Per note below, I wondered where Johnson Whitaker named in the 1787 Surry NC Will of his father Thomas Whitaker went. Looks like pretty certain who moved a short distance first North to SW Virginia and then West to Eastern TN. Following is the abstract of the Will of Thomas Whitaker, March 1787, Surry County, NC. I believe this Thomas Whitaker to be a son of Mark Whitaker, whose birth as the son of Mark Whitaker Sr and Catharine Empson., is recorded in St. George's Parish Register Baltimore County, MD. on Feb. 15, 1716. This Mark Whitaker Jr. is believed to be the same Mark Whitaker who married Abigal Johnson Feb. 6, 1743 in Frederick County, MD. However it could also be that Thomas is the son of Mark Whitaker Sr. Thomas Whiteaker, son of Mark Whiteaker was born 13 June 1712. Besides the common first names Thomas and Mark, another common naming pattern fits this family. Mark Whitaker Sr., the father of Thomas named his third son EMPSON, after his wife's maiden name. Thomas Whitaker in his 1787 Will in Surry County NC., named his second son Johnson Whitaker, not John or Jonathan, but clearly Johnson and the first name Johnson is listed in tax lists and Johnson's 1784 marriage to Sarah Stafford in Surry County, NC. The wife's name Sarah is another strong link to the Thomas Whitaker leaving a will in Washington County, TN in 1799 being this same Thomas Whitaker of Surry County, NC. Following is the abstract of the Will of Thomas Whitaker who died in Surry County, NC. March 1787: ********************************** 2:78a. Will of Thomas (X) Whitticor. .. Mar 1787. Wife Mary Plantation on E side of Crk adj Harveys with reversion to son Mark. Dau Margaret, 1/2 moveable est. Son Johnson, the rest of land. Rest of my children: Elizabeth, Mary , Nancy, & Jane have had their share. Exrs: wf Mary, sons Mark & Johnson. Wit: John Harvey, Mark (X) Whiticor, Jo. Williams. Prvd. by Jos. Willams. Rec. Aug. Ct. 1787. **************************** Question/observation: The wording of this abstract by saying the daughters Elizabeth, Mary, Nancy, & Jane had "had their share" would seem to indicate that they were adults and probably given their share of inheritance as dowries when married. Anybody have a different interpretation? We would know then from marriage record of Johnson in 1784 and fact that son Mark is an executor, that Thomas had 6 adult children when he died. The fact that only Johnson Whitaker is recorded in Surry County, NC. marriage records may well mean the others were older and already married. If so, Johnson would be the 6th child. Since he was married in 1784, assuming he was 22 when he was married, he would have been born about 1762. Allowing typical two years between children in those days and allowing for at least two who did not survive to adulthood (probably low), then backing up 7X2 or 14 years, we get an estimated year of birth of the first of Thomas' children in about 1748. Probably earlier if Johnson was older than 22 and/or there were more gaps in births. If 1748 is close to accurate as the date of the birth of Thomas' first child, then he is likely the son of Mark Sr. of Baltimore MD., not Mark Jr. of Baltimore MD. Mark Jr. was married in 1743 in Frederick County, MD. Even if he had had a previous wife, if Thomas was 22 in 1748, Mark Jr. (born 1716) would have been only 10 years old when Thomas was born. What do any of you think? I have additional information about the family of Mark Whitaker Sr. of Baltimore County, MD who died in 1729 and the NC connection I will forward in another note. 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 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