Photo copies of documents related to the Isaac Whitsett family of Lauderdale County, Alabama

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Lauderdale County, Alabama documents related to the family of Isaac Whitsett 1812-1865

Lauderdale Co., Ala. Marriages, Vol. 1-3 (merged into one volume)
pg. 214

Marriage License for Isaac Whitsett and Elizabeth Wilson, 20 July 1834, Whitsett to Wilson

The State of Alabama Lauderdale County.  To any judge of said state any justice of the peace or any minister of the gospel Legally authorized, These are to authorize you or either of you to solemnize the state of matrimony between Isaac Whitsett and Elizabeth Wilson of said county agreeable to the statue in such case made and provided Given at the office of the Clerk of the County Court of said county this 14th day July 1837
                                                               W W Lannard CC
Solemnized By Me the 20th July 1837  R H Willet, JP

Lauderdale Co. Marriages, (original) Book 6, pg. 186

State of Alabama Lauderdale County.  To any Judge, Minister of the Gospel or Justice of the Peace legally authorized  You are hereby authorized and Required to Solemnize The Rites of Matrimony between William W. Whitsett and Mary Ann Hopson, agreeable to the statue in such case  made and provided; and a due return [made] to the Office of Probate for the County aforesaid.  Given under my hand this 17th day of November in the year of our Lord 1856.
                W. T. Hawkins, P.Judge

Executed by me this November The 19th day 1856
                Thos. H. Reynolds, J.P.

1863 Roll of "The Lauderdale Rifles," Co. D 9th Ala Infantry C.S.A., From Thomas M. Owen, Nov. 4, 1901, compiled by J. R. Cannon, McKensie, Tenn. Alabama Department of Archives & History

This is part of a document compiled in 1901 listing the men of the regiment and their duty status at battles the unit was engaged in during the Civil War.  The original sources are not indicated on the document; however, it is probably from interviews with surviving members and muster rolls from 1861 through 1865. Number 74 is Philip W. Whitsett, Pvt., son of Isaac and brother of William Wallace Whitsett who enlisted on May 27, 1861 at Oakland, Lauderdale County.  He was eighteen years of age and unmarried.  The roll lists his post office as Oakland but I believe this is a mistake. It should be Waterloo. Philip deserted the Confederate army in January, 1864 and tried to return home to Lauderdale County; however, he was captured by Federal forces and sent to a prison camp in Nashville. He was released in February, 1865.

The page (on the left) shows status at: the Siege of Yorktown, April, 1862; Williamsburg, May 1862; Seven Pines, June 1862; Gaines Mill, 27 June 1862; Frazier's Farm, 30 June, 1862; Manassas 2 (second Manassas), August 1862.  I assume there is at least one other page showing the battles from Gettysburg until the unit's surrender in 1865.  The 9th Regiment of Alabama Infantry was attached to General Robert E. Lee's Army of Virginia.

(no image, extracted from a webpage)

January, 1864, Philip Whitsett listed as a deserter. He was captured in Tennessee by Federal troops while attempting to return home and sent to the POW camp near Nashville, Tennessee. The U.S. Army Rolls of deserters from the rebel army states that Philip Whitsett was discharged at Nashville on February 4, 1865. He swore an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. on January 27, 1865, and was released on the condition he remained north of Ohio River. The U.S. Army POW records give the following information about Philip.

Head Quarters, Provost Marshal General, U.S. Army, Department of the Cumberland, Nashville, Tennessee; Roll no. 672, Sheet 10.

P. Whitsett, Pvt. 9 Regt. Alabama Infantry
Place of residence: Lauderdale Co., Ala.
Complexion: Fair
hair: Brown
Eyes: Grey
Height: 5'9"
Volunteered May 17, 1861, deserted Jan. 15, 1864
Remarks: No family

Lauderdale County, Alabama Inventory Book D, pg. 659

Estate of Isaac Whitsett

To the [Honorable] the Probate Court of Lauderdale County, Ala.

Your petitioner would respectfully represent that Isaac Whitsett late of said County died on or about 14th June 1865 in testate seized and possessed of the following property - about 340 acres of Land and personal property consisting of Household & Kitchen furniture Farming utensils Horses Cattle Hogs &c to the probably value of Twenty five Hundred Dollars & that said Isaac Whitsett left the following heirs - Elizabeth Whitsett the widow of said decedent - P.W. Whitsett (the petitioner) & Owen Whitsett Children of said decedent - Isaac Whitsett son of W.W. Whitsett Dec'd & grandson of said Isaac Whitsett Dec'd - And your petitioner asks that he be appointed Administrator of the Estate of said Isaac Whitsett Dec'd.

Respectfully submitted &c Oct 23'd 1865 [signed P.W. Whitsett]

Lauderdale County, Alabama, Estate Book C,
pg. 385

Probate Court Nov 25th 1865

Isaac Whitsett Estate

P.W. Whitsett having filed a petition alledging that Isaac Whitsett late of said County died on or about the 14th June 1865 in testate seized and possessed of Lands and personal property to the probable value of Twenty Five Hundred Dollars and that said decedent left the following heirs to wit - Elizabeth Whitsett the Widow of said decedent, P.W. Whitsett the petitioner & Owen Whitsett Children of S'd decedent Isac Whitsett son of W.W. Whitsett dec'd and grandson of decedent all residing in Lauderdale County Ala - and that he was a suitable person to Administer such Estate and on this day presented to the Court his Bond in the sum of Five thousand Dollars with P.W. Cunningham and Wilson Whitsett as securities Al[?]s said Bond being approved It is ordered by the Court that letters of Administration issue to P.W. Whitsett on the Estate of Isaac Whitsett dec'd.

Isaac Whitsett's Estate

P.H. Cunningham, R.H. Rawlings & Thos. McCorkle are appointed appraisers for the purpose of Appraising the Personal Property belonging to the Estate of Isaac Whitsett dec'd.

Lauderdale Co., Alabama Probate Minute Book E, pg. 4

Mary Ann Terry Petition for Guardianship, September 27, 1870

State of Alabama  / In the Matter of the Estate of Isaac Whitsett Jr.
Lauderdale County/ Probate Court September 27th 1870
This day came Mary Ann Terry and asked the Court to grant her letters of guardianship upon the Estate of isaac Whitsett and it appearing to the Court that said Mary Ann Terry is a fit and proper person to act as such guardian, It is ordered by the Court that said Mary Ann Terry be and she is hereby appointed Guardian of said Isaac Whitsett Jr.  The said Mary Ann Terry then tendered her bond conditioned as the law directs in the penal sum of one hundred dollars with O.B. Sullivan P.H. Cunningham and H. Richardson as securities which bond being deemed good and sufficient is hereby approved and ordered to be filed and recorded.  It is further intend that letters of Guardianship issue to said Mary Ann Terry. [signed] T.T. Allington Judge of Probate

Lauderdale Co., Alabama Probate Minute Book E, pg. 15

(the lower portion of these two documents was cut off when copied but the wording is identical to similar documents)

Petition of Mary Ann Terry for Final Settlement of Estates of Isaac Whitsett and Philip Whitsett, November 17, 1870

The State of Alabama} In the matter of Estate, Isaac Whitsett
Lauderdale County    } Probate Court November 17th, 1870

This day came Mary Ann Terry and moved the court to cite Jas. H. Witherspoon administrator of Isaac Whitsett to a final settlement of his administration of said Estate.  It is ordered by the Court that said James H. Witherspoon administrator aforesaid be cited to appear at a term of this court to be held on the 15th day of December 1870 and file his account and vouchers for a final settlement of said Estate or the Court will proceed to state an account against him from the evidence in its possession.  [signed] T.T. Allington Judge of Probate

The State of Alabama} In the matter of Estate, Philip Whitsett
Lauderdale County    }  Probate Court November 17th 1870

This day came Mary Ann Terry and moved the Court to cite Jas. H. Witherspoon administrator of Philip Whitsett to a final settlement of his administration of said Estate.  It is ordered by the Court that said James H. Witherspoon administrator as aforesaid be cited to appear at a term of the Court to be held on the 15th day of December 1870 and file his account and vouchers for [a final settlement of said Estate or the] Court will proceed to state an [account against him from the evidence in its possession]

Lauderdale Co., Alabama Probate Minute Book E, pg. 16

Petition of Mary Ann Terry for Distribution of Assets, Isaac Whitsett Estate, November 17, 1870

Probate Court November Term 1870

The State of Alabama} In the matter of Estate, Isaac Whitsett
Lauderdale County    } Probate Court November 17th, 1870

This day came Mary Ann Terry Guardian of Wm. Isaac Whitsett and filed in Court her Lititem[?] under oath.  Setting forth her said ward is the sole heir of Isaac Whitsett dec'd and that the assets of said Estate are more than sufficient to pay the Debts of said Estate and Praying the Court to make and grant an order That a distribution of the assets of said Estate be made by said administrator.  It is ordered by the Court that the 15th day of December 1870 be appointed to hear and determine said petition that citation issue to said James H. Witherspoon to appear and show cause if any he have why said petition should not be granted and said petition be filed and recorded

[signed} T. T. Allington Judge of Probate

Lauderdale Co., Alabama, Probate Minute Book E, pg. 22

James Witherspoon Filing, December 16, 1870

The State of Alabama} In the matter of Estate, Isaac Whitsett dec'd
Lauderdale County    } Probate Court December 16th, 1870

This day came James H. Witherspoon administrator of P. [Philip] Whitsett who was administrator of the Estate of Isaac Whitsett dec'd and filed his account and vouchers for a final settlement of the administration of the said P. Whitsett of said Estate of Isaac Whitsett dec'd.  It is ordered by the Court that the 17th day of January 1871 be appointed to audit and pass upon said account that T. L. Chisholm be appointed Guardian ad litem to represent the interest of the minor heir of said Estate. That notice of filing of said account and the day appointed for auditing and passing on the same be give by publication in the Florence Journal the official Journal of the County for three successive weeks and that said account be filed for inspection

[signed] T. T. Allington Judge of the Probate Court

Lauderdale Co., Ala. Probate Court - Isaac Whitsett Estate File 2258

Guardian Ad Litem Court Order to T. L. Chisholm, April 3, 1875 (a Guardian Ad Litem is a person appointed to look after the interest of a minor in legal proceedings).

Lauderdale Co., Ala. Marriage Records 5,
pg. 275

Lauderdale Co., Ala. Probate Court - Isaac Whitsett Estate File 2258

Lauderdale Co., Ala. Probate Court - Isaac Whitsett Estate File 2258

Ronald N. Wall

Modified: 26 June 2020