Lewis Whitfield Sr. (abt. 1773 - 1838)

Born about 1773 in Wayne, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Wimberly) Whitfield — married 1805 in Johnston, North Carolina

Husband of Sarah (Hobson) Whitfield — married after Apr 1822 in Montgomery, Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1838 at about age 65 in Montgomery, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Lewis Whitfield was born about 1773 (estimate) in Wayne County, North Carolina. He was the son of William Whitfield and Hester Williams.^[1]

According to the referenced Whitfield book and Montgomery Family History, Lewis left North Carolina in 1793 and journeyed in company with the households of his brothers Needham and Bryan Whitfield. They first stayed for the winter in Whitfield Camp, near the Clinch Mountains in Eastern Tennessee. Lewis received a land grant 29 July 1793 on the North side of the Tennessee River in what would be Montgomery County. This area was still considered part of North Carolina at that time, but Tennessee was admitted into the Union as a separate state in 1796. Lewis's brother, Needham and Bryan also received land grants nearby on land bordering Spring Creek in Montgomery County. Lewis's sister, Mary and her husband, Buckner Killebrew moved from Wayne County in 1796 and obtained land near her brothers. Another brother, Joseph brought his family west from Wayne County but settled in land across the state line in Kentucky.

Since Lewis and his family lived in Tennessee when it became a state in 1796, they are officially recorded as being a Founding Family of Tennessee.^{[citation needed]}

Lewis was first married to Elizabeth Wimberly, daughter of Joseph Wimberly and Sarah Diggs, (according to the referenced Whitfield book). In the 1820 census, Lewis Whitfield was enumerated as head of a 25 person household, which included a male and female (age 26 thru 44), five boys and one girl.

Lewis was married a second time to Mrs. Sarah (Hobson) Wall, widow of Johnson Wall. Her husband died in about April 1822, so they married sometime after that time period. According to the Whitfield book, Lewis and Sarah had three children: Susan, William and Bryan. On 16 January 1826, Lewis was appointed guardian of the five heir's of Johnson Wall, listed as Mary, James Charles E, Elizabeth and Martha Wall. The bond was also signed by Needham Whitfield and John B. French.^[2]

He died about 1838 in Montgomery County, Tennessee.

Montgomery County, Tennessee Family History

Excerpts from from referenced book ^[3]

p. 336, "Following the death of their mother and the remarriage of their father Lewis, with his brothers, Bryan and Needham moved west to Montgomery Co in 1793 and located on land along Spring Creek in the St. Bethlehem area. Their sister Mary Whitfield Killebrew, with her husband Buckner Killebrew, joined them on Spring Creek in 1796. This family group is listed by the state in their First Families of Tennessee, as they were living in Tennessee at the time that it became a state in 1796."

29 Jul 1793 Lewis received land on the north side of the Tennessee River in the eastern District.

p. 1115, Louis settled in Montgomery Co. on land "now owned by Watton Barker & CN Meriwether, which land (now worth $500,000) he traded for a negro woman & 8 children."

Residence

Census Year: 1820

Census Place: Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States

Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820

Lewis Whitfield was enumerated as head of a 25 person household including 17 slaves. Eight members of household involved in agriculture.^[4]

Census Year: 1830

Census Place: Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States

Louis Whitfield was enumerated as head of a 37 person household including 24 slaves.^[5]

Year: 1836 Place: Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States ^[6]

Census Year: 1840

Census Place: Montgomery County, Tennessee, United STates

Lewis Whitfield, head of household; Household members: 8, including 5 slaves.

Slaves

The 1820 census shows he owned 17 slaves.

Category	Number
Males - Under 14	7
Males - 14 thru 25	2
Females - Under 14	3
Females - 14 thru 25	5

The 1830 census shows he owned 24 slaves.

Category	Number
Males - Under 10	9
Males - 10 thru 23	4
Males - 36 thru 54	2
Females - Under 10	5
Females - 10 thru 23	2
Females - 24 thru 35	1
Females - 36 thru 54	1

Research Notes

There were multiple Lewis Whitfield living during this time frame. Rev Lewis Whitfield was born 23 June 1766.

Following items need to be verified.

From Montgomery County, Tennessee, Wills & Administrations, Vol. 9 (Oct. 1823-Oct 1824), Will Bk. D,

p. 272 Sale of the Estate of Capt. Johnson Wall, dec'd. Buyers: Lewis Whitfield - negro named Sary $200. ... 17 May 1823

p. 318 Settlement with Richard Taylor, Guardian of the Heirs of James Payned, dec'd... Rec'd from L Whitfield $1.06½...1 Jan 1824

p. 362 Sale of the estate of John Watkins 24 Oct. 1823 - Lewis Whitfield - 5 files & 1 claw hammer $1.06½

p. 381 Settlement with Lewis Whitfield, Admin of the Estate of Johnson Wall, dec'd... 15 July 1824

From Montgomery Co., TN, Wills & Administrations, Vol. 10 (Oct. 1824-Jan 1826), Will Bk. D,

p. 532 Settlement with JB French, Admin. of Joseph B Flemmon. Lewis Whitfield, Comm.

p. 539 Settlement with Lewis Whitfield, Admin. of Johnson Wall, dec'd. 16 Jan 1825, court Jan 1826.

Montgomery County Web, page. 8/22/2004. Transcribed from a copy in the Houston Public Library, Clayton Genealogy Center, Houston, TX, by Aubrey Doggett, February 9, 2000. I certify that the family name of this Bible is Whitfield and said Bible is located in the home of Mrs. Edna Faye Whitfield Muncrief, Duncanville, Texas. Nellie Dodd Bates. 4/9/1983. Houston Public Library, Houston, Texas. Page 679.

Lewis and his children: Needham, Lewis, Robert, Sarah, Elizabeth, George, Joseph W., Bryan, Susan, Catherine Whitfield are listed as Pioneers to Tennesse in a list compiled by Vallie Jo Fox Whitfield, wife of Robert Edward Whitfield.

Sources

1. ↑ Whitfield, Emma Morehead. Whitfield, Bryan, Smith, and Related Families. Westminster, Maryland, 1948-50. Page 69; Page 87, paragraph 56.
2. ↑ Guardianship of the heir's of Johnson Wall, "Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927," Montgomery County, Tennessee Wills, 1821-1826, Vol. D. Page 528 (image 293). FamilySearch database (accessed 20 May 2022).
3. ↑ Montgomery County, Tennessee Family History Book 2000
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1820", Lewis Whitfield in Montgomery, Tennessee, United States; citing NARA Publication M33, Roll 122, Page 215. Ancestry Record 7734 #995521 (accessed 29 November 2020).
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", Louis Whitfield in Montgomery, Tennessee, United States; citing NARA Publication M19, Roll 179, Page 59; Family History Library Film 0024537. Ancestry Record 8058 #732649 (accessed 29 November 2020).
6. ↑ 1836 Tennessee, Early Tax List Records: Lewis Whitfield. Montgomery, Tennessee.

• North Carolina and Tennessee, Early Land Records, 1753 - 1931. Lewis Whitfield. Record date/location: 7/29/1793 in North Carolina.

• Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779 - 2008. Lewis Whitfield. Probate date/place: 4/2/1838 in Montgomery, Tennessee. Inferred death year/place: 1838 in Tennessee. Will Books, Vol G - H, 1834 - 1840.

• Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795 - 1927 & Montgomery County, Tennessee Wills, 1821-1826, Vol. D. Page 528. 1/16/1826,

• Lewis Whitfield Sr. profile in FamilySearch database