Matilda Ann Carter was born on September 11, 1839 in Stormont (Roxborough Township), Ontario, Canada to Malcolm Carther and Nancy Ann (Grant) Carter. She was married to Henry William Whitney on October 20, 1868 in Barrie, Simcoe, Ontario, at age 29. The couple had six children: Stephen Henry (b. April 24, 1870), Angelina Catherine “Lina” (b. March 11, 1871), Nancy Victoria “Vic” (b. February 7, 1873), Malcolm Grantley Douglas (b. June 19, 1875), Angus Duncan Lankford (b. March 1, 1878), and William Abraham John (b. September 23, 1879).
She resided in Barrie, Ontario in her last years, and paid a visit to her family in the US in August of 1918. Matilda passed away on November 23, 1920 in Buffalo, New York. She was laid to rest next to her husband at Ardtrea United Church Cemetery in Ardtrea, Simcoe County, Ontario.