Thanks to Susan Gall for sending more details on the Surry NC Whitaker clan. I have a fairly large collection of Maryland Whitaker information as well as access to a great library in Dallas. I started poking around at the Surry NC Whitaker origins puzzle. I think the following contain good possibilities. I will leave it up to the reader to decide. Also, if I somebody spots an error in the information or logic, please speak up. Here goes. The data that exists from Surry County, NC strongly points to a Robert Whitaker who died in Surry County NC about 1782 and wife Mary and their two sons, William the elder and Jonathan who are the progenitors of the large Surry NC Whitaker clan. Rumors and/or family stories suggest Maryland as the birthplace of William and that Robert and family migrated from Maryland to NC sometime prior to 1782. Since William's eldest son, Isaac, was born in 1773, William was likely about 1750 or earlier. Very logical assumptions have been made in the past linking the Robert Whitaker of 1782 Surry County, NC. to the Robert Whitaker and Mary Hall of the Quaker Joshua Whitaker clan to came to PA about 1719 from Lancashire England by way of Ireland. In Bruce Whitaker's book "Whitaker, Reed, Harper, Wright", and other publications, members of this Joshua Whitaker PA family are traced to early (by 1759) Rowan County, NC., founding a large Whitaker NC clan, most of whom moved west to Buncombe County, NC. However, it seems clear that neither Robert and Mary Hall Whitaker, nor their children, went to NC, but only slightly south of PA into Cecil County, MD where they died with a will recorded. So that is not the link. Another possibility is the Family of Mark Whitaker who was in Baltimore County, MD. by 1702 (tax lists) and died there on May 1, 1729. His two marriages and seven children are recorded in St. George's Parish Register. There is no Robert listed, although it is always possible there was a son Robert who is just not listed in the Parish registers. Mark's widdow remarried to Francis Taylor on Oct. 1729 and soon thereafter the family disappears from Baltimore County with members showing up in Prince George's County and Frederick County, MD., and then to Rowan County, NC., by 1768. It is my belief that Thomas Whitaker, son of Mark and Catherine Teag Whitaker, born June 13, 1712 in Baltimore County, MD., is the same Thomas Whitaker who died in 1787 in Surry County, NC., leaving a will naming sons Mark and Johnson Whitaker. Due to the close proximity of members of the Mark Whitaker of Baltimore County, MD family to who I believe is the family of Robert Whitaker of Surry County, NC., in Prince George's County and Frederick County, MD., and Surry County, NC., I would be willing to bet there is a close family relationship. I believe Thomas and Robert Whitaker of early Surry County, NC., are likely cousins, if not brothers. It appears that any descendents of Thomas Whitaker who died in Surry NC in 1787 left the county soon after 1800, and the large Whitaker clan of Surry NC., are descended from William and Jonathan Whitaker, sons of Robert Whitaker who died in Surry NC about 1782 and his wife Mary. Origins of Robert Whitaker, died ca. 1782 in Surry County, NC. I believe that Robert Whitaker, patriarch of the Surry County, NC., Whitaker's was the son of Robert Whitaker of Prince George's County, MD. Land records are pretty complete for Prince George's County, MD., from the creation of the County in 1695. In searching those records, I first find Robert Whitaker registering a cattle mark (brand) on January 4, 1731 in Prince George's County (Liber Q, p. 399). Registering a cattle mark was often done by a young man just strarting out in adult life, but could also have been some one moving into the County at any age. The next entry I find (liber T, p. 480) is of a Robert Whitaker, "Gent." who buys a tract of land called "Pentaland Hills" in Prince Georges County, MD., on June 13, 1737 (deed recorded July 1, 1737) from RIchard Walles. The price is 60pds and size is estimated at 100 acres. The appellation "Gent." was usually reserved for men of some prosperity and education, so apparently Robert Whitaker was doing well. I found in interesting that a cattle mark in registered in Prince Georges County, MD., on July 1, 1734 by Flower Swift. Flower Swift is also in a list of petitioners in Prince George's MD., in 1739. Flower Swift is listed in the St. George Parish Register of Baltimore County, MD., as marrying Elizabeth Whitaker, daughter of Mark Whitaker on Mary 13, 1725. The name is so unusual, it is highly likely this is the same person and puts members of Mark Whitaker Baltimore MD family in Prince Georges MD at same time as Robert Whitaker. Another connection is found in a Baltimore County, MD land transaction as follows: 25, Feb. 1739: Thomas Whitaker of PG. Co. conveys 100 acres, part of a tract called Westwood, which was formerly conveyed by Robert West to Mark Whitaker, father of the grantor, back to Robert West. (HWS#1-A: 382) Here we have a second member of the Baltimore MD Mark Whitaker family moving to Prince Georges County, MD., where Robert Whitaker lived. At the name Thomas matches the Thomas Whitaker who died in Surry County, NC. 1787. I therefore think it likely these are the same men. There is also a land transaction in Prince Georges County, MD., (PG Land Record Book BB 1, page 278), in which Thomas Whittaker for 20lbs buys a 50 acre tract of land called "Prevention" on March 29, 1745, from Priscilla Wilson and her son Thomas Wilson. The next entry for Robert Whitaker I found in LIber Y, p. 176, a Special Petition of Robert Whitaker, Gent., regarding boundaries of "Pentland's Hills" made April 17, 1740. Apparently "Pentland's Hills" was either bigger than they thought, or Robert added to it with transactions not recorded as on Nov. 23, 1743, Robert Whitaker of Prince Georges County, MD., Gent., give the deed to "Pentland Hills" now listed as containing about 300 acres as well as title to 13 slaves to James Russell of PG, Merchant. Robert obtains 180lbs. money, but the deed is conditional and is void if Robert pays back the money within 2 years. Apparently Robert wanted or needed cash for something and obtained a loan and put up his land as collateral. Unfortunately my Dallas library only has the transcripts for Prince George's County Land books through 1746. The records exist beyond that, and further research may well shed further light on the family through land transactions. The next records regarding the family of Robert Whitaker of Prince Georges MD., is found in the Will of Alexander Magruder, of Prince Georges County, MD., written Feb. 4, 1740 and proved May 20, 1746. Among other family bequests, Alexander leaves a slave to his daughter Elizabeth Whiteaker and the southernmost half of a piece of land to Robert Whitaker and his wife Elizabeth. From this it seems clear that Robert's wife was Elizabeth Magruder. ( keep in mind this is Robert Whitaker Sr., whom I believe is the father of Robert Whitaker of Surry NC.). Digressing a moment on the Magruder line. From pages 533 through 548 from the book "Across The Years In Prince George's County, MD.", 1947, is an article on the PG Magruder family. Magruder is a branch of the Scottish Clan Mac Gregor said to be founded by Gregor, youngest son of Alpin MacAchaia, King of the Scots from 833-836AD. It is reported in a genealogy by Dr. Edward Magruder that Alexander Magruder (father of Robert's father-in-law Alexander above), the immigrant to America was the 3rd Great Grandson of Gillespie MacGregor, third son of Gregor MacGregor, 12th Chief of the Clan. The history reports that Alexander Magruder Sr. the immigrant, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1610, and first appears in Colonial Records of MD in 1653. He acquired considerable property and left many descendants. His son Alexander Jr., father in law of Robert Whitaker in Prince Georges MD., is listed as born in 1671 and died in 1746, and was three times Justice of Prince Georges County, MD. The next piece of evidence and perhaps the most telling piece is the Will of Robert Whitaker Sr., in Prince Georges County, MD. proved: June 27, 1753. He give his person estate to his 7 youngest children: Susannah, Elizabeth, Susan, Henry, Sarah, Priscilla, and Alexander. Although not named, his wife Elizabeth was still living as evidenced by son William's will of 1757. He then gives to his two eldest sons, William and Robert, all the tract I dwell on. It is this Robert Jr. whom I think is the Robert who founded the Surry NC Whitaker clan. The naming conventions are interesting. By naming his second son after himself and his fourth son after his father-in-law, Alexander Magruder, he seems to be following classic naming patterns common in Northern Europe. Filling in the blanks, one could logically assume that Robert Sr's father's name was William and his grandfather's name was Henry. Another connection with clues is found in the 1776 Census of Maryland in which in Frederick County, MD (where Mark Whitaker Jr. from Baltimore County, MD., moved and was married) is an Alexander Whitaker, age 30, wife Hester age 25, and daughter Elizabeth Magruder Whitaker age 2. This clearly would be Robert Sr's youngest child named in his 1753 Prince Georges County, MD will. This puts the birth of Robert Sr. youngest son at 1746 and generally allowing at least two years between children, would place Robert Whitaker Jr.'s birth at 1732 or earlier. This matches with Robert Jr being at least 21 at the death of his father in 1753. The location of Alexander in 1776 Frederick County, MD. is yet another clue to a family connection to the Mark Whitaker, Baltimore MD family. Did this Alexander move south. Likely. He is not in 1790 Maryland Census and an Alexander Whitaker shows up in 1782 list of men subject to having property confiscated in Rowan County, NC., along with a Henry (not brother of Robert Jr.), Giles (a large Giles surname family existed in Baltimore County, MD when Mark's family was there), James (Mark Sr. had a son James), John, and RIchard. The other brothers of Robert Whitaker Jr. of Prince Georges County, MD., died without heirs. William's will was proved in Prince Georges MD. March 20, 1757, in which he names his brothers: Henry, Alexander, and Robert, his mother Elizabeth, and the same "Pentland Hills" tract of land his father had (apparently he paid back the loan). Brother Henry's died in Prince Georges MD. Feb. 2, 1773, and left an estate of 323lbs. His brother Robert was administrator. Next of kin named are Alexander Whitaker and Susanna Whitaker. This indicates Robert Jr was still in MD in 1773. Three court actions are brought regarding Henry's estate. One on Nov. 3, 1778, Robert Whitaker is still listed as executor. Two later ones dated Nov 28, 1781, and April 13, 1783 show a new executor, Austin Allen. From this it would appear that Robert Whitaker Jr., left Prince Georges County, MD before 1781, which matches earliest dates of Robert Whitaker showing up in Surry County NC. Further research in land records of Prince Georges County MD., could provide further confirmation, but it certainly appears to me that the Robert Whitaker of Prince Georges County, MD. is the founder of the Surry County, NC Whitaker families. Last, where did Robert Whitaker who shows up in 1731 in Prince Georges County, MD., come from? As I indicated, he could be an unlisted son of Mark Whitaker of Baltimore County, MD. However since the family naming patterns are so different, I rather doubt this. Mark of Baltimore had sons Thomas, Mark, Empson (after wife's maiden name), and James. None of these names match Robert's Prince Georges MD family of WIlliam, Robert, Henry, and Alexander. The close proximity of the families suggest some kinship. Since Mark Sr. of Baltimore MD died in 1729 when his children were all minors, perhaps some of all decided to move to stay with relative Robert in Prince Georges County. Perhaps an uncle or cousin. So where might Robert have come from? Robert Whitaker is not an extremely common name. An interesting possibility is a record in "The Complete Book of Emigrants" by Coldham. vol. 3. 1700-1750. On page 23 is a listing of men apprenticed at Liverpool to Mr Thomas Leckonby to be shipped to Virginia on the ship "Globe" on January 23, 1701. In the list is a Robert Whitaker, of Lancashire, age 19, to serve 4 years . Aside from agriculture, the largest industry and employer in the Colonies at the time shipping. It was not unusual for young men without means to serve a career at sea, amassing some wealth, and then only after a number of years, settling down to marry and build a family as a country Gentleman. Could this 19 years old Robert Whitaker from Lancashire, England, apprenticed to VA be the same Robert Whitaker who arrived in Prince Georges County MD, some years later, perhaps marrying in the 1720's to Elizabeth Magruder, daughter of a well to do land owner? If so, this year would mark the 300th anniversary of this Whitaker branch immigration to America. Perhaps further research in VA or other counties in MD records before 1730 will shed light on where Robert Sr. came from. I did do a search of all MD wills before 1730 and did not find any reference to a Robert Whitaker. Please feel free to ask questions, correct, or enhance this analysis. I hope the readers find it helpful. Thanks, Rich Fulton, rfulton@us.ibm.com World Wide Mid-Market Sales Executive, S/390 SW, SWG IBM, home office 1420 West Main Street, Apt. 1008 Lewisville, TX. 75067 USA Phone: 972-434-1033, t/l 450-8996 Fax: 817-962-8780, t/l 522-8780

Hi, Rich Wow, you've done a lot of research! We're going to England in a couple of weeks, and I don't know if we'll even be in Lancashire. But if we are, would it help to look up this Robert Whitaker, or do you know enough about him yet? I'm not sure where to start looking, but if you could suggest something (birth date, etc.), I'll see what happens. Of course, it's also dependent on getting my family to stop long enough for me to go to a city hall, etc. They're not as interested in genealogy yet! Joyce Dressel ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Fulton <rfulton@us.ibm.com> To: <WHITAKER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 12:50 AM Subject: [WHITAKER] Surry NC Whitaker's: Maryland Connection, 300 Yrs in America??? > Thanks to Susan Gall for sending more details on the Surry NC Whitaker > clan. I have a fairly large collection of Maryland Whitaker information > as well as access to a great library in Dallas. I started poking around > at the Surry NC Whitaker origins puzzle. I think the following contain > good possibilities. I will leave it up to the reader to decide. Also, > if I somebody spots an error in the information or logic, please speak up. > Here goes. > > The data that exists from Surry County, NC strongly points to a Robert > Whitaker who died in Surry County NC about 1782 and wife Mary and their two > sons, William the elder and Jonathan who are the progenitors of the large > Surry NC Whitaker clan. Rumors and/or family stories suggest Maryland as > the birthplace of William and that Robert and family migrated from Maryland > to NC sometime prior to 1782. Since William's eldest son, Isaac, was > born in 1773, William was likely about 1750 or earlier. > > Very logical assumptions have been made in the past linking the Robert > Whitaker of 1782 Surry County, NC. to the Robert Whitaker and Mary Hall of > the Quaker Joshua Whitaker clan to came to PA about 1719 from Lancashire > England by way of Ireland. In Bruce Whitaker's book "Whitaker, Reed, > Harper, Wright", and other publications, members of this Joshua Whitaker PA > family are traced to early (by 1759) Rowan County, NC., founding a large > Whitaker NC clan, most of whom moved west to Buncombe County, NC. > However, it seems clear that neither Robert and Mary Hall Whitaker, nor > their children, went to NC, but only slightly south of PA into Cecil > County, MD where they died with a will recorded. So that is not the > link. > > Another possibility is the Family of Mark Whitaker who was in Baltimore > County, MD. by 1702 (tax lists) and died there on May 1, 1729. His two > marriages and seven children are recorded in St. George's Parish Register. > There is no Robert listed, although it is always possible there was a son > Robert who is just not listed in the Parish registers. Mark's widdow > remarried to Francis Taylor on Oct. 1729 and soon thereafter the family > disappears from Baltimore County with members showing up in Prince George's > County and Frederick County, MD., and then to Rowan County, NC., by 1768. > It is my belief that Thomas Whitaker, son of Mark and Catherine Teag > Whitaker, born June 13, 1712 in Baltimore County, MD., is the same Thomas > Whitaker who died in 1787 in Surry County, NC., leaving a will naming sons > Mark and Johnson Whitaker. Due to the close proximity of members of the > Mark Whitaker of Baltimore County, MD family to who I believe is the family > of Robert Whitaker of Surry County, NC., in Prince George's County and > Frederick County, MD., and Surry County, NC., I would be willing to bet > there is a close family relationship. I believe Thomas and Robert > Whitaker of early Surry County, NC., are likely cousins, if not brothers. > It appears that any descendents of Thomas Whitaker who died in Surry NC in > 1787 left the county soon after 1800, and the large Whitaker clan of Surry > NC., are descended from William and Jonathan Whitaker, sons of Robert > Whitaker who died in Surry NC about 1782 and his wife Mary. > > Origins of Robert Whitaker, died ca. 1782 in Surry County, NC. > I believe that Robert Whitaker, patriarch of the Surry County, NC., > Whitaker's was the son of Robert Whitaker of Prince George's County, MD. > > Land records are pretty complete for Prince George's County, MD., from the > creation of the County in 1695. In searching those records, I first find > Robert Whitaker registering a cattle mark (brand) on January 4, 1731 in > Prince George's County (Liber Q, p. 399). Registering a cattle mark was > often done by a young man just strarting out in adult life, but could also > have been some one moving into the County at any age. > > The next entry I find (liber T, p. 480) is of a Robert Whitaker, "Gent." > who buys a tract of land called "Pentaland Hills" in Prince Georges County, > MD., on June 13, 1737 (deed recorded July 1, 1737) from RIchard Walles. > The price is 60pds and size is estimated at 100 acres. The appellation > "Gent." was usually reserved for men of some prosperity and education, so > apparently Robert Whitaker was doing well. > > I found in interesting that a cattle mark in registered in Prince Georges > County, MD., on July 1, 1734 by Flower Swift. Flower Swift is also in a > list of petitioners in Prince George's MD., in 1739. Flower Swift is > listed in the St. George Parish Register of Baltimore County, MD., as > marrying Elizabeth Whitaker, daughter of Mark Whitaker on Mary 13, 1725. > The name is so unusual, it is highly likely this is the same person and > puts members of Mark Whitaker Baltimore MD family in Prince Georges MD at > same time as Robert Whitaker. Another connection is found in a > Baltimore County, MD land transaction as follows: > 25, Feb. 1739: Thomas Whitaker of PG. Co. conveys 100 acres, part of a > tract called Westwood, which was formerly conveyed by Robert West to Mark > Whitaker, father of the grantor, back to Robert West. (HWS#1-A: 382) > > Here we have a second member of the Baltimore MD Mark Whitaker family > moving to Prince Georges County, MD., where Robert Whitaker lived. At > the name Thomas matches the Thomas Whitaker who died in Surry County, NC. > 1787. I therefore think it likely these are the same men. There is > also a land transaction in Prince Georges County, MD., (PG Land Record Book > BB 1, page 278), in which Thomas Whittaker for 20lbs buys a 50 acre tract > of land called "Prevention" on March 29, 1745, from Priscilla Wilson and > her son Thomas Wilson. > > The next entry for Robert Whitaker I found in LIber Y, p. 176, a Special > Petition of Robert Whitaker, Gent., regarding boundaries of "Pentland's > Hills" made April 17, 1740. Apparently "Pentland's Hills" was either > bigger than they thought, or Robert added to it with transactions not > recorded as on Nov. 23, 1743, Robert Whitaker of Prince Georges County, > MD., Gent., give the deed to "Pentland Hills" now listed as containing > about 300 acres as well as title to 13 slaves to James Russell of PG, > Merchant. Robert obtains 180lbs. money, but the deed is conditional and > is void if Robert pays back the money within 2 years. Apparently Robert > wanted or needed cash for something and obtained a loan and put up his land > as collateral. > > Unfortunately my Dallas library only has the transcripts for Prince > George's County Land books through 1746. The records exist beyond that, > and further research may well shed further light on the family through land > transactions. > > The next records regarding the family of Robert Whitaker of Prince Georges > MD., is found in the Will of Alexander Magruder, of Prince Georges County, > MD., written Feb. 4, 1740 and proved May 20, 1746. Among other family > bequests, Alexander leaves a slave to his daughter Elizabeth Whiteaker and > the southernmost half of a piece of land to Robert Whitaker and his wife > Elizabeth. From this it seems clear that Robert's wife was Elizabeth > Magruder. ( keep in mind this is Robert Whitaker Sr., whom I believe is > the father of Robert Whitaker of Surry NC.). > > Digressing a moment on the Magruder line. From pages 533 through 548 from > the book "Across The Years In Prince George's County, MD.", 1947, is an > article on the PG Magruder family. Magruder is a branch of the Scottish > Clan Mac Gregor said to be founded by Gregor, youngest son of Alpin > MacAchaia, King of the Scots from 833-836AD. It is reported in a > genealogy by Dr. Edward Magruder that Alexander Magruder (father of > Robert's father-in-law Alexander above), the immigrant to America was the > 3rd Great Grandson of Gillespie MacGregor, third son of Gregor MacGregor, > 12th Chief of the Clan. The history reports that Alexander Magruder Sr. > the immigrant, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1610, and first appears > in Colonial Records of MD in 1653. He acquired considerable property and > left many descendants. His son Alexander Jr., father in law of Robert > Whitaker in Prince Georges MD., is listed as born in 1671 and died in > 1746, and was three times Justice of Prince Georges County, MD. > > The next piece of evidence and perhaps the most telling piece is the Will > of Robert Whitaker Sr., in Prince Georges County, MD. proved: June 27, > 1753. > He give his person estate to his 7 youngest children: Susannah, Elizabeth, > Susan, Henry, Sarah, Priscilla, and Alexander. Although not named, his > wife Elizabeth was still living as evidenced by son William's will of 1757. > He then gives to his two eldest sons, William and Robert, all the tract I > dwell on. It is this Robert Jr. whom I think is the Robert who founded > the Surry NC Whitaker clan. The naming conventions are interesting. > By naming his second son after himself and his fourth son after his > father-in-law, Alexander Magruder, he seems to be following classic naming > patterns common in Northern Europe. Filling in the blanks, one could > logically assume that Robert Sr's father's name was William and his > grandfather's name was Henry. > > Another connection with clues is found in the 1776 Census of Maryland in > which in Frederick County, MD (where Mark Whitaker Jr. from Baltimore > County, MD., moved and was married) is an Alexander Whitaker, age 30, wife > Hester age 25, and daughter Elizabeth Magruder Whitaker age 2. This > clearly would be Robert Sr's youngest child named in his 1753 Prince > Georges County, MD will. This puts the birth of Robert Sr. youngest son > at 1746 and generally allowing at least two years between children, would > place Robert Whitaker Jr.'s birth at 1732 or earlier. This matches with > Robert Jr being at least 21 at the death of his father in 1753. The > location of Alexander in 1776 Frederick County, MD. is yet another clue to > a family connection to the Mark Whitaker, Baltimore MD family. Did this > Alexander move south. Likely. He is not in 1790 Maryland Census and an > Alexander Whitaker shows up in 1782 list of men subject to having property > confiscated in Rowan County, NC., along with a Henry (not brother of Robert > Jr.), Giles (a large Giles surname family existed in Baltimore County, MD > when Mark's family was there), James (Mark Sr. had a son James), John, and > RIchard. > > The other brothers of Robert Whitaker Jr. of Prince Georges County, MD., > died without heirs. William's will was proved in Prince Georges MD. > March 20, 1757, in which he names his brothers: Henry, Alexander, and > Robert, his mother Elizabeth, and the same "Pentland Hills" tract of land > his father had (apparently he paid back the loan). Brother Henry's died > in Prince Georges MD. Feb. 2, 1773, and left an estate of 323lbs. His > brother Robert was administrator. Next of kin named are Alexander > Whitaker and Susanna Whitaker. This indicates Robert Jr was still in MD > in 1773. Three court actions are brought regarding Henry's estate. One > on Nov. 3, 1778, Robert Whitaker is still listed as executor. Two later > ones dated Nov 28, 1781, and April 13, 1783 show a new executor, Austin > Allen. From this it would appear that Robert Whitaker Jr., left Prince > Georges County, MD before 1781, which matches earliest dates of Robert > Whitaker showing up in Surry County NC. > > Further research in land records of Prince Georges County MD., could > provide further confirmation, but it certainly appears to me that the > Robert Whitaker of Prince Georges County, MD. is the founder of the Surry > County, NC Whitaker families. > > Last, where did Robert Whitaker who shows up in 1731 in Prince Georges > County, MD., come from? As I indicated, he could be an unlisted son of > Mark Whitaker of Baltimore County, MD. However since the family naming > patterns are so different, I rather doubt this. Mark of Baltimore had > sons Thomas, Mark, Empson (after wife's maiden name), and James. None > of these names match Robert's Prince Georges MD family of WIlliam, Robert, > Henry, and Alexander. The close proximity of the families suggest some > kinship. Since Mark Sr. of Baltimore MD died in 1729 when his children > were all minors, perhaps some of all decided to move to stay with relative > Robert in Prince Georges County. Perhaps an uncle or cousin. > > So where might Robert have come from? Robert Whitaker is not an > extremely common name. An interesting possibility is a record in "The > Complete Book of Emigrants" by Coldham. vol. 3. 1700-1750. On page 23 is > a listing of men apprenticed at Liverpool to Mr Thomas Leckonby to be > shipped to Virginia on the ship "Globe" on January 23, 1701. In the list > is a Robert Whitaker, of Lancashire, age 19, to serve 4 years . Aside > from agriculture, the largest industry and employer in the Colonies at the > time shipping. It was not unusual for young men without means to serve a > career at sea, amassing some wealth, and then only after a number of years, > settling down to marry and build a family as a country Gentleman. Could > this 19 years old Robert Whitaker from Lancashire, England, apprenticed to > VA be the same Robert Whitaker who arrived in Prince Georges County MD, > some years later, perhaps marrying in the 1720's to Elizabeth Magruder, > daughter of a well to do land owner? If so, this year would mark the > 300th anniversary of this Whitaker branch immigration to America. > Perhaps further research in VA or other counties in MD records before 1730 > will shed light on where Robert Sr. came from. I did do a search of all > MD wills before 1730 and did not find any reference to a Robert Whitaker. > > Please feel free to ask questions, correct, or enhance this analysis. I > hope the readers find it helpful. > > > > > > > Thanks, Rich Fulton, rfulton@us.ibm.com > World Wide Mid-Market Sales Executive, S/390 SW, SWG > IBM, home office > 1420 West Main Street, Apt. 1008 > Lewisville, TX. 75067 USA > Phone: 972-434-1033, t/l 450-8996 > Fax: 817-962-8780, t/l 522-8780 > > > ==== WHITAKER Mailing List ==== > WHITAKER List Administrator > <commander@inetone.net> > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history > learning and how-to articles on the Internet. > http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library >

I am descended from a Thomas Whitaker born January 26, 1788 in Virginia. He came to Washington County, Tennessee prior to 1813 as he married a Jemima Edgeman on April 25, 1813 in Washington County. Their children were Winton, Nancy, Rachel, Jesse R., Richard W., Elizabeth, Joseph, Stephen A. and John W. I have not been able to determine who Thomas' parents are. Interestingly, there is a will for a Johnson Whitaker in Washington County which mentions the following: Johnson Whitaker October 24, 1799 Wife, Sarah and children. Executrix, Sarah Whitaker. Teste: Mark Whitaker, Jonathan Tullis. February Sessions, 1800. Signed Johnson Whitaker Also, in the Washington County List of Taxables, there is a Mark Whitacre listed in Captain Morrison's company for tax years 1793 through 1796. This may be the same Mar Whitaker who is found listed in the book "Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Tennessee". Information in the book shows him born on April 8, 1750 in North Carolina and died 1842 in Lincoln County, TN. He married Catherine Boone on 3-1-1780 in Rowan County, NC. Children are Rebecca, Nancy, John, Mary, Sarah, Martha, Benjamin, Judy, Mark Jr., and Perlina. The book also lists Richard Whitaker born c1760 in North Carolina, died in Lincoln County, TN. There is also a John Whitaker born 1760 in Salisbury District, NC, died 6-11-1837 in Lincoln County, TN. I wonder if these Whitakers could be the descendants of Thomas Whitaker that you mention who died in 1787 in Surry County leaving a will naming sons Johnson and Mark? Is his will dated 1787? I would like to get a copy. Thanks ---- Original Message ----- From: Richard Fulton <rfulton@us.ibm.com> To: <WHITAKER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 12:50 AM Subject: [WHITAKER] Surry NC Whitaker's: Maryland Connection, 300 Yrs in America??? > Thanks to Susan Gall for sending more details on the Surry NC Whitaker > clan. I have a fairly large collection of Maryland Whitaker information > as well as access to a great library in Dallas. I started poking around > at the Surry NC Whitaker origins puzzle. I think the following contain > good possibilities. I will leave it up to the reader to decide. Also, > if I somebody spots an error in the information or logic, please speak up. > Here goes. > > The data that exists from Surry County, NC strongly points to a Robert > Whitaker who died in Surry County NC about 1782 and wife Mary and their two > sons, William the elder and Jonathan who are the progenitors of the large > Surry NC Whitaker clan. Rumors and/or family stories suggest Maryland as > the birthplace of William and that Robert and family migrated from Maryland > to NC sometime prior to 1782. Since William's eldest son, Isaac, was > born in 1773, William was likely about 1750 or earlier. > > Very logical assumptions have been made in the past linking the Robert > Whitaker of 1782 Surry County, NC. to the Robert Whitaker and Mary Hall of > the Quaker Joshua Whitaker clan to came to PA about 1719 from Lancashire > England by way of Ireland. In Bruce Whitaker's book "Whitaker, Reed, > Harper, Wright", and other publications, members of this Joshua Whitaker PA > family are traced to early (by 1759) Rowan County, NC., founding a large > Whitaker NC clan, most of whom moved west to Buncombe County, NC. > However, it seems clear that neither Robert and Mary Hall Whitaker, nor > their children, went to NC, but only slightly south of PA into Cecil > County, MD where they died with a will recorded. So that is not the > link. > > Another possibility is the Family of Mark Whitaker who was in Baltimore > County, MD. by 1702 (tax lists) and died there on May 1, 1729. His two > marriages and seven children are recorded in St. George's Parish Register. > There is no Robert listed, although it is always possible there was a son > Robert who is just not listed in the Parish registers. Mark's widdow > remarried to Francis Taylor on Oct. 1729 and soon thereafter the family > disappears from Baltimore County with members showing up in Prince George's > County and Frederick County, MD., and then to Rowan County, NC., by 1768. > It is my belief that Thomas Whitaker, son of Mark and Catherine Teag > Whitaker, born June 13, 1712 in Baltimore County, MD., is the same Thomas > Whitaker who died in 1787 in Surry County, NC., leaving a will naming sons > Mark and Johnson Whitaker. Due to the close proximity of members of the > Mark Whitaker of Baltimore County, MD family to who I believe is the family > of Robert Whitaker of Surry County, NC., in Prince George's County and > Frederick County, MD., and Surry County, NC., I would be willing to bet > there is a close family relationship. I believe Thomas and Robert > Whitaker of early Surry County, NC., are likely cousins, if not brothers. > It appears that any descendents of Thomas Whitaker who died in Surry NC in > 1787 left the county soon after 1800, and the large Whitaker clan of Surry > NC., are descended from William and Jonathan Whitaker, sons of Robert > Whitaker who died in Surry NC about 1782 and his wife Mary. > > Origins of Robert Whitaker, died ca. 1782 in Surry County, NC. > I believe that Robert Whitaker, patriarch of the Surry County, NC., > Whitaker's was the son of Robert Whitaker of Prince George's County, MD. > > Land records are pretty complete for Prince George's County, MD., from the > creation of the County in 1695. In searching those records, I first find > Robert Whitaker registering a cattle mark (brand) on January 4, 1731 in > Prince George's County (Liber Q, p. 399). Registering a cattle mark was > often done by a young man just strarting out in adult life, but could also > have been some one moving into the County at any age. > > The next entry I find (liber T, p. 480) is of a Robert Whitaker, "Gent." > who buys a tract of land called "Pentaland Hills" in Prince Georges County, > MD., on June 13, 1737 (deed recorded July 1, 1737) from RIchard Walles. > The price is 60pds and size is estimated at 100 acres. The appellation > "Gent." was usually reserved for men of some prosperity and education, so > apparently Robert Whitaker was doing well. > > I found in interesting that a cattle mark in registered in Prince Georges > County, MD., on July 1, 1734 by Flower Swift. Flower Swift is also in a > list of petitioners in Prince George's MD., in 1739. Flower Swift is > listed in the St. George Parish Register of Baltimore County, MD., as > marrying Elizabeth Whitaker, daughter of Mark Whitaker on Mary 13, 1725. > The name is so unusual, it is highly likely this is the same person and > puts members of Mark Whitaker Baltimore MD family in Prince Georges MD at > same time as Robert Whitaker. Another connection is found in a > Baltimore County, MD land transaction as follows: > 25, Feb. 1739: Thomas Whitaker of PG. Co. conveys 100 acres, part of a > tract called Westwood, which was formerly conveyed by Robert West to Mark > Whitaker, father of the grantor, back to Robert West. (HWS#1-A: 382) > > Here we have a second member of the Baltimore MD Mark Whitaker family > moving to Prince Georges County, MD., where Robert Whitaker lived. At > the name Thomas matches the Thomas Whitaker who died in Surry County, NC. > 1787. I therefore think it likely these are the same men. There is > also a land transaction in Prince Georges County, MD., (PG Land Record Book > BB 1, page 278), in which Thomas Whittaker for 20lbs buys a 50 acre tract > of land called "Prevention" on March 29, 1745, from Priscilla Wilson and > her son Thomas Wilson. > > The next entry for Robert Whitaker I found in LIber Y, p. 176, a Special > Petition of Robert Whitaker, Gent., regarding boundaries of "Pentland's > Hills" made April 17, 1740. Apparently "Pentland's Hills" was either > bigger than they thought, or Robert added to it with transactions not > recorded as on Nov. 23, 1743, Robert Whitaker of Prince Georges County, > MD., Gent., give the deed to "Pentland Hills" now listed as containing > about 300 acres as well as title to 13 slaves to James Russell of PG, > Merchant. Robert obtains 180lbs. money, but the deed is conditional and > is void if Robert pays back the money within 2 years. Apparently Robert > wanted or needed cash for something and obtained a loan and put up his land > as collateral. > > Unfortunately my Dallas library only has the transcripts for Prince > George's County Land books through 1746. The records exist beyond that, > and further research may well shed further light on the family through land > transactions. > > The next records regarding the family of Robert Whitaker of Prince Georges > MD., is found in the Will of Alexander Magruder, of Prince Georges County, > MD., written Feb. 4, 1740 and proved May 20, 1746. Among other family > bequests, Alexander leaves a slave to his daughter Elizabeth Whiteaker and > the southernmost half of a piece of land to Robert Whitaker and his wife > Elizabeth. From this it seems clear that Robert's wife was Elizabeth > Magruder. ( keep in mind this is Robert Whitaker Sr., whom I believe is > the father of Robert Whitaker of Surry NC.). > > Digressing a moment on the Magruder line. From pages 533 through 548 from > the book "Across The Years In Prince George's County, MD.", 1947, is an > article on the PG Magruder family. Magruder is a branch of the Scottish > Clan Mac Gregor said to be founded by Gregor, youngest son of Alpin > MacAchaia, King of the Scots from 833-836AD. It is reported in a > genealogy by Dr. Edward Magruder that Alexander Magruder (father of > Robert's father-in-law Alexander above), the immigrant to America was the > 3rd Great Grandson of Gillespie MacGregor, third son of Gregor MacGregor, > 12th Chief of the Clan. The history reports that Alexander Magruder Sr. > the immigrant, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1610, and first appears > in Colonial Records of MD in 1653. He acquired considerable property and > left many descendants. His son Alexander Jr., father in law of Robert > Whitaker in Prince Georges MD., is listed as born in 1671 and died in > 1746, and was three times Justice of Prince Georges County, MD. > > The next piece of evidence and perhaps the most telling piece is the Will > of Robert Whitaker Sr., in Prince Georges County, MD. proved: June 27, > 1753. > He give his person estate to his 7 youngest children: Susannah, Elizabeth, > Susan, Henry, Sarah, Priscilla, and Alexander. Although not named, his > wife Elizabeth was still living as evidenced by son William's will of 1757. > He then gives to his two eldest sons, William and Robert, all the tract I > dwell on. It is this Robert Jr. whom I think is the Robert who founded > the Surry NC Whitaker clan. The naming conventions are interesting. > By naming his second son after himself and his fourth son after his > father-in-law, Alexander Magruder, he seems to be following classic naming > patterns common in Northern Europe. Filling in the blanks, one could > logically assume that Robert Sr's father's name was William and his > grandfather's name was Henry. > > Another connection with clues is found in the 1776 Census of Maryland in > which in Frederick County, MD (where Mark Whitaker Jr. from Baltimore > County, MD., moved and was married) is an Alexander Whitaker, age 30, wife > Hester age 25, and daughter Elizabeth Magruder Whitaker age 2. This > clearly would be Robert Sr's youngest child named in his 1753 Prince > Georges County, MD will. This puts the birth of Robert Sr. youngest son > at 1746 and generally allowing at least two years between children, would > place Robert Whitaker Jr.'s birth at 1732 or earlier. This matches with > Robert Jr being at least 21 at the death of his father in 1753. The > location of Alexander in 1776 Frederick County, MD. is yet another clue to > a family connection to the Mark Whitaker, Baltimore MD family. Did this > Alexander move south. Likely. He is not in 1790 Maryland Census and an > Alexander Whitaker shows up in 1782 list of men subject to having property > confiscated in Rowan County, NC., along with a Henry (not brother of Robert > Jr.), Giles (a large Giles surname family existed in Baltimore County, MD > when Mark's family was there), James (Mark Sr. had a son James), John, and > RIchard. > > The other brothers of Robert Whitaker Jr. of Prince Georges County, MD., > died without heirs. William's will was proved in Prince Georges MD. > March 20, 1757, in which he names his brothers: Henry, Alexander, and > Robert, his mother Elizabeth, and the same "Pentland Hills" tract of land > his father had (apparently he paid back the loan). Brother Henry's died > in Prince Georges MD. Feb. 2, 1773, and left an estate of 323lbs. His > brother Robert was administrator. Next of kin named are Alexander > Whitaker and Susanna Whitaker. This indicates Robert Jr was still in MD > in 1773. Three court actions are brought regarding Henry's estate. One > on Nov. 3, 1778, Robert Whitaker is still listed as executor. Two later > ones dated Nov 28, 1781, and April 13, 1783 show a new executor, Austin > Allen. From this it would appear that Robert Whitaker Jr., left Prince > Georges County, MD before 1781, which matches earliest dates of Robert > Whitaker showing up in Surry County NC. > > Further research in land records of Prince Georges County MD., could > provide further confirmation, but it certainly appears to me that the > Robert Whitaker of Prince Georges County, MD. is the founder of the Surry > County, NC Whitaker families. > > Last, where did Robert Whitaker who shows up in 1731 in Prince Georges > County, MD., come from? As I indicated, he could be an unlisted son of > Mark Whitaker of Baltimore County, MD. However since the family naming > patterns are so different, I rather doubt this. Mark of Baltimore had > sons Thomas, Mark, Empson (after wife's maiden name), and James. None > of these names match Robert's Prince Georges MD family of WIlliam, Robert, > Henry, and Alexander. The close proximity of the families suggest some > kinship. Since Mark Sr. of Baltimore MD died in 1729 when his children > were all minors, perhaps some of all decided to move to stay with relative > Robert in Prince Georges County. Perhaps an uncle or cousin. > > So where might Robert have come from? Robert Whitaker is not an > extremely common name. An interesting possibility is a record in "The > Complete Book of Emigrants" by Coldham. vol. 3. 1700-1750. On page 23 is > a listing of men apprenticed at Liverpool to Mr Thomas Leckonby to be > shipped to Virginia on the ship "Globe" on January 23, 1701. In the list > is a Robert Whitaker, of Lancashire, age 19, to serve 4 years . Aside > from agriculture, the largest industry and employer in the Colonies at the > time shipping. It was not unusual for young men without means to serve a > career at sea, amassing some wealth, and then only after a number of years, > settling down to marry and build a family as a country Gentleman. Could > this 19 years old Robert Whitaker from Lancashire, England, apprenticed to > VA be the same Robert Whitaker who arrived in Prince Georges County MD, > some years later, perhaps marrying in the 1720's to Elizabeth Magruder, > daughter of a well to do land owner? If so, this year would mark the > 300th anniversary of this Whitaker branch immigration to America. > Perhaps further research in VA or other counties in MD records before 1730 > will shed light on where Robert Sr. came from. I did do a search of all > MD wills before 1730 and did not find any reference to a Robert Whitaker. > > Please feel free to ask questions, correct, or enhance this analysis. I > hope the readers find it helpful. > > > > > > > Thanks, Rich Fulton, rfulton@us.ibm.com > World Wide Mid-Market Sales Executive, S/390 SW, SWG > IBM, home office > 1420 West Main Street, Apt. 1008 > Lewisville, TX. 75067 USA > Phone: 972-434-1033, t/l 450-8996 > Fax: 817-962-8780, t/l 522-8780 > > > ==== WHITAKER Mailing List ==== > WHITAKER List Administrator > <commander@inetone.net> > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history > learning and how-to articles on the Internet. > http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library >