James Chitwood (abt. 1762 - abt. 1841)

Born about 1762 in Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Alpha (Unknown) Chitwood — married about 1791 in North Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died about 1841 at about age 79 in Union, Georgia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jason Lee Edwards [send private message]

Biography

James Chitwood was born about 1762 in Virginia to James Chitwood and his wife Alice. When he was young, his family moved south to Rutherford County, North Carolina.

He seems to have been charged with treason at the January 1783 term of court in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Among the many charged at the time were both a James Chitwood and a James Chitwood, Jr.^[1]

About 1791, he married a woman named Alpha whose maiden name is unknown.

In 1824, James Chitwood, his wife, and his younger children moved to Habersham County, Georgia, where he purchased 250 acres from Whitmill Travers for $400 on 13 December 1824.^[2] On 8 January 1827, he purchased lot twenty-six in the town of Clarkesville, Habersham County, Georgia, from the Justices of the Inferior Court for $52.^[3] He sold the lot in Clarkesville to Eleazer Williams on 3 May 1830 for $100.^[4]

On 4 July 1833, he sold a portion of the 250 acres he had purchased in 1824 to his son John J. Chitwood and moved west over the Unicoi Gap to the newly-created Union County, Georgia.^[5] He and his wife lived on the Hiawassee River in an area that is now Towns County, Georgia.

James Chitwood died in what was then Union County, Georgia, in 1841. On 7 November 1841, his son John J. Chitwood received letters of administration on his estate.^[6]

Research Notes

He is sometimes shown with a wife named Elizabeth Whiteside, but this seems to come from confusion surrounding his sister Elizabeth Chitwood who married a Whiteside.

Sources

1. ↑ “Rutherford County, North Carolina, Minutes, Pleas, and Quarter Session, 1779-1868,” images, FamilySearch, Minutes of January 1783, (accessed 11 March 2022); citing Minutes, 1779-1798. David Miller v. James McDaniel & Others, for treason.
2. ↑ “Habersham County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1818-1900,” images, FamilySearch, Travers to Chitwood, 13 December 1824, (accessed 30 April 2022); citing Habersham County, Georgia, Deed Book C, page 145. 13 December 1824, Whitmill Travers to James Chitwood, $400, Lot 117, District 11, 250 acres. Witnessed by Alexander Avera and Jefferson Chitwood. Signed Whitmill Travers.
3. ↑ “Habersham County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1818-1900,” images, FamilySearch, JIC to Chitwood, 8 January 1827, (accessed 30 April 2022); citing Habersham County, Georgia, Deed Book D, page 110. 8 January 1827, Benjamin Cleveland, Benjamin Chastain, and John H. Jones, Justices of the Inferior Court, to James Chitwood, $52, lot 26 in Clarkesville containing one acre. Witnessed by Thomas W. Ward and B. Langham, JP.
4. ↑ “Habersham County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1818-1900,” images, FamilySearch, Chitwood to Williams, 3 May 1830, (accessed 30 April 2022); citing Habersham County, Georgia, Deed Book H, page 61. 3 May 1830, James Chitwood to Eleazer Williams, $100, lot 26 in Clarkesville containing one acre. Witnessed Thomas J. Rusk and B. Vaughan, JP. Signed James Chitwood.
5. ↑ “Habersham County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1818-1900,” images, FamilySearch, Chitwood to Chitwood, 4 July 1833, (accessed 30 April 2022); citing Habersham County, Georgia, Deed Book N, page 74. 4 July 1833, James Chitwood to John J. Chitwood, $5 and love and affection for his son, part of lot 117, District 11. Witnessed by William S. Tipton and James Walker, JP. Signed James Chtiwood.
6. ↑ “Habersham County, Georgia, Minutes of the Court of Ordinary,” images, Family Search, Minutes of 7 November 1841, (accessed 30 April 2022); citing Court of Ordinary Minute Book 4A, page 189. John J. Chitwood haveing applied for Letters of Administration on the Estate of James Chitwood late of Union County deceased and the said application haveing been duly advertised and no objection made, Ordered that Letter of Administration be Granted accordingly by the applicant giveing bond and Good security in the sum of Fifteen thousand Dollars.”

• "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch, Household of James Chitwood, Rutherford County, North Carolina, (accessed 30 April 2022); citing NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch, Household of James Chitwood, Rutherford County, North Carolina, (accessed 30 April 2022); citing NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch, Household of James Chitwood, Rutherford County, North Carolina, (accessed 30 April 2022); citing NARA microfilm publication M252, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch, Household of James Chitwood, Habersham County, Georgia, (accessed 30 April 2022); citing NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).