Joshua Whitaker Sr. (1735 - 1798)

Born 22 Jan 1735 in Chester County, Colony of Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Son of William Whitaker and Elizabeth (Carleton) Whitaker

Husband of Mary (Reed) Whitaker — married 12 Sep 1764 in Rowan County, Colony of North Carolina

Descendants

Died 1 May 1798 at age 63 in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Kenneth Rickett [send private message], Marilyn Jarisch [send private message], and Robin Wood [send private message]

Biography

This Biography was heavily influenced by a two part article JOSHUA WHITAKER SR. AND MARY REED WHITAKER, which can be found in the Days Gone By section of The Fairview Town Crier, dated Aug 8, 2014 and Sep 1, 2014. It was written by Bruce Whitaker, who also wrote The Whitaker Family of Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Joshua Whitaker Sr, was born 22 Jan 1735 in Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania. ^{[1] [2]} He was the son of William Whitaker and Elizabeth Carleton. His parents were Quakers and members of Bradford Meeting House at the time of his birth. He died in Rowan (Davidson) County, North Carolina on May 1, 1798, and is buried in Jersey Baptist Church Cemetery, near Linwood, Davidson County, North Carolina ^[1].

He married Mary Reed on September 12, 1764 Rowan County, North Carolina. ^[3] Mary Reed was born October 31, 1748 near Trenton, New Jersey. She died February 16, 1832 in Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina.^{[4] [2]} She was the daughter of John Reed and Hannah Davis. Mary (Reed) Whitaker and her family moved to Buncombe County, North Carolina in about 1800. She is buried in Cane Creek Cemetery, Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina. ^[4]

When Joshua was around four years old his parents decided to move back to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. After family packed up all that they owned in preparation for the move the next day, their home caught fire and burned to the ground. One of the few things they saved was the family Bible. Even their seeds for the coming year’s planting were destroyed. The fire left the family almost destitute.

Joshua Whitaker’s family had received a certificate of removal from Bradford Meeting House to move back to Kennett Square. Since William Whitaker Sr. had received a certificate from Bradford Meeting House, that Meeting house refused to offer any assistance to the family. The Kennett Square Meeting House also refused to assist the family because they had not actually presented their certificate of removal to them. The two Quaker Meeting Houses argued for months, and eventually came to a solution. Assistance, when given, would be split: Bradford Meeting House would supply 25 percent and Kennett Square 75 percent. In fact, Joshua Whitaker’s family was never able to fully recover from the disastrous fire.

William and Elizabeth Carlton Whitaker later requested a certificate of removal to North Carolina from the Bradford Meeting House on July 18, 1751. The request was granted August 15, 1751 for all his family except his eldest son Mark Whitaker, who had made a separate request. That request was eventually granted on December 19, 1752. However, nether William and Elizabeth Whitaker or Mark presented their certificate of removal to any Quaker Meeting House in North Carolina. They were Quakers no more, and settled amongst a group of Baptist from New Jersey they may have meet on the road to North Carolina. They specifically located on land between Abbott’s Creek and Swearing Creek, close to the Jersey Creek Community, and the present day Jersey Baptist Church in Davidson County, North Carolina.

Joshua Whitaker is listed on the 1759 Rowan County Tax list in Captain Smith’s Company. He was sharing a household with Eldad Reed Sr who would soon become his brother-in-law. Eldad Reed married Joshua Whitaker’s sister Jane Whitaker in late 1759 or early 1760. Joshua himself married Mary Reed on September 12, 1764. She was a sister to Eldad Reed, who served as bondsman at their wedding. Joshua and Mary (Reed) Whitaker settled on a three hundred acre farm located near Jersey Creek Baptist Church.

On July 16, 1767, it was ordered by the court that John Sawyer, orphan of William Sawyer, be put as apprentice to Joshua Whitaker for the term of five years. John was 16 at the time. It was ordered that Joshua Whitaker “larn him [Sawyer] the act of farmer, and give him at the expiration of his said term a young mare of six pound prise and a saddle and bridle. He is to serve to age 21 and otherwise comply.”

On August 5, 1772, Joshua's brother Mark Whitaker and wife Tabitha sold Joshua Whitaker 200 acres of land on Swearing Creek.

When the American Revolution broke out, Joshua Whitaker was in is early forties. He was considered too old to fight. However, Joshua did play a part in the war. Joshua Whitaker is listed “for sundries furnished the militia” of North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina, as allowed by Cathey and Harris in their report #38. This would have been around the first part of 1782. There is also an entry: “#5309- to Joshua Whitaker for a horse, voucher #9269L.38.”

Joshua Whitaker is listed on the 1790 Census for Rowan County NC. In his house were 3 males over sixteen, one male under sixteen and three females. ^[5] On December 20, 1795, Hugh Cunningham sold Joshua Whitaker 100 acres on Swearing Creek, adjoining the land where Joshua now lived.

In the early 1790’s Joshua Whitaker’s children began moving to what is now Fairview in Buncombe County. Joshua’s neighbors, the Reed, Trantham, Merrill, and Rickman families to name a few, all began moving to the mountains.

By this time, Joshua Whitaker’s health begins to decline. It is thought that he likely developed what was then called heart dropsy.

Joshua Whitaker Sr. died on May 1, 1798. He was buried in Jersey Creek Baptist Church Cemetery near his home.

In the 1790's, most of his children had moved on, except for his youngest son James Whitaker Sr. had remained home to look after his elderly parents. James Whitaker married Mary "Polly" Walker, daughter of Howard Walker of Wilkes County, in September 1800. He then packed up his belongings and moved with his wife and mother to Fairview. By this time, All or most of Mary Reed Whitaker’s children were living in Fairview, along with her brother Eldad Reed and his wife Jane Whitaker. The remainder of the Reed's children moved to Fairview within a short period of time.

Mary Reed Whitaker lived 32 years after her move to Fairview. She died February 16, 1832, in her 84th year. Mary was buried in Cane Creek Cemetery.

Joshua and Mary Reed Whitaker had six children:

1. John Whitaker was born September 15, 1765 in Rowan (now Davidson) County, NC. He first married Mary Wilson; his second wife was Milly Brookshire. She died in May 1860. John died on January 8, 1841.
2. Sarah Whitaker was born in Rowan (now Davidson) County on December 7, 1768. She married John Lanning, Sr. (1757-1839). Sarah died in Fairview May 26, 1848. Both are buried in Cane Creek Cemetery,
3. Joshua Whitaker Jr. was born on June 4, 1769 in Rowan (now Davidson) County. He married Nancy Childers (April 22, 1769-April 22, 1841). Joshua Jr. died on June 26, 1856. Both are buried in Cane Creek Cemetery.
4. William Whitaker was born on Nov. 22, 1772 in Rowan (now Davidson) County. He married Mary Canady (Cannady) (1772-1848). William died on Feb. 21, 1860. Both are buried in Cane Creek Cemetery.
5. Mary "Jenny" Whitaker was born in 1776 in Rowan (now Davidson) County. She married Arthur Hunt, the widower of her first cousin Jane Whitaker. Mary and Arthur Hunt moved to Missouri around 1815.
6. James Whitaker Sr. was born in Rowan, now Davidson, County, April 3, 1779. He married first Mary “Polly” Walker (1779-1849) and then Mary McBrayer, widow of James McBrayer, who died March 20, 1872. James and both wives are buried at Valley River Cemetery in Andrews, Cherokee County, NC.

Research Notes

Transcription of a page an old family bible (writing is not modern, but looks as though all dates were written in one go, and is not dated)

Probably from Revolutionary War Pension Application of John Lanning Sr^[6]

“Joshua Whiteaker senier was born on the twenty 2d. of January anodomini 1735

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Mary the wife of Joshua was born on October the 30 firs annodomini 1748

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John Whiteaker eldest son of Joshua and mary was born on the 15th of september annodomini 1765

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Sairah eldest daughter was born on munday the 7th of december annodomini 1767

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Joshua was born on the 9th of June annodomini - 1769

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William was born on the 2 second of november 1772

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Mary 2d daughter was born on the 3d of January 1775

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James was born on the third of April 1779”^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5031385/joshua-whitaker: accessed 04 November 2022), memorial page for Joshua Whitaker Sr. (22 Jan 1735–1 May 1798), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5031385, citing Jersey Baptist Church Cemetery, Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Myra Coleman (contributor 12111223) . Inscription: JOSHUA WHITAKER DEPARTED THIS LIFE MAY THE FURST IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1798 AGED 63 YEARS 3 MONTHS AND EIGHT DAYS BENEATH THIS STONE YOUR FRIEND DOTH LIE AS YOU ARE NOW SO ONCE WAS I AS I AM NOW SO YOU MUST BE... Calculated Birth Date: 22 Jan 1735
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Bible Entry: A Lot of Bunkum, May 1987, Vol. VIII #5, p.87-64. https://www.obcgs.com/whitaker-family-bible-record/ (accessed 4 November 2022)
3. ↑ Marriage Bond: "North Carolina, U.S., Index to Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868"
   State of North Carolina. An Index to Marriage Bonds Filed in the North Carolina State Archives. Raleigh, NC, USA: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1977
   Ancestry Record 4802 #125662 (accessed 4 November 2022)
   Joshua Whiteaker marriage to Mary Reed in Rowan.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5031387/mary-whitaker: accessed 04 November 2022), memorial page for Mary Reed (Reid) Whitaker (31 Oct 1748–16 Feb 1832), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5031387, citing Cane Creek Cemetery, Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Myra Coleman (contributor 12111223) .
5. ↑ 1790 Census: "1790 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; First Census of the United States, 1790.; Year: 1790; Census Place: Rowan, North Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 7; Page: 316; Family History Library Film: 0568147
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5058 #196035 (accessed 29 December 2022)
   Joshua Whitaker in Rowan, North Carolina.
6. ↑ U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 (ancestry.com): John Lanning and widow Sarah Lanning: John Lanning born 27 Feb 1757 in Bordertown, NJ; enlisted 1776 as a substitute for his father Joseph Lanning while living in Rowan Co., NC; served as private under Capt. Robert Moore; later served again in 1779 against the Cherokees and again under Capt. Armstrong in SC at battle of Stono; again under Capt. Lopp [Sapp?] in cavalry; discharged 2 Jul 1779; later moved to Buncombe Co.; he was granted a pension; widow's application states that he died 10 Aug 1839 and she has not remarried; they were married in Rowan Co. in Oct. 1783; copies of birth records included: Joshua Whitaker Sr born 22 Jan 1735, Mary the wife of Joshua born 31 Oct 1748 [1745?], John Whitaker eldest son of Joshua and Mary born 15 Sep 1765, Sarah eldest dau born Monday, 7 Dec 1767, Joshua born 9 Jun 1769, William born 22 Nov 1772, Mary second dau born 3 Jan 1775, James born 3 Apr 1779, John Lanning born 27 Feb 1757, Sarah Lanning born Mon., 7 Dec 1767, Enos Lanning, eldest son of John and Sarah born Fri., 8 Oct 1784, Amos second son born Sat., 18 Nov 1786, Joseph third son born Sun., 4 Jan. 1789, Mary first dau born Thurs., 23 Sep 1790
7. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/6385461/person/6947736468/media/25980f12-0260-4ca8-8379-d81fffb3dcbf?_phsrc=fOh516&_phstart=successSource a photo was uploaded to the Ancestry website by AnitaQuarles35 on 11 Mar 2013

DNA

• Paternal relationship is confirmed through Y-chromosome DNA test results on Family Tree DNA. Michael Whitaker, FTDNA kit # 641878, and his 6th cousin 1x removed, Living Whitaker, the Son of Reed Lamar Whitaker, FTDNA kit # 984214, match at a Genetic Distance of 4 on 111 markers, thereby confirming their direct paternal lines back to their most-recent common ancestor who is William Whitaker, the 6x great grandfather of Michael Whitaker and 5x great grandfather of Living Whitaker, the Son of Reed Lamar Whitaker, The confirmation Haplogroup I-FT238390 is also shared. This Terminal SNP Haplogroup shares the named variants FT238390 and FTC2083. The terminal variant have an average of 3 private variants. This data was last seen on Nov 1, 2022.

• Hoetawa-Paul, C. (Admin.). (2022). My FamilyTreeDNA Project Website Title - Y-DNA classic chart. FamilyTreeDNA. Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Whitaker?iframe=yresults

See Also

• North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 (ancestry.com), Name: Joshua Whitaker, State: NC, County: Rowan County, Township: No Township Listed, Year: 1755, Database: NC Early Census Index

• US Census, 1790, database online, Rowan, North Carolina, p. 316

• Find A Grave: Memorial #5031385

• http://thepeerage.com/p40823.htm#i408227

• Source S30183 Title: Waves of Time, Author: Clark W. Jennings MD, Publication: Self published 1994, Pages C-A, 7.

• Lanning Family History, [No place], August 1973. This publication includes a transcription of "Record of the Whitaker Families of North Carolina" compiled in by Henry Whitaker, written by Jesse Garren Mar 29,1874 and Henry Jenkins, July 28, 1872 (see pp. 287-305) Available at https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/619382-lanning-family-history?offset=2
• Whitaker, C. Bruce. The Whitaker Family of Buncombe County, North Carolina and the Genealogies of the REED, HARPER and WRIGHT Families. Ashville : Ward Publishing Company, 1989.

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of Consolidated Coningsby.GED on 11 March 2011. together with profile Whitaker-514 created through the import of My-Family-3-Jan-2012.ged on Jan 3, 2012 by Kristopher Stavely.