Witherspoon

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WITHERSPOON
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The
Witherspoon
Family
Tree

Margaret
Ann
Elizabeth
Witherspoon
(1845 - 1932)

Miles
Rankin
Witherspoon
(1817 - 1892)

Thomas
Wesley
Witherspoon
(1787 - 1856)

Thomas
Wesley
Witherspoon
(1749 - 1790)

John
Witherspoon
(1724 - 1778)

John Witherspoon
(1700 - 1730)

_______
 

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Thomas Wesley Witherspoon   Born: 06 Jun 1787, Pennsylvania Died:  16 Jan 1856, Catawba County, NC     Thomas Wesley Witherspoon was the fourth child born to Thomas Witherspoon and Sara Howard.  He was born 06 Jun 1787 in Pennsylvania. Thomas Wesley's siblings were:        John Witherspoon, b. 27 May 1779        Joshua Witherspoon, b. 1782        Dorcas Witherspoon, b. 1785        David Witherspoon, b. 04 Apr 1789   Thomas' parents (Thomas Sr. and Sarah) died during an epidemic of French measles in April 1790 and were buried in the family cemetery.  Thomas was 12-years-old at the time.  As a result of his parent's death, Thomas (and his four siblings) were raised by his grandmother Martha Pettigrew Witherspoon (widow of John Witherspoon).                         Thomas married Margaret "Peggy" Rankin on 06 Jul 1801 in Lincoln (Catawba) County, NC.  She was born in 1781.   Thomas Wesley Witherspoon & Margaret "Peggy" Rankin, Marriage License, 06 July 1801                 The Witherspoons of North Carolina  1775 - 1975     Compiled by David Howell Witherspoon, Raleigh, NC, 01 Apr 1976           In the Court Records, Lincoln County, North Carolina, October 1790 appears the following: "Margaret Rankin came into Court but being under age to choose a guardian, the Court chose John Alexander, Esq. for her, who gave bond and security of one hundred pounds."  This is the only reference to a Margaret, or Peggy, Rankin, other than the marriage bond.  It is possible that the two names are of the same person.  Assuming she was eight years of age in 1790, she would have been of a marriageable age by 1801.                                     Thomas Wesley Witherspoon & Margaret Rankin's children were: Name Birth Date Death Date Spouse Emoline Witherspoon 02 Jul 1803   Lawson Lourance (not verified) James E. Witherspoon 23 Apr 1805   Elizabeth Setzer m. 26 Apr 1829 Thomas Franklin Witherspoon 28 Nov 1807 29 Sep 1878 Sara Anna Huit Louise Witherspoon 07 Jun 1809 died prior to 1841 Adeline Mahaffy m. 10 Feb 1842 Calvin A. Witherspoon 28 Nov 1811     Hoyle "Hile" Brown Hile Witherspoon 30 Jun 1814     Miles "Milas" Rankin Witherspoon 13 Mar 1817 09 Feb 1892 Sarah Elizabeth Aderholdt m. 11 Nov 1844 Anna A. Witherspoon 28 Nov 1819   John Aderholt m. 1843                                 Thomas and Margaret were living in Capt. Lawrances District, Lincoln, NC at the time of the 1810 Census.     1810 Lincoln County, NC Census     Free White Males Free White Females Name Under 10 16 thru 25 26 thru 44 Under 10 26 thru 44 Thomas Weatherspoon 2 1 1 2 1   The 1810 Census shows 7 individuals were living in the Thomas Witherspoon (Weatherspoon) home.  Males under age 10 were James E. and Thomas Franklin.  Females under age 10 were Emoline and Louise.  Thomas and Margaret were more than likely the Male & Female individuals aged 26 thru 44.  There is no indication who the other male, aged 16 - 25, living in their home was.           The Witherspoons of North Carolina  1775 - 1975     Compiled by David Howell Witherspoon, Raleigh, NC, 01 Apr 1976           On 14 Feb 1814, Thomas was the surety in the listing of the marriage bond between Anna Witherspoon and Isaac Lowrance, Jr..           On 04 Jan 1816, Thomas Watherspoon was the surety in the listing of the marriage bond between Elisha Weatherspoon and Catherine Lourance.             The 1820 Census lists Thomas' residence as the East of The South Fork of The Catawba River, Lincoln, NC.     1820 Lincoln County, NC Census     Free White Males Free White Females Name Under 10 10 thru 16 45 and up Under 10 10 thru 16 26 thru 44 Thomas Weatherspoon 3 2 1 2 1 1   The 1820 Census shows 9 individuals living in the Thomas Witherspoon (Weatherspoon) home.  Males under age 10 were sons, Calvin A., Hoyle Brown Hile and Miles Rankin.  Males ages 10 - 16 were James E. and Thomas Franklin.  Females under age 10 were Thomas' daughters, Anna and Louise.  The Female aged 10 - 16 would have been daughter, Emoline.  Thomas falls into the age category of 45 and up.  Margaret falls in the age category of 26 thru 44.       1830 Lincoln County, NC Census     Free White Males Free White Females Name 10 to 15 15 to 20 20 to 30 40 to 50 10 to 15 40 to 50 Thomas Weatherspoon 1 2 1 1 2 1   The 1830 Census shows 8 individuals living in the Thomas Witherspoon (Weatherspoon) home.  It appears as if daughter, Emoline, and son, James, have married and left home.  The Male aged 10 to 15 would have been son, Miles Rankin.  Males ages 15 - 20 were Calvin and Holyle.  The Male aged 20 - 30 would have been son, Thomas Franklin.  Females ages 10 to 15 were Thomas' daughters, Anna and Louise (although Louise's age was actually 21).  Thomas Wesley and Margaret falls in the age category of 40 to 50.     The earliest beginnings of Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Claremont, NC, date back to November 22, 1831 when a deed for 156 acres of land was registered in Lincoln county (which then included Catawba county.) The deed gave the land the name of Ligleton Church (considered the sponsoring church) for the purpose of building a place of worship. The four trustees in charge were Lewis Little, George Little, Thomas Witherspoon, and Isaac LOWRANCE. For the sum of eight dollars, papers acknowledged, sealed, and released into their hands and their successors, land for the Methodist Episcopal church. Source:  http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~yvonne/lorentz/ps10/ps10_075.htm       1840 Upper Regiment Militia, Lincoln County, NC Census     Free White Males Free White Females Name 20 to 30 60 to 70 20 to 30 60 to 70 Thomas Witherspoon 2 1 2 1   The 1840 Census shows 6 individuals living in the Thomas Witherspoon home.  Those individuals would have been Thomas Wesley & Margaret as well as their three youngest children, Hoyle, Miles Rankin and Anna.       The Witherspoons of North Carolina  1775 - 1975     Compiled by David Howell Witherspoon, Raleigh, NC, 01 Apr 1976           In 1842, Catawba County was formed from Lincoln County.  In the June 1844 Session of Court, Catawba County, NC, the name of Thomas Witherspoon was drawn as juror for the December 1844 Court Session.           In Deed Book 1, Catawba County, there are several deeds registered from Thomas Witherspoon to his sons: to James (page 20) property on the Catawba River; to Thomas Franklin (page 277) property on Hagans Fork; to Calvin A. (page 287) property on Hagans Fork; to H.B. and Milas (page 425) a piece of meadow land on Hagans Fork, and others.  These transactions took place in 1844 and 1845.               1850 Catawba County, NC Census   Name Age Sex Color Occupation Real Estate Value Place of Birth Thos. Witherspoon 75 M   Farmer $150 Catawba Margaret  " 69 F         Mary Keever 17 F M         By 1850, all of Thomas Wesley and Margaret's children have left home.  They have a young mulatto woman, Mary Keever, living with them - probably as a household servant.  Thomas' farm is valued at $150.  The farm closest to Thomas Wesley & Margaret is that of their youngest son, Miles Rankin Witherspoon, and his family.  Miles Rankin's daughter, Margaret, eventually marries Patrick Sylvanus Setzer, the son of Jacob Setzer (another near neighbor).       1850 Catawba County Slave Schedule   The 1850 Catawba County Slave Schedule shows that Thomas Witherspoon had one 18-year-old, Male slave.  The 1860 Slave Schedule shows that Margaret still had the same male slave.     Thomas Wesley Witherspoon died 16 Jan 1856 in Catawba County, NC.  Margaret died around 1868.  Thomas and Margaret were buried in the family cemetery near Witherspoon Crossroads in Catawba County, NC.       The Witherspoons of North Carolina  1775 - 1975     Compiled by David Howell Witherspoon, Raleigh, NC, 01 Apr 1976           In the October 1856 Court Session, Catawba County, the Last Will and Testament of Thomas Witherspoon was exhibited in Open Court and duly proven, by the oath of George Setzer, subscribing witness.  T. F. Witherspoon, on of the executors therein named, was duly qualified.           The will was dated 01 May 1841.  Wife Margaret was mentioned, and the following designated as children: James E., Thomas F., Calvin A., Hile B., Milas R., Emoline, and Anna A.  The property mentioned was deeded to the devisees a few years after the will was written, as mentioned above.         Nothing is known of the religious affiliation of Thomas Witherspoon, but education was a positive factor as a school house was erected on his property and several members of his family taught there.  The school was destroyed by a cyclone in 1885, but was rebuilt and continued in use until the state assumed responsibility for public education.           Thomas' son, James, was a scholar and enjoyed a fine reputation as a teacher.           Muster Day was a holiday occasion where the country folk met with their friends.  Once a month the young men of the community would gather to register and drill.  The Witherspoon Muster Ground was on the family property.  The ginger cake wagons did a brisk business.  Fights were common and "spirits" flowed freely.         Thanks to Dr. Frank Witherspoon from Memphis, TN, for additional information on Thomas Wesley Witherspoon and the Witherspoon Family.  You can contact Frank at fwspoon@bellsouth.net   "The Witherspoons of North Carolina, 1775 - 1975" compiled by David Howell Witherspoon, Raleigh, NC, 1976   "The Descendants of John Witherspoon", Compiled by H. Glenn Williams, 1997, sixranch@swbell.net     If you have additional information or photos of Thomas Wesley Witherspoon, please contact me.