This author wishes to acknowledge the research and writings of C. Bruce Whitaker, whose work has substantially contributed to our knowledge and understanding of the William Whitaker family.

         WILLIAM WHITAKER was born about 1700-1705, probably in Lancashire, England, the son of JOSHUA WHITAKER and his wife JANE PARKER. C. Bruce Whitaker in his 1989 genealogy The Whitaker Family of Buncombe County, North Carolina cites a reputed birth date of February 10, 1701 for William Whitaker, although documentary proof of this date appears to be lacking. No date of birth has been found in the records of the Society of Friends (Quakers), of which William Whitaker was a member. The earliest written account of the Whitaker family is found in a manuscript entitled Record of the Whitaker Families of North Carolina dated March 29, 1874, compiled by Henry Whitaker (1811-1883) of Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina, who was assisted by his nephew Henry Jenkins (1839-1919) and his son-in-law Jesse Garren (1828-1892). The account was compiled in behalf of Henry Whitaker’s older brother James Whitaker (1805-1892) of Willard, Box Elder County, Utah, an early convert of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). In January, 1939, Lorah Jerusha (Whitaker) Beeks, a Whitaker family descendant and member of the LDS church, prepared a typescript of this manuscript family history. In the Whitaker family account, which has served over the years as the primary source for researchers in reconstructing the Whitaker family, Henry Whitaker wrote:

The first account was Joshua Whitaker I know not when born, he was lost in the battle at the Isle of Man, in Europe in the Prodestan [Protestant] War, and left sons, Peter Whitaker, born in England, died in Penn., [Peter] left one son John. Great-Grandfather William Whitaker, born in England, died in Rowan Co., NC. Great-Grandmother Elizabeth Carlington [Carleton], born in Ireland, left five sons and three daughters.

The earliest definitive record of William Whitaker is dated April 7, 1719 in the minutes of the Society of Friends Monthly Meeting in Dublin, Ireland: "At Mens’ Monthly Meeting, Dublin 7 d, 2 mo, 1719, William Whitaker, who formerly lived at Timahoe, and now in this City, having desire to go to Pennsylvania, it is desired that William Brookfield, Henry Martin, and John Stevens doe enquire into his conversation and cleanness in relation to marriage and give a certificate, if needful, before next Men's Meeting and get some friends to sign it.” A note following the entry states, “A certificate was given of his cleaness on account of marriage and going away clear." William Whitaker had immigrated to America by December 2, 1721 (2 d, 10 mo, 1721), when he was received by the Kennett Monthly Meeting in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

          William Whitaker married ELIZABETH CARLETON (b. June 18, 1701 (18 d, 4 mo, 1701) Ballyleakin, King’s County (Offaly), Ireland, daughter of MARK CARLETON and SUSANNA WATSON) at the Old Kennett Monthly Meeting House near Hamorton, Chester County, Pennsylvania on February 13, 1722 (13 d, 12 mo, 1722). William Whitaker and his family later removed their membership in the Society of Friends to the Bradford Monthly Meeting near Marshallton, Chester County, Pennsylvania. In December, 1739, the Whitaker family suffered the loss of their home in Chester County by a fire. One of the surviving family artifacts from that unfortunate event was a 1612 Geneva Bible brought to America by William Whitaker. It appears that there was some dispute between the Kennett and Bradford Meetings regarding which meeting was responsible for the family's relief. On March 20, 1739 (20 d, 4 mo, 1739), the minutes of the Bradford Monthly Meeting reported that the Kennett Meeting had been advised of the circumstances of William Whitaker’s family and that they were in danger of wanting relief. The Bradford Monthly Meeting minutes of June 19, 1740 (19 d, 4 mo, 1740) recorded that "Phinehas Lewis reports that he went to William Whitaker and found him and family likely to want bread soon if not relieved also this meeting is informed that friends at Kennet has their case under consideration, but that they may not suffer this meeting desires Aaron Mendenhall to supply them with Breadstuf for the present and make report the next meeting." The following month on July 17, 1740 (17 d, 5 mo 1740), the minutes show that “Aaron Mendenhall reports that he hath supplyed Wm Whitaker with one hundred & half of midlings as ordered by last meeting and several friends from Kennett being here it appears that they have the matter under their consideration soe it is left at present for a further Conference and in the interim Aaron Mendenall is desired to continue to take care of him.” William Whitaker and his wife obtained a certificate of transfer from the Newark (Kennett) Monthly Meeting on September 4, 1740 (4 d, 7 mo, 1740), and were received by the Bradford Meeting two days later (6 d, 7 mo, 1740). Records of the Bradford Monthly Meeting show that an arrangement for the relief of the Whitaker family was reached between the two meetings on September 17, 1741 (17 d, 9 mo, 1741), whereby Kennett would pay 3/4 of the relief money, and Bradford would provide 1/4 of the sum as condition for acceptance of the family into the Bradford Monthly Meeting. Their membership was finalized on June 17, 1742 (17 d, 4 mo, 1742), the minutes indicating that “A Certificate from Newark (Kennett) Monthly Meeting for Wm Whitacre & his wife was here read & accepted on the terms formerly agreed on between the two meetings.” More monies were collected for the Whitaker family on December 16, 1742 (16 d, 10 mo, 1742) and October 18, 1744 (18 d, 8 mo, 1744); however, the Kennett Preparative Meeting revoked its agreement to send more money to the family on October 15, 1747 (15 d, 8 mo, 1747).

         William Whitaker and his family requested a certificate of removal from the Bradford Monthly Meeting to "North Carolina or elsewhere” on June 20, 1751 (20 d, 4 mo, 1751). At the next meeting on July 18, 1751 (18 d, 5 mo, 1751), two members were appointed to make inquiry regarding their request for a certificate of removal:

Application being Made to this Meeting for a Certificate for Wm Whitaker & family this Meeting appoints Robt Miller & Thos. Stalker to make ye Needful Enquiry Concerning them & if they find Nothing to Obstruct to prepare one & produce it Next Meeting & Likewise Another for his Son Mark with Copys of ye Same.

On August 15, 1751 (15 d, 6 mo, 1751), a certificate was approved for William Whitaker, but not his son Mark:

The friends appointed having prepared a Certificate for William Whitaker & family it was read here approved & Signed but on Objection being Made against the one for Mark it was not Signed.

THOMAS CARLETON (1699-1792), the brother of Elizabeth (Carleton) Whitaker, mentioned his sister’s migration to North Carolina in a letter dated the 8th day of the 11th month, 1752 to his cousin Elizabeth (Carleton) Shackleton of Ballitore, Ireland:

My eldest Sister Elizabeth with her husband & family (they haveing 7 Children alive when they left these parts) are removed to North Carolina, a Country that is Setling pretty fast, where they say land is Cheap, they removed from these parts last summer was a Year. I had a Letter from her last Spring they were then well.

William Whitaker appears in the Rowan County, North Carolina tax list of 1759, although there are no land transactions recorded for him. He and his wife may have resided with one of their children. Since there was no meeting of the Society of Friends close to the area of Rowan (Davidson) County where they resided, they probably joined the Baptist Church after their arrival in North Carolina. It is unclear when William and his wife died. Elizabeth was definitely deceased before August 10, 1784 (10 d, 8 mo, 1784), when Thomas Carleton stated in a letter to his kinsman John Chandlee that all his sisters except the youngest one were then deceased. Issue:

LYDIA WHITAKER, b. about 1722-1725 Chester County, Pennsylvania. On May, 20, 1742 (20 d, 3 mo, 1742), the Bradford Monthly Meeting brought a case against Lydia Whitaker SHEARER for marrying outside the Society of Friends. Testimony was produced on June 17, 1742 (17 d, 4 mo, 1742), at which time she was disowned by the Friends.

MARK WHITAKER, b. about 1726 Chester County, Pennsylvania; md. TABITHA. He requested a certificate for removal to North Carolina on July 18, 1751 (18 d, 5 mo, 1751), but objections to his request were made by the Bradford Monthly Meeting on August 15, 1751 (15 d, 6 mo, 1751). His certificate of removal was approved on December 19, 1752 (19 d, 10 mo, 1752). On January 29, 1755, he obtained 640 acres on Abbott’s Creek in Rowan County from Earl Grandville [Rowan County, NC Deed Book 3, p. 152]. Two days later, he obtained another tract from Earl Granville consisting of 396 acres on Abbott’s Creek [Deed Book 3, p. 106]. On December 1, 1763, he also acquired 523 acres in Tract Number 9 adjoining Hugh McCrary and others from Henry Eustace McCulloh [Deed Book 5, p. 329]. He and his wife Tabitha sold their 396 acres tract from Earl Granville to William Spurgin on June 21, 1768 [Deed Book 7, p. 67], and on May 24, 1771, they also conveyed their 640 acres tract from Granville to John Hines [Deed Book 8, p. 234]. Whitaker and his wife sold 200 acres of their 523 acres tract on Swearing Creek to brother Joshua Whitaker on May 18, 1772 [Deed Book 8, p.23]. Mark Whitaker and his wife Tabitha had left Rowan County, North Carolina and moved to South Carolina prior to October 25, 1787, when they sold their remaining 323 acres adjoining Hugh McCrary to Charles Barear [Deed Book 11, p. 274].

SUSANNAH WHITAKER, b. about 1727 Chester County, Pennsylvania. She married before August 17, 1749, HUGH McCRARY, b. about 1720 probably Ireland, d. February 14, 1785 Rowan County, North Carolina. On August 17, 1749 (17d, 6 mo, 1749), a complaint was made against Susanna McCrary for marrying outside the Society of Friends. Testimony was presented by the meeting on February 15, 1749/50 (15d, 12 mo, 1749/50), and Susannah McCrary read an acknowledgement of her offences before the meeting on May 17, 1750 (17 d, 3 mo, 1750). Susannah (Whitaker) McCrary d. October 20, 1800 Rowan County, North Carolina, and is buried with her husband in Jersey Baptist Church Cemetery, near Linwood, Davidson County, North Carolina.

SAMUEL WHITAKER, b. about 1730 Chester County, Pennsylvania. He may have removed to Georgia, according to the Whitaker family genealogy of 1874.

WILLIAM WHITAKER, b. February 20, 1732 Chester County, Pennsylvania, d. before May 4, 1802 Rowan (Davie) County, North Carolina; married before September 26, 1755 (birth of first child) Rowan County, North Carolina, ABIGAIL (“ABRILLA”) DONAHUE, d. July 1, 1771 Rowan County, North Carolina; married secondly August 13, 1772 Rowan County, North Carolina, ABIGAIL (“ABRILLA”) BAKER, b. February, 1740. William Whitaker resided on Dutchman's Creek, Rowan (now Davie) County, North Carolina. He devised his will on July 17, 1799 in Rowan County, North Carolina (Proven May 4, 1802). A record of William Whitaker, Jr.'s family was recorded in the 1612 Geneva Bible brought to America by his father, William Whitaker.

PETER WHITAKER, b. June 22, 1733 Chester County, Pennsylvania. He married firstly, ANNE TRANTHAM; and secondly before about 1770, MARIAM F. KENT, b. about 1745, d. February 20, 1826 Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Peter Whitaker had land holdings on Swearing Creek and Abbotts Creek in Rowan (now Davidson) County, North Carolina. He removed about 1800 to Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina, where he had land holdings on Cane Creek. Peter Whitaker died after August 4, 1815 when he witnessed a deed, and is buried with his wife in Cane Creek Cemetery, Fairview, North Carolina.

JOSHUA WHITAKER, b. January 22, 1735 Chester County, Pennsylvania; married September 12, 1764 Rowan County, North Carolina, MARY REED, b. October 31, 1748 New Jersey, d. February 16, 1832 Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina, daughter of JOHN REED and HANNAH DAVIS. Joshua Whitaker had land holdings on Swearing Creek in Rowan (now Davidson) County, North Carolina. He died in Rowan (Davidson) County, North Carolina on May 1, 1798, and is buried in Jersey Baptist Church Cemetery, near Linwood, Davidson County, North Carolina. Mary (Reed) Whitaker and her family removed to Buncombe County, North Carolina in 1800. She is buried in Cane Creek Cemetery, Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina. See photos of their graves.

SARAH WHITAKER, b. about 1737 Chester County, Pennsylvania. She married CHARLES WILSON, and may have removed to Marshall County, Tennessee.

JANE WHITAKER, b. October 31, 1745 Chester County, Pennsylvania; married before November 29, 1758 (birth of first child) Rowan (Davidson) County, North Carolina, ELDAD REED, b. about 1737 New Jersey, d. before April 22, 1806 Buncombe County, North Carolina, son of JOHN REED and HANNAH DAVIS. Eldad Reed had land holdings on Swearing Creek in Rowan (Davidson) County, North Carolina. About the year 1800, he and his wife, along with Joshua Whitaker and Peter Whitaker, migrated to Buncombe County, North Carolina and settled on Cane Creek near Fairview. Eldad Reed died before April 22, 1806, when his son Eldad qualified as his administrator in Buncombe County Court [Buncombe County, NC Court Minutes, April, 1798-July, 1812, p. 282]. An inventory of his estate was taken July 18, 1806 [p. 302]. Jane (Whitaker) Reed died before January 8, 1811, when her will was proven in court by John Witherow and William Whitaker. Eldad and Peter Reed qualified as her executors [p. 497]. Due to the loss of early Buncombe County records, her will does not survive. Jane (Whitaker) Reed and her husband Eldad Reed are buried in Cane Creek Cemetery, Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina.