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Nathan Bryan Whitfield Sr. (1799 - 1868)

General Nathan Bryan Whitfield Sr.
Born in Lenoir, North Carolina, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of [half], [half], [half], [half], [half], [half], [half], , , , and
Husband of — married 16 Feb 1819 [location unknown]
Husband of — married 26 Jul 1857 in North Carolina, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , and
Died at age 69 in Demopolis, Marengo, Alabama, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 15 Feb 2013
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Contents

Biography

Nathan Bryan Whitfield was born 19 September 1799 at the Whitfield family owned plantation “Pleasant Plains” in Lenoir County, North Carolina.[1][2][3] He was the son of Bryan Whitfield and Winnifred (Bryan) Whitfield.[1]

Early Years

"He attended The University of North Carolina from 1813 to 1816 but left following a dispute with the faculty. Young Whitfield was elected to the House of Commons in 1821 and to the North Carolina Senate in 1822, 1823, 1825, and 1827. He served on the Council of State in 1828 and 1830 and was commissioned a major general in the state militia."[4]

Marriages and Children

On 16 February 1819, he married his cousin Elizabeth Watkins Whitfield, daughter of Needham Whitfield and Sarah (Watkins) Whitfield.[1] They had twelve children.

  1. Sarah Watkins Whitfield, died young
  2. Winifred B. Whitfield, died young
  3. Nathan Bryan Whitfield, died young (drowned)
  4. Mary Elizabeth Whitfield, married William Wiltshire Whitfield
  5. Bryan Watkins Whitfield
  6. Needham George Whitfield [2]
  7. Edith Winifred Whitfield, died young
  8. Nathan Bryan Whitfield [2]
  9. James Bryan Whitfield, died young
  10. Sarah Elizabeth Whitfield, died young
  11. Edith James Whitfield [2]
  12. Betsey "Bessie" Winifred Whitfield [2]

His first wife, Elizabeth died in 1846. He was married 26 July 1857 to Elizabeth "Betsy" Whitfield, daughter of John Whitfield and Mary Slade.[1] Note, need citation for specific marriage date. Nathan and Betsy had one daughter.

13. Natalie Ashe Whitfield

North Carolina to Alabama

In the 1830 U.S. Census, Nathan B Whitfield was enumerated in Lenoir County, North Carolina as head of a 77 person household including 71 slaves. [5]

Nathan was a cotton planter and in 1835 moved his family and slaves from Lenoir County, North Carolina to Marengo County, Alabama, where he acquired large tracts of land. Note, his cousin and brother-in-law Gaius Whitfield had settled earlier in Marengo County and likewise, prospered immensely. Nathan acquired large tracts of land and in 1843, he purchased from George S. Gaines a farm that he named Marlmont near the town of Demopolis. There he located his household and began constructing a sizable residence, which he renamed as Gainesville in 1856 in honor of his friend Gaines. It is the grandest plantation house ever built in Marengo County and is one of the most significant remaining examples of Greek Revival architecture in Alabama. The house was completed on the eve of the American Civil War after a construction period of almost twenty years. Construction of the house relied heavily on slave labor.[6]

In the 1850 U.S. Census, Nathan B. Whitfield was recorded as 50-years old, living in Marengo County, Alabama, with his children: Needham G, Nathan B, Edith I and Betsey W Whitfield.[2]

Death and Burial

He died 27 December 1868 and was buried Riverside Cemetery, Demopolis, Marengo County, Alabama.[3]

Obituary from Choctaw Herald, Feb. 11, 1869: "Demopolis has lost another one of her oldest and best citizens, Gen. N.B. WHITFIELD. He leaves a large number of relatives and friends to mourn his death."

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Whitfield, Emma Morehead. Whitfield, Bryan, Smith, and Related Families. Westminster, Maryland, 1948-50. Pages 70 - 72. Page 99 - Bio
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "United States Census, 1850," Nathan B Whitfield, Marengo county, Marengo, Alabama, United States; citing family 343, NARA microfilm publication M432. FamilySearch accessed 6 September 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Find A Grave: Memorial #67161407 accessed 06 September 2020, memorial page for Gen Nathan Bryan Whitfield (19 Sep 1799–27 Dec 1868), citing Riverside Cemetery, Demopolis, Marengo County, Alabama, USA; Maintained by Nancy Yankie Sidarous. Tombstone photo attached. Birth and death dates inscribed.
  4. ↑ Nathan Bryan Whitfield, excerpt from NCPEDIA, Article Whitfield, Nathan Bryan by H. G. Jones, 1996.
  5. ↑ United States Census, 1830," Census Place: Lenoir, North Carolina; Series: M19; Roll: 122; Page: 302; Family History Library Film: 0018088. Ancestry Record 8058 #216399 accessed 6 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Gaineswood," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Article accessed October 6, 2020.
  • Gaineswood in Demopolis, Alabama - Home of Nathan Bryan Whitfield.

It is now a National Historic Site and tours are available. https://ahc.alabama.gov/properties/gaineswood/gaineswood.aspx

Acknowledgments

  • Thanks to Penny for creating WikiTree profile Whitfield-312. See the Changes page for the details of edits.




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Whitfield-2407 Kathy (Whitfield) Stepp
More about the Whitfield Canal: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=37993

https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2007/01/13/old-canal-aids-new-demopolis-project/27697206007/ Gaineswood: http://facstaff.uwa.edu/abrown/Gaineswood.htm

posted by Kathy (Whitfield) Stepp
Whitfield-2407 Kathy (Whitfield) Stepp
This is great - Whitfield Canal and Related Stories. By Nellie Whitfield Ulmer, Demopolis Chapter D.A.R. 11/10/1983. https://uc4ac14b0d3ff6ee120402afffdf.previews.dropboxusercontent.com/p/orig/ABvC2VVO6aMH3ESn4_RIvwPyjkifA3IJkAX7CpcmBEuOil9d1wftxk2si2zpiGXilqdnZapb2NjzwWWhsLSc0WyVsn73sKVqXEy_g9PC3gvfTrcc-42aA-rTAKJh4dqHkRM7z9ykMF2Y7xhPesQesAxauuw-xSHo3BNBupolxc9RP-QWROdZqdvk0pRffB-MoHnWsP-li7KpRVjvuliulZkJrvDf9rEJeKl5Yd8nVT4pn33fwYnmZpuolTSh6HD6IzoM1Vc17yhiYBcZbEmWOH259uw70UD_l01aZE_7rS47A12lnQated-pY8hfPZ7oLjimc6gqpc2ego-uFJxhm8liv8rKOyY5iiO3BoQh74Z5srx2qQNVG0WN-St-do1hgUlIvZ_BVzDAYNIQCV50ODjdC0s6Dn7-em1cTf1HDbZe-Q/p.pdf
posted by Kathy (Whitfield) Stepp
Whitfield-2407 Kathy (Whitfield) Stepp
The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register. Volume 1. Page 603 - 604. Lists Nathan, born 9/19/1799. Married 2/16/1819 his cousin Betsey (daughter of Needham and Sally Watkins Whitfield) and their child, Nathan Bryan Whitfield. His 2nd wife, Bettie - nickname? (daughter of John and Mary Slade Whitfield. And his death in 1865: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015028952177&view=1up&seq=602&q1=whitfield%20record

They are listed again on page 606 - 607. Lists Nathan Bryan Whitfield's birthdate as 9/19/1779. 1st wife, Betsey Whitfield and their 12 children. Lists his 2nd wife, Bettie and 1 daughter.

posted by Kathy (Whitfield) Stepp
edited by Kathy (Whitfield) Stepp

Rejected matches › Nathan Bryan Whitfield (1835-1914)

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