Biography of William Whiteaker

Here is what I have put together about William Whiteaker. As far as I can tell it is accurate but there is always a chance that changes will need to be made down the road as information is uncovered. William Whiteaker was born in about 1795. (The specific birthplace is unknown at this time.) His father's name was probably William.

He had settled in White county, Tennessee by at least 1815 if not a few years earlier. The Bartlett’s (William Whiteaker's In-laws) were probably in Tennessee by at least 1807. I think this because: What seems to be Dorcas Bartlett’s brother’s obituary mentions that he moved with his parents to White county, Tennessee in 1807.

He first married Dorcas Bartlett in about 1821 probably in White county, Tennessee. Dorcas was the daughter of Joshua and Winnie Bartlett. William and Dorcas had at least one son (Henry). Joshua Bartlett’s (Dorcas Bartlett’s father) last will and testament seems to indicate that William and Dorcas had two children, one son being Henry Whiteaker.  Dorcas is thought to have passed away in June 1823. Then William married a second time, this time marrying Rhoda Kinnard. They were married in about 1825 probably in White county, Tennessee.

William and Rhoda were the parents of eleven children. They were Nathan, Sarah, Mark, Betty, Ann, Lucinda, William, Robert, George, John, and Polly.

William and Rhoda lived in Dry Valley, Tennessee for many years until they moved to Jackson county Tennessee sometime just before 1850. Putnam County was formed in 1842/1854. After moving to Jackson County, Tennessee they may have lived in the Free State community on a bend of the Cumberland River. Tennessee land records seem to indicate that William Whiteaker owned a great amount of land over the years.

Brief Tennessee road history:
1796: State of Tennessee created. State law allowed overseers to appoint citizens to work on road projects, similar to today's jury duty.
1801: Responding to Governor John Sevier, The General Assembly appointed commissioners for road building purposes.
1807: Overseers provided with road building materials.
1817: Meeting held in Blountville to promote a navigation company to enhance transportation. East Tennessee almost entirely dependent upon overland trade from Richmond and beyond by 6-horse team wagons.
1821: State of Tennessee created 3 classes of public roads: First Class - 30 foot wide stage road, Second Class - 12 feet wide, and Third Class - wide enough for a horse and rider. Roads were notched to indicate class (First class = 3 notches).

White County, Tennessee- April 9, 1821
Ordered by Court the following hands be assigned Joshua Bartlett Overseer of the road from post oak to falling water, known by the name of Cherey Creek Road To wit: Wm Whitaker, Saml. Hardy, Jno Bartlett, Leander Hughes, Walker Burnett, Martin Bedwell, Jno Pennington, Charles Isham, Biggin Perkins, James Lenard, Jno Dyer, James Myers, Jos. England, Hodge England, Irwin Derling, Isaac Bartlett, Mark Whitson, Dudley Hunter, James Hudgens, Thomas Robertson, Wm Pryor, Geo. Thomas, Jno. Bohannan, James Strain, Jno. Jackson, Jno Phillips, Joshua Hatcher, Wm. Bartlett, Jos. Hunter, Jas Jackson, to keep said road in repair as the law requires. Issd.


[Putnam County was first established on 2 February 1842 when the Twenty-fourth General Assembly enacted a measure creating Putnam County from portions of Jackson, Overton, Fentress, and White Counties. Isaac Buck, Burton Marchbanks, Henry L. McDaniel, Lawson Clark, Carr Terry, Richard F. Cooke, H. D. Marchbanks, Craven Maddox, and Elijah Con, all of Jackson County, were named by the Act to superintend the surveying of the new county. Surveying was done by Mounce Gore also of Jackson County, and the Assembly instructed them to locate the county seat, to be called "Monticello," near the center of the county. However contending that the formation of Putnam was illegal because it reduced their areas below constitutional limits, Overton and Jackson counties secured an injunction against its continued operation. Putnam officials failed to reply to the complaint, and in the March, 1845 term of the Chancery Court at Livingston, Chancellor Bromfield L. Ridley declared Putnam unconstitutionally established and therefore dissolved. The 1854 act reestablishing Putnam was passed after Representative Henderson M. Clements of Jackson County assured his colleagues that a new survey showed that there was sufficient area to form the county.]

(It is thought that the Gainesboro vicinity was a popular destination for long hunters as early as the 1770s, as natural salt licks drew rich game to the area. Gainesboro was founded in the early 1800s. It has been the seat of Jackson County since 1820.)

In the Book: Putnam County, Tennessee, 1850-1970 (Mary Jean DeLozier, 1979) Mary Delozier says about the area where the Whiteaker's lived:

"With good reason early transients on the plateau called it the Wilderness."

"In 1854 those traveling the Walton Road passed a few farms, those of the Whiteaker’s, Brady’s, and Clarks, where shoots were visible in cornfields and orchards were in bloom."

"Putnam's other river, Falling Water, rises on the escarpment of the plateau and tumbles west into the Caney Fork. Fed by many creeks, Falling Water cuts a deep valley, known as "Welch Hollow," in eastern Putnam county. To the south relatively productive coves and hollows, such as Hunter Cove, Dry Valley, and Broad Valley early attracted a number of settlers, the Bohannons, Clarks, and Whiteaker’s, as well as the Hunters.

On 11 October 1841 William Whiteaker was among the signers that signed a petition to create Putnam County, Tennessee from parts of neighboring counties.

William Whiteaker passed away near Gainesboro, Jackson county, Tennessee on 18 June 1881 as recorded in the Jackson County, Tennessee Death Records Book of Catarrh. Age is stated to be 100 years (although I feel that the age given is doubtful).

His burial site at this time is unknown although some think that he may be buried in the Rocky Point Church Cemetery in Putnam County, Tennessee.

They had the following children:

NATHAN  WHITEAKER  was born in 1826 in WHITE COUNTY, TENNESSEE. NATHAN married SARAH (BOWMAN?)  daughter of (JAMES?) (BOWMAN?) before 1850. SARAH was born about 1820 in TENNESSEE. (May not have had any children.)

SARAH WHITEAKER was born in 1827/1828. She died on 21 Mar 1882. She married Leroy Whiteaker. They had Amanda, Martha, John, William Taylor, James, Mary Elizabeth, and Nancy Jane.

MARK  WHITEAKER was born in 1828 in WHITE COUNTY, TENNESSEE. (Never married)

BETTY (ELIZABETH JANE) WHITEAKER was born in Mar 1831/1832. She died in 1909. She married Sampson Jackson “Jack” Howard. They had Edward, Sarah, Sidney Stanton, Rhoda, Harrison, Polly, and Fanny

ANN WHITEAKER was born about 1833. She died about 1869. She married Dudley Hunter. They had John, Nancy, Ova, William Harrison, Daniel B., Nathan, Dudley, and Luella?, Mary? and Martin?

LUCINDA WHITEAKER was born about 1836 in WHITE COUNTY, TENNESSEE. (No further information)

WILLIAM WHITEAKER was born on 25 Jan 1837. He died on 26 Oct 1923. He married Canzada Halcum. Never had any children. But did raise a boy, Henry.

ROBERT WHITEAKER was born about 1838. He married Eliza J. Brazzell and maybe Louisa. They had Haywood, Thomas Douglas, John, Vance Brooke, and Mounce.

GEORGE WHITEAKER was born about 1841 in WHITE COUNTY, TENNESSEE. (No further information)

JOHN WHITEAKER was born on 27 Aug 1845. He died on 28 Jul 1899. He married Sallie Hunter. They had Emma Floyd, Lear, Luke, Laura, Joe, Rolin, Walter Fred, Mary, William Clay, Vina, John Hardin.

POLLY WHITEAKER was born about 1847. She married G.B. Brazzell. They had Maurice?