James K. P. Whitten (20 Nov 1846–20 Aug 1864), Find a Grave Memorial ID 116233250, citing Gray Village Cemetery, Gray, Cumberland County, Maine, USA; Maintained by Debi C (contributor 46830109).
7. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/KZBN-DLZ

Census Records

• "United States Census, 1860", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDHY-2L8 : Tue Oct 03 07:50:21 UTC 2023), Entry for James Whitten and Ruth Whitten, 1860.

Acknowledgements

• Biography rewritten in full with inline sourcing, connected parents, and photos added following further research by Carol Baldwin on 3 February 2024.