Samuel Whitsitt of Montgomery County, Kentucky

Terry Parcel, A Memorial & Biographical Record of Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri, Part 4. Biographical sketch of J. S. Whitsett of Jackson County. (probably published in the 1890's) SEE FOOTNOTES

Montgomery Co., Ky. Deeds, film 252348, Kentucky State Archives, Frankfort, Ky. DB 2-529; Indenture, 6 May 1803, (sent to me by Jane Buchanan, Oak Ridge, TN, June 1985); Joseph Whitsitt's sons James and Levi; be apprenticed to Samuel Whitsitt until age 21 (in year 1818); Samuel to teach art of farming, lodge, feed and teach boys to "read and right" recorded 10 Sept. 1803.

Montgomery Co., Ky. Deeds, film 252350, Kentucky State Archives, Frankfort, Ky. Deed extract: Land sold to Samuel Whitsett by John Treadway 27 Aug. 1804, 22 1/2 acres; recorded 1 April 1816, land sold by Samuel Haddon to Samuel Whitsett 26 July 1810, 22 acres; deed was recorded 1 April 1816, Montgomery Co., Ky. Heirs living in Clarke Co., Ky on 15 Sept. 1815 - Ralph Whitsett; Joseph Bell (also Beall) and Nancy his wife; John Ramsey and wife Margaret; William Ramsey and wife Rachel; Heirs living in Jefferson Co., Indiana Territory, 25 Sept. 1815 William Whitsett and wife Patsey; Patrick Wilson and wife Sally (sent to me as handwritten extracts by Jane Buchanan, 114 Berwick Dr., Oak Ridge, TN, June 5, 1985); Deed extract: [part of estate settlement]

MYTHS AND LEGENDS FOR SAMUEL VARNER WHITSITT
AND MARGARET TUTTLE WHITSITT

OF Montgomery County, Kentucky

Myth: Samuel's middle name was Varner:  Some family researcher at some time made the assumption that Samuel Whitsitt, Sr. of Montgomery County, Kentucky was named Samuel Varner Whitsitt. In the research I have done, which I believe to be considerable, I have not found a single mention of Samuel’s middle name. The assumption that it was Varner has not been documented and I believe it is wrong. Regardless, many have gone along with this assumption with only a handful of researchers questioning it. This error may have stemmed from family records, which mention “Samuel Varner Whitsitt, Jr.” The only Samuel V. Whitsitt I can find in the records is the grandson of Samuel and Margaret by their son Samuel II.  I think that someone simply assumed that since a Samuel III was named Samuel Varner Whitsitt, Jr. the father must be Samuel Varner Whitsitt II, etc. This seemingly insignificant error may have helped to confuse the origins of this family.

I also have my own theory about the name “Varner” sometimes given as Samuel's middle name. Robert Varner/Vernor was a close neighbor to Samuel's father Ralph Whitsett. The Varner name shows up in Lancaster County documents as Varner, Vernor, Verner and Varnar. Some of this family settled in northern Lancaster County after coming to America from Ireland. Later they seemed to have followed the same path as the Whitsitt and Tittle families to Cumberland and later to Westmoreland and Fayette Counties. A Google search of the Internet turns up several links for the family history and genealogy of the Verner/Varner family.  The Varner name was originally Werner a German variant of Warner. The family came to Northern Ireland from Germany; probably about the time the Whiteside/Whitsitt families arrived there. Because of the German pronunciation of “W” as “V” Warner or Werner was written as “Varner” and “Verner” (and a few other variations). This occurred first in Ireland and continued in America. In those days, it was a common practice to give at least one child the mother’s maiden name, sometimes as a first name, but usually as a middle name. While contemplating the coincidence of a Varner being the neighbor of Samuel, Sr. when he was young, I began to think that perhaps Margaret was Widow Tittle when she married Samuel and her maiden name was Varner.  According to the birth dates of their children, Samuel and Margaret must have been married in either Cumberland or York County, Pennsylvania. Margaret may have first married one of the several Tittle young men in Lancaster or Cumberland County, who died before any Tittle children were born of the union. Margaret Varner-Tittle then married Samuel about 1766 at about the time Samuel first gained a warrant for survey of land in York County. I readily admit that this is all conjecture and will probably remain so unless marriage records, a probate record or some other form of solid documentation is found.

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The first official record of Samuel appears to by the warrant he took out for land in York County, just south of the Yellow Breeches Creek and not far from the home and mill of his father, Ralph Whitsett in Cumberland County on the north side of the Yellow Breeches.

1767, April 10:  Warrant NO. 3423 Whitsitt, Samuel (sic); pg. 345 (stamped 283); [Location] Fairfield Twp formerly Newbury Twp. York Co.; Number: 3423; Applicant: Samuel Whitsitt; Acres: 300 (survey copied) D55 pg. 123; Description: Joining James Clark Charles West and Arthur Ewing in Charles Lukens district York County.  SOURCE: WEST SIDE APPLICATIONS (Register), 1766-1769, pg. 45 (stamped 493); [14]

1767, April 13:  [plot labeled "Samuel Witsitt (sic) cont'g 108 a. 25 prs. & allowances" (original grant was 300 acres, so in 1833, seventy years later, almost 200 acres not shown in drawing); shows adjoining lands, Jacob Stromenger's other lands (northeast side); Charles West (west side); Supposed Arthur Ewing (south); "Supposed here was James Clark"]: "A draught of a piece of land situate in Fairfield Township (formerly Newbury) in the county of York containing the above set forth 108 a. 85 prs. & allowances surveyed on the 10 day of April A.D. 1833 in pursuance of the application No. 3423 Granted to the said Samuel Witsill [sic] for 300 a. dated the 13th day of April 1767 the land above represented is now the property of Jacob Stromenger in right of Abraham Noblett and was patented among other lands to the said Abraham Noblett on the 21st April 1760 according to the said Stromenger's deeds &c".  SOURCE: COPIED SURVEYS 1681-1912 Book D55, pg 153. [15]

1773, April 07:  "A draught of a tract of land called ---- Situate in Newberry Township, in the County of York surveyed the 7th day of April 1773 for Joseph Whiteside, in Pursuance of a warrant Dated the 1st day of April 1773, Containing Two hundred acres & allowances of six acres P Cent for Roads &Ca"  [adjacent lands counter clockwise from bottom: Peter Tittle on south; Jno Calhoon (s.e.); Saml Whiteside; The Widow Vane; Wm. Jones (all on east side); George Ashbridge, Thomas Cannon (north); creek on N.E. corner "down Yellow Breaches; James Sharp (west side). Yellow Breaches Creek forms the eastern border between Cumberland and York. In 1773 Newberry encompassed Fairview Twp putting Joseph's land on the border with Cumberland]:   SOURCE:  COPIED SURVEYS 1681-1912 Book C220 pg. 300. [16]

1775, February 7
Deposition of Samuel Whitesitt, 7 Feb. 1775
Westmoreland County
Personally appeared before us, the subscribers, three of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the county aforesaid, Samuel Whitesides, who being duly Sworn upon the holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did depose & say that this day being the Seventh day of February, in the morning between twilight, there came a number of Armed men, and with a large Sledge, about ten pound weight, broke open the outside Goal door & one of the Inside doors, both being lock'd and sent the prisoners then in the Goal, being three in number, who were committed (one by Name of John Neil for a Riot & throwing down a man's house, (with a number of others) the other two by Name Samuel Wardin & Samuel Wilson, who were committed for a Trespass) of and giving each Name Samuel Wardin & Samuel Wilson, who were committed for a Trespass) of and giving each of them the prisoners after the Goal being broke a Pistol, and told them, the prisoners, that they had help'd them so far, and to Clear their own way: and the said Samuel Whitsides further says, that he heard the number of armed men aforesaid say that for their so doing they had orders from Captain William Crawford and further this deponent says not.
[signed] Samuel Whitesitt
Sworn & subsc ribed before us, this 7th day of February, 1775
Robt. Hanna
W. Lochry
Wm. Bracken
Carnachan, Esquire, Sheriff of the County, Ask one Benjamin Harrison, who appeared to be their head man, whether they had orders for their so doing and he read a paper & said it was Captain William Crawford's orders. "Foreman also saw one Samuel Wilson make a push at Robert Hanna, Esquire (one of the Justices of the Peace) with a Gun. [Robert Hann's statement] The sledge was stolen from the smith shop. William McGeery came to Robt. Hanna about daybreak to inform him of the break in. "One Benjamin Harrison said, "What they had done they did by Authority from Virginia."  SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, Colonial Records, Vol. X., pg. 234 [2]

1783: Transcript of Property in Westmoreland County
Whiteside, Joseph - 100 acres, 5 inhabitants
Whitesides, Samuel - 200 acres (nr. Inhabitants not listed)
Whitesides, William - 100 acres, 3 inhabitants
SOURCE:  Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. XXII, pg. 393; [1]

1783, 1786:  Westmoreland County, Tax Lists 1783, 1786
Mount Pleasant Township
Sam'l Whitesides, 200 acres
Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. XXIV, Westmoreland County Tax List [17]

1786: Samuel Whiteside, Westmoreland County, PA, 1786 (pg. 525)
Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. XXII, Tax Lists, pg. 525, 1783-1786 [3]

1786:  "J. S. WHITSETT; Among the pioneer settlers of Jackson county is numbered this gentleman, who for many years has been identified with the best interests of the locality, interested in all that pertains to its welfare and advancement. In all the relations of life he has been an esteemed and upright man, and today is ranked among the progressive agriculturists of the community. The Whitsett family was of Scotch origin, and was founded in America in the early history of this country. The great-grandfather of our subject served as sheriff of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He was at one time a very wealthy man, but owing to his great generosity lost much of his property. He removed to Kentucky when his son, James Whitsett, the grandfather of our subject, was a lad of 12 years. The latter served as a soldier in the War of 1812, under General William Henry Harrison..."  SOURCE:  A Memorial & Biographical Record of Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri, Part 4 (published in the 1890's) [5]

1803, May 6:  Montgomery Co., Indenture, 6 May 1803, Joseph Whitsitt's sons James and Levi; be apprenticed to Samuel Whitsitt until age 21 (in year 1818); Samuel to teach art of farming, lodge, feed and teach boys to "read and right" recorded 10 Sept. 1803.  SOURCE:  Montgomery Co., Ky. Deeds, Deed Book 2-529; film 252348, Kentucky State Archives, Frankfort, Ky. (sent to me as handwritten note by Jane Buchanan, 114 Berwick Dr., Oak Ridge, TN, June 5, 1985); [7]

1815, August 10:  Will of Samuel Whitsett of Montgomery Co., Ky; wife Margaret Whitsett; son Samuel Whitsett - land; rest of estate divided equally "between the rest of my children." Will proved and recorded 10 Aug. 1815 on oath of James Whitsett.  SOURCE: Kentucky State Archives, Montgomery Co., Ky. Wills, B-106 film 252360, Frankfort, Ky. (sent to me as handwritten extracts by Jane Buchanan, 114 Berwick Dr., Oak Ridge, TN, June 5, 1985); [8]

1815, September 04:  Montgomery Co., Ky. Deeds, DB 7-422, 4 Sept. 1815
Indenture, between John Whitsett and Lucy his wife
William Whitsett and Patsey his wife
Joseph Whitsett and Polly his wife
James Whitsett and Betsy his wife
Ralph Whitsett
Joseph Bell and Nancy his wife (late Nancy Whitsett)
John Ramsey and Peggy his wife (late Peggy Whitsett)
William Ramsey and Rachel his wife (late Rachel Whitsett)
Patrick Wilson and Sally his wife (late Sally Whitsett)
"Heirs and legal representatives of Samuel Whitsett of the one part and Samuel Whitsett of the County of Montgomery and state of Kentucky of the other part the above to sell Samuel Whitsett for $10.00 the land sold to Samuel Whitsett now dec'd being land deeded by John Treadway to Samuel Whitsett 27 Aug. 1804, 22 1/2 acres also another tract beginning at a stake corner of Henry Robson, adjacent John Summers, containing 32 acres; land deeded by Samuel Haden 6 July 1810 to Samuel Whitsett.  SOURCE:  Montgomery Co., Ky. Deeds, DB 7-422, 4 Sept. 1815 film 252348, Kentucky State Archives, Frankfort, Ky. [10]

1815, September 15:  Montgomery Co., Ky. Deeds, Deed extract: [estate settlement] Land sold to Samuel Whitsett by John Treadway 27 Aug. 1804, 22 1/2 acres; land sold by Samuel Haddon to Samuel Whitsett 26 July 1810, 22 acres; deed was recorded 1 April 1816, Montgomery Co., Ky. Heirs living in Clarke Co., Ky on 15 Sept. 1815 -
Ralph Whitsett
Joseph Bell (also Beall) and Nancy his wife
John Ramsey and wife Margaret
William Ramsey and wife Rachel
Heirs living in Jefferson Co., Indiana Territory, 25 Sept. 1815
William Whitsett and wife Patsey
Patrick Wilson and wife Sally
SOURCE:  film 252350, Kentucky State Archives, Frankfort, Ky. (sent to me as handwritten extracts by Jane Buchanan, 114 Berwick Dr., Oak Ridge, TN, June 5, 1985) [9]

2. William WHITSITT  of Jefferson County, Indiana

3. John WHITSITT of Lafayette County, Missouri

4. James W. WHITSETT of Montgomery County, Kentucky

5. Joseph WHITSITT of Gibson County, Indiana

6. Ralph WHITSETT of Putnam County, Indiana

7. Samuel Varner Whitsitt of Montgomery County, Kentucky