Supplemental Information to
"Windows Into Our Past A Genealogy of the Parsons, Smith & Associated
Families, Vol. 1, © 1996,
By
Wayne Witt Bates
Faulty rationale begets faulty Tradition. And that's what happened here. However sincere, the faulty Witt tradition can be traced back to "Year Book No. 1," dated 1924, of the Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia.
1.
William Witt
d1754 was not the immigrant but son
of John Witt
and wife Ann Daux
; and William Witt was not born in
2.
John Witt
was the immigrant and he was
imported as a "headright" (plantation owner paid his way) from
3.
Five sons attributed to William Witt
d1754 (Lewis
, Charles
, William
, Abner
, and David
) were not his sons but his grandsons.
a. Lewis
& Charles
were sons of Benj. Witt
d1774 of Buckingham Co., VA
b. William
, Abne
r, and David
were sons of John Witt
d1782 of Amherst Co., VA
"In 1756, Land Deed of Prince Edward Co., VA of Benjamin Witt (son of William d1754), have as witnesses the names of his brothers, Charles Witt and Lewis Witt ."
"And in 1781, Amherst Co., will of
·
The first known entry for William Witt
(d1754) and his brother John Witt
(d ca 1751) was in 1715, when they
bought (jointly) 300 acres (known as Young Men's Adventure) from Charles Hudson
in Henrico Co (that part now Goochland Co). The deed said that the WITT brothers
were from Charles City Co., VA, the county of residence for the immigrant John
Witt & wife Ann Daux
per
·
No reason to believe that William Witt
(d1754) and his brother John Witt,
Jr (d before 1751) came from
·
Every reason to believe that they were sons of immigrant John Witt
/Whitt
and Ann Daux
who were married after 1670 in
Charles City Co., VA, per court records. Further, importation of John Witt to
the
· No documentation to support the old Witt tradition which has been published in books, such as
1.
Vol. IV, "Compendium of American Genealogy,” by Virkus.
2.
Vol. 2, "
3.
Year Book No. 1 published in 1924 by The Huguenot Society Founders of Manakin in
the Colony of Virginia.
By tradition, this Richard Witt
/Whitt
was named Richard Oney Witt
. By tradition, he was left on doorstep of William Witt
D1754 of Charles City, Goochland and
By
Robert W. Baird
[i]
Probably not. The claim that the Witts were Huguenots
was first made in print in 1924 by the Huguenot Society of the Founders of
Manakin. No evidence was offered other than the proximity of the brothers
John
and William Witt
to the Huguenot settlement at
Manakin. Manakin was located on the south bank of the
The Huguenot Society created a myth that
King William Parish, a French-speaking parish established for the benefit of the Huguenots, was established within St. James Parish. Its vestry book records births, deaths and other information for the Huguenot families in the area of Manakin, including those not resident within the Manakin settlement. No Witt appears at all in those records during the first thirty years, except for a notation of the birth of a child to Benjamin Witt , who had married a Huguenot wife. Later tithables do include John Witt III for the brief period in which he lived in the southern reaches of the parish, but so are several other non-Huguenots. The parish, which had no fixed boundaries, expanded its geography over the years as its French members expanded outward from the original settlement, thus encompassing several non-Huguenot residents.
Nonetheless, the Huguenot Society persists to this day in listing “Jean ” and “Guillaume” Witt among the “authenticated founders” of the Manakin settlement.
The later discovery of the marriage of John Witt
and Ann Daux
seemed to some researchers to
support the French connection. As noted elsewhere, the Daux probably were
English as well. I might note that until 1680, immigrants not born
in
John
Witt
, b. 1645, d. 1715,
Charles City Co., VA; m. 1669, Albemarle, Charles City, VA to Ann Daux
, daughter of Walter
&
Mary (Unknown)(Plaine) Daux
, b. ca. 1650,
Charles City, VA.
John
&
Ann (Daux) Witt
had
six (6) children:
1.
"Guillaume"
William Witt
, b. 1675; d. 13 Jun
1754, "Roseland", Charlottesville, Albermarle Co., VA; bur. 13 Jun
1754, St. Anne Parish, Albemarle Co., VA; m. ca. 1700, Henrico Co., VA to
Elizabeth Mary Daux
.
2.
John
Witt II
, b. 1671/1675[iii],
3.
William
Whitt Witt
, b. 1675, Pays
D’Avnis, La Rochere, France[v]
or 1676, Charles City Co., VA; d. 25 Apr 1754[vi],
St. Anne Albemarle, VA[vii];
m. 1708, France to Mary Elizabeth Daux[viii],
daughter of Walter & Mary (Unknown) Daux, b. ca. 1710[ix],
France; d. 1741, St. Anne Albemarle, VA[x].
4.
Charles
Witt
, b. ca. 1685,
5.
Edward
Witt
, b. ca. 1695,
6.
Littlebury
Witt
, b. 1683-1695,
7.
Richard
Olney Witt
, b. 1705,
8.
Richard
Witt[xii]
, b. 1680-1690,
Goochland, VA[xiii];
d. 1769, Butte, NC[xiv];
m. to Elizabeth Liptrot, daughter of Edmund & Rachel (Unknown) Liptrot, b.
ca. 1704.
1.
"Guillaume" William Witt
, son of John
&
Ann (Daux) Witt
, b. 1675; d. will
dated 25 Apr 1754, proved 13 Jun 1754, "Roseland", Charlottesville,
Albermarle Co., VA; bur. 13 Jun 1754, St. Anne Parish, Albemarle Co., VA; m. ca.
1700, Henrico Co., VA to Elizabeth Mary Daux.
William
&
Elizabeth Mary (Daux) Witt
had
five (5) children:
1.1.
John Witt
, b. ca. 1710; d. will dated 1781, proved 1782, Amherst Co., VA; m. to Lucy
Unknown
.
1.2.
Benjamin
Witt
, b. ca. 1710; d.
ca. 1775; m. to Marianne Chastain
.
1.3.
Child
Witt
1.4.
Child
Witt
1.5.
Mildred
Witt
, m. to Mr. Chastain
–
proposed child but unproven.
2.
John Witt II
, son of John
&
Ann (Daux) Witt
, b. 1671, Charles
City, Goochland, Virginia; d. aft. 1742, Goochland Co., VA; m.
John
&
Anne (
2.1.
John
Witt III
, b. 1693, Charles
City Co., VA; d. aft. 1779, Henry Co., VA; m. to Elizabeth Unknown
[xv].
2.2.
Sarah
Witt
, b. 1695,
2.3.
Jesse
Witt
, b. 1698,
2.4.
Sylvanus
Witt[xvi],
(proven son) b. by 1718; d. after 1765[xvii].
No Issue.
2.5.
Miss
Witt[xviii];
m. to David Barnet
[xix]
2.6.
Miss
Witt[xx];
m. to John Farrar
[xxi]
2.7.
Charles
Witt[xxii]
2.8.
Mildred
Witt
, b. 1720, Amherst
Co., VA
5.
Edward Witt
, son of John
&
Ann (Daux) Witt,
b.
ca. 1695, Albemarle, VA or 1685, Charles City, Charles City, Virginia; d. ca.
1755; m. 1st to Elizabeth Unknown
; m 2nd to Mary Unknown
.
Edward
&
Elizabeth (Unknown) Witt
had
a (1) daughter:
5.1.
Anne Witt, b. 1730,
Edward
&
Mary (Unknown) Witt
had
two (2) sons:
5.2.
John
Witt
, b. 1734,
5.3.
William
Witt
, b. ca. 1742
1.1.
In
his will he names Lucy as mother of “my seven first sons”.
The David Witt
who
witnessed the will may be one of the two unnamed sons.
John
&
Lucy (Unknown) Witt
had
children nine (9) children[xxiii]:
1.1.1.
Abner Witt
1.1.2.
John
Witt
1.2.
Benjamin
&
Marianne (Chastain) Witt
had
four (4) children:
1.2.1.
Marianne Witt
, b. 19 Mar 1723/3, King William Parish, VA[xxiv]
1.2.2.
Lewis Witt
1.2.3.
Charles
Witt
1.2.4.
Benjamin
Witt Jr.
, d. by late 1775
2.1.
John Witt III
, daughter of John
&
Anne (Rogers) Witt
, b. 1693, Charles
City Co., VA; d. aft. 1779, Henry Co., VA; m. by 1731 to
http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/witt/wittjohnIII.htm#_ftnref15
John
&
Elizabeth (Unknown) Witt
III
had nine (9) children:
2.1.1.
Charles
Witt
, b. ca. 1715; d.
ca. 1781; m. to Lavinia 'Lamina' Harbour
, daughter of Thomas
& Sarah (Witt) Harbour
, b. 1720, VA; d. aft. 1781, Halifax Co., VA.
2.1.2.
David
Witt
, b. ca. 1720; d.
1810; m.
2.1.3.
Jesse
Witt
(proven
son), b. ca. 1730; d. will probated 25 Sept 1809, Henry Co., VA; m. to
Martha Cheatham
.
2.1.4.
Elijah
Witt
, d. ca. 1775; m.
possibly to
2.1.5.
John
Witt IV
, b. ca. 1725-30;
m. ca. 1753[xxvi],
Goochland Co., VA to Mary Bullington
.
2.1.6.
Mary
Witt
, b. ca. 1736; d.
ca. 1805; m. 4 Sept 1757[xxvii],
Northam Parish, Goochland Co., VA to John Bullington
.
2.1.7.
Hannah
Witt, b. ca. 1736; d. ca. 1805; m. 2 Jul 1756[xxviii],
Goochland Co., VA to Charles Hulsey
(or
Hudlesley
).
2.1.8.
Judith/Judah
Witt
, b. ca. 1736; m.
22 Nov 1756[xxix],
Northam Parish, Goochland Co., VA to John Matlock
.
2.1.9.
Elizabeth
Witt
, possible
daughter, d. 1810; m. Thomas Smith
.
2.2.
The
Harbours came to this country in the early 1700's from
Thomas
&
Sarah (Witt) Harbour
had
ten (10) children:
2.2.1.
2.2.2.
2.2.3.
Lavinia
'Lamina' Harbour
, b. 1720, VA; d.
aft. 1781, Halifax Co., VA; m. to Charles Witt
, son of John
&
Elizabeth (Unknown) Witt
III,
b. ca. 1715; d. ca. 1781.
2.2.4.
2.2.5.
2.2.6.
2.2.7.
2.2.8.
2.2.9.
2.2.10.
2.1.3. Jesse Witt (proven son), son of John & Elizabeth (Unknown) Witt III, b. ca. 1730; d. will probated 25 Sept 1809, Henry Co., VA; m. to Martha Cheatham , daughter of Benjamin Cheatham [xxxi].
Jesse & Martha (Cheatham) Witt III had six (6) children:
2.1.1.1.
Joseph
Witt
2.1.1.2.
David
Witt
2.1.1.3.
Joel
Witt
2.1.1.4.
Tabitha
Witt
2.1.1.5.
Elizabeth
Witt
2.1.1.6.
Nancy
Witt
2.1.7.
Hannah Witt, daughter of John
&
Elizabeth (Unknown) Witt
III,
b. ca. 1736; d. ca. 1805; m. 2 Jul 1756[xxxii],
Goochland Co., VA to Charles Hulsey
(or
Hudlesley
).
Charles
& Hannah (Witt) Hulsey had seven (7) children:
2.1.7.1.
James
Hulsey
2.1.7.2.
Charles
Hulsey
2.1.7.3.
Adonijah
Hulsey
2.1.7.4.
Jesse
Hulsey
2.1.7.5.
Adler
Hulsey
2.1.7.6.
Parthenia
Hulsey
2.1.7.7.
Elizabeth
Hulsey
2.1.9. Elizabeth Witt , possible daughter, daughter of John & Elizabeth (Unknown) Witt III, d. 1810; m. Thomas Smith .
Thomas & Elizabeth (Witt) Smith had children
2.1.9.1.
Drury
Smith
2.1.9.2.
Zachariah
Smith
2.1.9.3.
Mary Smith
2.1.9.4.
Elizabeth Smith, m. to Mr. Mays or Mayo
2.1.9.5.
Phoebe Smith, m. to Mr. Mayo
2.2.3.
Charles
&
Lavina (Harbour) Witt
had
two (2) children:
2.2.3.1.
Joseph
Witt
, b. 1740
2.2.3.2.
Elija
Witt
, b. 1756
2.2.3.2.
Elija Witt
, son of Charles
&
Lavina (Harbour) Witt
, b. 1756; d. 1806;
m. 1775 to Miss Hutchinson
.
Elija
&
Miss (Hutchinson) Witt
had
a (1) son:
2.2.3.2.1.
John Witt
, b. 18 Apr 1780.
2.2.3.2.1.
John Witt
, son of Elija
&
Miss (Hutchinson) Witt
, b. 18 Apr 1780; d.
ca. 1807-1871; m. 18 Jun 1800 to Eleanor Penny
.
John
& Eleanor (Penny) Witt
had
a daughter:
2.2.3.2.1.1.
Mary Witt
,
b. 1803; d. 1899; m. Thomas McKay
[i
- ii]
Copyright © 2001-2003 Robert W. Baird, All Rights Reserved from
http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/witt/wittnotes.html 2/17/04 - Bob’s
Genealogy Filing Cabinet.
[iii - iv]
Halcyon
Days address is P.O. Box 2640, Glen Rose, TX 76043. found at http://www.witts-end.org/tree/jwitt26gen/fam/fam00004.html
2/17/04
[v - x]
Genealogy of the Peak family, Record Type: Family Group Sheets from:
http://users.frii.com/boz/fam00411.htm on 2/17/04.
[xi]
AFN:N096-0Fis this the same individual as Richard Whitt?
[xii - xiv]
AFN:TC60-2K; is this the same individual as Richard Olney Witt?
[xv - xvi]
Halcyon
Days address is P.O. Box 2640, Glen Rose, TX 76043. found at http://www.witts-end.org/tree/jwitt26gen/fam/fam00004.html
2/17/04
[xvii]
http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/witt/wittjohnII.htm 2/4/04
[xviii - xxiii]
Halcyon
Days address is P.O. Box 2640, Glen Rose, TX 76043. found at http://www.witts-end.org/tree/jwitt26gen/fam/fam00004.html
2/17/04
[xxiii]
http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/witt/wittjohnI.htm 2/17/04
[xxiv]
Vestry Book of King William Parish, Virginia 1707-1770, Manakin
Huguenot Society, reprint 1966.
[xxv]
Halcyon
Days address is P.O. Box 2640, Glen Rose, TX 76043. found at http://www.witts-end.org/tree/jwitt26gen/fam/fam00004.html
2/17/04
[xxvi - xxix]
The Douglas Register
[xxx]
Halcyon
Days address is P.O. Box 2640, Glen Rose, TX 76043. found at http://www.witts-end.org/tree/jwitt26gen/fam/fam00004.html
2/17/04
[xxxi]
Sylvanus Witt witnessed the will of Benjamin Cheatham.
Chesterfield Will Book 1, p. 550
[xxxii]
The Douglas Register