WITT

Supplemental Information to "Windows Into Our Past A Genealogy of the Parsons, Smith & Associated Families, Vol. 1, © 1996, Judy Parsons Smith .

Faulty Tradition

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.

THE OLD WITT TRADITION WAS FLAWED IN THREE MAIN AREAS

1.       William Witt  d1754 was not the immigrant but son of John Witt  and wife Ann Daux ; and William Witt was not born in Southern France but in Charles City Co., VA (in order to be with his parents).
2.      
John Witt  was the immigrant and he was imported as a "headright" (plantation owner paid his way) from England , not France (per Land Patent records).
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

 

QUOTING FROM FAULTY RATIONALE IN HUGUENOT BOOK NO. 1

"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 John Witt Sr . (son of William  d1754), his brothers William Witt Jr ., Abner Witt , and David Witt  are witnesses

·         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 Charles City County court records.

·         No reason to believe that William Witt  (d1754) and his brother John Witt, Jr (d before 1751) came from England .

·         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 Charles City County area supported by Land Patents.

·         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, " Virginia Soldiers of 1776,"by Burgess
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 Albemarle counties, VA. There is no documentation or association with William Witt d1754 to support this "adoption" tradition.

Were the Witt’s Huguenots?

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 James River a few miles southwest of the land the Witt brothers bought in 1715.  A few hundred Huguenots settled there in 1700, others elsewhere along the river.  In fact, there are no Witts listed among the Huguenot settlers of that community (or any other).  Nor are any Witts found among any naturalization records before or after the settlement.  While there was a scattering of Huguenots among the earlier settlers of the area, there is no indication at all that the Witts were French. 

The Huguenot Society created a myth that William Witt  (whom we believe to be the son of John Witt  the immigrant) was known as “ Guillaume Witt ” and immigrated from France to Virginia about 1700.  In fact, he never lived in a Huguenot settlement, never appears in any record as French, is never mentioned in the Huguenot parish records, and signed his own name “William Witt”.  Some third-generation Witt children did indeed marry children of Huguenots, but this fact is more easily explained by the assimilation of Huguenot descendants into the local population.  It is worth noting that the early Huguenot Society publications did not mention any of the Witt records of Henrico and Charles City County , thus apparently were based on the assumption that the Witts arrived in Virginia about 1700.

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 Virginia or England required an act of the House of Burgesses to become citizens.  Unless naturalized, a foreign-born settler could not own land.  These acts listing naturalizations are perfectly preserved, and no Witt appears in them.  After 1680, the governor himself could bestow citizenship, and those records are mostly lost (though the declaration naturalizing the Manakin settlers does exist).   Thus, assuming that the brothers John and William Witt  were children of the immigrant John Witt, it seems quite likely that they were English.  The name “Witt” in various forms is found among many 17th century English records.  It is, of course, possible that these Witts were Huguenots who had immigrated to England a generation or two earlier – though this seems unlikely[ii].


John Witt

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], Charles City , Goochland , Virginia ; d. aft. 1742-1751[iv], Goochland Co., VA  
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, Albemarle , VA  
5.      
Edward Witt , b. ca. 1695, Albemarle , VA or 1685, Charles City , Charles City , Virginia  
6.      
Littlebury Witt , b. 1683-1695, Albemarle , VA  
7.      
Richard Olney Witt , b. 1705, Albemarle , VA [xi]  
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.

William Witt

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.

John Witt II

2.  John Witt II , son of John  & Ann (Daux) Witt , b. 1671, Charles City, Goochland, Virginia; d. aft. 1742, Goochland Co., VA; m. Anne Rogers . 

John  & Anne ( Rogers ) Witt , II had eight (8) children:

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, Charles City , VA; d. aft. 1769, Halifax , VA  
2.3.  
Jesse Witt , b. 1698, France .  
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

Edward Witt

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, Bristol Parish

Edward  & Mary (Unknown) Witt  had two (2) sons:

5.2.    John Witt , b. 1734, Bristol Parish  
5.3.    William Witt , b. ca. 1742

John Witt

1.1.  John Witt , son of William  & Elizabeth Mary (Daux) Witt , b. ca. 1710; d. will dated 1781, proved 1782, Amherst Co., VA; m. to Lucy Unknown .

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  
1.1.3.         Littleberry Witt  
1.1.4.         George Witt  
1.1.5.         Elisha Witt  
1.1.6.         William Witt  
1.1.7.         Lucy Witt  
1.1.8.         Mr. Witt  
1.1.9.         David Witt  (presumed to be the name of 2nd unnamed son ).

Benjamin Witt

1.2.  Benjamin Witt , son of William  & Elizabeth Mary (Daux) Witt , b. ca. 1710; d. ca. 1775; m. to Marianne Chastain . 

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

John Witt III

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 Elizabeth Unknown [xxv], possibly the daughter of Sylvanus Pumphrey  or Humphrey Parrish , d. after 1751. 

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. Sarah Harbour , daughter of Thomas Harbour , b. ca 1735; d. 1819.  
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 Jane Harbour , daughter of Thomas Harbor .  
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 .

Sarah Witt

2.2.  Sarah Witt , daughter of John  & Anne ( Rogers ) Witt , b. 1695, Charles City, VA; d. aft. 1769-1777[xxx], Halifax, VA; m. 25 Aug 1715, Charles City Co., VA to Thomas Harbour /Harber , b. 1675, Wales, England; d. 1768, Halifax, Virginia.

The Harbours came to this country in the early 1700's from Wales .  They came by way of Charles County , Virginia to Lee County .  They settled on land lying on the Mayo River near the state line in Lunenburg Co., (now Patrick Co.) Virginia .

Thomas  & Sarah (Witt) Harbour  had ten (10) children:

2.2.1.         David Harbour , b. 1716.  
2.2.2.        
Talmon Harbour , b. c. 1718-1728; d. 1821, Patrick Co., VA; m. ca. 1745 to Mary Wright .  
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.        
Abner Harbour , b. ca. 1730; d. 1778, Henry County, VA; m. to Joyce Thornhill .  
2.2.5.        
Elisha Harbour , b. ca. 1733; d. aft. 1773; m. to Margaret Unknown .  
2.2.6.        
Mary Harbour , m. Palatiah Shelton .  
2.2.7.        
Elijah Harbour , b. ca. 1735; d. 1769, Pittsylvania County , VA ; m. to Prudence Pusey .  
2.2.8.        
Jane Harbour , m. Elijah Witt , son of John  & Elizabeth (Unknown) Witt  III, d. ca. 1775.  
2.2.9.        
Sarah Harbour , m. David Witt , son of John  & Elizabeth (Unknown) Witt  III, b. ca. 1720; d. 1810 .  
2.2.10.     
Adonijah Harbour , m 1st 25 Aug 1769 to Ann ' Nancy ' Dalton ; m 2nd 3 Apr 1791 to Charlotte Gallihue Dalton , widow of Samuel Dalton .

Jesse Witt

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

Hannah 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

Elizabeth Witt

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

Lavina Harbour & Charles Witt

2.2.3.  Lavina Harbour , daughter of Thomas  & Sarah (Witt) Harbour , b. 1720, VA; d. aft. 178, Halifax Co., VA; m. ca. 1735 to Charles Witt , b. 1712, Manakin, Albermarle Co., VA.   

Charles  & Lavina (Harbour) Witt  had two (2) children:

2.2.3.1.    Joseph Witt , b. 1740  
2.2.3.2.    Elija Witt , b. 1756

Elija Witt

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.

John Witt

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