Published By: The Genealogical Society of Davidson County

P.O. Box 1665, Lexington, North Carolina 27292

DAV ILJSOc.i COuNTYFOUNDED 1822

0037227 J.8

HERITAGE OF DAVIDSON COUNTY 1982

01

Published in Cooperation with the Historical Publishing Division,

Hunter Publishing Company

Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27113

COBB CO.~PUBLIC LIBRARYMARltTTA~ GJ~ORGIA

years. And with progress, power came to theriver. It came in the form of a dam on the lower

Yadkin that would generate electricity for thefamilies in a large area of N. C. A part of theland holdings of the Smiths was purchased bythe Aluminum Co. of America and water beganfilling this area in 1927 and with it the birth ofHigh Rock Lake and the demise of a tradition of'family planters that had sei:tled and tilled itssoil for almost 2 centuries.

By 1929 all of Little David's children hadmoved their families to new locations. Thoughmost of Little David's sons continued to farm

land in other areas, the majority of his chil­dren's children were lost to the changing timesand took various jobs at public work. Only thefamily of Julius Marcellus, who had d. 1924,remained close by in Linwood. Marcellus'widow, Emma Trantham, and her fatherlesschildren continued the tradition of Southern

Planters established in the 18th century.Eight of her 11 children (David Reid, Phillip

Forrest, Nannie, Paul Raymond, Voida, Frank,and Lena) remained in the Jersey Settlement ofLinwood to farm and rear their families. Todayin the 1980s several of their children, including

another David, carry, on the farming tradition.Sources: Mrs. Roy Smith, Rowan Co. Court records,

Mrs. Ruth Nichols Smith, family traditions, personalknowledge.

- Martha Lillian Smith

CAPT. DAViD SMITH (SR.) andDESCENDANTS

1061Capt. David Smith (Sr.), b. Nov. 1730, d. 2

May 1787 in Rowan Co., m. Anna Barbara (7),d. Sept. 1804 in Rowan Co.; they are bur. inBecks Church Cem.

His will was written 20 Jan. 1784 and pro­bated in 1787 in Rowan Co. His executors were

his son, Leonard, and his wife, Anna Barbara,and the witnesses were Ludwig Winkler, Jr.,Samuel Luther and John Billings, Jr.

He names the following children in his will:Leonard, (Sr.) m. Margaret (7); David, (Jr.),b. 16 May 1753, d. 12 Oct. 1823, bur. inBecks Church Cem., m. Susannah Myers(Michael Myers); Frederick went to BarrenCo., Ky.; Casper; Peter W., b. 26 May 1762,d. 3 Jan. 1836, m. Anna Marcretha (7), b. 15Feb. 1763, d. 23 June 1831, both bur. inBecks Church Cem.; and John m. HannahMcGuire (Edward and Isabell) Rowan Co.,Marriage Bond 9 Mar. 1790.

Also Maj. George, b. 6 May 1773, d. 1 Oct.1844 in Davidson Co., m. Sarah "Sally"McGuire (Edward and Isabell) b. 7 Sept. 1770,d. 1 Feb. 1844 in Davidson Co. They are bur. inJersey Bapt. Church Cem.; Christina, 2nd wifeof George Feezor (Nicholas Feezor) m. 18 Aug.1787 in Rowan Co.; Barbara, b. 23 Sept.1767, d. 20 Feb. 1864 in Davidson Co., m. 8

Mar. 1785 in Rowan Co. Jacob Miller (GeorgeMiller, Sr.) b. 1760, d. 8 Mar. 1844, bur. inthe Miller Family Cem., Davidson Co.

Leonard Smith (Sr.), d. 1818/1819 inRowan Co., m. Margaret (7) who was living in1818 when his will was written. He wrote his

willi June 1818 and it was probated in 1819 inRowan Co. The executors were his sons,

Jacob and George, and the witnesses wereJacob Miller and Barbara Miller.

Their children were David, d. 1823, m.Elizabeth Idol, Rowan Co., Marriage Bond 15Jan. 1803; Jacob, d. 1838 in Tipton Co.,Tenn. m. Hannah Martin, Rowan Co., Mar­riage Bond 12 Jan. 1810; Leonard (Jr.), b.1784 in Rowan Co., d. 15 May 1847 in TiptonCo., m. Rowan Co., Marriage Bond 9 Mar.1805, Susannah Holmes (Reuben Holmes andSallie Freeland) b. 16 Oct. 1788 in Rowan Co.,d. 6/15 May 1844 in Tipton Co.; George m.Sarah Holmes; Catherine m. Christian Kinney,Rowan Co., Marriage Bond 31 Oct. 1792; Mar­garet "Peggy" m. David Cross; Susanna m.George Cross, Rowan Co., Marriage Bond 10Apr. 1806; Elizabeth m. Jesse Lane; Mary m.Henry Fry, Rowan Co., Marriage Bond 13 June1804; Nancy m. Jesse Holmes (ReubenHolmes and Sallie Freeland) b. 2 July 1789, d.9 Jan. 1856 in Davidson Co. and is bur. in the

Holmes Family Cem., Oakwood Acres, David­son Co.

George Smith, b. in Rowan Co., d. in TiptonCo. in 1838, m. Sarah Holmes (ReubenHolmes and Sallie Freeland) Rowan Co., Mar­riage Bond 22 May 1812, witnesses: GeorgeSmith and John Henry Freeling. Sarah wasliving in i836.

His will was written 4 Aug. 1836 and pro­bated the July Term of Court 1838 in Tipton Co.Their children were Reuben m. 1) Nancy Long,m. 2) Amanda J. Long; John, Henry, Lucy,Susan, Mary, Leonard, "Polly," Sarah, Nan­cy, George, Jesse, Carolina, Alexander, Eliza­beth, Margaret m. (7) Sessoms and Evaifne m.William Ray Whitlock.

Keuben Smith, b. 17 May 1813 in Rowan.Co., d. 18 Oct. 1857 in Davidson Co. and is

bur. at Jersey Bapt. Church Cem. with both ofhis wives.

Reuben m. 1) Nancy Long (Jacob Long andMary Barbara Lapp) b. 12 Apr. 1812 in RowanCo., d. 30 Aug. 1848 in Davidson Co.

Children: Jacob F., b. 10 ft.ug. 1841 inDavidson Co., d. 16 Jan. 1905 in Tipton Co.,m. 1) (7), m. 2) (7). He moved to Tipton Co.c1860 to live with his relatives. On 1 Nov. 1861

he enlisted in Co. G, 51stTenn. Regiment andwas severely wounded at the Battle of Franklin.

George Washington, b. 28 Nov. 1844 inDavidson Co., m. 1) (?), m. 2) Lula Briggs ofDavidson Co. George also moved to Tenn. tolive with his relatives.

Reuben m. 2) 2 Nov. 1852, Davidson Co.,Marriage Bond, Bondsman: A.F. Smith, toAmanda J. Long (Jacob Long and Mary Bar­bara Long) b. 1829/1830 in Davidson Co., d.13 June 1859.

Children: William Henry m. Sarah JaneJones; Burnetta, b. 19 Feb. 1857 in DavidsonCo., d. 7 Nov. 1940, m. Lindsey Adderton

Smith (Charles Smith and Nancy Adderton) b.4 Mar./May 1853/1855 in Davidson Co., d. 23

Mar. 1931; both are bur. at Jersey Bapt.Church Cem.

Reuben Smith came from Tenn. to visit rela­tives and friends in Davidson Co. He met Nan­

cy Long, fell in love, married her and remainedin Davidson Co.

William HenrY was 5 and Burnetta was 2when their mother died. These 2 children were

raised by Mary A. (Long) Billings, wife of Hen­ry Billings, and sister of Nancy and Amanda J.Long.

William Henry Smith, b. 8 Nov. 1853 inDavidson Co., d. 3 Nav. 1921 in DavidsonCo., m. 30 May 1880 in Davidson Co. to SarahJane Jones (John S. Jones and Margaret AnnFeezor) b. 18 Oct. 1864 in Davidson Co., d. 24­Dec. 1927 in Davidson Co., both bur. in Lex­

ington City Cem.

In 1875 Henry Smith bought the homeplaceof William Wiseman, 1st Sheriff of Davidson

Co. in 1822. This property is on the CottonGrove Rd. and was the homeplace of HenryClay and Mamie Lee (Smith) Trantham afterHenry and Sarah Jane's death. It is now ownedby Paul and Naomi (Trantham) Owen, grand­daughter of Henry and Sarah Jane. Paul hasremodeled the house and Aunt Mamie is livingthere with them.

Henry graduated from Yadkin College 29May 1880 and was married the next day. Forgraduation he was given 59 acres of land and ahorse and buggy by the Billings and Welbornfamilies.

They were the parents of 3 daus.: Sadie Leem. James Walter Trantham. (See James Wai­ter TrantI1am); Pear!, b. 7 Dec. 1888 inDavidson Co., d. 9 June 1980 in Lexington,bur. Lexington City Cem., m. 1) H. HarveyMcCarn, b. 20 Nov. 1883, d. 16 Nov. 1908,bur. Stoner's Grove Sapt. Church Cem.,Southmont, m. 2) John Wilson Crook; MamieGeneva, b. 24 Feb. 1893 in Davidson Co., m.

Henry Clay Trantham (Henry ,~!exander Tran-

, ~ Mary Frances Gobble) 26 Dec. 1909;'son Co. Uncle Bud was b. 10 Sept.

Davidson Co., d. 4 June 1973 inDavidson Co., bur. in Cotton Grove Meth.Church Cem., Davidson Co.

Sources: Family Bible; family members; tombstones,newspaper article; Rowan and Davidson Co. Will books;deposition for war pension; McCubbins Papers; MormanChurch Library, Raleigh, N.C.; Rowan Co. and DavidsonCo. Marriage Bonds; correspondance with others doingSmith research, Tipton Co. Will book.

- Margaret R. Trantham

FREDEFHCK SMIT~i FAWHlY

1062Frederick Smith, whose father had come to

America from Germany, and his wife, a MissRudolph, came from Chatham Co. to what isnow Davidson Co. in 1790 or 1791. They set­tled on Cabin Creek about 1h mile from Clear

Springs Church. He and his wife were bur. in afamily cem. on the Roby Carroll Place betweenDenton and Jackson Hill. Since there was no

separate ownership of the cem. from the farmtitle, an owner at the farm removed tile mark­ers in the cem. and included it in a surround­

ing field. They had 9 children.One 0·[ their 9 children was George Smith,

who was b. 15 Aug. 1784 and d. 13 June1876. He was known all over Davidson Co. and

parts of Randolph and Montgomery Counties~s Shouting George Smith. The title was givenhim because of much shouting i1e did at reli­gious gatherings and meetings. in those daysmost all of the country churches held theirannual camp meetings on the grounds sur­iOunding the churches, and each family had a

537

wili was probated. Boyd le1"'[many descend­ants in Buncombe, Henderson, and Tran­sylvania Cos., as well as in Mo. The other 7children of Hugh and Susannah apparently

stayed in the Davidson Co. area. 12204) Willi~m Jr:, ~. 20.Feb. 1732, d. Fe~. James (Jimmy) Woodfin Whitlock III was b.

1802, m. ~st Abigail (~.bnl.la) ~o.nahue who o. fr'22 Jan. 1940, in lexington to the late Jame~1 July 177L, m. 2nd AOlgal1(ADrilla) Baker., He Woodfin and Arteal Black Whitlock Jr. Jimmylived just east of Mocksville, Davie Co. and nad has spent his life in the Holly Grove Communi.15 children. By his 1st wife: John, b. 1755, d. tv of Davidson Co. where both of his parent~1800, whose wife and children moved .to were b. and raised. He is a 1958 graduate oiClairmont Co., Ohio after his death; Susannan,. Central Davidson HS and works for Commu.

b. 1757,. Iii. John J~ckson, d. In Rutherio.ra nilY Ser'/ice and Garage 0'( Lexington, h~vingCo.; William III, b. 1760, d .. 1818, Iii. Ch,ns- worked there tor 22 years as a mechaniC.tina Van Eaton, moved to Clairmont Co., Onlo. Jimmy has been in the Davis-TownsendRachael, b. 1762; Israel Alfred, b. 1765, lions Club since 1974. in 1975 he was elected

moved to Clairmont Co., Ohio; Sarah, b. 1767, lion oithe year. He is also a Volunteer Firemanm. John Moffitc, d. in McDowell Co.; Mary, b. of the Holly Grove Fire Dept., where he is1769, d. 1799; Eleanor, b. 1770. Chiidr~n by President of the Board of Directors. Jimmy hashis 2nd wife: Elizabeth, b. 1773, d. 185b, m. served 7 years on the advisor} council atSamuel Collett, d. in Morgan Co., Ind.; Mar- Davis-Townsend School where he is still ac-garet, b. 1775; Abigail (Abrilla), b. 1777, m. tive. He attends Mt. Tabor UCC where he has

Jesse Noland; lydia, b. 1779, (twin) m. served as a Deacon. He is also a past memberRichard Allison, d. in McDowell Co.; Airy, b. of Lexington Moose Lodge.

1779, m. Boaz Tharp; Jos~ua, b. 1~84, d. fl'....Jimmy and Marie were m. 20 Aug. 1960 at1852, m. Jane Gracey, d. In Columbia Co., ~ Center Meth. Church in Welcome, by the Rev.Ga.; Hannah, b. 1782. C.L. Williams. Marie was b. 4 Nov. 1940 in

5) Peter, b. 22June "1733, d. Aug. 1815, m. Welcome where she grew up. Marie Leonardist Annie Trantham, m. 2nd Mariam Kent, b. Whitlock 'is the dau. of Homer Ray Leonardc1745, d. 20 Feb. 1826, dau. of John and and Mabel Annie Byerly. the Welcome Com-Mary Kent. Around 1800 Peter and part of his munity. Marie is a graduate of North Davidsonfamily moved to Fairview, Buncombe Co. Pe- HS. She teaches in the Davidson Co. School

ter and Mariam ~re bur. in .~an: Creek Cern.;, system where she has been the pa~~7 yrs. inFairview. We believe most, Ii nOl all, of Petel s the Vocational Dept., Ledford Jr. rligh.

children were by his 2nd. wife .. He. had 19 Jimmyand Marie have 2 daus. who still. livechildren: Peter, Jr., m. Emily Baltes In Mad:- at home. Onda Marie Whitlock 20 yrs. old ISatson Co., Ky., but supposedly d. in Davidson DCCCstudying accounting. She is a 1980 hon-

Co.; John, d. 1831, m. Marga~et.Pinkerton, b. or graduate of Central Davidson HS. ,1779, d. 1864. Both d. at Fairview; Noah, a Nita Ann Whitlock is in the 9th grace athatter, d. 1801 in Davidson Co.; Susannah, b. Central Davidson HS.

1777, d. 15 Jan. 186?, m. ~?t Harper;, ~. Jimmy's father, James Woodfin Whitlock,

1781, d. 1866 (after hiS 1st Wile, her SISlel, tlrJr. b. 1910 in Southmont was owner and ?P~~-

died). She d. at Fa~rview; J~sse,. b;. 10. Oct. ator of the Holly ~ove ~oi!er Mill until. illS1777, d. i2 Ju!y 1807, m. ElizabeTh Hamson, death 30 Nav. 1970. He suffered a heart attack

b. 1776, d. 1847 in Buncombe Co.; Mary at the Holly Grove Fire Station where he had(nothing known of her); William, b. 27 June been chief since it was organized.1779, d. 28 May 1861 , m. Susannah Sumner, His Grandfather (Pampa he was called),b. 1787, d. 1869 at Fairview; Jane m. Arthur James Woodfin Whitlock, Sr., was b. in Rich-

Hunt, d. in Davidson Co.; Elizabeth m. Chnsto- mond, Va., spent most of his life in Holly Grovephar Porter, moved to Buncombe Co., then Community, and ran the store on the Hollyto Ind.; Mariam, b. 1786, d. 25Jan. 1824, n:. ~Grove Rd. He d. 8 Dec. 1959. He was m. to

Lot Harper, b. 1781, d. 1866 and both bur. In "9-1Eliva Campbell Whitlo~k of Guilford C,o. b.

Cane Creek Cern., Bunc?nI.be Co. ~~1887, d .. 12 July 1966. Both are bur. a:( New6) Joshua, b. 1735, a. 179~ .. ~'Friendshlp Church on the Turner Rd. In the

7) Samuel (nothing known or him. He may Holly Grove Community .. "Ilave stayed in Pa) .. Jimmy's great-grandfather, James WOOdi!n

8) Sarah, b. 1737, m. Charles Wilson, Whitlock was from Richmond, Va. where hemoved to Marshall Co., Tenn. lived and died c1879. His great-grandmoTher

9) Jane m. Eldad Reed, so~ of Jo.hn Reed, was Martha Smith Whitlock ..Sr. and Hannah Davis. Both d. In DaVidson C? Jimmy has a bro., Gerald Lee Whitlock ojIssue: William b. 1761, d. cl 835; E!dad II, D. Winston-Salem who is m. to Wanda McCloud

1767, d. 1849: Iii. Ashia Lanning, b. 1766, d. Whitlock. They'have 2 children, Christie and1845; Peter, b. 1772, d. c1846; John, b. Michael.

H74, d. after 1815; Hannah, b. ~777, d. Jimmy is o"1tenreferred to as "The Mayoroici855; Jane, b. 1779, d. 1853; and Ellz~beth, Holly Grove."b. 1782. t.11 o'f Eldad and Jane's children Sources:FamilyBible; Personalknowledge.moved to Fairview, Buncombe Co. except _ Marie Leonard Whitlockmaybe Elizabeth.

Sources:Courtrecords,cemeteryrecords.- C. Bruce Whitaker

He m. i2 Sept. i764 Mary Reed, b. 3'1 Oct.1748, d. 16 Feb. 1832, dau. of John Reed Sr.and Hannah Davis. Mary was b. in N.J. andmoved to Rowan Co. with her widowedmother, and bros. and sisters.

Joshua Whitaker's sister, Jane Whitaker,m. Eldad Reed, Sr. (Mary's brother).

Joshua lived just south of Lexington. He d.1 May 1798 and is bur. in Jersey Bapt. ChurchCem. at Linwood. In the years just before andafter his death, all of Jos!lua's family moved toFairview, Buncombe Co., ~J.C. Joshua's wifeMary is bur. there in Cane Creek Cem. Theyhad 6 children:

John, Sr. (15 Sept. 1765 - 8 Jan. 1841)m. 1) Mary Wilson, 2) Milly Brookshire. Sarah(7 Dec. 1767 - 26 May 1848) m. Fievolution­ary soldier, John Lanning, Sr. (1757-1839).Joshua, Jr. (4 June 1769 - 26 June i856) m.Nancy Childers (1769- i841). William, Sr. (22Nov. 177'2-21 Feb. 1860) m. 31 Jan. 1793to Mary Canady in Salisbury. Mary (1772­1848) was b. in Hali'lax Co. These first 4 chil­dren al! moved to and d. in Fairview, Bun­combe Co.

Mary (Jenny) Whitaker (3 Jan 1775­1932) m. Arthur Hunt. They moved to Fair­view, then to Mo. James Whitaker, Sr. (3 Apr.1779 - 2 Nov. 1871) In. 1) Mary Walker(1779-1849); 2) Mary McBrayer (1779-1872)(a widow). James served in the state legisla­ture 'Irom Buncombe, Macon, and Cherokee

Co., N.C. He helped establish severalchurches as well as Cherokee Co. INhere hedied.

Sources:Courtandcem. records.

- C. Bruce Whitaker

~J\';~~ ~ ~"'~n~,1rmf:·'i""'·"ji'"~"j) ~"~,,:rthibtit~~1h'l;I1'Jlth~g:'&~.!:b'1j <:J1~"L

12igWilliam Whitaker, Sr., b. 10 Feb. 1701 in

England, son of Joshua Whitaker and JaneParker, came to America ci 720 with hiswidowed mother, 2 bros. and a sister. Arriving

in Philadelphia, they settled in Chester Co.,Pa. William m. 13 Dec. 1722 Elizabeth Carle­

ton, b. '18 Apr. 1801, dau. 01 Mark Carletonand Susanna Watson. 80th were Quakers. In

1751 William and his family moved to Rowan(Davidson) Co. He and Elizabeti1 d. theresometime after 1760. They had 9 children.

1) Lydia, the oidest child, ran off vvith andmarried in 1742 a man the Quaker Church did

not approve. She was never heard from again.2) Marcus, Sr., b. ci72S, bought land 13

Jan. 1755 on Abboi1S Creek. His wife was

Tabitha. in the late 1780s they moved to S.C.Their 2 sons, Mark, Jr., and John moved toi<y., then to Tenn. where they died.

3) Susannah, b. 1727, d. 20 Oct. 1800, m.Hugh McCrary, Sr., b. 1720, d. 14 Feb. 1785,bur. in Jersey Bapt. Church Cern., lived onSwearing Creek and had 8 children: Reid andLydia d. be'rore their father. John m. E!leanorMcCrary. Hugh, Jr. m. 1st Mary Sluder; m.2nd Charity Sluder. Susannah m. ist. JosephDavis, m. 2nd. Joseph White; Margaret m.Isaac Wilson. Elizabeth m. ? and had a son

Hugh. Boyd m. Nancy Anna Merrill and movedto Fairvie'."J, Buncombe Co., N.C. Boyd d. in1821 apparently in Howard Co., Mo. where his

618

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JESSE \J\H-UrU:nN FAM~l y

-11 '~FI-I3e-t:..g

Jesse Whitlow, b. 4 Feb. 1832, d. 2 July