Person Page 123

KEENE WITHERS ( 11 ) 1715-17 .. ,
son of James and Elizabeth (Keene ) Withers ( I ) I , was born in Stafford County , Va . , on Jan. 29 , 1715 and died in infancy .

BRIDGET WITHERS (II ) 1715-17 .. ,
daughter of James and Elizabeth (Keene ) Withers ( I ) I , was born in Stafford County , Va . , on Jan. 29 , 1715 and was a twin with her brother Keene . She died in infancy .

James Withers, son of James and Elizabeth (Keene) was born in Stafford County, Virginia February 11, 1716. His father gave him 400 acres of land in Fauquier County. Before 1742 he married Catherine Barbee, the daughter of Thomas a Margaret Barbee of Stafford County, Virginia. She was mentioned in her father's will in Stafford County, on November 8, 1748 and in a deed in Fauquier County made on June 24, 1771. She died before 1778, having had seven children. James Withers had remarried to Jemima Garner daughter of Vincent and Jemima Garner of Fauquier County, by 1778. By her he had one child.
To distinguish him from the other James Withers of the same County, he was called "Old Nigh," he owned 573 acres of Land in Fauquier County, at his death, which occurred in January of 1784.
He made his will there on January 9, 1784, which was probated on January 20, 1784. His second wife Jemima (Garner)Withers was still living in 1807 when she was mentioned in a deed.
from familysearch.org.

BRIDGET WITHERS ALLEN ( II ) 1720-
daughter of James and Elizabeth ( Keene ) Withers ( 1 ) I , was born in Stafford County , Va. , on July 20 , 1720 and married there on Feb. 15 , 1743 WILLIAM ALLEN , the son of William and Margaret Allen of Prince William County, Va . She was living in 1788 , when her mothers estate was settled .
- Withers America.

ANN WITHERS MAUZY ( II ) 1722-17 .. ,
daughter of James and Elizabeth ( Keene ) Withers ( I ) I , was born in Stafford County , Va . , on Oct. 2 , 1722 and married there on Nov. I11, 1744 HENRY MAUZY , the son of John Mauzy and his wife Hester Foote . Until her father died they lived on part of his Licking Run land . Thereafter they went to live on 200 acres of land in Fauquier County, which he left them . Ann (Withers ) Mauzy died before 1765 , when Henry Mauzy remarried Elizabeth Taylor , the widow of James Morgan . He died in Fauquier County , Va. , in 1802 .
-- Withers America.

THOMAS WITHERS (II) 1723/4-1794 ,
son of James and Elizabeth ( Keene ) Withers ( I ) 1 , was born in Stafford County , Va . , on Feb. 15 , 1723/4 . In 1746 he inherited part of his fathers Licking Run land in Fauquier County , which was called " Green Meadows" . About the year 1747 he married ELIZABETH ... Her maiden name is not known . She was still living in 1780 , when she gave her, consent to the sale of some land in Fauquier County .

Thomas Withers added considerably to the lands he had inherited and in 1784 he owned 728 acres of land in Fauquier County . On May 15 , 1780 he patented 804 acres on the Kentucky River in Jefferson and Lincoln Counties , Ky . and on March 16 , 1781 another 804 acres on the same River in Jefferson County , Ky . Towards the end of his life he gave most of his land to his children and in 1791 he went to live with his son Joseph Withers . On June 7 , 1794 he sold 594 acres of land on Licking Run to his son Enoch Keene Withers . He made his will on Nov. 5 , 1794 , which was probated in Fauquier County , Va . , on Dec. 22 , 1794. He had died in November or December 1794 .

Issue of Thomas and Elizabeth Withers ; ( III ) 39-50 .
1 , James Withers 39 ; 2 , Elizabeth Withers Winn 40 ; 3 , Hannah Withers Winn 41 ; 4 , Ann Withers Barbee Jordan 42 ; 5 , John Withers 43 ; 6 , Matthew Keene Withers 44 ; 7 , William Kamlin Withers 45 ; 8 , Enoch Keene Withers 46 ; 9 , Joseph Withers 47 ; 10 , Benjamin Withers 48 ; II , Sarah Withers West 49 ; 12 , Susannah Withers Chinn 50 .

WILLIAM WITHERS ( II ) 1726-1804 , son of James and Elizabeth (Keene ) Withers ( I ) I , was born in Stafford County , Va . , on April 16 , 1726. From his father he inherited part of the Licking Run land and the " Mill Plantation" in Fauquier County . On Dec. 15 , 1756 he married ELIZABETH HORD , the daughter of Thomas Hord and his wife Jane Miller of Essex County , Va. , who was born in Essex County on Sept. 22 , 1732. She died in Fauquier County, Va. , on Oct. 17 , 1781. In 1793 William Withers owned 786 acres of land in Fauquier County . He had likewise bought a large tract of land on the Ohio kiver in Hardin County , Ky . , which he gave to his daughter Mary Withers . He died in Fauquier County , Va . , on Jan. 6 , 1804 . His will was made on Nov. 21 , 1803 and probated on Jan. 23 , 1804. Both he and his wife were buried near Warrenton , Va . , where their tombstones still stand .

Issue of William and Elizabeth Withers ; ( III ) 51-61 .
1, James Withers 51 ; 2 , Lewis Withers 52 ; 3 , Jesse Withers 53 ; 4 , Mary Withers Withers 54 ; 5 , Spencer Withers 55 ; 6 , Agatha Withers Forter 56 ; 7 , Elizabeth Withers Withers Pate 57 ; 8 , Elijah Withers 58 ; 9 , William Withers 59 ; 10 , Alice Withers Ball 60 ; II , Susannah Withers Garner 61 .
- Withers America.

KEENE WITHERS (II) 1727/8-1756 , son of James and Elizabeth (Keene ) Withers ( I ) I , was born in Stafford County , Va . , on Feb. 13 , 1727/8 . His father left him part of the Licking Run tract of land called "Tin-Pot" Farm together with other land and his blacksmith tools . He married in Stafford County , Va . , on Dec. 21 , 1747 ELIZABETH CAVE , the daughter of William and Elizabeth Cave of Stafford County . They lived in Stafford County until Keene Withers died in the fall of 1756. The inventory of his estate was made in Stafford County on Oct. 25, 1756 and was valued at L 648. 12. 8. Elizabeth (Cave) Withers remarried in Stafford County , Va . , on Jan. 9 , 1758 ANDREW EDWARDS . After his death she married THOMAS WALKER. She died in Stafford County in 1790. Her son James Withers received 556 acres of land in Stafford County from her estate in 1791 .

Issue of Keene and Elizabeth Withers ; ( III ) 62-66 .
1, Ann Withers Mountjoy 62 ; 2 , Amelia Withers Scanlon 63 ; 3 , James Withers 64 ; 4 , William Withers 65 ; 5 , John Withers 66.
--Withers America.

William Withers was not of full legal age of 21 years when he accompanied his brother John and his wife, Ann, to Virginia in the summer of 1655. But, no doubt, he was a silent partner in their arrangement with Gerrard Fowke. Upon his arrival he set about getting himself established by obtaining a registered mark for the cattle he bought in anticipation of taking up land and meeting the responsibilities of his manhood with as much economic security as possible. That he was a more cautious man in his enterprises than his older brother is read between the lines of the few records we have about him. He took but two adventures into the exciting land speculations of that period. Both of these were rather restrained as compared with those of the other men of his acquaintance. One of these he sold during his lifetime and the other was sold by his son, William, in the short time he lived after his father's death. This was the larger one and located further up the Potomac River from their home and was, evidently, influenced by his neighbor, Col. John Alexander, who speculated in lands on Hunting Creek.

If all the old Court documents of Stafford County, Virginia, were available for investigation we would, probably, find that William Withers did his full measure as a citizen and as a neighbor, such as witnessing deeds and wills, appraising estates, serving on juries and contributing in every way to the building up of the section of the colony in which he made his home.

William Withers was the progenitor of the Withers family of Stafford County, Virginia. He left England during the time of Oliver Cromwell, but no political significance can be attached to this removal to the new home. It was simply a desire for larger opportunities. His father was a small farmer but a descendant of an ancient family of Saxon origin. The family in England and in Virginia were faithful adherents to the established church of England. As Protestants, there would have been no pressure for removal at that date. The brother who stayed in England became an honored Clerk in Holy Orders in the established church of England and the brother, John, was a vestryman in Potomac Parish church in Virginia. James Withers, son of William, was also a member of the English church in Stafford County, Virginia, where his grandchildren appear on the Overwharton Parish Register. One of the outstanding traits of the Withers family in America, descendants of William Withers, has been their fidelity to their religious faith in whatever denomination they chose. This tradition is now upheld by Robert Edwin Withers, Jr., son of Mr. Robert E. Withers of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who is an Episcopal clergyman, residing at Farmville, Prince Edward County, Virginia.

William Withers left two sons, William and James to carry on his name. The elder son, William, married Mary Littlejohn the daughter of Oliver Littlejohn and left one young son, John Withers, who died before 1717 under age, unmarried, no issue. This left the second son of William Withers to carry on the name in Stafford County, Virginia. James married Elizabeth, the daughter of Matthew Keene. They had five sons who lived to maturity and left families. It is from him that the many descendants of William Withers of Stafford County, Virginia, claim their descent.

That William Withers had daughters is quite evident, "Withers" being used as a first name before 1740 on the Overwharton Parish records: i.e. Withers King, Withers Smith.

Again we let the records tell the story.

Bk. (1653-1659) Westmoreland County—double page 39 of same book recorded July 30, 1655. William Withers' cattle mark recorded . . .

Bk. 4, p. 342, Regal Patents . . . Dec. 18, 1658 (Virginia State Land Office). William Withers 400 acres of land on the head of a small creek falling into Potomac Creek and extending along the line of Major John Goodwin's lands . .•. for the transportation of eight persons.

Will & Deed Bk. (1661-1662) pt. 2, p. 2. Dec. 4, 1661. Col. Gerrard Fowke's deed to Edward Rogers . . . 600 acres which was part of a tract formerly held by William Withers and since sold to John Browne by Nicholas Russell. Witnesses: William Horton and Richard Fowke. Will & Deed Book: p. 15, Ellen Peyton, widow of Henry Peyton, to my brother-in-law Mr. Valentine Peyton . . . all the cattle in Virginia which I had last April . . . September 7, 1661. Bill of sale for this cattle. . . . Witnesses: John Peyton and William Withers, recorded June 10, 1662.

Court Order Book (1663-1664), p. 15, June 24, 1663, ordered that William Withers be paid 100 lbs. of Tobacco for killing a wolf.

Oldest Court Order Book, Stafford County, Virginia. June 14, 1664, p. 3, William Withers mentioned.

Potomac Creek is the name applied in the early records to that part of the stream which makes a broad creek and mouth as it enters the Potomac River. . . . The run of the Creek was the term given to the narrower stream which was above the so-called head . . . and fed the Creek. Another stream to the south joined with Potomac Rim at this head and both flowed through Potomac Creek into the Potomac River. This is the nature of these streams and creeks in this section of Virginia. The main run of Potomac Creek was Potomac Run. . . . Just north and north-west of Potomac Creek was Accoceek Creek; it enters the Potomac River a very short distance up the river. Potomac Creek and Accoceek Creek form in between them a very narrow strip of land which as it approaches the Potomac River makes a point now called Marlboro Point. Next to, and on, the south of Potomac Creek was Chotank Creek. This last creek fell into King George County when that county's boundaries were finally settled.

The first Court House was built at Marlboro Point, where Pocahontas is said to have been purchased by Capt. Argoll of Jamestown for a copper kettle and some beads. This was once Washington Parish, Westmoreland County and later Overwharton Parish, Stafford County. The first church was called "Potomac Church" which stood near the first courthouse. The walls of which were still standing until torn down by Federal troops during the Civil War.

Before his death, Capt. John Withers and Frances, his wife, on March 14, 1699, made a deed to William Withers, "400 acres on Hollowing Point." After his death William Withers, who was the nephew of Capt. John Withers, and Frances, the widow of Capt. John, together with her new husband, Rice Hooe, made deeds of partition of this land to give clear title to it to this younger man. This was necessary to give William Withers the right to sell or lease the land. On December 6, 1699, young William Withers and his wife, Mary, sold this land to John Simmons. The deed recites ". . . land granted to John Withers, now deceased, and purchased from the said John Withers by William Withers, my deceased father . . ." These records show that William Withers, Sr. died before March 14, 1699. In fact, the old index book shows us that he died in 1698 and that his son William assumed the duties of executor of his father's estate some six months or so after his death. This indicates that William came of age shortly after his father's will was admitted to probate. The deed in which William Withers, (Jr.) and his wife Mary convey land to John Simmons gives us some idea of when William Withers married. This land came up again on the records many years after the death of William Withers, Sr. Book (1722-1728) Stafford County, Virginia, p. 207, dated March 8, 1725. George Simmons and John Scott and Sarah, his wife, sell to Townsend Dade ". . . land on the south side of Potomac Creek in Overwharton Parish which is a part of a 500-acre tract granted to John Withers and was sold by him to William Withers, Sr. and was left by his will to his son William Withers, who conveyed this land to John Simmons, father of the said George on December 6, 1699."

William" Withers born about 1677-1678, son of William Withers and nephew of Capt. John Withers of Stafford County, Virginia, died in 1703 in Stafford County, Virginia, testate. He married in 1699 Mary, the daughter of Oliver Littlejohn. She married second, Francis Cofer and removed to Prince William County, Virginia, where she died testate, naming her children by the second marriage. The one son of William Withers by this wife died before 1717 under age as is shown by the following records. (1) Mary (Littlejohn) (Withers) Cofer did not name a son John Withers in her will, in fact, no Withers children, only her Cofer children, one of whom she had named Thomas Withers Cofer who became a prominent man. He was vestryman of Pohick Church. The John Withers who signed as witness to her will was the son of James2 Withers, brother to her first husband.

(2) Reference: Northern Neck Record Book No. 5, page 192, March 14, 1718/19- Grant of 520 acres to Mr. Francis Cofer of Stafford County, being part of a patent for 2,000 acres granted unto Richard Bushrod on October 15, 1660 and by the said Bushrod sold to Robert Colson for 400 acres by deed dated December 14, 1687, who sold the same unto John Withers by deed dated May 12, 1693, who willed the same to William Withers, his cousin, and the heirs of his body male lawfully begotten and for want of same then to some persons in England as may be seen by his last will and testament, which William Withers being deceased without leaving such heirs and no persons from England appearing to claim the said land in so long a time and the heirs in England are probably dead, the said land is granted to Francis Cofer who married the widow of William Withers, deceased. Upon a re-survey found to be 520 acres instead of 400 acres.

[JN here follows a long discussion of land]

I William1 Withers born about 1636 in Lancashire, Great Britain, son of William Wither, yeoman of Arkholme, Melling, County of Lancaster, died in 1698 in Stafford County, Virginia. He may have married more than one time, name of wife unknown. He resided on the north side of Potomac Creek in Stafford County, Virginia, on land later occupied by his sons and by the descendants of his second son James Withers.

Issue of William1 Withers:

1. William' Withers, b. ca. 1676/77 (of age Dec. 1698), d. 1703 Stafford County, Virginia; m. 1699, Mary Littlejohn.
Issue: One son, John Withers, who died before 1717 (infant). Widow married second, Francis Cofer.

II. 2. James2 Withers, b. 1680 Stafford County, Virginia, d. 1746 Stafford County, Virginia; m. 1701, Elizabeth Keene.

The daughters of William Withers were probably older than the sons.