1.
John WHITAKER
The progenitors of the Whitaker family of Harrison County, Kentucky, were John and Ann Whitaker who married in Harford County, Maryland, 28 Dec 1776.
John Whitaker, the son of Peter and Amelia (Hitchcock) Whitaker, was born 21 May 1753, in that part of Baltimore County which was later to become Harford County. His father, Peter Whitaker (1716-1760), was the son of John and Ann (Dodd) Whitaker, while his mother Amelia Hitchcock was the daughter of William Hitchcock and his second wife Anne Jones. Peter's father John Whitaker (1691-1720) was the son of John and Catherine Whitaker of Baltimore County. For an excellent discussion of these Maryland forebears of John Whitaker, see Beaumont W. Whitaker's article "The Whitaker Family of Baltimore County, Maryland, 1677-1767," MARYLAND HISTORICAL MAGAZINE, Volume 79 (Summer 1984), pages 165-182.
John's pension claim for Revolutionary War service (Pension #W9001) reveals something of his movements from Maryland to Kentucky. In 1776, he lived in Harford County, Maryland, about 40 miles from Baltimore. In about 1784, John and his family removed to York County, Pennsylvania. (A John Whitaker appears on the tax lists of Fawn Township, York County, Pennsylvania, in 1782 and 1783. Like many of the other old veterans, he says that his memory is inexact as to some details.) In 1789, they removed to Washington County, Maryland (where they can be found enumerated in the first census of the United States in 1790). In about 1792 or 1793, they removed to Kentucky, first to Bourbon County near Paris, and finally about 1812, to Harrison County, where John died 29 Oct 1833.
John Whitaker was an ordained Methodist minister, as were his sons Josiah and Peter. He formed the Mt. Gilead Methodist Church near Paris and performed a good many marriages in both Bourbon and Harrison Counties. W.E. Arnold, in his book METHODISM IN KENTUCKY, states: "Rev. John Whitaker, eccentric, vehement, but genuinely pious and useful, settled in Harrison County, and established what was then known as 'Whitaker's Settlement,' now Oddville. He was the father of Rev. Josiah Whitaker. His home was a preaching place and sent forth a gospel influence which radiated for many miles in every direction." (Vol. 1, p. 172)
John Whitaker's pension application also reveals the details of his Revolutionary service. He enlisted three times in the Maryland Militia: In 1776, he belonged to Captain Aquilla Hall's Company, Colonel John Rodgers' Regiment; was called out in the fall of that year; and served three weeks on an alarm at Baltimore. He re-enlisted early in June 1977; served as sergeant in Captain Francis Holland's Company, Colonel John Rodgers' Maryland Regiment; and returned home about December. "Soon after the harvest" in 1778, he enlisted and served three months as sergeant in Captain Samuel Griffith's Company, Colonel Josiah Hall's Maryland Regiment.
John was allowed a pension of $31.66 per year; his widow, Ann, applied for and received a pension in 1836 until her death in 1842. Unfortunately, these pension papers do not reveal Ann's maiden name, only that she and John had both resided in Harford County before their marriage, but about 25 miles apart. It seems almost certain, however, that Ann's maiden name was Hitchcock. She reported in her pension application that she was born 18 June 1760. This matches the 18 June 1760 date of birth recorded for Ann Hitchcock, daughter of Josiah and Susannah (Garland) Hitchcock, in the St. John's Parish Register, Baltimore County, MD (p. 47). It also seems likely that Josiah Hitchcock was related to John Whitaker's mother, Amelia Hitchcock. John Whitaker appears in the D.A.R. Patriot Index, as several of his descendants have proved their D.A.R. lineage.
An attempt has been made to document census and other sources which form the basis for most of this Whitaker genealogy. It might be noted, however, that probate records help to establish the parentage of the early Whitaker generations in Harrison County. First, John Whitaker's will was written 30 April 1829 (Harrison County, KY, Will Book C, p. 120) and probated 13 November 1833. It mentions his wife Nancy, his sons Josiah, John Wesley, Peter, Isaac, and Simeon, and his son-in-law Hugh S. Hickman. Second, John and Ann's oldest son Josiah Whitaker wrote his will 15 July 1848 (Harrison County, KY, Will Book F, p. 321), and it was probated 1 Nov 1850; it enumerates his children. Third, Peter Whitaker, on the other hand, failed to list his children by name in his will written 23 Jan 1856 (Harrison County, KY, Will Book G, p. 371), and probated 30 July 1857. However, his heirs appear enumerated in the final settlement of his estate, recorded in Harrison County Clerk's Record Book J, p. 563. Finally, although John and Ann's other sons, John Wesley, Isaac, and Simeon, appear not to have left wills, the children of John W. and Simeon have been ascertained from Bible records, while Isaac's children all appear to be enumerated in his household in the 1850 census which was the first to list wives and children.
Some of John and Ann's descendants changed the spelling of Whitaker to Whiteker (and possibly other variations). Since it was definitely known that the spelling "Whiteker" was used in the line of one of the authors of this genealogy, that spelling appears for those families. For all others, however, the spelling "Whitaker" appears in this work, because of the difficulty in sorting out which families used which spellings (census and other records not necessarily being accurate indicators of preferred spellings). One family tradition has it that the Whitaker/Whiteker split developed during the Civil War era with the spelling Whitaker used by Republicans and/or Union sympathizers, while the spelling Whiteker was taken by Democrats and/or Confederate sympathizers.
Birthdates of all of John and Ann Whitaker's children were taken from the Family Bible, as recorded in the DAR application of Janice Wilkes.
THE CYNTHIANA DEMOCRAT, Thursday, June 12, 1919:
p. 12, columns 3-6:
REMINISCENCES OF ODDVILE IN 1860 AND LATER
"My first view of Cynthiana was by "early candle light" one evening in the fall of '60. With his lares and penates in carriage and wagon, our preacher-father started from Sharpsburg for his new field of labor, the Falmouth circuit, early that morning. Oddville was the objective point. Failing to make it by daylight, night coming on found us out on the Millersburg pike near the Mack Kimbrough home. A darky, questioned as to a stopping place, replied: "Yes, sah, Marse Mack Kimbro, he done keep a tabern for trabalers." The hog-driving season was on and Kimbrough's hospitality was already overtaxed. Immense droves of hogs were gathered up in Bath, Nicholas and other counties every fall and driven to Cynthiana for shipment via R.R. to Cincinnati. Kimbrough's was the last stopping place for entertainment and the final feed and resting up of the droves before embarking on the last leg of the trip to market. Fine, fat swine, they were[,] too, big fellows, many of them mast-fattened and the mountains and corn finished in the Blue Grass. Coming on to town we stopped at the famous hostelry, kept by T.R. Rankin and wife, two of the biggest hearted and most popular hosts that ever conducted a hotel in Cynthiana. Cynthiana, then had 700 or 800 inhabitants, but that's another story.
"Resuming the journey, next morning found us at Oddville. H. McWhiteker, kind hearted and genial "Uncle Mack," was the first man met. David W. Batson, the first boy. In addition to his large farm, Whiteker was running a large saw mill in the village. Formerly he had engaged in merchandise on quite a large scale. The one store then running was kept by J.M. Hodson and wife--in after years, "Aunt Betsy." E.J. Morgan and James Owsley, each had a blacksmith shop, with all the work they could attend to. Blacksmithing then paid.
"Tom J. Whiteker was the wagon and coffin maker for the northern and eastern part of the county. He was a superior workman at the trade and had a fine business. Tapley A. Taylor, Sr., was his assistant.
"Leonard Hoffman, who died in Cynthiana not long since, coming from Cincinnati, erected a warehouse and put in a stock of coffins and caskets. The business proving slow, he engaged in buying and driving sheep to the city market. Jimmie P. Hodson, astride of the good, roan horse and a pillow, assisted in the driving on one or two trips. Cold cream hadn't yet been introduced, but mutton tallow made a good and soothing substitute.
"Dr. John D. Batson was the village practitioner, and had a large practice and a fine record. Then and until the infirmities of advancing age overtook him, Dr. Batson was a leader in the community. The same may be said of his estimable wife, one of the best women and devoted christians Harrison county has ever known. her parents, Rev. Jas. C. and Nancy Whiteker Crow, two of the older people of the community, were devout christians and greatly respected. Thomas G. Hays, farmer and shoemaker, had all the work he could attend in the latter line. His make of boots and shoes stood the test of wear and popular demand.
"Asa F. Whiteker was the postmaster then and at intervals for years thereafter. His good wife, "Aunt Lizzie," ably assisted him. Mail came in twice a week--Havilandsville, Claysville and Oddville to Cynthiana and return comprised the route. Breckinridge, the carrier, was a 'wild and woolly' chap in some respects. He was afterwards succeeded by the Pollards--John and Henry, Will Light, and the Mattox boys--George, Ed and Oscar, and numerous others.
"James F. Smith ran a cooper shop, making barrels for the Megibben, Wash Taylor and other distilleries, according to demand. Monroe D. Whiteker operated a straight copper distillery of several barrels per day capacity, and also had a well stocked store, a mile or so from Oddville.
"Half way between Oddville and Claysville "Dock" McClain operated a water-power saw mill and further down was located the McClain distillery, also a straight copper producer of limited capacity. Then came the Durbin Mills, Col. N.M. Durbin, proprietor, where an extensive business was done. With water power mainly, custom grinding of wheat and corn into flour and meal. Col. "Pole" Durbin, as he was generally called, was one of the best known men in the county. He was a large land owner, owned slaves and was, perhaps, the wealthiest citizen of northern Harrison. Having had militia experience in his younger days, like Gen. Lucius Desha, his erect, military figure, especially as he sat on his horse, would have attracted attention in any crowd. In that respect he and Desha ranked with Gen. William Preston, Gen. Jno. B. Castleman and Gen. John Hunt Morgan. More superb figures I never saw on horseback. Daniel Durbin's erect figure and dignified movement is a natural inheritance from his father, Col. N.M.
"Out on what is now the Avena pike the Sons of Temperance possessed a small hall, near Mt. Pleasant church in which a small division or lodge of that order met weekly. In Oddville they owned a larger hall and had a thriving division with a large membership and its weekly gatherings were quite an interesting event.
"The school was taught by Lewis Lebus, who had been the teacher for several years. As a disciplinarian, he was strict and wielded his good stout hickory switch pretty frequently. But his pupils learned rapidly, especially in Mathematics and English Grammar. The school room was inadequate and out of date--no desks nor comfortable seats. Around two sides of the wall a plank had been fixed, slanting downward sufficiently for book and slate rests and writing purposes, with a couple of slabs, smoothside up, resting on long wooden pegs for seats for the large pupils, who sat facing the wall with backs to the teacher. Crinoline was then in vogue and it required practice for the girls to make the
seating effort in "due form." Girls, and women[,] too, were then modest and might careful as to exposure of even a very limited view of ankle or a little more. Ever and anon, the teacher would make his round, overlooking the work in progress on slate or copy book, and woe unto the delinquent whose ciphering or writing was incorrect and below the required standard.
"Finding, trading and speculating profitable, Mr. Lebus soon gave up the vocation of teaching and was succeeded by his brother, Joe F. Lebus, also a fine teacher, but of different methods and less strict discipline. But few of those who attended school then now survive-John W. Mattox, Lucius and Joseph Hays, William Henry Garnett, Dr. J.R. Batson, a recent beginner, and Mrs. Fannie Whiteker Brannock, are the only ones I can now recall. David W. Batson, deceased, was also one of the younger pupils. He made rapid advancement and in a few years gained a reputation as the youngest and one of the best teachers in the county. He and Garnett, after teaching a while, entered Kentucky Wesleyan College, graduated and became members of the faculty. Batson also served as President for some years.
"Prof. Batson after resigning the presidency had charge of the Central Methodist as editor and manager for a number of years. In that capacity he was also a success. Prof. Garnett, except for one year's intermission, served the Wesleyan as faculty member, secretary and Dean, contin[u]ously until a year or so ago, when ill health caused his withdrawal temporarily. He went to California to recuperate, but late reports are that he is bedfast and beyond recovery. Both he and Batson were expert mathematicians and superior educators.
"Some of the teachers who followed were Miss Annie Poynter, Miss Lou Riggin, Capt. A.F. Tyler, W.H. Myers, M.J. Brough, Peter Wyles, Miss Bessie Brough and Miss Nannie Lee, now Mrs. F.N. Jones. Lucius and Will F. Hays, J.J. Whiteker and J.W. Mattox, former Lebus pupils, also were successful teachers.
"In another article, I'll mention some things, incidents and persons pcrhaps of sufficient interest to justify the granting of space and publication. E.B.L."
1790 FEDERAL CENSUS, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND:
p. 013:
John Witaker household:
1 male over age 16
3 males under age 16
5 females
1 other person
Bourbon County, KY, Tax Lists--LDS Film #007,879:
Males above 21, white males 16-21, blacks above 16, blacks under
16, horses, cattle
1793:
John WHITEKER 1-0-1-1-2
1795:
John WHITEAKER 1-0-1-1-3, Stoner water course, 115; Hinkson, 124
1796:
John WHITEAKER 2-0-1-0-3 Stoner 120
1797:
John WHITTAKER 2-?-1-0-3, Stoner water course 120, Martain survey;
Campbell County, Grassey Creek, 300, Crittenden survey
1799:
John WHITTAKER 1-2-0-1-3
1800:
John WHITEKER 1-0-1-1-4, Stoner 120, John Marten survey;
Campbell County: Grassey Creek 300
1801:
John WHITTEKER 1-0-1-2-4, Stoner 120, Marten survey; Campbel
County, Grassey Creek 500, Cridington survey
1802:
John WHITEKER 1-0-1-1-3, Stoner 120, Jno Marten survey
1803:
John WHITTEKER 1-0-1-3-6, Stoner 120, John Marten survey
1804:
John WHITEKER 1-0-1-3-7, 120 Stoner, Jno Marten survey
1805:
John WHITEACRE 1-0-1-3-8, F. Run 128
1806:
John WHITEKER 1-0-1-3-9, Stoner 120, John Marten survey
Harrison County, KY, Deeds--LDS Film #216,850:
Book 3:
pp. 448-449:
14 November 1807
Christopher McConnico and Mary his wife of Harrison County, KY, to John WHITAKER of the same county and state,
for $150,
tract on the waters of Beaver Creek containing 170 acres, adjoining Mason Johnson
Signed: Charles McConnico, Mary-x makr-McConnico
Witnesses: Benjn McDuffe, Thomas Foster, Peter WHITEKER
Bourbon County, KY, Tax Lists--LDS Film #007,880:
Males above 21, white males 16-21, blacks above 16, blacks under
16, horses, cattle
1807:
John WHITEKER 1-1-1-4-7, 720 Stoner
1808:
John WHITEKER, 1-1-0-0-7, 120 Stoner
1809:
John WHITEKER, 1-0-0-1-0, 120 Stoner
Harrison County, KY, Deeds--LDS Film #216,850:
Book 3:
pp. 193-194:
12 March 1810
Moses Raredon and Ellender his wife, of Harrison County, to John WHITACRE of county and state aforesaid,
for $900,
tract on the waters of Beaver Creek, containing 143 acres
Signed: Moses Rardeon, Ellender Raredon
1810 FEDERAL CENSUS, HARRISON COUNTY, KENTUCKY:
p. 318:
John Whitichar household:
1 male age 0-10
3 males age 10-16
1 male age 16-26
1 male over age 45
1 female age 0-10
1 female age 10-16
2 females age 16-26
1 female over age 45
1820 FEDERAL CENSUS, HARRISON COUNTY, KENTUCKY:
p. 190:
John Whitaker household:
3 males age 16-26
1 male age 26-45
1 male over age 45
2 females age 0-10
1 female over age 45
1 slave
Harrison County, KY, Wills, 1832-1847--LDS Film #216,865:
Will Book C:
pp. 120-121:
Will of John WHITEKER of Harrison Co, KY,
to beloved wife Nancy WHITEKER, farm where I now live with all utensils and stock, and at her decease to my son Isaac,
to Hugh S. Hickman my son-in-law, tract which I have given him a deed,
to Simeon A. WHITEKER my son, 50 acres for which I have given him a bond,
to my son Peter WHITEKER, 100 acres, 3 roods, and 7 poles, for which I have given him a bond for a deed, and in consideration for services he shall render to his brother Isaac for the support and comfort of his mother,
my clock to Nancy Geoghegan, my daughter, at the death of my wife, and after the death of my wife, an equal divide of all my moveable property between my children Josiah, Nancy and John Wesley,
appoint Peter WHITEKER my son and Hugh S. Hickman my son-in-law as executors,
30 April 1829
Signed: John WHITEKER
Wit: Hugh S. Hickman
proved 13 Nov 1833
Harrison County, KY, Deeds, 1828-1832--LDS Film #216,854:
Book 11, 1828-1830:
pp. 398-399:
12 Oct 1829, Cynthiana
John WHITAKER Senr, do hereby certify that Frances a coloured woman and wife to Roses George belonging to me and was recorded by me to be free at the age of twenty-five and before the time of service expired she married the above named George. It was expressly understood by me that her and her increase from the date of sale was forever to be free from me and my heirs. I furthermore certify that Maria her mother lived with me in Pennsylvania four years in consequence of which she is free and let it be fully understood by this certificate that all and every person of colour ever in my possession is from this date free from me and my heirs forever.
Signed: John WHITAKER L.S.