Thomas Whitaker

Notes:

Petitioners Seeking Creation of All Saints' Parish, 1742
(Through Division of Prince George's Parish)
list of about 50 names includes:
Flower Swift (married Elizabeth Whitaker daughter of Mark & Eliz. Empson Whitaker)
Mark Whiteacar
Thos Whiteacar
John Wilcoxon, Sen
John Wilcoxon, Jun

LAND AND COURT RECORDS

In Baltimore County Court Procedures, Book HWS#6, p, 151 is: Thomas Whitaker, orphan aged 17, in June 1729 petitioned the Court that he had left his step-mother [Elizabeth Empson] and wanted to live with his uncle Thomas Mitchell. [Thomas Mitchell was Thomas' uncle, the husband of his mother Catherine Teague's sister Ann]

The reason for this petition is explained by futher court action a few months later. Elizabeth Empson/Emson, widow of Mark Whitaker married Francis Taylor 6 Oct 1729 in Baltimore County, Maryland (I.S. No. K, p. 109). A record at St. George's Parish, Maryland, June 1733, reads: "Francis Taylor is indicted for not taking care of Mark Whitaker's orphans.

Thomas Whitaker was listed in the 1733 list of "taxables" in Prince George County, MD.

Thomas Whiteacre, on Feb. 25, 1739, sold the 100 acre Westwood tract given to him by his father Mark Whitaker, to Robert West for 2500 pounds of tobacco

Thomas Whitaker and his brother,Mark Whitaker, Jr., owned land bordering Kittoctin Creek in Prince George County, MD.

The two brothers were listed as the overseers of the road from Catoctin to South Mountain in 1741. (When Frederick County was created in 1748 their holdings on Kittoctin Creek were in Frederick County.)

In 1750 in Frederick County MD, Thomas Whitaker sold "Goose Bill" to Nicholas & Charlotte Fink.

In 1755, Thomas Whitaker was a juror in Frederick County. In 1762, both Mark and Thomas were involved in the signing and disposition of Edward Johnson's will.

Cecil County, Md. Land Records, Vol. I 1674-1810:
Thomas Whitaker from Nicholas White et ux, Vol. 8, p. 107 (A Nicholas White is named in the 1764 road order through Reedy Creek NC settlement)

Mark Whitaker as a co-administrator of the Edward Johnson will's provisions filed an accounting in 1765.

In 1770, according to the March Court Minute Book for Frederick County, MD, Mark Whitaker, Jr., and Thomas Whitaker, served as Grand Jurors. The Frederick County, MD, paper trail fades at this point in time.


WILL
In the name of God amen; this (none written) day of March in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand and seven hundred and eighty seven

I Thomas Whitticar of the County of Surry and State of North Carolina being in perfect mind abd memory though in weak lingering state of health and knowing that it is alotted for all men to once to die, do make and ordain this to be my last Will & Testament.

And first I recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God that gave me, and my body to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named. And as to my worldly goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose of in Manner and form following.

Imprimis. I lend unto my beloved wife Mary all the land and plantation thereon, on the East side of the Creek, from *Harvey's line up to the mouth of; thence up the meanders od said **Spoons branch to my back line, meaning all the land to the East and North of said Creek and branch within my living during her natural life.

Item, I also lend to my beloved wife Mary all my stock of (illegible) and all my household furniture and all my moveable estate of what nature and kind soever during her natural life.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Mark Whitticar all the land and plantation theron on the East side of Creek from **Harvey's line up to Spoons branch to my back line meaning all the land I now lend to my beloved wife which land & plantation he is not to take any possession of until my beloved the death of his mother, at which time he his heirs & soforth is to have possession to him & his heirs forever.

Item, I give and bequeath to said son Mark, the one half of my stock, household furniture and moveable estate after his mother's decease to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret the one half of my stock, household furniture and moveable estate to take possession thereof after her mother's decease to her & her heirs forever; mind the stock household furniture and moveable estate of what nature or kind soever there is at my wifes decease is to be equally divided between my sd. son Mark & my daughter Peggy.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Jonathan Whitticar all the rest of my tract of land not to heretofor given my son Mark meaning all the land West & South of the Creek & Spoons branch to take full possession thereof at my decease to him and his heirs forever.

Item. As to the rest of my children namely Elizabeth, Mary, Nancy, and Jane I conceive have had as much of my estate as I am able to give them. However my will and desire is that each of them have five shillings each in money over and above what has been given them heretofore to them and their heirs forever.

Lastly I do hereby appoint my beloved wife Mary & my sons Mark and Johnson executors of this my last Will & Testament,

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal the day & date above written

his
THomas T Whitticar (seal)
mark
Signed, sealed acknowledged &
pronounced in the presence of

John Harvey

his
Mark M Whitticor the elder
mark

J. Williams Jurat

Thomas married Mary Wilson. Mary (daughter of Thomas Wilson and Priscilla) was born ca 1715, Prince George Co. MD; died Bef 1795, Surry Co. NC. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mark was a well-known Methodist minister and circuit rider on the Western frontier (Holston district) of VA/NC/KY in the late 1700s for Bishop Francis Asbury. He is mentioned in early texts about this period.

Russell County Court Orders show that, at the May1803 term of the Court, Mark M. Whitaker presented papers to show his ordination into the Ministry. He was granted the right to perform the rites of marriage ceremony in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and he posted bond as required by law. He must have moved to Russell County during the tax year 1802-1803, because he is not on the 1802 or prior personal tax list of Russell County.

Mark Whitaker purchased 100 acres of land on the south side of the Clinch River in Russell County, VA in October 1805 from William and Nancy Tabor. This land was part of a tract of land granted to James Fraley by patent dated 3 April 1779.

Mark Whitaker apparently died prior to February 1815, because his 100 acres is listed as "the estate of Mark Whitaker" on the Federal tax list of land for Russell County, VA for 1815. The index of Russell County Court Orders of this period do not show an entry concerning the estate of this Mark Whitaker.

The following article was taken from "The Journal of the Magoffin County Historical Society."
Volume 12, Summer 1990, No. 2.

SOME NOTES ON THE WHITAKER FAMILY

By C. E. Shepard.

It appears that the Whitaker Families of the Floyd - Magoffin areas of eastern Kentucky are descended from Mark M. Whitaker who died in Russell County, Virginia prior to February 1815.

Russell County Court Orders show that, at the May1803 term of the Court, Mark M. Whitaker presented papers to show his ordination into the Ministry. He was granted the right to perform the rites of marriage ceremony in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and he posted bond as required by law. He must have moved to Russell County during the tax year 1802-1803, because he is not on the 1802 or prior personal tax list of Russell County.

Mark Whitaker purchased 100 acres of land on the south side of the Clinch River in Russell County, VA in October 1805 from William and Nancy Tabor. This land was part of a tract of land granted to James Fraley by patent dated 3 April 1779.

Mark Whitaker apparently died prior to February 1815, because his 100 acres is listed as "the estate of Mark Whitaker" on the Federal tax list of land for Russell County, VA for 1815. The index of Russell County Court Orders of this period do not show an entry concerning the estate of this Mark Whitaker.

The County Court recommended on 3 December 1816 to the Governor of Virginia that Francis Whitaker be appointed to the position of Cornet in the Troop of Cavalry of Russell County to replace James Caldwell who resigned. Cornet is the officer who carries the colors.

The 1820 census of Russell County lists only Martha Whitaker. In her household are: 1 male under 16 years of age; 1 male 16 years of age and under 26 years of age; 1 female under 16 years of age; and one female over 45 years of age.

The 1830 census of Russell County lists only Mark R. Whitaker. He is between 20 and 30 years of age. His wife is between 20 and 30 years of age. They have one son under the age of 5 years. No Whitakers are listed in the 1840 Russell County census. No Whitakers are listed in my type written copy of the 1850 census of Russell County, VA.

Mark R. Whitaker posted a performance bond as Constable in Russell County, VA 2 July 1833. He died in 1833. Appraisers were appointed to appraise his estate at the October 1833 term of the Russell County Court. The appraisal and sale bills were returned to the Court and recorded in 1836. Robert W. Smith was appointed administrator of Mark R. Whitaker's estate.

There was a Moses Whitaker in Russell County, VA in January 1846. He was appointed guardian to John Litton, son of Solomon Litton, deceased.

In November 1853 William P. Whitaker of the State of Illinois purchased from Mary Smith of Scott County, VA all her interest in the land of her father in Russell County, VA.

In a deed of the same date, 3 November 1853, William H. Smith of the State of Illinois, attorney for William P. Whitaker of the State of Illinois, conveyed to George Gose of Russell County, VA 25 acres of land on the south side of the Clinch River, being the interest of two rights in 100 acres left to the heirs of Mark Whitaker, Sr., deceased. This indicates, if correct, that at that time there were at least eight living heirs of Mark M. Whitaker, Sr.

A deed dated 24 November 1854 from Frances A. Whitaker, Johnston Whitaker, James O. Whitaker, Morgan Puckett and Susan, his wife, and James Mays and Metildy, his wife, all of Floyd County, KY to George Gose of Russell County, VA land on the south side of the Clinch River in Russell County, VA containing 68 acres, being their respective parts in a tract of land that their father, Mark Whitaker, Sr., deceased, possessed at the time of his death. This deed was signed by Frances A. Whitaker, James O. Whitaker and Johnston Whitaker. It was not signed by Morgan and Susan Puckett or James and Metildy Mays. Nor were there dowry releases for the wives of the three sons. This deed does not stipulate the number of shares intended to be conveyed. If one were to assume that the number to be conveyed is five shares, the per share acreage is 13.6. Based on this assumption, the number of shares were 7.35 because the whole estate contained 100 acres. We can only assume that the number of acres is not correct. And was probably copied wrong at the time of recording.

Only the second of these three deeds reveals the number of living heirs of Mark Whitaker, Sr. In specifying that 25 acres represented two shares in the estate, this deed shows that there were eight heirs to the estate. The number of acres in the third deed confuses the issue. If we assume that this deed represented five shares of eight, the acreage should be sixty two and one half acres. If we assume that Mark R. Whitaker was a son of Mark M. Whitaker and that the male listed in the 1830 census was a son of Mark R. Whitaker and that this son died without issue prior to the time of this deed, then all but one of the children of Mark M. Whitaker are revealed by these records. Seven are named in the deeds.

Martha, widow of Mark M. Whitaker, moved to Floyd County, Kentucky prior to 1840.

There are many questions left unanswered by these records. At first glance, one would assume that: 1. Mark M. Whitaker who died about 1814-1815 left a widow and nine children, 2. That Mark R. Whitaker, Jr. died in 1833 leaving no legal heirs, and 3. That the amount of land to be conveyed in the one deed is in error and not sixty eight acres. Based on these assupmtions then, a trial list of the children of Mark M. Whitaker would be as follows:

1. Frances A. Whitaker
2. Johnson Whitaker
3. James O. Whitaker
4. William P. Whitaker of Illinois
5. Mary Whitaker, married__________Smith and a widow by 1853 and resident of Scott County, Virginia. She may have been the wife of Robert W. Smith, which could account for the fact that he was appointed as one of the administrators of the estate of Mark R. Whitaker, called Mark Whitaker, Jr.
6. Mark R. Whitaker, deceased prior to October 1833 without heirs, leaving eight brothers and sisters to divide his father's estate.
7. Susan Whitaker, married Morgan Puckett in 1822
8. Matilda Whitaker, married James Mays
9. Another daughter, probably the wife of George Gose, since there is no deed in the index to show how he acquired the other one eighth share of the land, if indeed he did acquire it. A check to determine how he or his estate disposed of this land might answer this question.

One must bear in mind that errors occur in indexes so that they quite often do not cover everything in the record. Oftimes deeds did not get recorded even if they were presented to the proper officials. Loose files in clerks offices sometimes contain these unrecorded records. For one who wishes to clear up some of these questions, there are searches which can be done. Russell County Tax List both real and personal are available at the Virginia State Archives. These cover the time period from the formation of the county through at least 1840 and probably much later. A page to page check of the Russell County Court records might reveal information not listed in the index. A complete abstract of the deeds of George Gose as a grantor could reveal whether or not his wife was a daughter of Mark M. Whitaker.

Because of these deeds listed above, We can say with no doubt that seven of the children of Mark M. Whitaker, Sr. were: 1. Francis A. Whitaker. 2. James O. Whitaker. 3. Johnston Whitaker. 4. William P. Whitaker. 5. Mary Whitaker, married ______Smith. 6. Wusannah Whitaker, married Morgan Puckett. 7. Matilda Whitaker, married James Mays in 1830.

There is doubt concerning the two others previously listed. Nothing is the records found says that Mark R. Whitaker was a son of Mark M. Whitaker. Senior and junior in those days meant only the elder and the younger respectively. They were probably father and son, but they could just as well have been uncle and nephew. Tax lists might show Mark R. Whitaker as a son and that he was living on his father's estate.

My personal opinion is that the nine children listed above were the children of Mark M. Whitaker and his wife Martha.

******************
ED NOTE: Martha Whitaker, widow of Mark M. Whitaker, was recorded in the 1840 census of Floyd Co. KY but was not listed in the 1850 census. It is presumed that she died in the interim. A descendant, Les Risner, recalls stories told by his grandparents of Martha Whitaker who was called "Patsy." She was a school teacher and was buried on the Stephen Arnett Cemetery located across the river from the old Swampton stone building school on a cemetery that was reportedly plowed up in the 1930's. Buried there also would be members of the Stephen Arnett (son of David, brother of Middle Fork Reuben Arnett) family and the Benjamin Howard - Nancy Arnett family.

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SKETCHES OF WESTERN METHODISM

By Rev. James B. Finley. Edited by W.P. Strickland. D.D. R.P. Thompson, Printer, 1855

Digital Edition 08/03/96 By Holiness Data Ministry.

Page 7 Chapter 2

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF REV. WILLIAM BURKE

Page 10

The first preachers that visited that country was in the year 1783. It was then called the Holston country. The head waters of the South Fork of the Holston extended as far east as Wythe and the borders of Grayson counties, extending west as far as the Three Islands. In this tract of country the first preachers began their operations. They were Jeremiah Lamber, Henry Willis, MARK WHITAKER, Mark More, and Ruben Ellis, the elder. The district included Salisbury and Yadkin circuits in North Carolina, Holston in the west. In 1787 the Holston circuit was divided into two circuits, Holston and Notachucky and Philip Bruce appointed elder. Two new preachers were sent Jeremiah Masten and Thomas Ware -- in 1788. Two new circuits were made out of the old one. The Holston circuit embracing all the settlements on the south forks of Russell, in Virginia, and Blount county, in the Western territory. French Broad included all the settlements west and south of the main Holston to the frontiers bordering on the Cherokee nation. West New river was this year made a circuit, and Greenbriar added, which was composed of the new settlements on Greenbriar river, and part of the head waters of the James river, Edward Morris elder.

Page 11

In 1791 MARK WHITAKER was presiding elder, and Charles Hardy and John West were on the West New River circuit. Charles Hardy located this year, and the last part of the year I succeeded him. John West remained with me on the circuit till the Holston conference on the 15th of May, 1792.

Page 23

I now enter upon a new era in the history of western Methodism. I consider this the proper place to give a description of the men and means employed in the establishment and progress of Methodism in this western country, and the difficulties and hardships encountered in the work. As early as the year 1785 the first traveling preachers visited the Holston country, their names were Richard Swift and Michael Gilbert. The country at this time was new and thinly settled. They met with many privations and sufferings, and made but little progress. The most of the country through which they traveled was very mountainous and rough, and the people ignorant and uncultivated, and the greater part a frontier exposed to Indian depredations. They were followed by MARK WHITAKER and Mark Moore, who were zealous, plain, old-fashioned Methodist preachers, and calculated to make an impression. Their labors were successful, and they were instrumental in raising up many societies. MARK WHITAKER in particular was a strong man, and maintained Methodist doctrine in opposition to Calvinism, which was the prevailing doctrine of that time. He laid a good foundation for his successors, and was followed by Jeremiah Matson and Thomas Ware, and after them in succession Joseph Doddridge, Jeremiah Able, John Tunnell, John Baldwin, Charles Hardy, John McGee, and John West. Under God these men planted the standard of the cross in the frontier settlements of the French Broad, and numerous societies were raised up, so that in 1791 the societies numbered upward of one thousand.

Page 24

After the conclusion of the Indian war, in the spring of 1795, there was a great influx by immigration. Some of the traveling preachers married and settled in the country. James O'Connor settled on Watauga, MARK WHITAKER near Jonesboro, Stephen Brooks in Green county, and many others, both preachers and members, settled in different sections, and some new preachers were raised up, and the work was enlarged, new circuits were formed, and some useful and talented young men entered into the traveling connection.

INSCRIPTION ON HIS MEMORIAL

This memorial is a testament for the life you lived. We honor you for your dedication to your family and to the Methodist ministry.

That life began, as the son of Thomas and Mary Wilson Whitaker, between 1750 and 1760. Thomas Whitaker?s parents were Mark and Catherine Teague Whitaker from Saint George?s Parish, in present Harford Co. MD. Your grandfather was probably from Thornhill in Yorkshire, England.

Thomas and Mary moved to ?the forks of the Yadkin? in Surry Xo. NC, where you grew to manhood. Your service for God and Methodism started about 1780 to 1783. Francis Asbury admitted you as an itinerant preacher in 1785 and you served: Roan-oak 1785, Holston 1786-88-89, Amelia 1787, and Tar River 1790. You established many churches. One was at Bickley?s Mill in 1786. Today this church is the Fort Gibson United Methodist Church one mile north of this memorial.

Asbury had divisions in the southern districts over church doctrine. In 1791 you were appointed presiding elder in charge of the seven southern districts, stretching from east TN to the Atlantic. With your guidance the divisions were united. You ?laid a good foundation? for the church.

?Riding the circuit challenged brave men.? One-half died before the age of thirty and one-third before they served five years. Riding in darkness and light, sleet and rain, accidents and disease, and facing Indian dangers all took their toll. In 1793 you ?located, weakened in body and spirit.?

You settled near Jonesborough, TN. Somewhere on the long crooked road you traveled, you met the great love of your life. The marriage to Martha ?Patsy? occurred between 1793 and 1795 and to that union three children were born in TN.

In 1802 your small family moved to Castle?s Woods, the first settlement in present Russell Co. VA. 100 acres was purchased in 1805 on the south side of the Clinch River, being part of an original purchase by Frederick Fraley in 1769. On this land your family increased by four more children.

Your work for God was not finished and you pastored the families of Castle?s Woods. The Indian conflicts were over and the early families of Alley, Bickley, Bush, Castle, Cowan, Dickenson, Fraley, Hamlin, Horton, Moore, Osborne, Porter, Robinson, and Smith were growing. Their young you married. Their babies you baptized. Their old you commended to the earth. Their souls you led to God. Your strong faith, sound principles and fierce love of family were known to all who heard you preach and minister to their needs.

You died in 1811 or 1812 and your grave is lost to time. Your beloved Martha ?Patsy? raised your children and lived another forty years. She has a memorial in Magoffin Co. KY near where she is buried. Our dear reverend Mark Whitaker, we are proud of you; we admire you and are honored we belong to you.

With love, your descendants. 2006

Mark married Martha Harvey. [Group Sheet]

Johnson married Susannah Howard 27 Feb 1824, Floyd Co. KY. [Group Sheet]

Francis married Margaret. [Group Sheet]

Susannah married Morgan Puckett 29 Jun 1822. [Group Sheet]

Mark married Susan. [Group Sheet]

James married Lurana Fletcher 08 Jan 1829, Floyd Co. KY. [Group Sheet]

Matilda married James Mays 26 Nov 1830, Floyd Co. KY. [Group Sheet]

Mary married Robert W. Smith. [Group Sheet]

William married Jincy Arnett 30 Jan 1851, Floyd Co. KY. [Group Sheet]

Francis married Clarinda Brown. [Group Sheet]

Thomas married Louisa Puckett 25 Dec 1868, Floyd Co. KY. [Group Sheet]

George married Susannah Puckett. [Group Sheet]