Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE
Compiled under the editorial supervision of
George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.
LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.
[Please see Index page for full citation.]
[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]
[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]
WHITEHOUSE
Among American names that of Whitehouse is infrequent and yet notable use by reason of the distinguished attainments acquired by men and women of that name. A few examples will sufficiently illustrate this distinguished characteristic.
The Rt. Rev. Henry John Whitehouse (1803-1874), second Bishop of Illinois, and fifty-fifth in succession in the American Episcopate, was a graduate of Columbia College and of the General Theological Seminary; rector of St. Thomas church, New York City, 1844-51; successor to Bishop Chase, of Illinois; the first bishop in the American church to advocate the adoption of the Cathedral system in the U. S.; delivered the first sermon before the Lambrett Conference in London by invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and received the degree of S. T. D. from Oxford University, 1867; Holbart College, 1834, and LL.D. from his Alma Mater in 1865 and from Cambridge, England, 1867.
James Horton Whitehouse, born in Staffordshire, England, 1833, designed for Tiffany and Company, New York, the Bryant Vase now in the Metropolitan Museum.
William Fitz-Hugh Whitehouse, born 1877, noted explorer and hunder of big game in Somaliland, Abyssinia, British East Africa and Uganda, and explored Abyssinia, and the unknown region south of the chain lakes, and author of "Through the Country of the King of Kings" (Scribners, Sept., 1902).
Henry Remsen Whitehouse, dipolmat and author, decorated by King Humbert of Italy with Cross of Commander of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus, student of literature and historical research.
The Whitehouses of Maine, noted as jurists, and descended from Thomas, who married a daughter of William Pomfret, Dover, New Hampshire, 1658, through Thomas (2), Pomfret (3), Thomas (4), Daniel (5), Edmund (6), John Roberts (7), to William Penn (8) and Robert Treat (9).
For the purpose of this sketch, we take up the eighth generation from Thomas, the Dover settler, as follows:
(VIII) William Penn, son of John Roberts and Hannah (Percival) Whitehouse, and a descendant of Thomas Whitehouse, of Dover, N. H., was born in Vassalboro, Kennebec county, Maine, April 9, 1842. He was prepared for college at the Vassalboro Academy, matriculated at Waterville College in 1859, and was graduated A. B., 1863, A. M., 1866. He was principal of Vassalboro Academy, 1863-64, was admitted to the bar in 1865, and began the practice in the state capital. He was city solicitor of Augusta for four years, attorney for Kennebec county for seven years, judge of the supreme court of Kennebec county 1878-90, and associate justice of the supreme judicial court of Maine since 1890. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Colby University in 1896. He served as a trustee of the Kennebec Savings Bank from 1888; was chairman of the commission on the New Insane Hospital in 1873, and he wrote a monograph published by the state against the cottage system for the care of the insane wards of the state.
He was married June 24, 1869, to Evelyn M., daughter of Colonel Robert Treat, of Augusta, Maine, and among their children was Robert Treat.
(IX) Robert Treat, eldest child of William Penn and Evelyn M. (Treat) Whitehouse, was born in Augusta, Maine, March 27, 1870. He was prepared for college in the public schools of Augusta and Congregational high school, where he graduated in 1887. He was graduated at Harvard A.B., 1891, and at the Law School of Harvard University, LL.B., 1893. He read law in the office of Symonds, Cook & Snow, Portland, Maine, was admitted to the Cumberland county bar in 1894, and at once began active practice in all the courts. He was elected county attorney in 1900, and served in that office for four years. On Jan. 16, 1905, he was appointed U.S. district attorney for the district of Maine, and later accepted the appointment and was sworn into office, which he has since filled with honor and to the entire satisfaction of the bar of the state.
He was a member of the school committee of the city of Portland, 1894-98, and served as president of the Lincoln Club of that city, 1900-04. He was also a member of the Cumberland Club, the Country Club, and the Fraternity Club of Portland. He was initiated into the mysteries of the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons through the Ancient Landmark Lodge of Portland.
His first law-book, published in 1900, under the title "Equity Jurisdiction Pleading and Practice," was received with great favor by attorneys throughout the state, and at once took place as an actual necessity in the preparaion of any important case in equity. He had in preparation in 1908 a companion work that will undoubtledly prove equally welcome and valuable.
Mr. Whitehouse was married June 18, 1894, to Florence, daughter of Samuel Spencer and Mary Caroline (Wadsworth) Brooks, of Augusta. She was educated at the public schools and St. Catherine's Hall, and in music, languages, drawing and painting under the best masters of the city of Boston. She became vocalist in the Rossini Musical Club, of Portland, and spent the years 1891-92, in study and observation in the art centers of Europe, and in the exploration of the antiquities of Syria and Egypt. She is the author of "The God of Things," published by Little, Brown & Company, Boston (1902); "The Effendi," same pub. house (1904), and several of her plays have been produced.
Children:
1. Albert Wadsworth, married Mary _____; child, Barbara.
2. Samuel C.
3. Percy W., married Mary Marshall.
4. Florence.
5. Marguerite.
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Treat Whitehouse have their home at 42 Deering Street, Portland, Maine.
Children: [trans note: I'm confused, I thought the rundown on their children is immediately above this.]
William Penn, 2d, born Aug. 9, 1895.
Robert Treat Jr., b. Jan. 11, 1897.
Brooks, born April 21, 1904.