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In 1945, Evelyn Johns Salisbury hired Harry Wright Newman of Washington DC to do research on the Witten Family. He also did work for her on the Cecil Family. The following are his reports. There are also letters from others following his report. In Newman's cover letter, he states that the Cecil report will follow under separate cover. I have not found that report. K Harry Wright Newman Mrs. Herbert Salisbury Dear Mrs. Salisbury: Enclosed you will find the results of my study of the Witten Family in Maryland which actually occupied more time than the allotted day. I collected all possible data on your known ancestor and attempted to prove his parentage with the other families bearing that name in Maryland with no apparent result. You will note that there were Wittens in Cecil County, where the name Thomas figures in the latter 1600s, but from the available data at the Probate Court I could not satisfactory prove the connection, if any. Then there were Wittens living in Prince Georges County (from which Frederick County was organized) at an early date but from the will it looked as if the testator held no land - anyhow, I could not prove your ancestor, Thomas Witten, up to the sons - John and William. The only other medium of research which I can suggest is the deeds in Cecil County and early Prince Georges as well as other land records which were not covered in this research. For the deeds of Cecil County, one would have to go to Elkton, the county seat, but some of the land records, if any are available, can be obtained from Annapolis. Enclosed is also the Witten lineage to a Magna Charta surety. The data supplied you on the Cecil family, I am sending by registered mail under separate cover. I may add this. The source reference for the emigration of John Cecil is Liber 4, folio 29, Land Office, Annapolis, instead of Liber 6, folio 129, as indicated in your data. Regret that I step beyond the commission and expressed my opinion so frankly in my previous letter. I should have confined all my remarks strictly to the task as commissioned by you. I acted, however, with the best of intentions. Hoping that I may have the pleasure of serving you again in the near future, and if you wish the land records and deeds, I shall be happy to be of service. Very Truly yours, Harry Wright Newman, F.A.S.G. I hereby certify that the following data pertaining to the Whitten (and similar spellings) family of Maryland, with cited authorities, are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. Harry Wright Newman, F.A.S.G. Thomas Whitton (Witten) of Frederick County, Maryland, and Later of the Colony of Virginia Note: The following data pertain specifically and definitely to the above named Thomas Whitten (Whitton, Witten) and embrace the years 1745-1767. June 8, 1745 1753 1760 1762 1763 1765 In 1753 Thomas Whitten (Witten) remitted quit rents on the following tracts; Small Hope Resurveyed, Trouble Enough, Hope Improved, and Small Hope. Ref: Debt Books (Frederick County), liber 1753, folio 38. The last year for which he paid quit rents in the Province of Maryland was 1766. Ref: Debt Books (Frederick County), Liber 1766, folio 125, Land Office, Annapolis. On November 16, 1762, Thomas Witten, of Frederick County, Maryland, Planter, conveyed to Francis Cullom, of the same county, for L5 101 acres of "Resurvey on Small Hope", with improvements, lying on a branch of Bonnet's Creek, adjoining the tract known as "Hog Pen". He signed the conveyance, while his wife, Elizabeth Witten, waived dower before Charles Jones and David Lynn, two Justices of the Peace for Frederick County. Ref: Fred. CO. Deeds, Liber H, folio 222, Frederick Courthouse. On November 16, 1762, Thomas Witten, of Frederick County, Maryland, Planter, conveyed to George Cullom, of the same county 174 acres of "Small Hope Improved", lying on a branch of Sinacox Creek. Elizabeth Witten, his wife, waived dower. Ref: Fred. Co. Deeds, Liber H, folio 224. On November 18, 1762, Thomas Witten, of Frederick County, Maryland, conveyed to James Perry, of the same county, for a consideration of L12/8/- a portion of "Resurvey on Small Hope Improved" lying on a branch of Sinnacos Creek. Elizabeth Witten, wife, waived dower. Ref: Frederick County Deeds, Liber H, folio 225, Frederick Courthouse. On November 15, 1762, Thomas Witton, of Frederick County, Maryland, Planter, conveyed to John Forrest Davis, of the same county, 137 3/4 acres of "Resurvey on Small Hope Improved". Elizabeth Witton, wife, waived dower. Ref: Frederick Co. Deeds, Liber H, folio 237, Frederick Courthouse. On July 1, 1765, Thomas Whitten, of Frederick County, Maryland, Planter, conveyed to Gerrard Hopkins, of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, for a consideration of L180 a portion of "Hope Improved" and Trouble Enough Indeed". He signed the instrument as "Thos Witten". Elizabeth Witten, his wife, waived all dower rights before John Darnall, Justice of the Peace. Ref: Frederick Co. Deeds, Liber K, folio 26, Frederick Courthouse. On March 17, 1767, Thomas Whitten, of Frederick County, Mayland, Planter, conveyed to Nathan Browning, Planter, of the same county for a consideration of L10 a portion of "Hope Improve". ife of Thomas Whitten waived all dower rights before Joseph Wood and Jos'i Beall, Justices of the Peace for Frederick County. Ref: Frederick Co. Deeds, Liber K, folio 976. Note: Not further deeds of conveyance for Thomas Witten are found in Frederick County until 1803 - the last year searched. A thorough search through the Archives of Maryland (vols. 1-54) fails to disclose any colonial service (civil, religious, or military) for Thomas Witten. His name does not appear in 1775 upon a "List of Associators Returned in Frederick County, Maryland", the names of which the D.A.R. accepts as "Patriots" for membership. Ref: Maryland Magazine of History, vol. 11, p. 174. Furthermore, a thorough search
through all available data on the Calvert family of Maryland fails to prove or
infer any marriages between members of the Calvert and Witten families. Miscellaneous Witten Data - Maryland Inventory of the personal estate of Thomas Witton, late of Cecil County, Maryland, deceased, was appraised at 3,612 pounds of tobacco on October 2, 1680. Ref: Inventories & Accounts, Liber 7a, folio 251, Hall of Records, Annapolis. Inventory of the personal estate of John Witton (no county given) was appraised on January 14, 1680/1, for 5,410 pounds of tobacco. Ref: Inventories and Accounts, Liber 7, folio 7, Hall of Records. Will of John Witton dated October 21, 1680, proved December 10, 1681, (no county given) by Jonathan Goozan and William Pournall. Eldest son, William, and young son John personalty. Wife Joane executrix and residue of estate. Overseers: Captain Ninian Beall and Richard Gardiner. Ref: Wills, Liber 2, folio 136, Hall of Records. Note: Captain Ninian Beall lived in what is now Prince Georges County. Inventory of the personal estate of Richard Whitton, late of Cecil County, deceased, was appraised on April 15, 1693, at L75/7/11. Ref: Inventories & Accounts, Liber 13a, folio 28, Hall of Records. Account upon the estate of Richard Whitton, of Cecil County, was rendered by Ann James, the administratrix, showing assets of 4,333 pounds of tobacco. Ref: Inventories & Accounts, Liber 13b, folio 3, Hall of Records, Annapolis. Inventory of the personal estate of Thomas Whitton, deceased, (not county given) was appraised on January 25, 1703/4. Note: Remainder of the document missing. Ref: Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 8b, folio 12, Hall of Records. Account upon the estate of Thomas Witton, late of Cecil County, deceased, was returned to the court on May 14, 1705, by Ruth Witton, the relict and administratrix, showing a balance of 797 pounds of tobacco. Ref: Inventories & Accounts, Liber 25, folio 120, Hall of Records. On April 22, 1754, William
Whitton Sr. and Mary his wife, administrators of the estate of John Gullet, late
of Cecil County, deceased, filed an account, showing an inventory of L76/3/-,
and after various disbursements a balance of L16/4/3 remained to be distributed
among the following heirs: On December 5, 1755, William Whittom and Mary his wife rendered an additional account upon the estate of John Gullet, late of Cecil County, showing a balance of L11/11/6. Ref: Administration Accounts, Liber 37, folio 68, Hall of Records. On August 17, 1728, Richard Whitton rendered an account upon the estate of Isaac Hargrave, late of Cecil County, deceased, showing assets of L80/6/7, and after various disbursements a balance of L13/5/8 remained. Ref: Administration Accounts, Liber 9, folio 319, Hall of Records. On January 14, 1755, the inventory of the personal estate of Samuel Whitton, late of Cecil County, deceased, was appraised by John Currer and Richard Patton at L18/3/0. Elizabeth Neail and Margaret Witton signed as the next of kin; John Neail administrator. Ref: Inventories Liber 60, folio 90, Hall of Records. On August 18, 1756, Mary
Whittam, administratrix of William Whittam, Jr., late of Cecil County, deceased,
rendered an account showing a balance of L114/7/8. The heirs were: July 2, 1759, Benjamin Whittom,
executor of William Whittom, late of Cecil County, deceased, was rendered on
July 2, 1759, showing an inventory appraised at L96/15/8, and after various
disbursements a balance of L4/7/4. Among the disbursements was L1/17/6 to
Mary Whttom. Ref: Administration Accounts, Liber 43, folio 158, Hall of
Records. Letter from Mrs. Millikan Regarding the White Family 4865 A South 28th St. Dear Mrs. Estes: My husband forwarded your
letter of the 13th to me and I received it this morning.
Cordially, Letter from Mrs. E.E. Evans to Mrs. Estes Regarding White Research Columbia, Mo. Dear Mrs. Estes: From the D.A.R. Library
Catalogue which I have, I find History of Cecil COunty, Maryland, by G. Johnston,
1881, Publisher not stated, "History of Harford & Cecil Counties,"
Chapman Publishing Co. 1897 The will of William Bonniday, Ann Arundel Co.
1653 Maryland Calendar of Wills, Baldwin. Vol.
1, p. 33, Will of William Stockdale: Calvert Co. 1666 Calvert Co. 1676, Will of Guy White Vol. III, p. 234 Prince George's Co. 1712, Will
of Guy White The Guy White in the first two, 1653, 1666, may have been the same Guy who wrote the will 1676. he names a son Guy. These must have all been of a descent. I have thought Rebecca might have ben a daughter of Guy White. She might have been the daughter of the son Guy named in the will of his father in 1712. Yes, Rebecca may have been of the Mayflower
family. All that I can say is that the research that I have been able to
do with the material at hand does not show any connection of the New England
family with the Maryland family. With more local Maryland records, so that
I could find Rebecca in Maryland from her trace back it might be found. Letter from Mary Estes, VA to Evelyn Salisbury, KY Pennington Gap, VA My dear Mrs. Salisbury: I am sending you all the material I have on Rebecca White and it isn't much. I wish I had more to send you. Mrs. E. E. Evans of 1511 University Ave, Columbia, Mo. has done a lot of research on this and sent me what I have. I am copying what she sent me. My sister who lives in Washington had some correspondence with Mrs. Tynes regarding the family of Rebecca White, and I believe she told me that Mrs. Tynes thinks someone made a sampler and embroidered the names of all the ancestors from Peregrine White on down together with the dates of birth etc. and that a Mrs. Anderson probably in Kansas has this sampler. She says our Rebecca made the sampler. I wrote to Mrs. Tynes about this but did not hear from her. If this is true, and the sampler is in existence then it would be a very easy matter to trace it out. I don't' care a lot about it for myself, but I do want tit because it might mean a lot to my daughter in the years to come. This summer I had a letter from Mrs. Millikan who is also interested in Rebecca. I will copy her letter for you. If enough of us get behind this record I believe it can eventually be traced out. I am not giving up right now. I am keeping your letter in a file I have and if I find anything in the years to come that will interest you will gladly send it on. And if you should ever get the line straightened out i'd like to have a copy of it. Very sincerely |