Ralph Whiteside/Whitsett of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
/
|HOME| |Whitsett Home Page| |Whitsett History Menu| |Family Trees and Group Sheets| |Whitsett Photo Gallery| |Our Virtual Cemetery| |Genealogy Menu|
 

GENERATION 3

RALPH WHITSETT AND SARAH WILSON OF LANCASTER CO., PENNSYLVANIA
Ralph Whitsett, three brothers and at least one sister came to America from the north of Ireland. They settled first in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania near today's city of Lebanon in Lebanon County. Ralph later sold his land Lancaster County and removed west to Cumberland County, across the Susquehanna River from Lancaster. Ralph owned and operated a flour mill on Yellow Breaches Creek. Family legend of his son William says that the mill was attacked and destroyed by Indians. Whatever the reason the mill went bankrupt and was foreclosed on by Ralph's financier. He disappears from the record after that. It is probable that he moved in with one of his sons about that time. There is no record of his or his wife Sarah's death.
Name 5. WHITSETT, Ralph (William2, Samuel1)
Sex   Male
Father 2. WHITSETT, William
Mother   Unknown
Spouse   WILSON, Sarah 65
Birth   1714-20, in Ireland, probably County Antrim
Death   Unknown, after Jan. 1767
Marriage   Unknown; possibly abt. 1740 in Lancaster County, PA
Children   We have circumstantial evidence for five sons and one daughter.
  11.i. WHITSETT, Samuel, b. abt. 1745 in Lancaster Co., PA; died in August 1815, Montgomery Co., KY; m. Margaret Tittle (Tuttle?)
  ii. WHITSETT, Sarah, b. June 13, 1748 in Lancaster Co., PA; died Oct. 14, 1812, probably Westmoreland Co., PA; m. Peter Tittle.75,76
  iii. WHITSETT, John, nothing else is known. His name arises in the family tradition of 4-Samuel; however, I suspect he is the John who was the brother of Ralph, not his son; Ralph's brother John left Pennsylvania for North Carolina.
  12.iv. WHITSETT, Joseph, b. abt. 1750 in Lancaster or Cumberland Co., PA; died in May 1814, Harrison Co., KY; m. Mary Clifford.
  13.v. WHITSETT, William Wirt, b. 1752 in Cumberland Co., PA; died in 1842, Perryopolis, Fayette Co., PA; m. Hadessa (Easter) Crawford
  vi. WHITSETT, James, d. Feb. 1754.
     
Notes 6 Feb. 1738 Marriage of John Welsh and Elizabeth Whitside, Quittapahilla (now Lebanon, PA.) by Rev. John Casper Stover; probably the sister of Ralph, John, James and William Whitside/Whitsett. John Welsh remarried in June 1742 indicating the Elizabeth had died.71,77
  17 Mar. 1741 Plot map of a tract labeled "George Stoitz 52 as. 126 p. & Allowance." Adjoining tracts: George Stoitz (north); Ralph Whiteside (west); Widow Creiter (west section south side).54
  01 May 1741 Lebanon Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania land survey drawing for Robert Vernor's warrant shows Ralph Whiteside's property on the north east side. Robert Vernor's name is listed also as Robert Varner. 53
  23 Apr. 1742 Land surveyed for Ralph Whiteside was found to overlap some of the land of John Whiteside. The error was found in 1760 when the land was resurveyed when the land warrant was transferred to George Reynolds. John Whiteside was issued the original warrant for his land on 03 Oct. 1738. This document is the earliest date for the presence of the Whitsitt brothers, John and Ralph in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.55
  06 Mar 1743 Land surveyed for Casper Stover shows the land of John Whiteside and Ralph Whiteside bordering Stover's. Casper Stover was a traveling minister of the Lutheran Church. With no Presbyterian churches on the frontier the Whiteside families, as with other Scotch-Irish families, attended convenient churches in their neighborhoods.56
  5 July 1743 The will of Joseph Whitselt [Whitsett] is published in Philadelphia indicating he has died; Joseph is possibly a relative or sibling of the Whitsetts of Lancaster and Lebanon counties.73
  7 Aug. 1744 Ralph Whitsitt's name is among the petitioners concerning a road in Lebanon Township, Lancaster County; this reference is apparently the earliest using the Whitsitt version of the surname Whiteside found on earlier documents.58
  5 Apr. 1746 Lebanon Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania land survey for Ralph Whiteside, by virtue of a warrant dated 23 April 1742, shows it adjoining the lands of John Whiteside, Robert Varner and others.59
  15 Aug. 1746 Warrant issued to James Whiteside at Philadelphia for 220 acres in Lebanon Townhip, Lancaster County, PA.62
  27 Jan. 1747 William Allen of Lebanon Township, Lancaster County makes his will naming wife Margaret Allen and appointing Ralph Whiteside and Thomas Hamersly as executors. The will was submitted for probate on 11 Dec. 1747.61
  1 Mar. 1747 The 1746 land warrent for James Whiteside in Lebanon Township, Lancaster County, is surveyed by Thomas Cookson.62
  17 Aug. 1749 Pennsylvania Gazette, "George Doude, servant, age c. 20, runaway from Ralph Whitsitt of Lebanon Twp., Lancaster Co." In colonial America in this time period notices like this for runaway indentured servants were common.63
  1750-1755 Ralph Whiteside and Thomas Hammersly both appear on the tax assesment lists for Lebanon Twp., Lancaster Co.64
  14 June 1756 1756 June 14, Ralph Whiteside and wife Sarah Wilson sponsor the baptism by Rev. John Casper Stoever of Susanna Gambill, daughter of John Gambill; Lebanon Township, Lancaster County; Rev. Stoever, as was the German custom, recorded the wives' maiden names in records such as these.65,72
  2 Feb. 1754 James Whiteside, weaver, of Lebanon Township, Lancaster County, "being very sick and weak in body" names wife Ann, son John and states he has seven children (not named, except for John); he names as executors Ralph Whiteside, James McNees [Menees], and Thomas Hammersly; witnessed by John Allen, Isbell Hamersley, Mary A. Wyland; signed with their marks James Whiteside and Ann Whiteside [James McNees/Menees was the father of Eleanore who married William Whitside].67
  1758 Thomas Hammersly and Ralph Whiteside are listed on the tax assesment list for Lebanon Township, Lancaster County.66
  26 Aug. 1760 "Yellow Britches" [Creek], Thomas McKee and "Else" Whitside were married by Rev. John Casper Stoever; it is likely that she was one of the daughters of James Whiteside and wife Ann. After Ann remarried to John Giles in 1761 the family removed to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. In 1778 in Mecklenburg Co., NC, John Whiteside is security for Alice McGee administrator and widow of Thomas McGee. It is quite possible that "Else" was a transcription error for "Alice".68
  20 Jan. 1761 Carlisle, Cumberland County, PA, sheriff Ezekeil Smith returned the following grand jury: John Davis, John Holmes, Andrew Holmes, Joseph Boyd, Andrew Miller, Ralph Whitsides, John McClure, Stephen Duncan, Samuel Colter, William Armstrong, Christopher Brandon, Hugh Hunter, Charles Patterson, Robert Walker, James Weakley, Peter Tittle. This is the first evidence that Ralph had relocated from Lancaster County to Cumberland County.69
  21 Jan. 1761 Carlisle, Cumberland Co., The King vs. Ralph Whitsides [summoned] for keeping a publick House [tavern] without a license. Defendant being solemnly called appeared not. Jany 1761 the defendant pleads not quilty. "The King vs Peter Title - For keeping a Publick House without licence. Defendant being solemnly called appeared not. Peter Title £ 20 [bond], conditioned that said Peter Title appear at the next Court and not to depart the Court without licence." p. 28; it would appear that Peter Title and Ralph Whiteside were in business together.69
  21 Apr. 1761 Cumberland Co., Ralph Whiteside signs the account [for the estate of] James Whiteside of Lebanon Township, Lancaster Co.70
  1763

"Came into Court Rowlin Chambers and by petition to said Court setting forth the gread disconveniency and damage done to the petitioner by a road being laid out leading from Ralph Whitesides Mill near Yellow Britches Creek to Tobia Hendrix".69

"Came into Court Tobias Hendrick...being 4 of the persons appointed by order of a former Court to view and if they should see cause to layout a road from or beginning near Ralph Whitesides Mill on Yellow Britches Creek the nearest and best way to Harris Ferry or into the County Road leading by Tobias Hendricks ...and have accordingly laid out the same road..." 69

Peter Tittle, Sr of Carlisle, Cumberland Co. Pa, listed in "History of Cumberland Co, Pa" as being one of its earliest settlers, before 1745. Land deed records document his residence in this area at least until 1763 and perhaps later. A deposition given by Peter, Sr in 1760 regarding the death of an Indian also gives his date of birth as 1725. A daughter Elizabeth (possibly named for her grandmother) married James Hunter (will of James Hunter) who was a neighbor in the area. Son Peter, Jr married Sarah Whitesides, also a neighbor in this area and their family is found later in Westmoreland Co, Pa.51
  15 Dec. 1763 Notice in the Pennsylvania Gazette by John Whiteside, Allen Township, Cumberland County, "Came to the House of Ralph Whiteside, a stray Mare, an Iron grey, short Tail, a Piece off one Ear, the Brands unknown. The Owner coming and proving his Property, shall have her again." 74
  24 Jan. 1764 At Carlisle, "the Sheriff returns list of gentlemen summoned to serve on the Grand Inquest:...Ralph Whitesides..." 69
  23 Apr. 1765

At Carlisle, "The sheriff Ezekiel Dunning returns the following list of grand jurors...Ralph Whitesides..." 69
  30 May 1764 William Whitside and Eleanore McNees are married by Rev. John Casper Stover in Bethel; William and Eleanore were the parents of the Whitsett's who settled in Tennessee. This is an evidence that William was one of the Whiteside/Whitsett brothers who came together from Ireland to Pennsylvania in the late 1730's.71
  21 June 1765 Ralph Whiteside enters a caveat against the acceptance of a survey or a patent being granted to Thomas Stuart for 100 acres, part of 200 acres granted by a warrant in 1744, then in Lancaster, now Cumberland County, to Arthur Stuart the father of Thomas; Whiteside alledging that he has a Right to the same 100 acres.57
  28 Jan. 1767 1767 January 28, "The mill at this point [New Lisburn on Yellow Breaches Creek] was established by Ralph Whitesides who took title from Frazier prior to 1767. He borrowed money on mortgage from James Galbraith and built a mill and saw-mill, etc., and failed. Galbraith foreclosed his mortgage and Sheriff Holmes sold the property on January 28, 1767, to James Galbraith." 60
     
Sources

50.

 Research by Ronald N. Wall and William R. Whiteside, Cottage Hills, IL, WHITESIDE AND WHITSETT PIONEERS (2008); sources are noted; contributed to the Whiteside Family Association, https://whitesideancestry.org/ (2008).
 

51.

 Research notes of William R. Whiteside, Cottage Hills, IL, 2007-2008.
 

52.

 Whitsitt, Dr. William Heth, Richmond College, Richmond, VA."Annals of a Scotch-Irish Family: The Whitsitts of Nashville, Tenn." American Historical Magazine. Nashville, Tenn., VOLUME IX, January, April, July, October 1904
 

53.

 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives; RG-17, Records of the Land Office, COPIED SURVEYS 1681-1912 [series #17.114], (http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/), Book A78 pg. 132.
 

54.

 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives; RG-17, Records of the Land Office, COPIED SURVEYS 1681-1912 [series #17.114], (http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/), , Book C185 pg. 160
 

55.

 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives; RG-17, Records of the Land Office, PATENT INDEXES, 1684-[ca. 1957] {series #17.147, 154 & 155}
 

56.

 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives; RG-17, Records of the Land Office, COPIED SURVEYS 1681-1912 [series #17.114]
 

57.

 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives; RG-17, Records of the Land Office; Series 3, vol. 2, p 310, Caveat Book #2.
 

58.

 William Henry Egle. Notes and Queries, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, (research by William R. Whiteside, Aug. 2007)
 

59.

 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives; RG-17, Records of the Land Office, PATENT INDEXES, 1684-[ca. 1957] {series #17.147, 154 & 155}; book A5, pg. 77
 

60.

 CALLAPATSCINK THE YELLOW BREECHES CREEK, By John R. Miller, [Presented To] The Cumberland County Historical Society On Friday Evening, November 20, 1909
 

61.

 Abstracts of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Wills 1732-1785, Willowbend Books (2006), pg 1. (Note from William R. Whitesides, Cottage Hills, IL, Aug. 2007)
 

62.

 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives; RG-17, Records of the Land Office, PATENT INDEXES, 1684-[ca. 1957] {series #17.147, 154 & 155};
 

63.

 "Abstracts from The Pennsylvania Gazette, 1748-1755" Kenneth Scott & Janet R. Clarke, pg. 56; Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc: Baltimore, (1977)
 

64.

 Daniel Rupp, "History of the Counties of Berks and Lebanon," (Lancaster County Genealogy Project, Contributed by Roxanne Eckenrode); Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. XXIV, 3rd Series, "Histories of the Counties of Berks and Lebanon," pg. 307
 

65.

 William Henry Egle, Notes and Queries (1896), p. 69, Baptismal Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever Surnames A - H; 1756 PA Lancaster Co., Lebanon Townshp, Ralph Whiteside and wife Sarah Wilson sponsors for baptism
 

66.

 William Henry Egle, History of Dauphin & Lebanon Counties, Pennsylvania, (1898)
 

67.

 Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Will Book A pg. 83, 21 April 1761, James Whiteside; William R. Whiteside, 335 Jersey St., Cottage Hills, IL, 62018-1210, August, September 2007 Research Notes.
 

68.

 William Henry Egle. Notes and Queries, "Marriage Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever 1730-1799" (research by William R. Whiteside, Aug. 2007)
 

69.

 Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Cumberland County Quarter Sessions Docket 1, 1750-1761, Docket 2 1761-1765; Diane E. Greene, Cleafield, Baltimore, MD (2001); from the research notes from William R. Whiteside, Cottage Hills, Illinois, Jan. 2008
 

70.

 Index, Lancaster Co., PA Will Book A and B, and Cumberland Co., Book A-83; William R. Whiteside, 335 Jersey St., Cottage Hills, IL, 62018-1210, August, September 2007 Research Notes.
 

71.

 Marriage Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever (all 1,429 marriages), Lebanon County, Pennsylvania PAGenWeb Project Church, Bible, and Graveyard Records, http://www.chm.davidson.edu/pagenweb/churches.html
 

72.

 Baptismal Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania PAGenWeb Project Church, Bible, and Graveyard Records.
 

73.

 Wills: Abstracts, Will Book F: 1736 - 1743: Philadelphia Co, PA, Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Thera, Jack and Judy Bowman, http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/pafiles.htm.
 

74.

 Item #30599 April 7,1763/1764, The Pennsylvania Gazette http://204.170.102.11/ [website URL no longer available]; notice by John Whiteside, Allen Township, Cumberland County, Dec. 15, 1763. The historical Pennsylvania Gazette may be available on-line by subscription.
 

75.

 Research papers sent by M. A. "Buddy" Taylor, Thomaston, GA in January 1999. His work is authenticated by sources - MATayL@@accessunited.com (research notes of William R. Whiteside to Ron Wall)
 

76.

 "The Tittle Family - One Branch" Peter Tittle, Jr. 1746-1834 to Harry Hayes Tittle 1876-1948; Mary Avalee Tittle Thompson, author - 1971.
 

77.

 Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever Baptismal And Marriage 1730-1779, Harrisburg Publishing Company, Harrisburg, PA, (1896)
     
Ronald N. Wall
MODIFIED: 01 August 2022