Waiting on Two More DNA Test Results

Recently Ancestry offered a really good price on their new AncestryDNA autosomal test so I have taken the plunge. I have tied it to my ancestor public tree which I have spent my off time from my genealogy teacher's podium at Tri County Community College working on. You can see my revised and updated ancestor tree on Ancestry at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/20484129/family.

I'm also waiting on my mtDNA (HRV1 region only)test from Family Tree DNA which so be out in the next three weeks. I took advantage of their excellent one day sale last month so now I will at least know who my clan mother is.

This will be my first experience with an autosomal DNA test so I will let my readers know what I think of the results when they get back and I see how it fits into my family research plans.

Another Confederate veteran burial location found!

As one of several Redus family genealogists, one of my main missions is to determine where all the family Civil War Confederate veterans final resting places are, even if they are just coat tail cousins. One that I have been trying to find for some time surfaced this afternoon.

Celestia Clay Redus b. 8 May 1840 in Limestone Co, Alabama (dau of Thomas Redus and Martha Adeline Clay) m Private Stephen D. Herman on Nov 26, 1862, in Giles County, Tennessee. He was the son of William Herman and Lucinda Shepard McMurray. Stephen Herman was born 09 Jan 1835 in Lauderdale County, Alabama and was a member of the "Florence Guards"(7th Alabama Infantry CSA). He enlisted as a private on April 1, 1861. Celestia died from the complications of childbirth on 13 Oct 1863. She is buried in the New Garden Cemetery, Elkmont, Limestone County, Alabama (FAG memorial #21594330).

I have not been able to find out much of Stephen life after the Civil War and until today did not know when he passed away or where he is buried.

CSA Private Stephen D. Herman died on March 9, 1900 and is buried in the Carter Cemetery in Colbert County, Alabama (FAG Memorial #59271180). He has a VA CSA marker as well as a regular tombstone. I have asked the couple who maintain his marker to link his with Celestia.



The inscription on his regular tombstone reads: "Come ye Blessed", "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God".



If anyone else knows anything about Stephen's life after his first wife passed away, please contact me at the email address in the masthead.

I've Learned Some New Calendar Math Doing Genealogy

I have a family tree up at Ancestry.com and recently got a leaf on my Rachel Meek b. 3 Mar 1802 Adair County, Kentucky, United States, d. bef 13 Jun 1827 Henry County, Tennessee, United States. She married my Rev. John D. Witt (1802-1851)in 1828.

Her father was Jacob Meek (1760-1824). I have yet to find who Rachel's mother / Jaoob's wife was, but I can tell you who it isn't -- Mary Detwiler (1821-1880).

Out of 25 Ancestry.com public trees with this family on them, nine of them show Rachel Meek's mother as the Mary Detwiler mentioned above. Pretty good trick that Mary Detwiler can have a child in 1802 and she wasn't born until 1821.

So for you nine people who have Mary Detwiler as Rachel Meek's mother, I guess I have learned some new ways to do calendar math. Really? Really? Really!

A Witt Family Cousin Makes it to the Bigtime!

The large Witt clan, whose homeplace was between Camp Verde and Center Point, gathers for a portrait in the early 1900s. Shown here, seated in front, from left, are: Gerald Witt’s great-great grandmother, Nancy Hamilton Witt (1826-1909), infant Prentice Witt (Gerald’s father), Maude Witt Surber (holding one baby, with two other unnamed children), and, at far right, James Monroe Witt (1835-1935) and his wife, California “Callie” Asbury Denton (1849-1926), who came to Kerr County with her siblings and mother’s family, the McFaddins, when she was a toddler. At rear are, from left (holding Prentice), Hulda Mills Witt, Fred Witt, James Witt, Joseph Denton Witt, James Surber and William Witt. (Picture link courtesy of the West Kerr Current) My cousin, Gerald Witt in Kerr County, Texas, has had an interesting article published about him, his research and his portion of the Witt family on the West Kerr Current website - click here for the whole story. It is a great article about a super genealogy cousin. Congradulations cuz on a job well done.

My Grand Aunt Has Passed Away

My grand aunt, Helen Marie Ferguson-Van Horn, passed away Sunday evening, 3 July 2011, in San Antonio, Texas, after a short illness. She was 93 years old. She was preceeded in death by her parents Norman Edward Ferguson and Florence Mabel Weatherby, and her husband, Victor Clark Van Horn. She is survived by her four children: Jerilyn Kay Bailey, Judy Rae Cross, Jack Clark Van Horn, and Janet Faye Howard, their spouses and children.

My favorite memories of Aunt Helen were the many Christmas Eve's we celebrated at her and uncle Vic's house, several family reunions, and all of us celebrating her 75th birthday in San Antonio. She was a fellow family genealogist and a very sweet lady. She will be missed by all who loved her.

Was Guillaume (William) Witt a Hugenot? Not!

It is a family history legend that has been around for decades. Unfortunately since the marriage of the internet and genealogy, this genealogical myth has spread like a bad Trojan or virus across the net even after authoritative genealogy information and sources have been published disbuting it.

This is one myth that will just not die! Don't believe me, just do a search in the public trees on Ancestry.com for “Guillaume” Witt, and you will see dozens have this myth in their lineage. It is easy to copy someone else's tree on Ancestry, but not as easy to do a bit of genuine genealogical research to prove what you have posted.

So for those cousins who have not been as wise as they should, here is the digest version of the evidence with links so you can investigate the story of the Witt Hugenot myth on your own.

From noted Witt family researcher, Robert W. Baird and his most excellent website at website at http://www.genfiles.com/Witt/witt.htm here is a bit of his thoughts on this myth.

"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."

You can read the rest of Bob's research on this matter at http://crossedbrushstudio.com/windowsintoourpast/Vol8/witt.htm

[i] Copyright © 2001-2003 Robert W. Baird, All Rights Reserved from - Bob’s Genealogy Filing Cabinet.

At the same site is the comments from another noted Witt family researcher Mr. 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, Abner, 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."

So if you want to get the real deal on our Witt family, check out the Ancestry.com public tree posted by our cousin Gerald Witt at
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/pedigree.aspx?tid=25451428. You will get an accurate lineage to get you started properly in your Witt family research.

You will find the absolute best researched information on our colonial Witt familiies at our cousin Robert Baird's website at http://www.genfiles.com/Witt/witt.htm. This is a must visit website if you want to get through the bad stuff and get an accurate genealogy for you Witt line. There is also info on the Daux family via this link.

So if you have made it this far, please help once and for all get rid of the Guillaume Witt myth from your family tree. Time to get that lineage right and share the joy of the real history of our Witt colonial ancestors.

Gerald Witt Rewrites Some of Our Witt Family History

Tombstone of Rev War Captain Elijah Witt (1756-1806)

For many years now, I like many before me and many even today have traced their Witt family lineage from Joseph Nathaniel Witt who married Sarah Earls to what was believed to be his parents Joseph Witt (1752-1819) who died in Jefferson County Tennessee. His wife and the supposed mother was Sarah Kimbrough. This is how things have been for many many years. My great Aunt Edna Bless based her DAR line on this family link.

Back in 2002, my cousin Gerald Witt in the hill country of Texas, uncovered evidence that proved conclusively this this link was wrong. Needless to say that was a earth shattering find and it turned two whole generations of our Witt family lineage upside down. After looking at the evidence that Gerald uncovered, it has now been proven that Joseph Nathaniel Witt is the son of the brother of the fore mentioned Joseph above -- Rev War Captain Elijah Witt and his wife Nina Jarnigan Hutchison. See information presented for child number 2 listed below.

After Gerald concluded his research he prepared a research paper on the 12 Children of Elijah Witt, which he shared with me and he has given me permission to post here on this family blog. So if you are still one of the dozen or so Ancestry family trees that have the original link I mentioned above reflected on your tree, and you are wondering why my and a few other trees on Ancestry show Joseph N. Witt's father to be Captain Elijah Witt, I present to below cousin Gerald Witt's Twelve Children of Elijah Witt. Any further use of this material anywhere should be credited to him as he is the one who deserves full credit. We are just the messenger here on my blog.

Elijah served as a private (DAR Ancestor #A127232) in the militia in Washington County, North Carolina during the Revolutionary War.

From the DAR GRS database:-
Service Source: NC REV WAR PAY VOUCHERS #893, ROLL S.115.135
Service Description: 1) PAID FOR SERVICES RENDERED.

There is a great write up on the three sons of Charles Witt (Elijah, Caleb, and Burgess) service during the Rev War at
Bob's Genealogy Filing Cabinet. The write up on Elijah indicates that he did serve as a Captain of a militia company "guarding the frontiers of North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina”

In 1801, Elijah and his son Daniel were riding horseback and the horse became frightened, throwing Elijah against a tree, killing him. Daniel was also thrown, but escaped uninjured.

The Twelve Children of Elijah Witt

The following is found on page 17 of the Jefferson County Tennessee Guardians Report Book 1: “Sarah Witt, Guardian An inventory of the Estate real and personal of Elijah Witt and Piety Witt minors returned by Sarah Witt, Guardian for said Elijah and Piety this 15 day of July 1808-Twenty bushels of wheat, one bushel of corn- The real estate is undivided and is supposed to contain thirty three acres to each of those minors, but no emolument hitherto received. Signed Sarah Witt, guardian. Sworn to in open court July 19, 1808”. We know from land records that the heirs of Elijah Witt have 400 acres of real estate. And, if each heir is to receive thirty-three acres-simple math indicates twelve heirs are involved.

The following is found on page 5, Jefferson County Tennessee Deeds Book N. Registered August 28, 1815. “Witness that whereas Elizabeth Witt one of the children and heirs of Elijah Witt, deceased, in her lifetime intermarried with James Luster and the said Samuel House having purchased of the said James Luster the right and claim that the said James Luster and Elizabeth his wife had or may hereafter have to two tracts or parcels of land containing two hundred acres in each tract, being undivided tracts belonging to the estate of the said Elijah Witt, deceased, it being one twelfth part of said tracts or parcels of land.”

The following sentence indicates only eleven heirs. Jefferson County Tennessee Deed Book S, page 545. Harmon M. Witt sells his undivided interest in 400 acres of land to Eli Witt on March 23, 1833. The deed goes on to say that Eli Witt pays $120.00 to Harmon M. Witt for his one-eleventh interest in the 400 acres.

Evidently, one of the children of Elijah died without issue between 1815 and 1833. I have two candidates—Viney (Lavinia) and Elijah. I have found neither listed in later records.

I have divided the children into two groups-the children who did not require a guardian at the death of Elijah. And the younger children who were required by law to have a guardian. I have placed seven children in the first group. The birth dates of some of the children are know and they will be listed. The children may or may not be listed by order of birth, since all dates are not known.

Many believe that the first wife of Elijah Witt was Nina Hutchison, but I have not found this marriage. However, I do have clues. A Daniel Hutchison witnessed the will of Charles Witt, the father of Elijah Witt in Halifax County Virginia. Elijah Witt named a son Daniel. And Joseph Witt, the son of Elijah Witt named his first son Hutchison Witt.

1. Noah Witt, born 16 March 1776 and was living in Jefferson Co. TN when the 1850 census was enumerated. In the census he was 74 years of age, which would agree with his birth year of 1776. He was born in Virginia. He was first married to his first cousin, Millie Maze. After her death he married Jane (Smith by some accounts) who is listed with him in the 1850 census. She is 56 years of age and born in South Carolina. A Noah Witt is one of the administrators of the will of Elijah Witt and I feel strongly that Noah Witt, born 1776 is a son of Elijah Witt.

2. Joseph Witt, born circa 1777 and married Sarah Earls in Jefferson Co. Tennessee on 25 April 1797. Noah Witt was bondsman for Joseph Witt. I think this is added proof that Joseph Witt is a son of Elijah Witt. His birth date is only a guess using his marriage date as a base. This Joseph Witt has long been listed under the children of Joseph Witt, who died in Jefferson Co. in 1819. The following land record provides ample proof to move this Joseph Witt to the children of Elijah Witt. Jefferson Co. Deed book R, page 381-“An indenture made on 21 January 1824 between John Witt and Eli Witt, you find the following: “Witness that the said John Witt doth convey and confirm unto Eli Witt all the right title and claim that Joseph Witt the father of said John had to two certain tracts of land lying on the waters of Long Creek, it being part of the property of Elijah Witt, deceased.” I think this is strong proof that Joseph is the son of Elijah Witt. Added evidence is the court case of March 1801 where Elijah not only delivers Joseph Witt to court, but also pays his court cost. Since, this is my line I have studied this very carefully before I changed ancestors from Joseph Witt to Elijah Witt.

3. John Witt, born 18 April 1780 in Virginia and married Eleanor Penny, 18 June 1800. I did not find this marriage in the Jefferson Co. records. He later moved to Pope Co. Illinois. While living in Pope Co. he sells his undivided interest in land belonging to Elijah Witt to Eli Witt. In Jefferson Co. TN Deed Book R. page 381, you find the following buried in the text. “And John Witt one of the children and heirs of Elijah Witt, deceased.” I think this statement proves the relationship.

4. Elizabeth (Betsy) Witt, born circa 1782 married James Luster 31 January 1793 in Jefferson County Tennessee. The only proof I have found for this child is as follows: Jefferson County Tennessee Deeds Book N, page 5, registered August 28, 1815. “Witnessth that whereas Elizabeth Witt one of the children and heirs of Elijah Witt, deceased, in her lifetime intermarried with James Luster”. James Luster sold his rights to Elizabeth’s one twelfth part of Elijah Witt’s property to Samuel House of Madison County, Mississippi Territory. I assume that James and Elizabeth Luster were living in Madison County, Mississippi Territory in 1815. This would later become Madison County, Alabama.

5. Anne Witt, born circa 1784 and married William Bottom on 15 July 1806 in Jefferson County Tennessee. Her birth date is backed in using her marriage date. Very little is known about Ann Witt. She appears on the list of buyers at the sale of personal property of Elijah Witt, on 15 May 1806. This would be two months before her marriage to William Bottom. Not great proof, but the best we have at this time to place Ann Witt as a child of Elijah Witt.

6. Eli Witt, born 15 August 1785 and died 12 October 1851. Eli Witt is enumerated in the 1850 census of Greene County, Illinois as a 65 year old farmer with wife Nancy aged 60 and both were born in Tennessee. He married Nancy McNeely on 13 July 1806 in Jefferson Co. TN. Samuel House was either the bondsman or minister at their wedding. The best proof that Eli Witt is an heir of Elijah Witt is found in the Jefferson Co. Tennessee Minute Book (Circuit Court) 1810-1816, page 91.”Tuesday July 16th 1811. An obligation from Noah Witt, Guardian of Harmon Witt and one of the Administrators of Elijah Witt, deceased for himself and the said Harmon Witt both heirs of Elijah Witt deceased and Eli Witt and Samuel House also heir of said Elijah, deceased to Christopher Bullard was proven in Open Court wherefore it is admitted to record, let it be registered and it is ordered by court that the same be certified to the County of Giles Tennessee State.” The preceding statement leaves little doubt that Eli Witt is a son of Elijah Witt.

7. Mary Witt married Samuel House in Jefferson Co. TN on 10 February 1807. The strongest evidence that Mary Witt is an heir of Elijah is found in the Jefferson Co. Tennessee Minute Book (Circuit Court) 1810-1816, page 91. Read the quote above regarding Eli Witt. The quote also tells us that Mary Witt House is alive in 1811 and is still married to Samuel House. Otherwise, Samuel House would not be an heir.

This completes my discussion of the seven heirs of Elijah Witt, who required no guardian when Elijah Witt was killed in early 1806. This is a work in progress and much more research is required. This is the beginning not the end.

The following is the five children who required guardians at the time of Elijah Witt’s death in 1806. Much work needs to be done to better develop the lives of these children. I have divided the children into three sub groups. Noah Witt was the guardian for Harmon Witt. William Maze was the guardian for Viney and Daniel Witt. Sarah Witt was guardian to Elijah and Piety Witt. I think Elijah and Piety were the children of the marriage of Elijah Witt and Sarah Bottom. They were married 26 December 1797. And, Sarah Witt is the guardian of her own two children.

8. Harmon Witt was born 16 November 1788. He married Miriam Skeene on 23 December 1807. Harmon Witt is named in the Jefferson Co. Tennessee Minute Book (Circuit Court) 1810-1816, page 91l as an heir of Elijah Witt. In 1833 Harmon Witt sold his undivided interest in 400 acres of land (Jefferson Co. TN Deed Book S, page 545). This farther proved his descent from Elijah Witt. Harmon Witt is definitely a heir of Elijah Witt

9. Viney Witt. I site the following evidence for both Viney Witt and Daniel Witt. Jefferson Co. TN Guardian Report Book 1, 1805-1832,Page 12, William Maze Guardian, 11th July 1807 “William Maze Guardian for Viney Witt and Daniel Witt reports that there has come into his hands of the property of the said Viney Witt three pounds of picked cotton, about forty pounds of cotton in the seed, thirteen bushels and a peck of corn, one bushel and peck of wheat about seventeen hands full of broke flax and two bushels of corn this fall, about thirty bushels flax not broke. Also of the property of Daniel Witt the same quantity of the same property as stated above this returned to court the second day of the Oct. session 1807. Signed William Maze I assume that Viney is the nickname for Lavinia. No other record has been found for Lavinia, but the guardianship proves her relationship to Elijah Witt.

10. Daniel Witt was born 22 July 1790 and married Ingabo Skeene on 3 April 1813 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. From the family Bible: Daniel Witt was born 26 July 1790, Ingabo was born 14 October 1794. Daniel Witt died 8 October 1877 and Ingabo Witt died 7 June 1863. These dates have not been documented. Daniel Witt is a son of Elijah Witt and I point to the guardianship of Viney and Daniel to William Maze for proof.

11. Elijah Witt is a son from the marriage of Elijah Witt to Sarah Bottoms. Jefferson Co. Tennessee Guardian Report Book 1 1805-1832 page 17, “Sarah Witt, Guardian. An inventory of the estate real and personal of Elijah Witt and Piety Witt minors returned by Sarah Witt, Guardian for said Elijah and Piety this 15 day of July 1808- Twenty bushels of wheat. One bushel of corn. The real estate is undivided and is supposed to contain thirty three acres to each of those minors but no emolument hitherto received”. Signed Sarah Witt. No other record has been found regarding this Elijah, the son of Elijah Witt.

12. Piety Witt married Silas Gentry on 18 April 1814. This is the only record that I have found on Piety Witt. Let’s assume that Piety is the second child of this second marriage. Her brother, Elijah could have been born in 1798 and she could have been born in 1799. Little is know regarding Piety, however Silas Gentry bought the undivided interest in the 400 acres from several of Piety’s brothers and sisters.

As of October 21, 2002 these are the children of Elijah Witt. Their names were taken from primary records, but I have not found all the records. I welcome others to make additions and corrections.

Thanks you cousin Gerald for sharing your work with the rest of us.