by Bruce Whitaker
Joshua Whitaker Jr. was born on Sunday, June 4, 1769 at two o’ clock in the morning on Jersey Creek, near Linwood in Rowan (now Davidson) County, NC. He was the son of Joshua Whitaker Sr. (1735-1798) and Mary Reed (1748-1832).
Recently I have come across a few websites that say his mother was Mary Barrickio. This is complete hogwash. The fact that Joshua Whitaker Jr. was the son of Mary Reed is listed in both the Reed and Whitaker Bibles, a Rowan County marriage license, and dozens of other documents and writings.
Joshua grew up on his father’s farm on Jersey Creek and Swearing Creek. Both his parents were raised as Quakers, but like many Quakers in what is now Davidson County they eventually became Baptist. They attended Jersey Creek Baptist Church near Linwood. Joshua Whitaker Sr. and his sister, Susannah Whitaker McCrary, are both buried at Jersey Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Joshua Whitaker Jr. grew up in Rowan (now Davidson) County during the Revolutionary War. Joshua Whitaker Sr. was in his 40s during that war. He did not fight because of his age and health, but he was listed as supplying “Sundries for the Militia of North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina in June 1781, and September 1782.” Also, there is an invoice (#5309) to Joshua Whitaker Sr. for a horse voucher. So he apparently provided a horse for the American side in the war.
Joshua Whitaker Jr. married Nancy Childers in Rowan County, NC, on August 12, 1791. This marriage bond was overlooked for years because Joshua Whitaker Jr. was listed as the bondsman instead of the groom on the Rowan County marriage register. It’s not known whether he signed on the wrong line or the Rowan County Clerk copied it wrong. Nancy Childers was born in North Carolina on April 22, 1769.
Joshua Jr. and Nancy moved to Fairview, Buncombe County, NC, around 1800. Many of his neighbors and family had already moved to Fairview at this time. Joshua’s mother, Mary Reed Whitaker, and brother James remained in Rowan County until his father died in 1798.
The first recorded deed for Joshua Whitaker Jr. in Fairview was for 200 acres on Cane Creek from John Carson on October 23, 1801. Joshua and Nancy lived on a farm located on what is now Miller Road.
Joshua Whitaker Jr.’s brother, William Whitaker Sr. (1772-1860), had a son named Joshua Whitaker, born in Fairview in 1797. He married Margaret Ashworth in 1819. From that time on it is hard to tell Joshua Whitaker Jr. from his nephew Joshua Whitaker until Joshua Jr. died in 1856. Joshua Whitaker Jr. would occasionally sign his name Joshua Sr. to set himself apart from his nephew. Joshua Whitaker’s nephew would sometime sign his name as Joshua Jr., but most of the time they would both sign their names as just Joshua Whitaker.
Joshua Whitaker Jr. was listed as voting in the August 13, 1835 election for Congress. He served on a jury with his youngest brother, James Whitaker (1779-1871), in January 1822. On July 6, 1833 he was at the estate sale of Rand Scoggins. Joshua purchased a spinning wheel for $2, a pair of towels for 20 cents, and a water bucket and two ladles for 13 cents.
Joshua and Nancy Whitaker were members of Cane Creek Baptist Church. Nancy died on April 22, 1841 (her 72nd birthday). Joshua Whitaker Jr. outlived his wife by 15 years. He died in Fairview on June 26, 1856. Both are buried in Cane Creek Cemetery in Fairview. They had six children, all girls.
1. Mary Whitaker was born in Rowan (now Davidson) County, NC, on July 14, 1793. She married Joseph Trantham (1789-1850). All the Tranthams in Buncombe, Haywood, and Cherokee County, NC, as well as Cocke County, TN, descend from them. Mary died on August 12, 1884 at age 91.
2. Nancy Whitaker was born on October 27, 1796 in Rowan (Davidson) County, NC. She married John Rickman (1795-1841). They lived on Miller Road between the two bridges. Nancy died on August 10, 1878. Both are buried in Cane Creek cemetery.
3. Elizabeth Whitaker was born on October 25, 1799 in Rowan (Davidson) County, NC. She married Charles West and moved to Leicester. She died there on September 12, 1840. The owners of West Funeral Home in Weaverville descend from her.
4. Susannah Whitaker was born in Fairview on August 4, 1802. She married Michael Whitaker (1797-1850). They moved to Cooper County, MO, in the mid-1830. They had 17 children. Susannah died in Missouri on February 5, 1874.
5. Margaret Whitaker was born in Fairview on December 27, 1807. She married David Garren (1801-1894). They lived at what is now called the Taylor Ranch. Their rock wellhouse is still standing on the right side of the road going toward Fletcher. Margaret Whitaker Garren died in Fairview on January 18, 1891. They are both buried at Old Salem Cemetery in Fletcher.
6. Sarah Whitaker was born in Fairview on June 12, 1812. She married Andrew Grant (1810-1855). Sarah died in Fairview on May 13, 1885. All the Grants in Fairview descend from Sarah and Andrew. Both are buried in Cane Creek Cemetery in Fairview.
Local historian Bruce Whitaker documents genealogy in the Fairview area. He can be reached at 628-1089 or brucewhitaker@ bellsouth.net.