Littleberry Witt Sr. (abt. 1756 - bef. 1796)

Born about 1756 in Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Jane (Burnett) Barnett — married 30 Sep 1777 in Amherst County, Virginia, USA

Descendants

Died before 19 Sep 1796 before about age 40 in Amherst County, Virginia, USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Holly Witt [send private message], Lorraine Keith [send private message], and Connie Witt [send private message]

Littleberry Witt Sr. served with Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

Littleberry Witt Sr. is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P323110
Rank: Private

Littleberry Witt Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A127246.

Biography

Littleberry Witt Sr. was a Virginia colonist.

Littleberry was born about 1756 in Albemarle County, Virginia Colony. He was the son of John Witt and Lucy (Unknown) Witt . He passed away before September 1796 in Amherst County, Virginia. (Note: Amherst County formed from Albemarle County in 1761.) Also see Littleberry's father's will, in which Littleberry is named.

Birth

Birth year is partially based on birth order; older than brother Elisha (b 1759) and younger than brother John (b 1750). Also based on known marriage date of September 1777. He would have been about age 21 at marriage. No consent was given by a parent so he must have been of age, that is over 21. DAR record has birth as 1755, and death as 1796.^[1]

Military Service

Littleberry and his brother, John Witt Jr., served in the Revolutionary War from Amherst County, Virginia Colony. The pension application of Micajah Frazer describes having served with Littleberry and John. The full transcription is at: Amherst County Rev War.

As quoted from David F. Whitt (2004), page 52 ^[2]:

It should be pointed out that there is an Amherst County, Virginia record which identifies a Littleberry Witt who enlisted on February 26, 1776 in the 1st Rifle Company from Amherst County during the Revolutionary War. As presented in Chapter 6, Littleberry Witt is listed on page 3270 in Part 3 of the DAR Patriot Index for his service during the Revolutionary War as a Private. Wayne Witt Bates proved that Littleberry Witt was a son of John Witt [III (sic); should be John, son of William,] who also lived at that time in Amherst County. Littleberry Witt died in 1796 in Amherst County. These records clearly indicate Littleberry Witt from Amherst County was not Littleberry Whitt from Charles City County. In addition, Virginia Revolutionary War Militia Book records for Charles City County identify Littleberry Whitt's surname as "Wheats."

Marriage and Children

Littlebury Witt married Jenny Burnett on 30 September 1777 in Amherst County, Virginia.^[3] Virginia, Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800, Littleberry Witt, spouse: Jenny Burnett, marriage date: 09/30/1777 in Amherst County, Virginia. David Witt provided security^[4]

Littleberry and Jenny's children are now confirmed in Chancery case #1809-005^[5]. The children are assumed to have been born in Amherst County (formed from Albemarle in 1761) because that's where Littleberry & Jenny were married and that is where the estate was adjudicated.

1. Milly Witt, born about 1778, married John Tooley 10 December 1796 in Amherst Co., Virginia.
2. Elizabeth Witt, born about 1780, married Thomas Fitzpatrick 22 November 1798 in Amherst Co., Virginia.
3. William Witt, born 1783. Married 1st Sally Witt 21 Nov 1810 in Nelson Co., VA; 2nd Jane Cox 27 Nov 1822 in Madison Co., Kentucky. Died 1878 in Madison County, Kentucky.
4. Polly Witt, born about 1785, married Charles Tooley 6 September 1800 in Amherst Co., Virginia.
5. Jean Witt, born about 1789, married Robert Donaldson 1 Jan 1807 in Madison Co., Kentucky.
6. Patsy Witt, born about 1790, married William Lewis 27 October 1808 in Madison Co., Kentucky. Died prior to the 1809 land proceedings.
7. John Witt, born about 1795, married Elizabeth Cave 19 Dec 1818 in Howard Co., Missouri.
8. Littleberry Witt, born about 1796, married Susannah (Tooley) Witt (abt.1805-bef.1847) 8 July 1823 in Boone Co, Missouri, married second Winifred (Hughes) Hunt 2 February 1847 in Linn Co., Missouri.

Land Purchase & Sale

1792: Littleberry Witt purchased 111 acres for £60 from brother David Witt Sr. (abt.1752-bef.1818) on 29 July 1792 in Amherst County.^[6]

30 July 1795; recorded 18 Apr 1796: Sold to Joseph Roberts 50 acres with houses, orchards, and other appertances for 28 pounds. Land is "in a cove of a mountain on the waters of the north fork of Davis Creek"; lines with Wm.Harris and Joseph Roberts. Witnesses: John Ballard, Jesse Oglesby, William Thorp. Wife was named as Jenny in document and Jane as signature.^[7]

Estate Land Sale: See below under Death heading.

Censuses

• 1783, Amherst County, Virginia. Witt, Littleberry, 5 whites, 0 black.^[8] Persons included would be Littleberry and wife Jenny, 3 children. Known children at this time are daughters Milly, Elizabeth and son William.^[9]
• 1785, Amherst County, Virginia. Witt, Littleberry, 6 white souls, 1 dwelling, 1 other building.^[10] Persons included would be Littleberry and wife Jenny, 4 children. Known children at this time are daughters Milly, Elizabeth and Polly; son William.

Property Tax Lists

Between 1782 and his death, Littleberry was listed in the Amherst County, Virginia, property tax lists^[11]. He paid 1 tithable (males over 21) from 1782 until his death. Littleberry's final listing was on 18 Apr 1786 and he was taxed on: 1 white over 21 yo; 1 slave >16 yo; 4 horses. His estate was listed on 15 Aug 1797 and was taxed for: 1 slave >16 yo; 2 horses (no white males over 21 yo).

Death and Estate Settlement

Littleberry died in Amherst County, before 19 Sept. 1796, when his administrative bond was filed. Document transcriptions & originals are attached as images for the following documents.

Administrative Bond No death record or burial site has yet been found. Death date is based on the administrative bond dated 19 Sept. 1796 ^[12]. Jane Witt (Littleberry' s widow) and Joseph Roberts were named in the bond.

Appraisal and Inventory The appraisal and inventory for Littleberry's estate was recorded on 20 Feb. 1797 in Amherst Co., VA. Appraisers were: Alex McAlexander, William Barnett & Robert Hardy ^[12] .

Chancery Case The 1809 Nelson Co.(formerly Amherst), VA chancery case #1809-005 lists Littleberry' s wife, her new husband, his living children, and the husbands of daughters. ^[5]

Guardianship James Montgomery was set as guardian for Littleberry's two minor children, John and Littleberry, Jr., in Nelson Co. (formerly Amherst) in Feb 1809 to protect their interests in the sale of their father's land^[5].

Land Sale The pending sale of Littleberry's estate land for 90 pounds was recorded on 25 Aug 1809 in Nelson Co., VA^[5]. The land was purchased by Littleberry's nephew, David Witt, Jr., with David Witt, Sr. (Littleberry Sr's brother) as security. Payment was due 17 Dec. 1810. The land sale was negotiated by: Michael Woods, Matthew Harris & Joseph Roberts per the Chancery decree.

Sources

1. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed Jan. 28, 2017), "Record of Private Littleberry Witt", Ancestor # A127246.
2. ↑ Whitt, David F. Ancestors and descendants of William Whitt 1775-1850, Westminster, Maryland: Heritage Books, Inc. 2004.
3. ↑ Dodd, Jordan, comp. Virginia Marriages, 1660-1800, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 1997.
4. ↑ Register of marriages, Amherst County, Virginia, 1763-1853. Image 290. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9XF-NCDQ?i=289&cc=4149585&cat=680855 [Accessed 10 Nov 2023]
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Library of Virginia (online). Index #1809-005 from Nelson County, Virginia, chancery issues. Plaintiff John Tooley & wife, etc.; defendant Wm Barnett & wife, etc. URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/full_case_detail.asp?CFN=125-1809-005#img (accessed 27 March 2018).
6. ↑ Amherst County, Virginia Deed Book G 29 July 1792; on branch Rockfish; N side of them in a cove which formerly belonged to Frances New. Lines Samuel Lacey, Littleberry Witt, William Abney, Chisels' old line.
7. ↑ Amherst County Deed Book G, pages 699-700. Online at FamilySearch.org: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4C-Q9WC-W?i=694&cat=282807. [Accessed 12 Nov 2023]
8. ↑ Heads of families at the first census of the United States taken in the year 1790. : records of the state enumerations, 1782 to 1785. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Amherst County, Virginia, 1783, p 47.
9. ↑ Witt, Robert W. Descendants of John Witt the Virginia Immigrant, Westminster, Maryland: Heritage Books, Inc., 2006; p 16
10. ↑ Heads of families at the first census of the United States taken in the year 1790. : records of the state enumerations, 1782 to 1785. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Amherst County, Virginia, 1785, p 84.
11. ↑ Personal property tax lists, 1782-1803. Amherst County, Virginia. At FamilySearch.org at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQF-2324?i=7&cat=775689 [accessed 11 Jan 2024]
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} [1] Part of index to Amherst County Wills and Administrations (1761 - 1800) Note p. 396-397. Adm. bond rec. 19 Sept. 1796. p. 493-495. Inv. & Appr. rec. 20 Feb. 1797. Note Will Book No. 3, 1786-1800 (Reel 18)

• DAR record https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A127246
• Bates, Wayne Witt family tree: www.halcyondays.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I17622&tree=Tree1.
• Will of his father, John Witt (abt.1710-bef.1782)

See also:

• Mills, Elizabeth Shown. “Witt & Associates: Albemarle & Amherst Counties, VA, Court Orders, 1745–1800.” Report to file, 16 January 2016 (updated 10 May 2022). Archived at E. S. Mills. Historic Pathways. https://www.historicpathways.com. “Research” tab.