Calla Lillies are a beautiful annual bulb of South African origin. They will usually survive a mild Carolina winter, but not always a harsh one. They are known as a common flower given to greivers at times of a loss in the family, a funeral flower, so to speak.
At home, in the southwest corner of the yard, near a little wood, we have a pet cemetery. There lies our very first German Shepherd, who ignited our love for the breed, Maxi, our friends Beagle, Molly, followed by 9 other dogs, mostly German Shepherds, two Australian Shepherds and one unfortunate mix. One of dogs that hit us the hardest when his body couldn't hold up to the abuse of gravity anymore was Coco, short for Constantine Conan. He was special, in more ways than one. Not only was he incredibly beautiful, he was the most loyal and protective guardian one could ask for. Coco was "the good one". When the other pups we had at the time, Telah, the Shiloh, Little Max, named for Maxi, and Raven, the Lab, were being bad, he was the one barking at them and letting them know they were in trouble. The Lab didn't care. If they were at the creek, Raven was going in, she didn't care how mad Mom or Dad would get. Raven being bad would somehow sanction Telah and Max's wet feet, but not Coco, never Coco. He'd run up and down the bank, barking, Mama said "No".
So, what does all that have to do with Calla Lillies, and futhermore, what does all that have to do with genealogy?
When Coco passed, my mother-in-law sent a potted Calla Lilly for his grave. She's a terrible grandmother, but is all in for the dogs. Coco has been gone several years now, about six or seven, as he was born in 2005 and died just before turing 14. Since then gladiolus and far too many weeds, frought by the hot mid-summer sun, have taken over the pet cemetery. Yet Coco's Calla Lilly fights its way through, every year, bright and beguiling, surviving despite all obstacles.
During my dispiriting quest to discover the Stanly County roots, which I know exist, of some Iredell County Whitleys, I came across another family of Whitley's with Stanly County roots who moved to Iredell County, if only briefly. While not the family I was looking for, their journey begs for answers to more questions. Why did they remove from Stanly to Iredell? Was there a familial connnection to the William Alexander Whitley family or the Adam Whitley family? I can't help but think that the Civil War was an imepetus to all the moving around. Families all across the land were left fractured, yet like the Calla Lilly who continues year after year to show her beauty, and demand her place in the garden, who fights for survival among the weeds and wildflowers. This Calla Lilly was named Jane.
While trying to go backwards in time to discover where William P or T Whitley (1835 Stanly to 1923 Iredell), and his wife Margaret Malinda (1843 -1921), came from, I kept getting crossed referenced to another William Whitley who was a contemporary of William P T Whtiley, but was an entirely different person altoghter. However, as I often find, some had merged the twain, into one. But instead of starting at the end and going backwards, as I have in my research, I will start at the beginning with this family and move forward. After finding this family, with a son named William, close in age to the William I was looking for, I discovered his mother, Jane, was a widow prior to the 1850 census.
A look into the 1840 court records revealed that Jane was widowed during the earliest years of Stanly County's existence, fortunately, because if it had been before, I may have never found him.
Jane was the widow of a John Whitley, who died about 1842
In the Mary Session of Court, of 1842, a few mentions of John Whitley suggested a change in a lawsuit he seems to have gave bond in, and a tax charge, prior to the third entry.
In the February, 1850 Session, an entire 8 years later, another entry:
"Plaintiffs have leave to withdraw papers from Clerk's office in case of Ransom Motley vs. William Whitley, Admin. of John Whitley, and Ed. Almond filed August Term, 1843."
The above clip is from a court case of State vs. Allison Whitley and John Whitley. Allison was the oldest child of John and Jane. The charges were assault. A comment was added, "Not ? as to John (jno) Whitley".
Above is the last page of the estate file of John Whitley, showing the name of his widow, Jane Whitley, and that his brother, William Whitley, was the administrator.
Above is a page from John Whitley's estate file. Most purchases were from his widow, Jane. So tragically different than the way we do things today. One would think his possessions would automatically belong to his wife, and widow, the things they used together and that she needed to raise their large batch of children. Other purchasers named were son Allison Whitley, and neighbors, John Dick, Eben Hearne, and John Almond.
A committee consisting of John Furr, Justice of the Peace, John Morton and Malachi Harwood awarded a year's allowance of $61.50. Nearly 200 years ago, this was much more valuable than it is today, but considering that after that, she was on her own, it was a terrifying time to be a widow.
John Whitley is held as a son of George Whitley, who settled on Bear Creek in what is now Stanly County, and served in the Revolutionary War, and his second wife, Rebecca Honeycutt, daughter of Ambrose Honeycutt. William "Old Billy" Whitley was his full brother. George Whitley II and Needham Whitley were his half-brothers. Both John and William had married daughters of Benjamin Hathcock, John to Jane and William to Martha. In the list, taken from The Jacob Whitley Papers, that I have not seen, but heard referenced on many occasions, the children of John and Jane were noted as:
Allison, George, Snyder, Russell, Oliver H., William, Louie or Lovie, Elizabeth or Bettie, Linda or Melinda, Nancy and Suzanna or Sussannah/ Susan. Some of these I can verify. Others I can not. And the list is not complete. Left out is Solomon S. Whitley, who was still at home in 1850, and youngest son, Levi Hobson Whitley, who lived long enough to have a death cerificate and has John and Jane (sometimes called Jenny), on his death certificate.
Son Oliver Harrison Whitley, who remained in Stanly County, also lived long enough to have a death certificate and John and 'Jennie' are listed on his death certificate.
John Whitley had been the reciever of a grant of 100 acres located on the West Side of the Yadkin River, in Montgomery County, near Ezekial Perry's line and Nehemiah Hearne's line, on November 2, 1817.
Above is the order by Will Stone to lay off the property for John Whitley.
| Name | Jane Whitley |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Race | White |
| Residence Age | 53 |
| Birth Date | abt 1797 |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Residence Date | 1850 |
| Home in 1850 | Almonds, Stanly, North Carolina, USA |
| Cannot Read, Write | Yes |
| Line Number | 35 |
| Dwelling Number | 427 |
| Family Number | 428 |
| Inferred Child | Nancy Whitley; Solomon S Whitley; Susan Whitley; William Whitley; Levi Whitley |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Jane Whitley | 53 |
| Nancy Whitley | 22 |
| Solomon S Whitley | 17 |
| Susan Whitley | 15 |
| William Whitley | 13 |
| Levi Whitley | 11 |
| Archibald Whitley | 3 |
Jane, at 53, was the head of her own household in 1850. Still at home was her daughter, Nancy, 22, son Solomon S. Whitley, 17, Susan 15, William 13, and Levi, 11. Three year old Archibald was not her child, and probably a grandchild and would live with his grandmother and family until and after he was married.
Jane and family were enumerated twice in the 1860 census. In the first instance, she is 65, and Nancy, William, Levi, Susan and Archie are living with her.
In the second instance, she is five years younger, at 60, and William is 21 instead of 25, and listed first. Levi is 19 and not 22, Susan isn't even listed, or Archie, Nancy is 24 instead of 25, and there is a six-year-old boy, "Lindsey" in the home. This goes to show how fluid ages were, and what a difference a week or so can make in the composite of a household. Perhaps Susan and Archie were visiting away and Lynsey was a grandson visiting in.
1870 was the first census to show that the family had moved out of Stanly County. Several sons had fought in the Civil War. This branch of Whitley's was fortunate in that most of them had made it out alive.
The whole troop of survivors that were together in the 1860 census had packed up and moved to Mount Mourne, Davidson Township, Iredell County. William H. Whitley was the Head of the pack, and a farm hand. He had married Julia Ann Smith, daughter of Moses Smith, about 1864, assumably in Stanly County, where they were both from. His younger brother, Levi, had married Julia's sister Margaret about the same time. Little nephew Archibald had married Isabella Hunter of Mecklenburg County near Christmas the year before, in 1869. So, they family probably moved from Stanly about 1866 or after.
In William's household was his 75-year-old mother, Jane and his two unmarried sisters, Nancy, 45, and Susannah, 33. Archibald and Isabella lived in the next household and Levi and Margaret in the home after that. They appeared to have been working as a group as farm hands.
This was Jane's last appearance. She likely died between 1870 and 1880 in Iredell County, or Cabarrus County, where William, Levi and Nancy end up in 1880. Susan's fate is also unknown. She may have married or died in the same decade as her mother.
The courage of 19th century postwar survivors to not only push on, but thrive is the reason we, their descendants exist here today. With the courage of the Calla Lillies, we have pushed through the weeds and not only grow, but shine.
John Whitley appeared in two census records, the 1810 and the 1830. Montgomery County, which encompassed present day Stanly County, in which he lived, does not have a surviving 1820 census record, and the family was somehow missed in 1840. In 1810, his family is a two person household of one male and one female, age 16-25. In 1830, it shows a very unusual family setting for what his was supposed to be.
| Name | John Whitty |
|---|---|
| Home in 1830 (City, County, State) | West Side Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 | 2 Solomon, Russel,? Oliver b 1828? |
| Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 | 1 George |
| Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14 | 1 Allison |
| Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 | 1 John ? |
| Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 | 1 Nancy |
| Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14 | 1 Lovie or? |
| Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19 | 1 Bettie? |
| Free White Persons - Females - 60 thru 69 | 1 Mother? |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 7 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 1 |
| Total Free White Persons | 9 |
| Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) | 9 |
John should be the oldest male, 30-39. There is no female in this age group. Jane would have been 35. Instead, there is a female in her 60's, his mother perhaps? This family grouping needs more research.
The descendants of the John and Jane Hathcock Whitley family were, to the best of my knowledge:
A) Allison Whitley born Feb. 18, 1818 and died May 16, 1896, born and remained in Stanly County. Married 1st Elizabeth "Betsy" Eudy (1818-1879). Married 2nd, later in life, to Lucinda Jarmon (1837-1890). 10 children, all by Betsy Eudy.
- Tillman Whitley 1837 to unknown. Wife and son alone in 1870. May have abandoned or died.
- Noah Alexander Whitley 1838-1914
- Jacob R.Whitely 1842-1860 - died at age 18 of 'the fever'.
- Mary Anice Whitley 1844-1890 - unmarried
- Lucinda "Lucy" Whitley 1847-1890 - unmarried
- Martin Whitley 1848- unknown
- Ashley Swim or Swain Whitley 1850-1935
- Martha "Mattie" Whitley 1853-1926 marrie Helms
- Willie 1859-1861
- Sarah 1862-1900 -unmarried
B) George Whitley born June 11, 1820 and died September 15, 1869. Married Keziah Eudy, a daughter of William "Billy" Monroe Eudy and Sabra Harwood Eudy and a sister of Allison's wife, Betsy. George was a Civil War Veteran. Below is a recap of his Civil War Service as shared by S. M. Whitley.
George Whitley served during the Civil War. He enlisted and msutered in as a private on Sep 7 1861. He was captured at Hanover Court House, Virginia May 27 1862 and confined at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor. He was paroled and transferred to Aikens Landing, James River, Virginia where he was received on July 12 1862 for exchange. He was exchanged at Aikens Landing on August 5 1862. He returned to duty and promoted to 1st Sergeant on an unspecified date. George Whitley was discharged on Sept 23 1862 by reason of being overage. George died Sept 15 1869 and Kisiah was left to raise their children. Seven of their ten children were still at home. Times were hard, but with the help of her family and the children they managed.
George and Keziah Whitley had the following family:
- Julia Ann Whitley 1842-1913
- John M. Whitley 1844-1921
- Nancy Elizabeth Whitley 1846-1907
- William Ervin Whitley 1849-1925
- James Goodwin Whitley 1850-1927
- Sophronia Atlet "Phronie Whitely 1853-1939
- Jacob Oliver Whitley 1855-1926
- Lewis Whitley 1857- bef 1870
- John Filmore Whitley 1858 -1919
- Varina Jane Whitley 1862-1900
- Henry Jackson Whitley 1867-1943
C) Elizabeth "Bettie" Whitley (oldest daughter) Birth 1820-1825 not in Jane's household in 1850. Married possibly an Almond. Another mention of a possible marriage to a Manuel mentioned in a book of an interview with an older Whitley family member.
D) Solomon Snider Whitley born about 1825, died between 1871 - 1880, probably in Mecklenburg or Cabarrus County. Married Josephine Hinson, daughter of Charles Sampson and Melia "Millie" Clark Hinson on August 15, 1854. Also a Civil War Veteran.
| Name | Solomon S Whitley |
|---|---|
| Enlistment Age | 37 |
| Birth Date | abt 1825 |
| Enlistment Date | 25 Mar 1862 |
| Enlistment Place | Stanly County, North Carolina |
| Enlistment Rank | Private |
| Muster Date | 10 May 1862 |
| Muster Place | North Carolina |
| Muster Company | H |
| Muster Regiment | 42nd Infantry |
| Muster Regiment Type | Infantry |
| Muster Information | Enlisted |
| Imprisonment Date | 19 Mar 1865 |
| Imprisonment Place | Bentonville, North Carolina |
| Side of War | Confederacy |
| Survived War? | Yes |
| Residence Place | Stanly County, North Carolina |
| Notes | 1862-08-09 Deserted; 1862-09-30 Returned, Estimated day; 1863-08-09 Deserted; 1863-10-04 Returned; 1865-03-30 Confined, (Point Lookout, MD); 1865-06-21 Oath of Allegiance, (Point Lookout, MD) |
| Title | North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster |
Snider's family is a bit of mystery and mess. Because he and his wife both seem to have passed away prior to 1880, leaving a large lot of mostly young children, he has been merged with a John Snider Whitley born in 1842 and his wife with a Sarah Hinson, who died as a "Sarah Hinson", not a Whitley, in 1901. This is incorrect information and will take more research to unravel. Solomon S. Whitley and Josephine Hinson Whitley had the following children:
- William Allison Whitley (1854-1935) Cabarrus
- Samuel Whitley (1855-unknown) Possibly Samuel Marion Whitley.
- Horace Whitley (1856-unknown) Possibly Harris Whitley.
- Mary Catherine Whitley Crisco (1859-1897) Iredell
- Nancy A. "Nannie" Whitley Troutman (1862-1945) Cabarrus
- Ellen Whitley (1862-1938) Cabarrus
- Amanda Jane Whitley Overcash (1864- between 1890-1900) Cabarrus
- Charles Green Whitley (1869-1824) Cabarrus
- John Phillip Whitley (1872-1947) Cabarrus
E) John Russell Whitlely (1827-1863) Died of disease in the Civil War. Married Susannah Almond. Was a Fifer.
| Name | John R Whitley |
|---|---|
| Enlistment Date | 2 Mar 1863 |
| Enlistment Place | Stanly County, North Carolina |
| Enlistment Rank | Musician |
| Muster Date | 2 Mar 1863 |
| Muster Place | North Carolina |
| Muster Company | H |
| Muster Regiment | 42nd Infantry |
| Muster Regiment Type | Infantry |
| Muster Information | Enlisted |
| Muster Out Date | 14 Sep 1863 |
| Muster Out Place | Hosp, Goldsboro, North Carolina |
| Muster Out Information | died disease |
| Side of War | Confederacy |
| Survived War? | No |
| Residence Place | Stanly County, North Carolina |
| Title | North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster |
John R. Whitley and Susan Almond Whitley had the following children:
- George marshall Whitley (1849 - 1923)
- Sarah Jane Whitley Dunn (1853- 1930)
- Mary Frances Fry (1859-1899)
F) Nancy Whitley (1828-after 1880) Never married. Died probably in Cabarrus County. Possibly mother of Archibald Hariis Whitley.
G) Melinda "Linda" Whitley (10 Dec 1830 - 25 Feb. 1910) Died in Salisbury, Rowan County, NC. Married Joshua Wood. Linda and Joshua Wood had the following children:
- William H. Wood (1853-1931)
- Martha J. Hoffner (1856-1925)
- John R. Wood Sr. (1857-1933)
- Hiram J. Wood (1858-1913)
- Margaret Melinda Wood Cozzens (1861-1928)
- Sarah J. Wood Smith (1863-?)
- George Oliver Wood (1866-?)
- Jerry O. Wood (1866-?)
- Julia Ann Wood Bains (1868-?)
- Walter Wood (1876-1942)
I) William R Whitley born about 1836 and died on July 1, 1921 in Mecklenburg County, NC. Married Julia Ann Smith. Also served in the Civil War. I have given a great deal of information on William already, in my previous post, "A Tale of Two Williams", which can be found here.
Willaim and Julia had the following children:
- Mary Hargett Whitley Rowe (1865-1940)
- Sidney A Whitley (1866-1931)
- Emily Jane Whitley Deaton (1869-1906)
- William Presley Whitley (1871-1917)
J) Levi Hobson Whitley born 1839, and died August 3, 1914 in Greensboro, Guilford County, NC. Levi married Margaret Jane Smith.
Levi, the youngest child of John and Jane Whitley was also in the Civil War,
| Name | Levi H Whitley |
|---|---|
| Enlistment Age | 27 |
| Birth Date | abt 1835 |
| Enlistment Date | 25 Mar 1862 |
| Enlistment Place | Stanly County, North Carolina |
| Enlistment Rank | Private |
| Muster Date | 10 May 1862 |
| Muster Place | North Carolina |
| Muster Company | H |
| Muster Regiment | 42nd Infantry |
| Muster Regiment Type | Infantry |
| Muster Information | Enlisted |
| Imprisonment Date | 10 Mar 1865 |
| Imprisonment Place | Wise's Forks, North Carolina |
| Side of War | Confederacy |
| Survived War? | Yes |
| Residence Place | Stanly County, North Carolina |
| Notes | 1862-08-09 Deserted; 1863-01-01 Returned, Estimated day; 1863-08-09 Deserted; 1864-09-22 Returned; 1865-03-16 Confined, (Point Lookout, MD); 1865-06-21 Oath of Allegiance, (Point Lookout, MD) |
| Title | North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster |
It amazes me how many times this set of brothers, and a nephew, deserted and rejoined without being court-martialed and hung. The Whitleys really didn't want to fight.
Levi and Margaret had the following children:
- John Riley Whitley (1864-1940)
- Laura E. Whitley Coble (or Cauble) (1866-1911)
- Avert Whitley (1878-1922)
- Margaret "Maggie" Whitley Milloway (1880-1957)
There was one more Whitley in this gypsy pack of Whitley's, but he wasn't a son of John. Archibald Harris Whitley, born about 1848, lived in the home of widow Jane Whitley, with her younger children, from the time he was a two year old toddler until after he married Aseneth Isabella Hunter from Mecklenburg County, on December 23, 1869, in Cabarrus County. He traveled with this family from Stanly County to Iredell to Cabarrus to Mecklenburg. He was without doubt a member of the pack. Yet, he was born six years after John died and when the widow, Jane, was 53 years old. It is my belief that he was a grandchild. He doesn't appear to have been the child of any son of the couple, at least not any that were known, and living, two years after he was born. It is possible that he was the child of an unmarried daughter, but so far, I have not found any court record, or other document to prove that theory either. If this were true, the most likely mother would have been Nancy, as she was twenty when he was born. The other unmarried daughter in the 1850 census was Susan, 15, making her only 13 when he was born. Then there is the mysterious Bettie, of whom we know no more than her name and that she was supposedly the oldest daughter. So, the origins of Archie go unproven and speculative. I move forward with the fact that he was somehow one of the pack.
K) Archibald Harris Whitley born in 1848, married Asenath Isabella Hunter (1852-1907). Archie and his wife were textile workers and died in their early 50's, leaving a large family. They are buried at the Back Creek ARP Church Graveyard in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, which is not far from Harrisburg, Cabarrus County. Archie died on March 3, 1901, of either thyphoid fever, or pnuemonia, that may have hit other family members. The papers cant agree. One even overstated his age by thirty years.
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The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte, North Carolina • Page 2 |
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The Standard
Concord, North Carolina • Page 3 |
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The Concord Times
Concord, North Carolina • Page 3 |
Archie and Isabella left the following family"
- Henry Joshua (or Joshway) Whitley (1871-1942)
- William Holt Whitley (1874-1901)
- John Patrick Whitley (1877-1934)
- Carrie May Whitley (1881-1942)
- Ellie Jane Whitley (1883 - 1900)
- Owen Hunter Whitley (1886-1932)
- Infant Son Whitley (1888)
- Leonard Harris Whitley (1889-1908)
- Mattie B. Whitley (1893-1893)
- James Gilmore Whitley (1895-1910)
