Person Page

     Joel Earnest Wilhite was born on 20 April 1896 in Bell Co., Texas.¹ He married Edgie Lee Carpenter.¹
     

     Joel was also known as Preacher.¹

     Joel Erskin Wilhite was born on 23 June 1850.¹

     Johann Christian Willheit was born before 13 December 1715 in Schwaigern, Württemberg. Johann was christened on 13 December 1715 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹
     

     There is no mentioned of Johann Christian after his birth. He could have accompanied the family to Virginia and died before his father's will was written.

     Johann Friedrich Willheit was born before 8 January 1687 in Schwaigern, Württemberg. Johann was christened on 8 January 1687 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹
     

     Johann Friedrich immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1731 with wife and six children and settled in York County. He was a cousin of Michael Wilhoit, the immigrant to Virginia.¹

     Johann Georg Willheit was born before 25 April 1610 in Schwaigern, Württemberg. Johann was christened on 25 April 1610 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹ He married first Barbara Lutz, daughter of Johannes Lutz and Anna Flamm, on 12 July 1640 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹ He married second Anna Maria Ehrens on 3 October 1675 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹ Johann died on 13 November 1685 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹
     

     Johann Georg Willheit's baptismal entry has been annotated and refers to him as "Schwarz-Georg" (Black Georg). This nickname, suggesting that he had a swarthy complexion, may have been used to distinguish him from other Georgs living at that time.

     "Black Georg" was a "Gerichsverwandt" (court official).¹

     Johann Georg Willheit was born before 21 March 1682 in Schwaigern, Württemberg. Johann was christened on 21 March 1682 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹ Johann died unmarried on 22 June 1710 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹

     Johann Michael Willheit was born before 25 January 1671 in Schwaigern, Württemberg. Johann was christened on 25 January 1671 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹ He married first Anna Dorothea Boger, daughter of Hans Phillip Müller, on 29 January 1696 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹ He married second Anna Maria Hengsteler, daughter of Matthias Hengsteler and Maria Müller, on 16 February 1706.¹ Johann died before 26 June 1746 in Orange Co., Virginia.²
     

     Johann Michael Willheit went by the name of Michael.

     Johann Michael had a twin, Matthias, who died 8 February 1671, about two weeks after birth.

     Johann Michael is believed to have been a member of the second Germanna Colony. The first Germanna Colony consisted of Germans recruited from the Nassau-Siegen region of Germany by Governor Alexander Spotswood as skilled laborers for his iron works. These immigrants have been throughly researched and documented.

     The members of the second Germanna Colony established in 1717 have been more of a mystery. Much of the mystery surrounding the second colony has been resolved by the examination of the records in Württemberg and Baden and documented in Cerny's and Zimmerman's Before Germanna No. 1, The Ancestry of Johann Michael Willheit and Anna Maria Hengsteler as follows:

     The immigrants of the second colony, comprised of Lutherans, left Germany on 12 July 1717 for Pennsylvania. Their choice of vessel was unfortunate. The vessel made the customary stop in London, but the colonists were detained for several weeks while the captain of the vessel was imprisoned for debt. Food supplies dwindled while the passengers waited for the captain's release. Starvation claimed the lives of several at sea. There is no details of the crossing, but the captain did not land in Pennsylvania. Instead he took the approximately 100 passengers to Virginia where he sold them as indentured servants to Spotswood to pay for their passage and confiscated their belongings.

     Spotswood may have recognized the injustice done these immigrants, but he nonetheless profited from the situation to extract eight years of indentured labor from them. They were not released until 1725, a year longer than the customary seven years for indenture service. Spotswood sued 19 of them in 1723 and 1724 to force them into their extended service. It is now believed that the second colony consisted of more than the 19 being sued by Spotswood. It may be that only those who adamantly refused to continue their indenture were enjoined in the suit. Others may have wanted to avoid conflict with the powerful governor and gave in to his demands.

     Few inter-marriages took place between the first and second colony. The first colony was composed of members of the Reformed faith, while the second colony were strict adherents to the Evangelical Lutheran religion.

     Even though he was not among the 19 colonists being sued by Spotswood, the belief that Johann Michael was part of the second colony is based on the fact that his name disappears from parish records in Schwaigern after 13 December 1715, the birth of his son Johann Cristian; he was granted land at the same time in 1724 and in the same Robinson River area as other recognized members of the second colony; and his family attended the Hebron Church in Orange County where the German Lutherans of the second colony worshipped. Also, most of his descendants married into other second colony families.

     Some genealogists have speculated that Johann Michael's second wife was Mary Blankenbaker whom he married in 1710. There is no record of such a marriage in Schwaigern records. On the contrary, the parish register shows that Anna Maria was alive and having Johann Michael's children in 1710. She had two children after that date. There is no mention of her death in Schwaigern records. It is therefore reasonable to assume that she is the wife who accompanied him to Virginia in 1717 and is the wife Mary mentioned in his will. Johann Michael's name was anglicized to Michael Wilhoit and it is not unlikely that Anna Maria's name was changed to Mary in the same way. Additionally, Evangelical Lutheran parish records in Neuenberg, Baden show that Maria Blanckenbuhler (Mary Blankenbaker) was the wife first of John Thomas 18 November 1711 and second of Michael Kaifer (date unknown) in Virginia.¹

     Johann made a will on 1 January 1742 in Orange Co., Virginia. Will of Michael Willheit:

     In the name of God Amen, I Michael Willheit of the parish of St. Mark and county of Orange being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and perfect memory (thanks be to Almighty God for the same) do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following: First I recommend my soul to God that gave it trusting and surely believing that through the merits of my Blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, to receive full remission and forgiveness of all my sins, my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the direction of my executors hereafter named. I will that after my decease my loving wife Mary Willheit do live and continue upon the plantation where I now live during the term of her natural life and I do herewith most earnestly enjoin and require all my children to love honor and respect her as their dear mother and I do give unto my said loving wife Mary all my personal estate during her natural life and to make sale of either house or cattle so long as the said my wife shall live and after her decease my will and desire is that all my personal estate be equally divided amongst my six children hereafter named. I will that my tract of two hundred and eighty-nine acres of land be equally divided unto two parts of which my son Matthias Willheit is to have one part and my youngest son Phillip Willheit is to have the other part whereon the house and plantation is and whereon I now do live, and it is my desire that after the decease of my loving wife Mary and when the above said my two sons Matthias Willheit and Phillip Willheit are at age 21 years each that then the aforesaid my two younger sons do pay 12 pounds currency to the four following my children as their share of inheritance, that is to say, unto Tobias Willheit 3 pounds currency unto John Willheit 3 pounds currency, unto Adam Willheit 3 pounds currency and unto my daughter Eva (now married to Nicholas Holt) 3 pounds currency.
     I make and ordain my loving friend Michael Holt and my dear eldest son Tobias Willheit to be executors of this my last will and testament revolking all other wills heretofore by me made and in witness that this my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the first day of January 1742/43.
     Witnessed by: Michael Willheit; Balthaser Blankerbaker; John Snieder; Michael Holt (Orange W.B. 2, page 87).²

     His will was probated on 26 June 1746. His will was presented into court by Tobias Willheit. It was proven by Michael Holt and Balthaser Blankerbaker, the other witness refused to join. The executor with Ludwick Fisher and Lawrence Garr acknowledge bond. The total valuation of the inventory of Michael Willheit was 20.3.6 returned July 24, 1746 by Ambrose Powell, Stockeley Towles and Francis Mikill. An additional inventory valued at 2.15.6 was returned by the same appraisers February 12, 1746/47 (Orange W.B. 2, page 87).

     Johannes Willheit was born before 1 July 1713 in Schwaigern, Württemberg. Johannes was christened on 1 July 1713 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹ He married Walburga Weber (Weaver), daughter of Joseph Weber (Weaver) and Susanna Klaar. Johannes died before 25 January 1798 in Madison Co., Virginia.²
     

     Johannes was also known as John.

     His will was probated on 25 January 1798 in Madison Co., Virginia.

     Johannes Willheit was born before 10 May 1659 in Schwaigern, Württemberg. Johannes was christened on 10 May 1659 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹ He married Maria Eleonora Mollin on 31 August 1681 in Schwaigern, Württemberg.¹

     John Wilhoite was born circa 1745 in Culpeper Co., Virginia.¹ He married Lucy Stapp, daughter of Joshua Stapp and Hannah Durham, circa 1769 in Orange Co., Virginia.¹ John died on 1 January 1837 or 17 February 1837 in Owen Co. or Scott Co., Kentucky.^2,1
     

     John served with Virginia troops in the Revolutionary war from 1778 to 1786. He was allowed a pension 5 September 1832 in Owen Co., Kentucky. His application for pension stated that he was at the siege of Yorktown.

     John's Revolutionary War record indicates that he died 1 January 1837. The date on the tombstone is 17 February 1837.

     John Wilhoit was born circa 1745 in Orange Co., Virginia.¹ He married Mary Fishback, daughter of Harman Fishback and Katrina ?. John died before 23 September 1820 in Madison Co., Virginia.¹
     

     His will was probated on 23 September 1820 in Madison Co., Kentucky. The will was witnessed by Daniel, James, and Henry Towles and Michael Yager was named administrator of his estate (Madison Co. W.B. 4, page 236).

     John Wilhoit was born circa 1745 in Virginia.¹ He married first Unknown Smith.¹ John Wilhoit married second Elizabeth Blankenbaker, daughter of Michael Blankenbaker and Elizabeth Barbara Gaar, circa 1768 in Culpeper Co., Virginia.¹ John died before 13 March 1815 in Jefferson Co., Kentucky.¹
     

     John migrated to Jefferson Co., Kentucky about 1806-1808.

     John made a will on 3 December 1814.

     His will was probated on 13 March 1815 in Jefferson Co., Kentucky.

     
     

     John was not mentioned in his father will leading to the speculation that he died before his father.

     John Wilhoite was born circa 1770 in Culpeper Co., Virginia.¹ He married Jane Welch. John died in Culpeper Co., Virginia.¹
     

     John served in the war of 1812 and died soon after returning home.

     John Wilhoit was born circa 1794 in Guilford Co., North Carolina.¹ He married Nancy Jane Prince circa 1815 in Botetourt Co., Virginia.¹ John died on 21 March 1856 in Bath Co., Kentucky.¹

     John Wilhite was born circa 1793 in Franklin Co., North Carolina.¹ He married Mary Ann Eliza Rainey, daughter of John Rainey and Unknown Edwards, on 24 October 1839 in Meriwether Co., Georgia.¹ John died on 21 October 1875 in Meriwether Co., Georgia.¹
     

     John served in the War of 1812.

     John Wilhite was born say 1782.^1,2
     

     The birth date is estimated upon the fact that John was an adult by 1815.

     John Wilhoit was born circa 1785.¹ He married Mary Van Zandt.¹

     John Wilhoit was born circa 1800.¹ He married Unknown Williams.¹

     John Wilhoit was born on 15 December 1790.¹ He married Catharine Crigler on 28 December 1815 in Madison Co., Kentucky.^1,2

     John Willhoite was born circa 1817.¹ John died circa 1836.¹

     John Wilhoite was born on 24 November 1824.¹ He married Elizabeth Arnold circa 1854.¹

     John Wilhoite was born circa 1818.¹ He married Lucinda ?.¹