Joseph Whitson (abt. 1615 - aft. 1696)

Born about 1615 in Bristol, Middlesex, England

Descendants

Died after 14 Nov 1696 after about age 81 in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Joseph Whitson was a Virginia colonist.

Note: The following paragraphs have been taken verbatim from an online website, Joseph Whitson and his Descendants. Some sources have been added by me. (Strutton-11 16:20, 10 April 2023 (UTC))

Joseph Whitson was born about 1615 in the Bristol, England area. Joseph Whetston is first seen in any known documents as a passenger on the Primrose in July of 1635.^[1]

It is well-documented practice of the British, as well as other Europens, to give the family wealth to the oldest son. The rest of the family would either work in the family business or try to find their own way in the world. However, the opening of the Americans allowed children such as Joseph to find a new avenue to make a living. With this in mind, it is believed that Joseph was a younger son to a father who was likely in the shipping business and had some wealth. Joseph never turns up as a "sponsored" immigrant to a large land owner, but is seen as being associated with the merchants of Bristol. Documents dated back to the 1660's in the Isle of Wight County, Virginia show Joseph as affiliated with Bristol merchants.^[2]

• Isle of Wight County records: John Hardiman, of Bristol, gave a power of attorney to Thomas Moore, of Pagan Creek, to receive goods from Arthur Skinner, Giles Driver and Joseph Whitson. 29 June, 1667.^[3]

It is believed that Joseph moved to lower Norfolk County Virginia in 1679 when he bought land there from Jacob Smith.^[2]

"... friend Joseph Whitson," Joseph Whitson, Jr., and Thomas Whitson are named in the will of Thomas Axwell of Norfolk County, Virginia, dated 1 Dec. 1678, proved 15 Jan. 1678/79.^[4]

In 1684, Joseph bought the plantation of William Odion. Signing the document of sale were sons Samuel Whitson, Joseph Whitson and daughter-in-law Mary (Fletcher) Whitson. On the basis of this document it is believed that the oldest son, Thomas had died by this time.^[2]

At a sheriff sale in 1694, Joseph purchased 300 acres of land in Stafford County, Virginia on the Rooses bank of the Aquia River.^{[5] [6] [7]} Stafford County is located in the northeast corner of Virginia on the Potomac River.^[2]

Joseph's spouse (name unknown) was alive for the trip to Stafford County in 1694. However, she died by 1696, as Joseph is seen documenting that she was buried in the family burial plot. In Joseph Whitson's will of 1696, the Whitson plantation was divided into three parts and willed to eldest surviving son Samuel, son Joseph, and daughter Elizabeth (Whitson) Butler. Joseph Whitson died in 1696 and was buried beside his spouse in the family cemetery.^[2]

Marriage & Children

Joseph Whitson probably married between 1640-1650 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia Colony. His wife's name is unknown. There is no documentation proving he was married to Elena (Unknown) Whitson. Pending finding information to prove the name of Joseph's wife, Elena can serve as a placeholder. Joseph was not married to Mary Fletcher. Mary Fletcher, daughter of James Fletcher, was the wife of Joseph's son, Joseph Whitson, Jr.

The only known children of Joseph Whitson and his unknown wife:^{[2] [8]}

• Samuel Whitson, eldest son, md 1) Elizabeth, widow of John Skeel, c Mar 1690/1; md 2) Mary Unknown; died before 4 Feb 1701/2 in Stafford Co., Virginia
• Joseph Whitson, Jr., md Mary Fletcher, dau of James Fletcher
• Elizabeth Whitson, md James Butler, Sr.

It is said by some that Joseph had son Thomas Whitson, born before Samuel and Joseph, who died before 1696 and is not named in Joseph's will. This is unconfirmed.

Death & Legacy

Joseph's will was dated 14 November 1696; exact date of death is unknown.

From the only online source giving any specific information regarding Joseph's will, we find a rather strange document. This two page abstract was posted to a family tree at ancestry.com: Joseph Whitson, 1615-1696. Click on "Gallery" to locate the records. A source cited above states that Joseph's land was divided into three parts and left to sons Samuel and Joseph and daughter Elizabeth Butler. But that does not appear to have been what actually transpired.

Relevant transactions:

423 - By deed of Gift dated 8 April 1727 it is stated that one Joseph Whitson patented 300 acres of land in Stafford county 1 Oct. 1694. At his death 200 acres fell to his son and heir Joseph Whitson. This Joseph Whitson (II) died and on page 416 it is stated that his "only son" was Joseph Whitson (III) who by this indenture leases this 200 acres to Rev. Alexander Scott. This indenture was subject to the 1/3 lifetime dower interest of his mother, Mary Whitson, relict of Joseph Whitson (II), who after married Michael Judd of Stafford.

491 - In a deed between Samuel Whitson and Rev. Alexander Scott dated 11 Oct. 1727, Samuel Whitson, the grantor, deeds 100 acres of land in Overwharton Parish, Stafford county whereon John Sabastin now lives; it being the part of a grant of 300 acres of land patented by Joseph Whitson, the grandfather of the grantor. Joseph Whitson of Overwharton Parish, Stafford county, left a will bearing date 14 Nov. 1696. "Samuel Whitson as next heir of the Whitsons being the only son of Samuel Whitson eldest lawful son of Joseph Whitson aforesd to whom the said land was granted by Patent aforesd hath should or ought to have by and after the decease of James Butler Senr, and James Buler Junr both of the said Parish & County & Colony who were the one the husband and the other the son of the late Elizabeth Whitson Lawful daughter of the aforesaid Joseph Whitson to wch sd Elizabeth his daughter and the sd Joseph Whitson by his last will and Testament did give and bequeath the said Tenement and Tract of Land ... for her life and for her husband's Life and the life of her eldest child and then to return to the next heir of the Whitsons as by sd will bearing date the fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord God one thousand Six Hundred and ninty six ...."^[9]

If I may attempt to interpret and state clearly what happened here:

• Samuel Whitson, eldest son of this Joseph Whitson, married and had one son, Samuel Whitson, Jr. Samuel, Sr. inherited 100 acres of his father's 300 in 1696. Samuel died before 4 February 1701/2^[10] at which time his 100 acres reverted to his brother, Joseph, Jr.
• Joseph Whitson (II) herited from his father, Joseph Whitson, Sr., 100 acres of his 300. As eldest surviving son, Joseph inherited the 100 acres left to his older brother Samuel on Samuel's death.
• Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph, Sr., married James Butler, Sr. Their eldest child was James Butler, Jr. Joseph Whitson, Sr., bequeathed the remaining 100 acres of his 300 to Elizabeth for her lifetime and the lifetimes of her husband and eldest child.
• Following the death of Elizabeth, her husband James, Sr., and child, James, Jr., the 100 acres will revert to grandson Samuel Whitson, Jr., son of Joseph's eldest son Samuel.
• On 8 April 1727, Joseph Whitson (III), grandson of Joseph Whitson, Sr., leased the 200 acres he inherited from his father, Joseph Whitson (II), to Rev. Alexander Scott.
• On 11 Oct. 1727, Samuel Whitson, Jr., grandson of Joseph Whitson, Sr., sold his 100 acres to Rev. Alexander Scott, pending the deaths of James Butler, Sr., and James Butler, Jr. Samuel also posted bond of 100 pds to guarantee the delivery of the said land to Alexander Scott.

I hope this sequence of events is all clear now. I don't think I've ever seen a will play out in such a way before. (Strutton-11 20:01, 10 April 2023 (UTC))

Sources

1. ↑ Hotten, John Camden, Editor. The Original Lists of Persons of Quality; Emigrants' Religious Exiles; … and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700. John Camden Hotten: London, 1874. Reprinted Empire State Book Co., New York. Pages 114-116
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Joseph Whitson and his Descendants, Coordinated by Robbie Long Burnett
3. ↑ Genealogies of Virginia Families from the William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine. Volume II, Cobb-Hay. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1982. Ancestry Image, Page 862
4. ↑ McIntosh, Charles Fleming. Brief abstract of Lower Norfolk county and Norfolk county Wills, 1637-1753. Richmond: The Colonial dames of America in the state of Virginia, Vol. 1., 1914. Page 59
5. ↑ Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1694-1742. Vol. I [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data:Gary, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1694-1742. [Vol. I]. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997. Ancestry Image, 2-40, Page 4
6. ↑ Section: Abstracts from Stafford County, Va., Deed Book, 1722-1728 Ancestry Image, No. 423, Page 424
7. ↑ Whitson, Joseph. Land Grant 1 October 1694. N.p., 1694.
8. ↑ Tidewater Virginia Families [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006. Davis, Virginia Lee Hutcheson. Tidewater Virginia Families. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004. Ancestry Image, Page 648
9. ↑ Deed and will books, 1699-1900, Virginia. County Court (Stafford County). Images 255-257 Includes full text of transaction, bond, etc., between Samuel Whitson, Jr., and Alexander Scott. 18th century script makes difficult reading.
10. ↑ 1699-1709 Stafford County, Virginia Deed & Will Book; [Antient Press]; Page 123-124; as cited on Samuel Whitson

See also:

• Source: S1730862093 Repository: #R1730539867 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Note: Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=15043181&pid=1443212340 Repository: R1730539867 Name: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com Note: