John was the youngest of the four Lauderdale
County, Alabama brothers. He was born about 1821 probably to Adam
Whitsett in Tennessee. After the death of his father in 1825 Benjamin
and Jane Price took in John and his brothers, Wilson, Isaac and Joseph.
He was probably about four years old when his father died.
John married Cynthia Mary Ann Tankersley about 1848 possibly in Phillips
County, Arkansas or Giles County, Tennessee. The Tankersley
family also settled in Lauderdale County; however, we can find no marriage
record there for John and Cynthia. Cynthia was probably
the daughter of Rowland Tankersley and Margaret Davidson.
Rowland bought land in Lauderdale County in 1838 but possibly died before
1840.
John died about 1855 in Arkansas probably
Phillips County. He was about 34 years of age. John and
Cynthia had three sons all born in Arkansas: Jessie James Whitsett,
born January 30, 1850; John jr, born about 1852 and died at about the age
of nine in Lauderdale County, Alabama; Joseph Wilson Whitsett, born
May 9, 1854. After John's death, Cynthia returned to Lauderdale
County and married Ephraim Reed on March 1, 1858. The couple raised
Jesse and Joseph and had at least two other children of their own, twins,
daughter Mary and son Francis M. Reed. The 1870 census suggests
another daughter also named Mary. However, I have very little
confidence in the census returns for that area of Lauderdale County
in 1870. I have found them riddled with errors, duplicate entries
and perhaps even falsehoods. Cynthia died February 26, 1900 in
Lauderdale County. Ephraim died about six weeks later, on April
11, 1900. Both are buried in the Wright Cemetery near Wright,
Alabama.
1860 Census, Western Division, Lauderdale County, Alabama, P.O. Waterloo,
page 48, 30 June 1860
Efrom Read, age 38, Farmer, born in N.C.
Cynthia, age 34, b. in Ala.
Francis, age 8 mos., born in Ala.
Mary, age 8 mos., born in Ala.
Jesse Whitsett, age 10, born in Ark.
John, age 8, born in Ark.
Joseph, age 6, born in Ark.
1870 Census, T2R14W, Lauderdale Co., Alabama, P.O. Waterloo, pg. 550, Aug. 24, 1870
(1594/1541)
Reide, Ephram, age 47. Farmer, born in N.C.
Synthia, age 47, Keeping House, born in Ala.
James, age 21, Farm hand,
born in Ala. (this is Jesse James Whitsett)
Joseph, age 17, Farm hand, born in Ala.
Frances, age 10, born in Ala.
Mary, age 10, born in Ala.
Mary, age 7, born in Ala.
(1595/1542)
Tanksly, John, age 53, Farmer, b. Tenn.
Rayborn, Eliza, age 23, Keeping house, born in Ark.
1880 Census, Beat 12 & 11 (T1R14W), Lauderdale County, Alabama,
ED141, page 17, 12 June 1880 (3/3)
Reed, Ephraim, age 58, Head, Farmer, b. in N.C., parents b. in N.C.
Cinthia, age 55, Wife, Keeping house, b. in Tenn., parents b. in Va.
(4/4)
Reed, Francis M., age 20, Head, Farmer, b. in Ala., Father b. N.C., Mother b. Tenn.
Mary E., age 22, Wife, Keeping House, b. Ala. parents b. in Ala.
Tankersly, John, age 60, Uncle, works on farm, b. in Tenn., parents b. in Va.
Notice that on the 1860 and
1870 censuses, Francis is listed as Frances, female. That seems
like an odd mistake. Clearly, the 1880 census shows that Francis
M. Reed was the son of Ephraim and Cynthia.
Jesse James Whitsett
Great Granddaughter
Betty Thompson of Fayetteville, Arkansas provided us with the
data for Jesse James Whitsett and his family. Census records
and other documentation support her information. He was
born on January 30, 1850, in Spring Creek Township, Phillips
County, Arkansas. After his father died (about 1855),
Jesse's mother Cynthia returned to Lauderdale County with her
three boys. Jesse grew up in Lauderdale County in the
household of his stepfather, Ephraim Reed.
He married
Margaret (Malinda) Pickens in Lauderdale County on February 27,
1871. She was the daughter of Leroy Madison Pickens and Martha
Fairies and was born October 25, 1845 in Tennessee. Some time
before the turn of the century, Jesse took his family to Bell County,
Texas and then Durant, Bryan County, Oklahoma. Jesse died
probably in December, 1934 in Floyd County, Texas. Margaret
died on August 5, 1908 in Chillicothe, Hardman Co., Texas.
Children
of JESSIE WHITSETT and MARGARET PICKENS are:
JOHN LEROY WHITSETT, b. May 24, 1872, Lauderdale Co., Ala.; d. April
25, 1928, Durant, Bryan Co., Oklahoma. He married QUINNIE WEATHERFORD
November 1, 1896 in Holland, Bell County, Texas. She died September
22, 1916 in Durant, Bryan Co., Oklahoma. Seven children: daughter
Georgia E. Whitsett, b. abt. 1899, Texas; son Emmit Whitsett, b. abt
1901; daughter Margaret M. Whitsett, b. abt. 1907, m. John Fletcher;
son James J. Whitsett, b. April 1910; son Ira Whitsett, b. abt. 1912;
daughter Ruby Whitsett, b. abt. 1914; daughter Quinnie Ethel Whitsett,
b. abt. 1916, m. O'Dell Mosley.
ERNEST PRESTON WHITSETT,
b. February 7, 1875, Waterloo, Lauderdale County, Alabama; d. September
29, 1946, Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas. He married BEULAH
ETHEL MILLS Abt. 1901. She was born July 27, 1879, and died May 1972
in Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas. Five Children: son Preston M.
Whitsett, b. Aug. 9, 1902, d. May 6, 1903, Bell Co., Texas; son Jewel
Forest Whitsett, b. May 22, 1903, Bell Co., Texas, d. Aug. 12, 1983,
Swisher County, Texas, m. Electa Killough; daughter Opal Mae Whitsett,
b. Mar. 14, 1906, Bell County, Texas, d. Feb. 15, 1989, Boone County,
Arkansas, m. Waldo Franklin Brewster; son Gerald Wheeler Whitsett,
b. Oct. 15, 1907, Bell Co., Texas, d. July 11, 1929, Hale Co., Texas,
m. Willie Mae Watson; daughter Ina Fae Whitsett, b. Aug. 15, 1910,
Bell Co., Texas.
CHARLES WALTER WHITSETT, b. February 13, 1878, Lauderdale County,
Alabama; d. December 14, 1932. He married GEORGIA SEARS December 22,
1902. One daughter, Effie Whitsett, b. Abt. 1906, Texas; married J.
Paul Patterson; b. Abt. 1903, Texas.
JESSE JOSEPH WHITSETT, b. May 14, 1882, Lauderdale Co., Ala.; d. November
11, 1961, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Married MINNIE EVALINE GOODNIGHT November
3, 1907 in Holland, Bell County, Texas. She was born Abt. 1887 in
Texas. One son, Joseph Henry Whitsett, b. Nov. 20, 1909, m.
Minnie Lou Richards.
WILLIAM WHEELER WHITSETT, b. August 31, 1884, Lauderdale Co., Ala.;
d. November 1, 1963, Tulia, Swisher Co., Texas. He married CLARA
MAY ALEXANDRA. She was born Abt. 1888 in Texas. They had a daughter,
Vela Murriel Whitsett, b. Feb. 21, 1913.
MARTHA ETNA WHITSETT, b.
July 5, 1889, Wright, Lauderdale County, Alabama; d. September 7,
1974, Rockwall, Texas; m. BARNEY S. SEARS, May 8, 1905, Waco, McLennan
County, Texas.
Much supporting information on the Lauderdale
County, Alabama Whitsetts was derived from a letter dated November 17,
1929 from Jessie James Whitsett of Durant, Oklahoma to his nephew James
Edward Whitsett, Weatherford, Parker County, Texas. The letter,
dated November 17th, says:
Your grandfather,
John Whitsett, the youngest of four brothers and two sisters. Wilson
Whitsett, the oldest, Isaac Whitsett, the second, Joe Whitsett, the
third and John Whitsett, the fourth and youngest, born in 1828. Do not
know any dates. Their Farther and Mother came from Virginia to Jiles
[Giles] County, Tennessee, and died there when the children were small
and no dates were kept of anything. They were all adopted by one man
and wife, a Mr. Ben Price, brought to Lauderdale County, Alabama, and
raised there and lived and died there around Waterloo, except Father.
He died in Pope County, Arkansas, when I was 6 years old. Your Father
was 6 months old. There was one Brother, the oldest one never adopted,
he being old enough to take care of himself and went to Georgia and
raised up a family of boys there, all being railroad men. I saw a man
who knew them after they were all middle aged men."
"Jim, this is all I know about our direct people. Doctor [Lee M.]
Whitsett, of Fort Worth, has a biography of the Whitsetts, 330 years
old. If he is still living, he is 55 or 60 years old. Please give me
the outcome of this."
"Your effectionate uncle,
J. J. W."
1880 Census, Beat 12 (T1R14W), Lauderdale County, Alabama, ED141, page
16, June 11, 1880 (7/7)
Whitsett, James W., age 30, [Head], Farmer, born in Ark, parents born in Tenn
Malinda J., age 34, Wife, Keeping house, born in Tenn, parents born in Tenn
John L., age 8, Son, works on farm, born in Ala, father in Ark, mother in Tenn
Ernest P., age 6, Son, At home, born in Ala, father born in Ark, mother in Tenn
Charlie W., age 2, Son, At Home, born in Ala, father in Ark, mother in Tenn
1900 Census, Precinct 3, Bartlett, Bell County, Texas, ED21, Sheet 18B, June
15, 1900, (303/314)
Whitsett, Jesse J., Head, born Jan 1850, age 50, married 27 yrs, born in Ark, parents born in Tenn, Farmer
Margret, Wife, born Oct 1845, age 54, married 27 yrs, born in Tenn, parents in S.C., mother of 6, 6 living
Ernest, Son, born Feb 1875, age 25, born in Ala., father in Ark., mother in Tenn., farm labor
Walter, Son, born Feb 1878, age 22, born in Ala., father born in Ark., mother in Tenn,farm labor
Jessie, Son, born May 1882, age 18, born in Ala., father in Ark., mother in Tenn., farm labor
William, Son, born Aug 1884, age 15, born in Ala., father in Ark., mother in Tenn, farm labor
Martha, Daughter, born Jul 1889, age 10, born in Ala., father in Ark., mother in Tenn, at schoo
When the 1930 census was taken in Durant,
Bryan County, Oklahoma, Jesse was living with his grandson, James J.
Whitsett, age 20. Jesse's wife Margaret died on August 5, 1908,
in Chillicothe, Hardman County, Texas. Apparently, a few
years after the death of Margaret, Jesse and his son, John Leroy Whitsett
and his family moved to Durant, Oklahoma from Texas. Jesse died
in Durant about December 1934, at the age of 84.
John Leroy Whitsett was the oldest son of Jesse
and Margaret. He was born May 24, 1872, in Lauderdale County,
Alabama. He married Quinnie Weatherford on November 1, 1896,
in Holland, Bell County, Texas. She born about December 1877,
probably in Tennessee. John and Quinnie had seven children:
daughter Georgia E. Whitsett, born about December 1898; son Emmit Whitsett,
born about 1901; Margaret M. Whitsett, born about 1907; son James J. Whitsett,
born about April 1910; son Ira Whitsett, born about 1912; daughter Ruby
Whitsett, born about 1914; daughter Quinnie Ethel Whitsett, born about
1916. All of the children were born in Texas, probably Bell
County near Holland or Bartlett.
1900 Census, Precinct 5, Bell County, Texas, ED 27 Sheet 2 B, June 4, 1900,(31/31)
Whitsett, John L., Head, born May 1873, age 27, married 3 yrs, born in Ala., parents in Ala., Farmer
Quinnie, Wife, born Dec (1877) age 22, married 3 yrs, born in Tenn, parents in Tenn, mother of 2, 1 living
Georgia E., daughter, born Dec (1898), age 1, born in Texas, father in Ala, mother in Tenn
1910 Census, Precinct 5, Bell County, Texas, ED14, Sheet 9A (page 9), (117/117)
Whitsit, John L., Head, age 37, married once 14 yrs, born in Ala., parents in Ala.
Quine, Wife, age 33, married once 14 yrs, born in Ala., parents in Ala., mother of 4, 4 living
Georgia, Daughter, age 11, born in Texas, parents born in Ala.
Emmet L., Son, age 9, born in Texas, parents in Ala.
Margarette M., Daughter, age 2, born in Texas, parents in Ala.
James J., Son, age 0 mos, born in Texas, parents in Ala.
John Leroy Whitsett died on April 25, 1928
two years before the census. His wife Quinnie (Weatherford) Whitsett
died several years earlier on September 22, 1916. In 1930 son
James and daughters Margaret, Ruby and Quinnie, and son Ira were all
living together in Durant. Also in the household was their grandfather,
Jesse James Whitsett. Because of the date of death of the mother
Quinnie and the birth date of the daughter, also named Quinnie, I wonder
if the mother died in childbirth. Betty Thompson, grandniece
of John, says that Quinnie died in Durant, Oklahoma but daughter Quinnie
is listed as born in Texas. In either case, the family probably
moved to Durant about 1916.
1930 Census, Bryan County, Durant, Oklahoma ED7-26, Sheet 16 A (page 256), (379/392)
Whitsett, James J., Head, age 20, Single, born in Texas, father in Alabama, mother in Texas, Laborer, Dairy
Margaret, Sister, age 23, Single, born in Texas, father in Alabama, mother in Texas
Ira, Brother, age 18, single, born in Texas, father in Alabama, mother in Texas, Laborer, Odd jobs
Ruby, Sister, age 16, single, born in Texas, father in Alabama, mother in Texas
Quenie E., Sister, age 13, single, born in Texas, father in Alabama, mother in Texas
James J., Gr.Father, age 80, widowed,born in Ark., parents in Tenn.
Son Ernest Preston Whitsett was the second
child of Jesse and Margaret Whitsett. He was born in Waterloo,
Lauderdale County, Alabama on February 7, 1875. He married Beulah
Ethel MIlls about 1901 probably in Bell County, Texas. She was
born July 27, 1879 in Texas. Ernest and Ethel had five children:
son Preston M. Whitsett, born August 9, 1902 and died on May 6, 1903,
in Holland, Bell County, Texas; son Jewel Forest Whitsett, born May
22, 1903, in Holland, Texas, married Electa Killough and died in Tulia,
Swisher County, Texas on August 12, 1983; daughter Opal Mae Whitsett,
born March 14, 1906, in Holland, Texas, married Waldo Franklin Brewster
and died on February 15, 1989 in Harrison, Arkansas; son Gerald Wheeler
Whitsett, born October 15, 1907 in Holland, Texas, married Willie Mae
Watson and died on July 11, 1929, in Plainview, Texas; daughter Ina
Fae Whitsett, born August 15, 1910, in Holland, Texas. Ernest
died in Harrison, Arkansas on September 29, 1946. Ethel died in
May 1972, also in Harrison. Ernest and his family can be
found on the 1910 and 1920 censuses of Bell County, Texas.
The third child of Jesse and Margaret Whitsett
was Charles Walter Whitsett, born on February 13, 1878 near Waterloo,
Alabama. He married Georgia Sears probably in Bell County, Texas
on December 22, 1902. Charles and Georgia had one daughter, Effie
Whitsett, born about 1906 in Bell County, Texas. Effie married
J. Paul Patterson about 1929. Charles died on December 14, 1932
probably in or near Floyd, Hunt County, Texas (1930 Census, Floyd village,
Hunt Co., Texas, ED19 Sheet 2 B, April 16th).
Jesse Joseph Whitsett was the forth son of
Jesse James and Margaret Whitsett. He was born on May 14, 1882
in Lauderdale County, Alabama. He married Minnie Evaline Goodnight
on November 3, 1907 in Holland, Texas. She was born about 1887
in Texas. They had one son, Joseph Henry Whitsett, born November
20, 1909 who married Minnie Lou Richards. Jesse Jr. died in Tulsa,
Oklahoma on November 11, 1961.
William Wheeler Whitsett was born to Jesse
and Margaret Whitsett on August 31, 1884 in Lauderdale County, Alabama.
He married Clara May Alexandra probably about 1912 in Bell County, Texas.
They had one daughter, Vela Murriel Whitsett, born February 21, 1913
in Texas. William Wheeler died in Tulia, Texas on November 1,
1963.
The only daughter of Jesse and Margaret was
Martha Etna Whitsett, born July 5, 1889 in Wright, Lauderdale County,
Alabama. She married Barney S. Sears on May 8, 1905 in Waco, Texas.
I have no information on children of Martha and Barney. Martha
died in Rockwall, Texas on September 7, 1974.
Joseph Wilson Whitsett
The third and youngest son of John
Whitsett and Cynthia Ann Tankersley was Joseph Wilson Whitsett,
born on May 9, 1854 probably in Phillips County, Arkansas.
Joseph was probably less than a year old when his father died.
His mother took him and his brothers Jesse and John and returned
to Lauderdale County. There she married Ephraim Reed in
1858. Joseph was raised in Lauderdale County in the home
of his mother and stepfather near Waterloo, Alabama.
Joseph married Ida May Wright in
Lauderdale County on December 22, 1875. Ida was the daughter
of Moses Wright and Manerva Jane Turner. The Wrights were
well known in Lauderdale County and Wright, Alabama (first known
as Wright's Crossroads) was named for the family. Joseph
and Ida had three children, daughter Mina Eudora, son James
Edward and daughter Beda May Whitsett, all born in Lauderdale
County near Waterloo. Like his brother Jesse, Joseph moved his
family to Texas before 1896. On September 18th of that year, Ida
died in Peaster, Parker County, Texas near Weatherford, some miles west
of Fort Worth.
Children of JOSEPH WHITSETT and IDA WRIGHT:
MINA EUDORA WHITSETT, b.
November 17, 1876, Lauderdale County, Alabama; d. July 10, 1907, Peaster,
Parker County, Texas; m. CHARLES SPENCER RUTLEDGE, March 22, 1898;
two daughters, Amy Carol Rutledge and Ida May Rutledge.
JAMES EDWARD WHITSETT, b.
July 3, 1879, Waterloo, Lauderdale County, Alabama; d. April 25, 1967,
Weatherford, Parker County, Texas; m. BELLE ZORA GUERRY December 21,
1902, Weatherford, Texas; two children, James Mortis Whitsett and
daughter Maybelle Whitsett.
BEDA MAY WHITSETT, b. December
12, 1881, Waterloo, Lauderdale Co., Alabama; d. April 29, 1931, Fort
Worth, Tarrant County, Texas; m. ALLEN BELLAH RICE, March 30, 1909.
Joseph remarried in 1898 to Harriet Hardberger.
She was born about 1854 in Arkansas. Joseph was Harriet's second
husband. When she married Joseph, she had a son, Hershell.
Although the family has not told me so, Hardberger is probably Harriet's
maiden name. Joseph and Harriet had three children (including
the stepson Hershell), ,
son Marshall J. Whitsett, born September, 1899 probably in Parker County,
and daughter Harriet, born August 18, 1909. I have no information
on the descendants of Hershell, Marshal or Harriet. Joseph moved his family to Munday, Knox County,
Texas before 1910. Munday is located about 70 miles north of
Abilene. Joseph owned and operated a hotel In Munday. Joseph
Wilson Whitsett died in Munday, Texas on January 15, 1925, of Bright's
disease (nephritis), a historical term that refers to a range of kidney
diseases that are all very painful and unpleasant. There was no
cure for this condition.
Children of JOSEPH WHITSETT and HARRIET HARDBERGER
HERSHELL J. WHITSETT, born September, 1891 in Texas
HARRIET J.WHITSETT, born August 18, 1909 in Texas
Census Records
1880 Census, Beat 12 (T2R14W), Lauderdale County, Alabama, ED141, page 22, June 14th,
12/12
Whitsett, Joseph, age 26, [Head], Farmer, born in Ark., parents born in Ala.
Ida M., age 21, Wife, Keeping House
Mina E., age 3, Daughter, At Home
James E., age 11 mos., Son
1900 Census, part of Precinct 11, Peaster, Parker County, Texas, ED72 Sheet 1 B, June 2nd
18/18
Whitsett, Joseph W., Head, born May 1854, age 46, married 2 yrs, born in Ark, parents born in Ala., Farmer
Harriet, Wife, born Sep 1872, age 27, married 2 yrs, born in Ark, father born in Ga., Mother born N. C., mother of 1,1 living
Beda M., Daughter, born Dec 1881, age 18, single, born in Ala, father forn in Ark, mother born in Tenn
Hershall, Stepson, born Sep 1891, age 8, single, born in Tex., father born in Tenn., mother in Ark.
Marshall J., Son, born Sep 1889, age 8 mos., born in Tex., father born in Ark, mother born in Ark.
1910 Census, Precinct 6, Munday, Knox County, Texas, ED156 Sheet 9 A, pg 108, no date (
172/187
Whitsett, Josep W., Head, age ?, 2nd marraige, married 12 yrs, born Ala., parents born in U.S., Laborer
Hattie, Wife, age (38?), 2nd marriage, married 12 yrs, born in Ark., father born in Ga., mother born in N.Car, mother of 3, 3 living
J[blurred]ed, Hershell, Stepson, age 17, single, born in Tex, father born in Tenn., mother in Ark.
Whitsett, Marshal [Hershall], born in Tex., father born in Ala., mother born in Ark.
Harriet, [unreadable], born in Tex., father born in Ala., mother born in Ark.
**There is much water damage to this page and it is very difficult to read.
1920 Census, Munday, Knox County, Texas, ED163 Sheet 5 A, page 283, 9 January
98/106
Whitsett, Joe W., Head, age 65, born in Arkansas, father in Alabama, mother in Alabama, Hotel (Owner)
Hairet, Wife, age 48, born in Arkansas, father in Georgia, mother in N.Carolina
Marshel J., Son, age 18, born in Texas, parents born in Arkansas, Engineer, Cotton Gin
Hattie J., Daughter, age 10, born in Texas, parents born in Arkansas
Griggs, Elizabeth J., Boarder, age 63, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky
Whitsett, Herschel (N.), Son, age 26, born in Texas, father born in Arkansas ,Laborer
Chamberlain, Emmett E., Boarder, age 30, born in Texas, father in Texas, mother in Kentucky, Book Keeper
James Edward Whitsett, son of Joseph and
Ida, was among the first in the family to take an interest in the family
history. He exchanged a series of letters in 1929 that shows he
was asked to provide details of his family. Much supporting information
on the Lauderdale County, Alabama Whitsetts, and other families was
derived from these letters of November 1929 to and from James Edward
Whitsett of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas.
Chapel Hill, N.C.
11/6/1929
Mr. J.E. Whitsett,
Dear Sir:
I notice in the paper that Mr. J. E. Whitsett was Foreman of the jury
who tried R. H. Hamilton of your State a few days ago. Having had
a letter only a few days ago from my Nephew, Dr. W. T. Whitsett, of
Whitsett, N. C., who is getting up a history of the Whitsett Family,
I could not help but think that perhaps you might help in that history,
by giving a small outline of your Family in Texas.
I had a granduncle who was a preacher and left N. C. quite a number
of years ago and settled at or near Mems, [Memphis] Tenn. His name
was Wm. Whitsett. I did not know but what you might be of that family.
Do you know what your grandfather's name was. If you care to you might
write Dr. W. T. Whitsett of Whitsett, N. C. and give him what you
might have of the Family in Texas.
With good wishers, I am
Yours truly,.
A. T. Whitsett.
I believe a copy of the following letter
was enclosed with the above letter from A.T. Whitsett to J.E. Whitsett.
WHITSETT, N.C.
Oct. 12, 1929
Mr. A. T. Whitsett,
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Dear Uncle Alfred, -
My history of the Whitsett family is drawing to a conclusion, and
I hope to publish before many more months. It is hard to get all the
information together.
Can you give me, or tell me where I can get a correct list of the
dates of birth, and death where now dead, of the children of Austin
Whitsett, your father, and my grandfather?
Also, what was name of woman Uncle Henry married? Also Uncle Jerry?
Where are these two buried. Can you give their children's names, also
to whom the children were married.
Help me all you can, please. Your help in past has been the best I
have been able to obtain.
With regards to all the family,
Sincerely yours,
W. T. Whitsett.
_______________________________________
Brevard, North Carolina
November 11th, 1929
Mr. J.E. Whitsett
Weatherford Tex.
Dear Sir:
I enclose you clipping from the Ashville, N.C. Citizen.
I am the youngest son of Ralph Crawford Whitsett and Rachel Dunn Whitsett
of Va. My grandfather, Wm. Whitsett, fought in the Revolution, was
under Col. Crawford and married Col. Crawford's niece, Hadessa.
I am of Scotch-Irish descent and all my forebears came from Va. Grandfather
was born in 1752, Father in 1801, and self in 1852.
If you can figure out any relation I would be pleased to hear from
you.
I have my winter home at Eustis, Fla. And leave for there last of
this week. I would have been there but have been laid up for over
a month with an infected right hand.
Yours truly,
H.G. Whitsett
P.S. My oldest Brother's name was James Estel Whitsett. I have one
Brother, A.H. living at Mt. Ida and sister, M.H. Whitsett Hindron
living in Dayto [sic] Wash. She is past 90.
_________________________________________
Nov. 14th, 1929
Mr. H.G. Whitsett,
1013 Orange,
Eustis, Florida.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of Nov. 11th was written from Brevard, North Carolina,
but I am addressing you at Eustis, Florida, as I see that in your
letter you state that you spend your winters there.
I am sorry to say that I cannot give you very much information about
the Whitsett family. My Father's name was Joseph Wilson Whitsett and
his Father was John Whitsett, My Father was reared in North Alabama,
near Waterloo, Lauderdale County, and his Father was left an orphan
at an early age and I think there were four of the boys. Their names
were Joseph, John, Wilson and Isaac. I think the Whitsett family was
from Virginia or North Carolina to Tennessee and from Tennessee to
Alabama and there is still quite a few Whitsetts around Waterloo,
Alabama. My Father's Father married Cynthia Ann Tankersley and there
were three boys, Joseph Wilson, Jesse James and John. John died when
he was about 8 or 9 years old. My Father, Joseph Wilson Whitsett was
born May 19th, 1854, and died Jan. 15th, 1925, and my uncle, James
Whitsett, is still living at Durant, Oklahoma.
I am sure that we are of some relation if I could trace my descendants.
My people have always claimed to be of Scotch Irish descent and Whitsett
is a name that you seldom meet. I have a letter from Dr. William Thornton
Whitsett of Whitsett, North Carolina, in which he states that he is
writing a history of the Whitsett family. Possibly you are acquainted
with him and more than likely he is some relation of yours.
I would be glad to hear from you again and write me in detail all
you know of The Whitsett family. I am anxious to find out all I can
about them.
Hoping you have a pleasant winter, I am
Yours truly,
J. E. Whitsett
[The above is a copy apparently typed by
a secretary of J.E. Whitsett and not the actual letter sent to Mr.
Whitsett in Florida]
____________________________________
Eustis Fla. Nov 1929
Mr. J.E. Whitsett
Weatherford Tex.
Your letter of Nov. 24 received here. Owing to bad weather in mountains
we did not get started here till the 19th and got here the 21st and
it takes some time too get tying [sic] cleaned up after six months
absence.
I am confident that we are some kind of kinfolks. I will give you
our family tradition as I remember it. We are of Scotch Irish decent
and are from Virginia. James - John and William Whitsett left Va.
To go south and my Grandfather William stopped in Pa. And his two
brothers went on south and grandfather never heard from either of
them while he lived.
My grandfather William was born in 1752 and married Hadessa Crawford
a niece of Col. William Crawford of Revolutionary fame.
Grandfather fought under Col. Crawford. Col. Crawford and grandfather
lived at Connellsville Pa and the City have recentley erected a monument
to his memory. Grandfather William also lived at Layton Pa and Pittsburg
and Jacks Run Pa. Grandmother died and was buried at Layton Pa.
Grandfather and Grandmother had thirteen children. Twelve girles and
one boy who was the youngest and my father born in 1801 and died at
my house in 1892. My father and mother had thirteen children of which
I am the youngest born May 31 1852. My mother was Rachel Estep a Daughter
of Dr. James Estep a practiceing physitien [sic] and baptist preacher
all his life. My grandmother was Rachel Dunn an F.F.V. of Va.
I have one brother A.H.Whitsett living at Mt. Ida Ark and a sister
R Hadessa Whitsett Hendron living at Dayton Washington. She is past
90 and spry as a crickit.
My daughter Gertrude Whitsett Kipp is applying to get into the Daughters
of the Revolution. Grandfathers service record under William Crawford
in the state records at Philadelphia Pa. Are the same as our traditions.
An old history of Fayette Co. Pa. By Nelson speaks of my grandfather
as being a great indian fighter and scout and a friend of George Washington.
I was born in Fayette Co. Pa. Was in Ky. Six years and came to Fla.
In 1890. Bought a summer home at Brevard N.C. six years ago. It is
up in the mountains on the head of French Bread River.
Mountains around us run from 3000 to 6000 ft. The river is 2300.
I have tried to give you the high points of our familey and if you
can connect up I will be much pleased.
If interested I can go into more detail. I do not think that there
are very many living whose grandfather fought for our independence.
I have had some correspondence with William Thornton Whitsett of Whitsett
N.C. but have not gone to see him yet. He lives over 200 miles from
Brevard. If you should get near here do not fail to come to see me.
Hoping that we may get better acquainted I remain
Very Truly Yours
H.G. Whitsett [actual signature]
This ends my little history of the Whitsett
families of Lauderdale County, Alabama. This should in no way
be considered the last word on the matter. As new evidence comes
to light (as it always seems to do) some "facts" may change.
Also, there is still the unanswered questions about the origins of this
family. I hope that my work here will help someone, somewhere,
at some time solve those puzzles. In the mean time, I welcome
any comments, or corrections.
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