William & Elizabeth (Dawson) Whitsett of Pennsylvania and Virginia - grandson of Samuel Whitsett of Ireland

Descendants of Samuel Whitsett of Ireland

Please see the new research on the early Whiteside and Whitsett families who settled first in Lebanon Township of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Click here to go to WHITESIDE AND WHITSETT PIONEERS AND THE WHITSETT FAMILY OF LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYVANIA

Generation 3

William Whitsett and Elizabeth Dawson of Pennsylvania and Virginia

3. William Whitsett3 of Pennsylvania and Virginia
Individual:  3. WHITSETT, William 3 "William Whiteside" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Sex:   Male
Father:  2. WHITSETT, William2 [1,2]
Mother:   Unknown 
Wife:   WHITSETT, Elizabeth DAWSON [3, 4, 6] b. probably Ireland, d. Pennsylvania or Virginia or possibly on the voyage to America
Facts
     
Birth: Abt. 1710  in County Antrim, Ireland [1, 4]
Death:  Abt. 1770 probably Amherst County, Virginia 
Marriage: abt. 1729 Ireland, Probably[1]
Also Known As:   William Whiteside, William Whitesite, William Whitsitt, etc.
Immigrated: Aft.
1731		 Pennsylvania (William Heth Whitsitt, Annals of a Scotch-Irish Family) "William Whitsitt ... the immigrant, and shortly after the year 1731 he came over the sea with his wife, Elizabeth (Dawson) Whitsitt, and their son, William Whitsitt the third-" [1, 6]
Immigrated: 1740 Louise T. Overton on Rootsweb: William WHITSETT /WHITESIDE, "the immigrant came to America in 1740 first settled in Pa then to Amherst Co., Va. Then to Orange Co., NC."  I believe Louise took this from Professor Wm. Thornton Whitsett's papers. There are no records I have found that places William in NC
Grant: 1741 March 15, Mechum's River, Goochland Co., Va., William Whitside Grant, recorded in the land Office at Richmond at page 162 of Book 20 - 400 acres (this is William Whiteside who married Elizabeth STOCKTON.  All the records mentioning Ivy Creek and Mechum's River in Albemarle Co. pertain to them, not William and Elizabeth Dawson WHITSITT - RNW)

Land Warrant:

 1750

April 24, in Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; (Later Allen Township) Land warrant and multiple surveys done in 1803 on warrant for William Whiteside date 24 Apr. 1750,  100 acres (return show over 200 acres) subdivided into several lots in 1803); map showing original surveys; depicts area between Carlisle and Mechanicsburg, n. boundary halfway between Trindle Rd. and Rt. 11; s. boundary Yellow Breeches Creek. [6, 7]

Tax List:

 1751

Middleton, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; (both Wm. Sr. and Wm. Jr. listed) [10]
Tax List: 1762
Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; William Whiteside [8, 10]

Deed:

 1763

September 05, Davises Creek, Amherst Co., Va; John and Elizabeth Wade to William Whitsitt, 200 acres (may be William Jr.) [8, 9]
Deed: 1767
September 07, Rutledges Creek, Amherst County, Virginia; James Menees to William Whitsitt, 300 acres [8, 9]
Deed: 1770
June 04, Davises Creek, Amherst County, Virginia; Son William Whiteside III and Elinor, his wife, to William Martin, 200 acres [8, 9]
Deed: 1779
November 01, Amherst County, Virginia; Benjamin Menees (son of James), of Pittsylvania County,Va. to William Whitsitt, 300 acres [8, 9]

Land Survey:

 1803

December 29, in Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; 245 acres re-surveyed from original warrant to William Whiteside dated April 24, 1750; the land was being subdivided to be patented by several individuals in 1803 [7]
Children:
*
Only one is known
 
8.
WHITSITT, William4 (b. 1731, Ireland; d. 1811. Tenn., m. Eleanor Menees)
     
Notes:
    
   

"Annals of a Scotch-Irish Family: The Whitsitt's of Nashville, Tenn." AMERICAN HISTORICAL MAGAZINE, Vol IX, 1904; Dr. William Heth Whitsitt, Richmond College, Richmond, Virginia."

" 'William Whitsitt, the son of William Whitsitt, the son of Samuel Whitsitt (all of Ireland), married Elizabeth Dawson, of Ireland. William Whitsitt, son of the aforesaid William, married Miss Ellen Menees, daughter of James Menees, who married the widow of Ranney Breathitt, formerly Miss Ellen Cardwell; died at the residence of his son, the Rev. James Whitsitt, in the vicinity of Nashville, Tennessee, July 14, 1811. Ellen Menees Whitsitt, his wife was born -------, and died at Rural Choice, Kentucky, the home of her son-in-law, George Blakey, September 13, 1818.' "
   

E-Mail; Whitsett List , from Leroy Dover of Montana:

"I am copying my grandfather's journal and found this ...

Whitsett family tradition says that William was the oldest of the three brothers that came from Ireland and settled in Pennsylvania about 1740. The Whitsitt's of Nashville, Tennessee claimed to be descended from William through his son William and evidence seems to support this claim.
   
Davis, Rev. Bailey Fulton. The Deeds of Amherst County, Virginia 1761-1807 and Albemarle County, Virginia 1748-1763.
   

[RNW - I believe these deeds were to William Whitsitt Jr. who married Ellen Menees, son of William and Elizabeth Dawson Whitsett]

*Deed Book A. Page 129. 5 Sept. 1763. John Wade sold for 40 lbs., 200 acres on the North side of Davis’ Creek to William Whitsitt. (Words of Rev. Bailey Fulton Davis: 'I should like to point out that this William Whitsitt is the ancestor of the Dr. William Whitsitt who became President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and who became involved with his fellow Baptists about interpretations concerning historical matters.)' "

Deed Book B. Page 222. 7 Sept. 1767. Jas. Menees of Amherst Co. to Wm. Whitsett, of Amherst Co., for 30 lbs., 300 acres branch of Rutledge. Lines: Jas. Menees, Jr. Wit: David Woodrood, Isaac Wright, page. 223. Margaret, wife of Jas. Menees, Sr., consents.
Sources
    
1.  

William Thornton Whitsett, PhD, Whitsett, Dr. William Thornton Papers (Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina, (abt. 1910)), Source Rating Low to Medium: Manuscript; These papers also include rough drafts of Prof. Whitsett's notes obtained by Pearl Whitsett Miller in the early 1980's from Prof. Whitsett's daughter, Carrie Whitsett Hayes who was living in Whitsett, North Carolina.
2.  

William R. Whiteside Research Notes, WHITESETT-WHITESIDE POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS PA-NC PROVE OR DISPROVE (August 2007).
3.  
Uley T. Morgan, The Family of Samuel Samuel Whitsett And His Two Wives (Macon, Georgia 1989).
4.  
William Heth Whitsitt, Annals of a Scotch-Irish Family: The Whitsitt's of Nashville, Tenn. (American Historical Magazine, Vol. IX, Nashville, Tennessee, 1904).
5.  
History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford & Gasconade Counties, Missouri (Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago 1888), pg. 843.
6.  
Records of the Land Office, WARRANT REGISTERS, 1733-1957 (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives; RG-17 [series #17.88]), Cumberland County Warrants, pg. 190.
7.  
Records of the Land Office, COPIED SURVEYS 1681-1912 (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives; RG-17 [series #17.114]), Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Copied Surveys, Book A14-4; resurvey dated 29 Dec. 1803 (for purposes of parceling and patenting the tract).
8.
 
William R. Whiteside, William R. Whiteside Research Notes (Cottage Hills, Illinois, August 2007).
9.
 
Davis, Rev. Bailey Fulton, The Deeds of Amherst County, Virginia 1761-1807 and Albemarle County, Virginia 1748-1763 (Bailey Fulton Davis, Amherst County, VA, 1970. Reprinted 1979 by The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr. Publisher: Southern Historical Press, 1970).
10.  
History of Cumberland County:, research notes of William R. Whiteside, Cottage Hills, IL, "Electronic."
Back to Top  
Much of the material on this generation of Whitsett's was sent to me by other researchers.  Some of this data has not been verified.  If you are interested in one or more of these families, please check the sources and verify the information to eliminate the possibility of transcription errors or misinterpretation of the data.
 

GENERATION 4

William Whitsitt of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky

8. William4 Whitsitt of Virginia and Tennessee
Individual: 8. WHITSITT, William4 [1, 2, 3]
Sex:   Male
Father:  3. WHITSETT, William3   "William Whiteside"
Mother:   WHITSETT, Elizabeth DAWSON
Wife:   WHITSITT, Ellen MENEES (b. abt. 1739, d. Sept. 13, 1818, Rural Choice, Logan Co., Kentucky; daughter of James Menees and Ellen Cardwell)
Facts
     
Birth:  1731 August 20, in County Antrim, Ireland [2]
Death: 1811  July 14, in Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee [2]
Marriage: 1764
May 30, in Bethel Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; By the Rev. John Casper Stoever Marriage Records of Rev, John Casper Stoever, Lutheran: William Whitside and Eleanor McNees, Bethel Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa.  This is the son of William and Elizabeth Dawson Whitsitt. [6, 7]
Military Service: Bet.
1754
1763		 Pennsylvania; French and Indian War [5]
Deed: 1767
September 07, Amherst County, Virginia; 300 acres branch of Rutledge. Lines: Jas. Menees, Jr. [4]
Deed: 1767
September 07, Amherst County, Virginia; Jas. Menees, Amh. Co., to Benj. Menees, Amh. Co., for 5 shillings, 300 acres. Lines: Wm. Whitsitt. [4]
Deed: 1770
June 04, Amherst County, Virginia; Wm. Whitesides, Amh. Co. to Wm. Martin, Am. Co., for 40 lbs., 200 acres on N. fork David Creek and branch of Rockfish. [4]
Deed: 1779
September 06, Amherst County, Virginia; Wm. Martin, Bedford Co., to David Shelton, Amh. Co., 195 acres S side Rockfish. Lines: Wm. Whitsitt etc. [4]
Deposition: 1788 October 08, in Davidson County, Tennessee; William Whitesides, in the case of Justinian Cartwright vs. Laurence Thompson,
Children:
    
  i 
WHITSETT, Frances (b. abt. 1765)
 

ii

 
BREATHITT, Elizabeth Dawson WHITSETT (b. Nov. 23, 1765, Amherst Co., Va.; d. Apr. 3, 1834, Logan Co., Kentucky, m. William BREATHITT)
  iii
BLAKEY, Margaret WHITSETT (b. Oct. 26, 1767, Amherst Co., Va.; d. Oct. 25, 1859, Logan Co., Kentucky; m. George Blakey)
  iv
WHITSETT, Jane (b. 1769, Amherst Co., Va.; d. 1775, probably Virginia)
  v
WHITSITT, Rev. James "James Whitsett" (b. Jan. 31, 1771, Amherst Co., Va.; d. Apr. 12, 1849, Nashville, Davidson Co., Tenn.; m. (1) Dec. 13, 1792, Jane Cardwell Menees (1776-1840); (2) Sep. 17, 1840, Davidson Co., Tenn. Mrs. Elizabeth Woodruff)
  vi
WHITSETT, Samuel (b. abt. 1773, Va., d. 1792, Davidson Co., Tennessee)
  vii
WHITSETT, Nancy (b. abt. 1775, Va.; d. aft. 1811)
  viii
EWING, Ellen Frances WHITSETT (b. 1779, Amherst Co., Va.; d. Mar. 26, 1834, Logan Co., Kentucky; m. Reubin Ewing, Cumberland Presbyterian minister and one of the founders of the church)
  ix
WHITSETT, Susan (b. 1780, Va.; d. 1790, Henry Co., Va.)
  x
WHITSETT, General William (b. 1780, Amherst Co., Va.; d. Mar. 21, 1842, Canton, Mississippi; m. Emily Haden)
  xi
PORTER, Sarah WHITSETT (b. abt. 1783, Henry Co., Va.; d. abt. 1810, Logan Co., Kentucky; m. Reese Porter)
Person Notes
  

 
   

Many of the descendants of this line spelled the name as Whitsitt. William used the name Whiteside in some Davidson County, Tennessee documents. The name Whiteside, Whitsett and Whitsitt were all used during the period in Amherst, Rockbridge and Henry Counties in Virginia.

   

Davis, Rev. Bailey Fulton. The Deeds of Amherst County, Virginia 1761-1807 and Albemarle County, Virginia 1748-1763.

*Deed Book A. Page 129. 5 Sept. 1763. John Wade sold for 40 lbs., 200 acres on the North side of Davis’ Creek to William Whitsitt. (Words of Rev. Bailey Fulton Davis: I should like to point out that this William Whitsitt is the ancestor of the Dr. William Whitsitt who became President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and who became involved with his fellow Baptists about interpretations concerning historical matters.)

Deed Book B. Page 222. 7 Sept. 1767. Jas. Menees of Amherst Co. to Wm. Whitsett, of Amherst Co., for 30 lbs., 300 acres branch of Rutledge. Lines: Jas. Menees, Jr. Wit: David Woodruff, Isaac Wright, page. 223. Margaret, wife of Jas. Menees, Sr., consents.

Deed Book B. Page 224. 7 Sept. 1767. Jas. Menees, Amh. Co., to Benj. Menees, Amh. Co., for 5 sh., 300 acres. Lines: Wm. Whitsitt. Wit: Same as above. Page 225, Margaret, wife of Jas. Menees, consents. [William Heth Whitsitt in "Annals of a Scotch-Irish Family" states that Eleanor (Ellen) was the daughter of James and Jane Cardwell Menees; it appears that James Menees's wife's name at the time of these deeds was Margaret. Was she his second wife? Or, was this James Menees Jr.?]

Deed Book C. Page 84. 4 June 1770. Wm. Whitesides, Amh. Co. to Wm. Martin, Am. Co., for 40 lbs., 200 acres on N. fork David Creek and branch of Rockfish. Lines: Wm. Trotter. Half of a tract bought of Wm. Wright Wit: Jo. Megann, Martin Dawson, Jas. McNeel (?). Signed Whitesides, but clerk has inserted name of Wm. Whitsett. Elliner, wife of Wm.

Deed Book E. Page 163. 6 Sept. 1779. Wm. Martin, Bedford Co., to David Shelton, Amh. Co., for 200 lbs., 195 acres S side Rockfish. Lines: Wm. Whitsitt, Jas. Halley Burton. Susannah, wife of Martin. Wit: Wm. Horrall, Thos. Fortune, Jno. Harris. Orig. del. To Jno. Harris 3 Mar 1785.

Deed Book E. Page 197. 1 Nov. 1779. Benj. Manees and Wife Ann, Pittsylvania Co., to Wm. Whitsitt, Amh. Co., for 700 lbs., 300 acres. Lines: Whitsitt. Orig. del. To Whitsitt.

Deed Book E. Page 317. 1 Oct. 1781. Wm. Whitsett, Amh. Co., to Chas. Stewart, Amh. Co. , for 60 lbs., 100 acres. Lines: Col. Danl. Gaines, Jos. Crews, Jas. McNeese. Wit: Benjamin Stone, Benj. Rucker, Isaac Rucker.

Deed Book E. Page 436. Return on 29 Aug. 1783. Rec’d. 6 Oct. 1783. Order to Henry Co. J.P.’s Abraham Penn and Jno. Salmon, to quiz Eleanor Whitsitt, wife of Wm. Whitsitt, as to dower - deed of 1 Oct. 1781, to Jos. Crews for 500 acres.

Deed Book E. Page 608. 7 March 1785. David Shelton, Amh. Co., to Jno. Harris, Amh. Co., for 160 lbs., 190 acres S. side Rockfish. Lines: Wm. Whitsed, jas. Hally Burton. Orig. del. To Mollie Harris, 13 Mar 1806 (?).
Sources
    
1.  

Uley T. Morgan, The Family of Samuel Samuel Whitsett And His Two Wives (Macon, Georgia 1989).
2.  

William Heth Whitsitt, Annals of a Scotch-Irish Family: The Whitsitt's of Nashville, Tenn. (American Historical Magazine, Vol. IX, Nashville, Tennessee, 1904).
3.  
Bernard Buckner Blakey, A Blakey Book.
4.   Davis, Rev. Bailey Fulton, The Deeds of Amherst County, Virginia 1761-1807 and Albemarle County, Virginia 1748-1763 (Bailey Fulton Davis, Amherst County, VA, 1970. Reprinted 1979 by The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr. Publisher: Southern Historical Press, 1970).
5.  
William Thornton Whitsett, PhD, Whitsett, Dr. William Thornton Papers (Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina, (abt. 1910)), Source Rating: Low to Medium: Manuscript; These papers also include rough drafts of Dr. Whitsett's notes obtained by Pearl Whitsett Miller in the early 1980's from Dr. Whitsett's daughter, Carrie Whitsett Hayes who was living in Whitsett, North Carolina.
6.  
Marriage Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever (Lebanon County, Pennsylvania PAGenWeb Project).
7.  
William Heth Whitsitt, Annals of a Scotch-Irish Family: The Whitsitt's of Nashville, Tenn. (American Historical Magazine, Vol. IX, Nashville, Tennessee, 1904).
  Back to Top
Ronald N. Wall
Copyright © 2005. All rights reserved.
MODIFIED: 12 JUNE 2011