WHITAKER HISTORY
The Whitaker History seems to come in 3 parts:
Firstly from the Norman Conquest. The surname Whitaker was first found in Warwickshire where the first record of the name was Johias Whitacre (1042-1066), who died while fighting at the Battle of Hastings on the side of King Harold. Despite the fact he was on the losing side of the battle, his family were permitted to keep their estates there. The place names Whitacre, Over Whitacre and Nether Whitacre were listed in the Domesday Book as Witacre and literally meant “white cultivated land” from the Old English words “hwit” + “aecer.”
Secondly form Lancashire. Or more precisely The Holme, in the Clivager Valley at Padiham, a few miles south of Burnley. The Holme was a ‘messuage’ of the house and buildings and 34 acres. The first record from this time is in 1431 When Thomas Whitaker was recorded as living there. We have records up to the 1600’s. The family split from here to Yorkshire whilst others emigrated.
Thirdly, the family in Mobberley, at Vale Wood, other places and after. We have records from the 1700’s
The Norman Conquest
Well according to the records I have access to Johias Whitacre was born in 1824 and died alongside Harold II (Harold Godwinson) on the battlefield of Hastings. Although on the losing side, the Whitacres were allowed to keep their lands. According to the records I have seen, Johias had married Agatha von Brunschweig and they had produced a son in 1050 named Edwinus who lived until 1087. I don’t know who he married but he had a son called Simon in 1080 who died in 1135.
The wives names in this part of the family tree are sparse. But obviously Simon married, because there is a son – Alanus, born 1133, who didn’t die until 1227. But the next ancestor I have is Jordan born in 1200 – yes when Alanus was 67. I don’t think so. I think we might have a layer missing before this as Simon to Alanus is 53 years old when he becomes a father!
Jordan (1200 – 1275) married Phillipia Astleymil (b 1197) who begat John de Whitacre (1240 – 1278) who married Miss Pedham (1252 – 1290) and she gave birth to another John de Whitacre (1275 – 1330).
This John de married Amica Marmion and their union produced Richard de Whitacre. Ricchard de (1300 – 1375) married Joan Culi and managed a son called Simon who married Amabil. I haven’t got dates for either of these.
John Whitaker (1364 – 1434) married Alice Fitz-Ralphe and begat Thomas Whitaker (1410 – 1448) .
Do you recognise that name? No? Well go back to the last page and look at secondly! Thomas was the first recorded Whitaker at The Holme.
THE HOLME AND YORKSHIRE
So Thomas (1410 – 1448) was the first resident at The Holme where his wife Elizabeth where she gave birth to 2 boys – Robert (1440 – 1461) and Thomas (1458 – 1529).
Thomas married Joanna Prichard (1458 – 1518) and had at least 2 sons – John (no details) and Richard (1480 – 1540) who married Margaret Wellascotts (1480 – 1545).
Richard and Margaret were the parents of Thomas (1504 – 1598) and Henry (1506 -1599). Thomas married Elizabeth Nowell whilst Henry married Isabell (1508 – 1599) .
Thomas had several children, amongst them was William. Who was a Doctor of Divinity, Master of St John’s Cambridge and the foremost puritan theologian of his time. On his death his infamous library was acquired by Queen Elizabeth the first. He was also the father of Alexander Whitaker. A person with a significant entry in the history books. He had emigrated to Virginia in the USA. He was known as the ‘Apostle of Virginia’. He taught the Indians – now known of course as native Americans. And one Indian in particular was his pupil – Pocahontas! He taught her the catechism and allegedly performed the wedding service for her and John Rolfe!
But Henry was in our direct line. Henry fathered Laurence (1528 – 1582) who married Joan Wilascott (1530 – 1582) who had Henry (1550 – 1589). He married Mary and they fathered James John Whitaker (1580 – 1640).
JJ married Elizabeth. But this is where the family splits and JJ spent most of his time in Yorkshire and the Whitaker were there until John was born in Cheshire in 1729.
These were the parents of Christopher (1612 – 1688) and from his marriage Robert was born in 1636. He married Margaret Lisle (1630 – 1686) and this union produced John (1673 – 1742). John married Elizabeth Bailey born 1676 who produced Jacobius in 1701.
THE CHESHIRE WHITAKERS
So Jacobius and Estheria Barrett produced Robert in 1729 who lived until 1821. He married Elizabeth Blackshaw (1731 – 1802).
There were several children from this union, notably William (1757 – 1838) who had Vale Wood and the Bird in the Hand pub. He was the author of the famous will which was proved but only after 2 depositions and the drawing up of the family tree with all the birth and death certificates.
But our line comes from his brother John (1757 – 1838) who married Mary Barlow (1761 – 1830) who had Joshua (1805 – 1872). He had 2 wives (not at the same time!) Hanah Wych and Sarah Browne. Our line comes through Sarah and one of her kids, John who married Julia Hewitt.
John and Julia had 4 children including Joseph Hewitt Whitaker, my great grandfather (1855-1910)