John Witt (1645-1715)
and Ann Daux
(1647-1742)
They were Virginia
Colonists
I connect with John Witt on
two lines
The Vineyards on Daddy’s side
The Hulseys on Mother’s side
The Witt surname was in
England and Scotland as early as the 1500s. It was spelled as Quhyt in the
1500-1600s in Scotland, and soon became Anglicized to White/Witt/Whitt. Another
family has knowledge of family from Germany. Their earliest immigrant to the US
was Jacob Thomas Witt, Sr. He or his father supposedly came from Germany. Their
family has the highest concentration of Witts
in Germany.
John arrived in the Virginia
Colony possibly as early as 1662, but certainly by 1672, and settled in the
western part of Charles City County near the border of Henrico County.
The headright for his
importation into Virginia was claimed three times over in three different land
patents issued in 1682, 1685, and 1699 — all for land in Henrico and Charles
City counties. (For more information on this see John Witt, Headright in Three
Patents.) John was almost certainly not imported as an indentured servant. He
was married within a year of his arrival. Servants were seldom allowed to marry
during their indenture and certainly would not have been allowed to marry a
free woman. It is possible that John himself was the importer and sold his
headright to finance his trip.
John married Ann Daux,
daughter of Walter and Mary Daux, before October 1673 in Charles City County.
Walter was the son of a London merchant Richard Daux. They would have lived on
land John acquired before 1677 along the "main road" in Charles City
County; roughly the same path as today’s US Highway 5, from Jamestown up the
north side of the James River toward Richmond. It is not certain where along
this line his property lay, but most likely in or near Shirley Hundred district
near the border of Henrico County.[1]
The lands of Shirley
Plantation were first settled in 1613 by Sir Thomas West, 3rd Baron De la Warr
and were named West and Sherley Hundred. In 1638, a portion of this land was
granted to Edward Hill, thus beginning the occupation of the Hill family. Shirley
Plantation is still a working plantation today. (website for Shirley
Plantation)
Richard Daux is first found
in Virginia in 1637 when he is listed on a patent of land near Herring and
Oldman's Creeks in Charles City County. A series of court entries from the
1670's concerning a dispute between orphans of Walter Daux establishes John Witt
as the husband of Ann. [2] https://genfiles.com/witt/john-witt-c1645-by1715/
In February 1687 a work order
was issued to clear and lay a road from the Chickahominy down towards the James
River. This road was connected to the main road near John Witt's land. (See the
full text of the order below under Timeline.)
By 1715 both of the Witt
brothers, John Witt II and William Witt, moved a few miles west to Henrico
County. On 13 September 1715 the brothers bought 300 acres from Charles Hudson
for 10 pounds. The land was on a fork of Tuckahoe Creek, bounded by the southern
branch and John Bradley's land. The Witts may have already been established
here before 1715 as the land noted in the patents submitted by William Randolph
was in this area. Also, in 1695, John Witt had a court suit in Henrico County.
Not many records survive from
this time period in Charles City County. Those that are extant which refer to
John or Ann will be included in the Timeline below.
John Witt was not a
Huguenot. The claim that the Witts
were Huguenots was first made in print in 1924 in a publication called Year
Book No. 1 by the Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of
Virginia. No evidence was offered other than the proximity of the brothers John
and William Witt (John Witt's sons) to the Huguenot settlement at Manakin.
The National Huguenot
Society, List of Qualified Huguenot Ancestors (updated 18 Jan 2021) does not
include Witt, Whit, Whyte, White, or any variant thereof.[3] https://nationalhuguenotsociety.org/ancestor/AncestorLookup.php
https://www.huguenotsocietyofamerica.org/history/ancestors/
JOHN’S BIRTH
Despite extensive efforts by
Witt family researchers, no birth record has been found for John. An estimate
of his birth year is based on three main items: his importation to Virginia by
1672, his marriage about 1673 and the filing of a lawsuit in 1673. Since John
was not imported as an indentured servant, he most likely was in his early to
mid-twenties when he left England. To marry without parental consent or to file
a lawsuit in colonial Virginia, an individual had to be age 21 or older (born
1651 or earlier). A usual marriage age for a man of this time was about 24 to
30, and he would probably be five to ten years older than his bride. Ann Daux
was most likely about 17 or 18 years old at their marriage. So, John was
probably in his late twenties in 1672. Most researchers have settled on a birth
year of about 1645, making him age 27 when he arrived in Virginia.
JOHN’S MARRIAGE
No marriage record has been
found. Ann Daux and her sister, Susannah Daux, were apparently deprived of
their inheritance from their father, Walter Daux, by their stepfather, John
Flower. Richard Rawlins, husband of Susannah Daux, petitioned the Charles City
County court in September 1673 on behalf of his wife for return of her
inheritance. On 3 October 1673 John Witt, now husband of Ann Daux, joined the
petition on Ann's behalf. This appears to indicate that John and Ann had
recently married sometime in 1673.
CHILDREN
Most researchers attribute
four known sons to John Witt. Some add sons Robert and Daniel, but these are
speculative and unconfirmed. The couple may have had daughters as well, but no
evidence has surfaced for any. It is assumed Ann Daux was the mother of his
children; there is no evidence of a second marriage for John.
1.
John Witt II
2.
William Witt
3.
Richard Witt Sr.
4.
Edward Whitt
Y-DNA Evidence: In 2002 "a Witt-Whitt Surname and family
reconstruction Y-DNA study was conducted by the company, Family Tree DNA, which
uses the molecular lab at the University of Arizona under the direction of Dr.
Michael Hammer, Ph.D., Geneticist. The President of Family Tree DNA, Bennett
Greenspan, was a consultant for this project. The participants in this study
are documented descendants of John Witt II, William Witt, Edward Whitt, and
Richard Whitt, Sr. The Witt-Whitt DNA study has determined the participants in
this project are related and descend from a common ancestor.... When combined
with surviving colonial Virginia records for the surnames Witt and Whitt, the
Witt-Whitt family study leads to the conclusion that John Witt II, William
Witt, Edward Whitt, and Richard Whitt, Sr., were brothers and their father was
the emigrant John Witt-Whitt of Charles City County, Virginia."
Refences: Witt Family Genealogy Forum, posted by David
F. Whitt, Witt-Whitt Family of Old Virginia DNA Test Results Post Date: August
07, 2002.
Witt-Whitt Family DNA Test
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:21:49 -0400 Witt's End Vol 5 #3 issue
JOHN’S DEATH
No death record or burial
site has been found for John Witt. The last record extant for him is that of a
suit against Ralph Hudspeth in 1695 in Henrico County. John's youngest known
son, Edward, was born about 1700. John does not appear in the 1704 Quit Rents
of Charles City County and two of his sons moved out of the area about 1715. It
is likely he died between 1700 and 1704.
TIMELINE
1645
As discussed above, John was
born about 1645, probably in England. Some researchers have suggested he was
born in France, but this cannot be accurate. Since he owned land in Virginia,
he must have been an English citizen either native born or naturalized. Until
1680, immigrants not born in Virginia or England required an act of the House
of Burgesses to achieve citizenship. Unless naturalized, a foreign-born settler
could not own land. These acts listing naturalizations are perfectly preserved
and no Witt, or Whitt, appears in them.
1672
John Witt arrives in Virginia
and settles in Charles City County.
1673
Marriage between John Witt
and Ann Daux before October 1673.3 October 1673 petition filed for recovery of
inheritance of Ann and Susannah Daux. "Abstract. Petn of Richd Rawlins and
Jno Witt to next Court that Coll Wynn may give the Court some light on the
matter." Source: Fleet, p 549 (this section is court orders 1672-3).
Also Vol. 13, Charles City County Court Orders, p. 95 or Fleet, Beverley,
Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Volume III, (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988)
1674
1 October 1674 John Witt and
Susannah Rawlins (Richard Rawlins has died) filed suit against the
commissioners of Charles City County court for recovery of the Daux estate. The
case was deferred. Source: Fleet, p
549 (this section is court orders 1672-3). Also Vol. 13, Charles City County
Court Orders, p. 95 or Fleet, Beverley,
Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Volume III, (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988)
1674/75
3 March 1674/5 the case of
"the difference between John Witt and Richard Rawlins, who married the two
orphens of Walter Daux, plantiffs, versus Commissioner of Charles City County,
defendant" was deferred again.
Source: McIlwaine, p 403.
As cited on John Witt (c1645 – by1715)
1675 About 1675 birth of son John Witt II.
1677 John Witt appeared as a juror in Charles City County
on 15 September 1677. [9] This service indicated that John owned land in the
county. A juror must either own at least 50 acres of land or the equivalent in
personal property.
Source: Ayers, Margaret
Mitchell, Charles City County Order Book 1676-1679, (1968) p 20
1677/78
14 February 1677/8 John Witt
and John Turberfield (or Turberville), who married widow Susannah Rawlins, are
suing an individual justice of Charles City County for the value of the estate
of Walter Daux. They maintained that if the justices had acted properly, the
estate would not have been lost by John Flower. A favorable verdict was granted
but one of the justices appealed. The records are incomplete, so no further
mention of the lawsuit is found. Source: Ayers, Margaret Mitchell, Charles
City County Order Book 1676-1679, (1968) p 42
1680 About 1680 birth of son William.
1687
After 3 Feb 1687 in Charles
City County court: "Whereas there is an absolute neccessity for this co.
to lay out a common roade from Chickahominy bridge downe and up these parts of
the country, we impower Maj. John Stith to summons every individual inhabitant
and housekeeper on the north side of the James River in this co., according to
the number of tithables he hath in his family, to send his portionable
assistance to clear a main road from sd. bridge unto the road to or near Harman
Bosman's habitation; as also from the bridge unto a main road near John Whitt's
and this order to be performed at such time as Maj. Stith shall appoint,
between this and the middle of March next, of which he is to make report to the
next court with acct. of all persons that shall neglect or refuse their
obedience to this order.” Source: Fleet, Beverley, Virginia Colonial
Abstracts, Volume III, (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988)
1690 About 1690 birth of son Richard Witt.
1695 The last reference in county records found for John
Witt is a lawsuit filed against Ralph Hudspeth in Henrico County. Source:
Henrico County Order Book 3.
1700 About 1700 birth of son Edward Witt.
1700-1704 Probable death of John Witt.
Research Notes
Robert Witt and Daniel Witt
have been unlinked as children of John Witt and Ann Daux. There is no evidence
they are part of this family. (See Children below.) No documentation has been
presented by any Witt family tree for the existence of these two sons. It is
entirely possible they belong in some other Witt family and this should be
researched.
Disputed Origins
English Origins
In 2002 the Achievements of
Canterbury found the best English candidate for John's father to be Richard
Whitt. Richard's son, John Whitt, was christened 7 January 1643 at St. Olave,
Southwark, London, England[13]. Richard's profile contains a full description
of that research and the rationale for the familial connection. The full
Canterbury report is Appendix 10 of David F. Whitt's book (2004)[14]. Also see
Robert Baird's research on headrights and colonial immigration for additional
support for John's English origins (John Witt, Headright in Three Patents.)
Scottish Origins
The best candidate in
Scotland for father of John is described in Whitt (2004)[14]on pages 7-13. The
discussion summarizes a report by Alison Mowat, a member of the Assoc. of
Scottish Genealogists, whom found Robert Quhyt had a son John Quhyt baptized 10
April 1645 in Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland. 2018 Update: Y-DNA and SNP
analysis (through Family Tree DNA projects) has validated ancestral origins in
Scotland for two confirmed descendants of John Witt. This does not
"prove" John Witt the immigrant was born in Scotland since his
ancestors may have migrated to England prior to John's birth. Because the
surname White (and variants like Witt) is a known branch of the MacGregor Clan,
membership in the American Clan Gregor Society was approved for two Y-DNA
confirmed descendants of John Witt, the Virginia immigrant.
Sources
↑ The lands of Shirley
Plantation were first settled in 1613 by Sir Thomas West, 3rd Baron De la Warr
and were named West and Sherley Hundred. In 1638, a portion of this land was
granted to Edward Hill, thus beginning the occupation of the Hill family. Shirley
Plantation is still a working plantation today. Shirley Plantation
↑
https://genfiles.com/witt/john-witt-c1645-by1715/
↑
https://nationalhuguenotsociety.org/ancestor/AncestorLookup.php. Accessed 24
Jan 2021
↑
https://www.huguenotsocietyofamerica.org/history/ancestors/. Accessed 11 Feb.
2021.
↑ Witt Family Genealogy
Forum, posted by David F. Whitt, Witt-Whitt Family of Old Virginia DNA Test
Results Post Date: August 07, 2002 at 03:08:33. See also Witt-Whitt Family DNA
Test Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:21:49 -0400 Witt's End Vol 5 #3 issue
↑ Were the Witts Huguenots?
↑ Fleet, p 549 (this section
is court orders 1672-3). Also Vol. 13, Charles City County Court Orders, p. 95
↑ McIlwaine, p 403. As cited
on John Witt (c1645 – by1715)
↑ Ayers, p 20.
↑ Ayers, p 42
↑ Weisiger, Benjamin B., III.
1995. Charles City County Virginia Wills & Deeds 1725-1731. Athens,
Georgia: Iberian Publishing Company. Pg. 11.
↑ Henrico County Order Book
3.
↑ "England Births and
Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch
(https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NLGD-PZC : 11 February 2018, John Whitt,
07 Jan 1643); citing SAINT OLAVE,SOUTHWARK,SURREY,ENGLAND, index based upon
data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL
microfilm 375,307.
↑ 14.0 14.1 Whitt, David F.
2004. Ancestors and descendants of William Whitt, 1775-1850: portrait of an
American family. Westminster, MD: Heritage Books.
Ayers, Margaret Mitchell,
Charles City County Order Book 1676-1679, (1968).
Fleet, Beverley, Virginia
Colonial Abstracts, Volume III, (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988)
McIlwaine, H. R., Minutes of
the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia, 1622-1632, 1670-1676, (The
Colonial Press, Everett Waddy Co., 1924)
Weisiger, Benjamin B., III,
Charles City County, Virginia Court Orders 1685-1695, (Iberian Publishing Co.,
1980)
Bob's Genealogy Filing
Cabinet John Witt (c1645 – by1715)
Shared family records of
prominent (living) Witt family direct descendants in Richmond, Virginia.
.jpg)