Matthew Cary Whitaker (abt. 1762 - abt. 1814)

Born about 21 Feb 1762 in Halifax County, North Carolina

Husband of Elizabeth Ann (Coffield) Whitaker — married 13 Mar 1797 in North Carolina, USA

Descendants

Died about Jun 1814 at about age 52 in Halifax County, North Carolina, USA

Biography

From (Wheeler, II, 204)." "Sketches of Promenent Living North Carolinians" "Matthew Cary Whitaker was an only child. When a youth he ran away from school and joined the patriot army, fought and was wounded at the battle of Guilford Court House. He married, March 13, 1787, Elizabeth Coffield, daughter of Spier Coffield, of Edgecombe County, N. C, bought land in the wilderness, near Enfield, Halifax County, N. C., and in 1790 began the erection of a residence thereon. This, conformably to the condition of independence upon which the planters of those early days prided themselves, was built by his negroes of wood cut and sawed on the land, his nails being made in his own blacksmith shop by them, the bricks burned by them and the lime made of oyster shells brought from Norfolk, Va., to which place his produce was sent to market, and from which his supplies for the year were brought. He represented Halifax County in the house of commons from 1800 to 1806, inclusive-seven terms; in the senate from 1807 to 1810, inclusive, and again in 1812-five terms (Wheeler's Hist. N. C., II, 203). He became blind in his last years; he had seven daughters and three sons; of the former, two died in infancy. Those who reached maturity and married were: Martha Cary (b. 1789), married Ricks Fort; Elizabeth Coffield (b. 1792), marrieS James Grant, comptroller North Carolina from 1828 to 1834, and left a son and daughter; Priscilla West (b. 1800), married Robert Ranson; Gough Anne (1860-187-), who became Mrs. William Bustin, and left sons and daughters. Among his grandsons were Generals Matthew Whitaker Ransom and Robert Ransom, of the Confederate States army, and Judge James Grant, of the superior courts of Iowa, son of James Grant above mentioned. Matthew Cary Whitaker's eldest son, Gough (1795-1806), died in his twelfth year. His youngest son, Dr. Matthew Cary Whitaker (1801-73), was never married. He was a member of the General Assembly from Halifax County in 1846"

Sources

• #Find A Grave: Memorial #130561574