Solomon Whidden married Esther Goodwin

Solomon was born on a failing farm due to the failing health of his father.  He lost his father while still young, then shortly thereafter he had a stepfather.  We may never know much about his teen years, but one can see there couldn't be much living on a sparsely populated island However it seems that he lived on or near Swan Island until almost twenty one.

Solomon enlisted as a Private in Capt James McCobb's co, Col. Nixon's regt., May10 1775 at Woolwich, Maine, which was part of General Arnold's command, discharged Aug 1, 1775, before his one year served.  It seems that he enlisted in the Benedict Arnold's Army to attack and capture Quebec, Canada.  Col Nixon's Regt. was the one that deserted the Command and returned home without getting even to Canada.  Found records in Woolwich that state that Capt McCobb died 3/25/ 1776.  He was buried in the family site at Dramore Cemetery, Bath, Sagadahoe, Maine.  The unit was deactivated thus Solomon went looking for another unit.  The he leaders of the Regt were tried locally and exonerated
Feb 10 1776 he enlisted for one year at Cambridge, Mass. in Capt Lunt's co, Col Little's regt., serving his full time.  Fought in Battle of Long Island, Battle of White Plains, Battle of Ticonderoga, and the March to Philadelphia.
In May 1777 he enlisted for three years at Dresden in Capt. Lamont's co, Col Bradford's regt and fought at Saratoga and the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, survived that winter at Valley Forge, going on to fight at the Battle of Mammoth.  Was discharged at West Point April 1780.

After his discharge from the Army Solomon proceeded to Canaan, Maine.  There he met Esther and married her at the age of 26.

Records of Canaan and Clinton show that Solomon was granted Lot #33 in the Great Lot H-1, which was partially in Canaan, Somerset County and Clinton, Kennebec County.  There Solomon build a sawmill, a farm and did survey work.  He and Esther had nine children there also.  He must of learned surveyor while in the Army.

In 1795, Solomon sold the sawmill located on the north side of Fifteen Mile Stream at Pishon Ferry to Abraham & Solomon Steward.
In 1810, John Burrell Jr. sold 30 acres of lot 33, formally owned by Solomon, bordering Fifteen Mile Stream, now called Carrabassett Strem and just east of the forge dam.

Between May 13 1813 and March 15 1815 Solomon had three son and his wife die and he married another lady, Sarah.  The US Government made some sort of a land grant available to those veterans of the War of 1812 in the Ohio & Illinois areas.  On July 23 1818, just three months before statehood Solomon bought three separate parcels of land 160 acres each in the Illinois Territory.  About this time Whiddens began to leave the Clinton, Canaan area.

It was at this time 1818 that Solomon was turning blind for some reason.  At 64 years of age.  It was at this age and condition that he and his new wife left Maine and went westward to claim the parcels of land.  How he traveled is not known for sure but he claimed he broke his right arm in a fall from his horse.  What a trip on a horse!  While in Ohio Solomon laid claim for a pension because of his service during the Revolutionary War.  The reason given for his requirement was he had a disabled in his right arm, blind and too old to work.  There is not any record available as to if Solomon's wife died out there or did make back to Maine.

This man, Solomon, blind and crippled did make it back.  He had his pension moved to Maine and records indicate he moved in with a daughter and her family.  She was called Molly, but named Mary.  Her husband was Benjamin Emery and they lived in Skowhegan.

In his application to the land office in 1835 he stated that he had been a resident of Milburn {Skowhegan} for more than 54 years. {about 1781}

After living a truly full life of eighty seven years Solomon died at his daughters home on October 4 1841.

Submitted by
C. Kent Palmer