Ancestral Photographs of Upstate New York

Tangled Roots and Twisted Branches

WHITAKER

The following information is taken from my grandmother's book, "Tangled Roots and Twisted Branches" (published 1987), with some minor reformatting for the web. This book is known to contain some errors. If you have any corrections or additions, please contact me.

Rachel Whitaker was the daughter of SAMUEL WHITAKER born 5 December 1715 and Catryn Burhans born 1714 (the daughter of Barent BURHANS born 24 April 1681, who married 1704 Margrit Jans MATTHYSEN baptized 14 January 1684 Kingston, and grand daughter of JAN MATTHYSEN and Magdalena Blanchan). Margrit Jans Matthysen came to this country from France on the ship GILDED OTTER, and settled in the Hurley area.
SAMUEL WHITAKER (ninth child of James Whitaker baptized 24 April 1675 in Kingston Dutch Church and married 6 December 1696 in the same church to Elizabeth Titsoort. Elizabeth was born in Schenectady, NY to William Abraham Titsoort, who later removed to Dutchess County, NY.
Edward Whitaker came from England with his brother. Both were dealers in livestock, and both were lost at sea while returning to England on a visit. EDWARD was a Soldier in the Duke of York's Regiment. His wife was Hanna.
CAPT. EDWARD WHITAKER, English Soldier of Capt. Broadhead's Regt. - who died January 1695 - settled on his land at HUSSY HILL. In a few years, sold estate, and then settled in Esopus Valley.
He rescued Hannah Wakeman Hackleton and her year-old child and took her home to be a servant. She had married Francis Hacklton at Hog's Island, New England. She was arrested, received a one-year prison sentence, and was made to sit on the gallows steps (Hartford). After he had rescued her, she lived with Whitaker. Later she complained to the Court of mistreatment, stating that he beat her and threatened to burn both her and her child, Anna, and threw them out in the cold. He was ordered "To take good care of her, as he had slept with her". Later they married. Some people called her a witch. They had two sons: James and Edward.
Hannah's daughter Anna Hacklton married JOHN WOOD.

James Whitaker, baptized Kingston Church April 1675, married Elizabeth Titsoort.

EDWARD WHITAKER, married 10 June 1700 in Kingston Church to HILLETJE BURHANS. Their descendants married into the OSTERHOUT and LEGG family lines.
(Actually, my information shows that it was the descendants of JAMES WHITAKER and ELIZABETH TITSOORT that married into our lines. This is a confusing section of the family tree - will have to poke at it some more to make sure who connects where. -- RT)

Additional information on Hannah Wakeman Hackleton from another of her descendants:

I am a Whitaker ... descendant of Hanna who was actually Johanna Wakeman who was in Hartford, Connecticut witch trials as Hanna Hackleton (1st marriage). Wife of Edward Whitaker, Joanna (Hannah) Wakeman Hackelton.
Hannah Wakeman was convicted of murder and blasphemy prior to meeting Edward. Rather than hang a woman, the governor of Connecticut was persuaded to indenture her to Edward Whitaker for a period of 5 years as punishment. During that time Edward Jr. was born and after the 5-year term was over Hannah petitioned the court to force Edward to marry her. The court's ruling required Edward to marry Hannah because he had "slept" with her while she was under his charge. They subsequently married and remained married until his death in December of 1694. Hannah's life story has been published in the New York Genealogy Review at least twice.
Besides the 2 sons, she had a daughter named after her as well.

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