Author: James Edward Mitchell
John Wilhite /Aka Willhoit(e)/Wilhide, born 1745 at Orange County (Co.) VA, is a grandson of [(Johann) Michael Wilhide /Aka Wilheit, Wilhoit (1671-1746)] the émigré, born in the agricultural village of Schwaigern, Germany. In 1717, Michael and his wife, Anna Maria (Mary) Hengsteller with sons –Tobias [1708-(1762 w., Culpeper)] our subject’s father and his younger brothers, [John (Christian) Wilhoit (1713-1797)] and Hans Michael (1711) joined the Royal Provence, Virginia *Germanna Colony completing a work contract from Germany or an indenture paid by Royal LieutGov (1710-1722) Alexander Spotswood. The German protestant colonists were eventually resettled upon Spotswood lands at Madison Co., VA, formed 1792 from Culpeper. After re-settlement, Adam Wilhoit [1719-(1763 w., Culpeper)] m. Catherine Broyles Aka Breils, a daughter of Johanne Briles; Matthias (1723-1772); Philip (1725-1801) and, *daughter - Eva Wilhoit (1721-1807) completed the surviving American family line.

Tobias, above, John’s father and mother, Catherine Walke Wilhoite named their other children Michael b. 1735; Conrad b. 1737; Catherine b. 1738; Jesse (1739-1823), a Revolutionary War soldier; William b. 1741; Maria (Mary) b. 1743; Joel b. 1743; John Wilhite, our subject, b. 1745; Lewis b. 1747; and, Tobias II b. 1750, also a Revolutionary War soldier. John’s uncles were recorded as Johann (John) Christian Wilheit, Adam, Matthias and Philip and, aunt Eva, married Nicholas Hold (sic, Holt), a son of Hans Michael Holt/Aka Holdt.

John Wilhite’s grandfather (Johann) Michael Wilhide’s original 289 acre tract dated 28 Sep 1728 was mapped at Deep Run, now at Madison, VA; source, Journal Article, The German Colony of 1717 (Concluded) Arthur Leslie Keith The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol 26, No. 4 (Apr., 1918) pg 245.

[Readers please, note that John Wilhite’s father, “Tobias Willhite” is recorded in VA’s Orange Co., Court, 24 Feb 1742 with Courtney Broyle, Jacob Manspile, “John Willhite” and Jacob Miller, German protestants, all -having produced a signed affidavit of membership at either St. Mark’s parish Episcopal church or Minister George Samuel Klugg’s ‘Hebron’ Dutch (Lutheran) church; source, Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol 12, pgs 76-77; “Moravian Diaries through Virginia,” i.e., Court Orders From Orange County Naturalizing Germans, State of Virginia: etc.]

John, age 21, married during 1765, Lucy Stapp Wilhite; a daughter of Joshua Stapp (1783 w., Orange) at Orange County, VA. Joshua Stapp is mentioned with a recorded will at Orange Co.: Virginia Wills and Administrations 1632-1800 An Index, compiled by Clayton Torrence and publ. at Baltimore by Genealogical Publ. Co., Inc. (1990) pg 400. Record searches were conducted in Patriots of the Upcountry: Orange County Virginia in the Revolution (1976) by William H. B. Thomas, publ. by the Orange County Bicentennial Commission produced Orange County petitioners (Docketed, Mar 14, 1781) William Lucas, John Willhoit, John Rucker, May Burton, Jr. William Sebree, Benjamin Head, Lewis Gaar, Thomas Stapp, Achilles Stapp, John Lucas, et al., writing to delegates of the VA State Assembly praying opposition to an act for raising the militia in Orange Co., to serve 18 months in Continental service, pgs 125-127. A separate VA Legislative petition (Docketed, Nov 3, 1785) writing to delegates praying opposition to, “A Bill establishing a provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion,” was recorded and among the signatories were Ambrose Madison, Thomas Barbour, William Sebree, Richard Sebree, John Lucas, Moses and Thomas Lucas, Benjamin Johnson, George Waugh, et al., pgs 127-133. The book’s APPENDIX I, Roster of Military Personnel Orange Co., VA, listed, Capt. Robert Miller, Col. Thomas Barbour, and Thomas Stapp, Capt. George Waugh and John Willhoit, pgs 87-92.

A review of Southern Campaign American revolution Pension Statements & Rosters; source, http://revwarapps.org/ revealed Tobias Wilhite (Welhite) R.11542 (1750-1839) wife, Polly; and, his known brother, John Wilhite S.14833 (1745-1837), his only surviving child was Tobias Wilhite; no other family record was available within his pension file after his death on 1 Jan 1837.

A close review of John Wilhite’s Revolutionary War pension file revealed that John appeared at age 87, in Court at Scott Co., Kentucky (KY) on 5 Sep 1832. He was administered, his oath in open Court. He stated that during the Revolution, he lived in Orange Co., VA, formed 1749 as Culpeper Co., and formed 1792 as Madison Co., VA. He was born in Culpeper (sic) and said that he was age 87, if his recollection served him. He stated that he had no family or home; that lived most of his time in Owen County adjoining Scott, that he was well known in both counties & his witnesses: Richard Sebree and Achilles Stapp are both residents of Scott County, where he prefers making his declaration. He served four (4) separate Virginia Militia tours during the Revolutionary War. The 1st tour was in 1777-8 from his best recollection and for 3 months service as a Private in Capt. James Barbour’s company raised for Culpeper Co. The 2nd tour followed during 1779 as a Private in Capt. Robert Miller’s company for 2 months, instead of the usual 3 months because of a serious illness. His VA Bgde. commander was (Brig)Gen’l. (William) Weedon and until sent to a field hospital, he was on duty defending Fredericksburg; a 3rd tour was in 1780 in Capt. Benjamin Johnson’s company raised for Orange Co., VA, Col. Thomas Barbour. The 4th tour for 3 months service occurred in (fall) 1781 in Capt. George Waugh’s company at the Siege of Yorktown and surrender (Oct 19, 1781) of British Gen’l. Cornwallis.

Witnesses: Achilles Stapp and Richard Sebree came into open Court and each testified under oath that John Wilhite served tours, as he stated in Court. Richard Sebree stated that he was on the 3rd tour in Capt. Benjamin Johnson’s company raised in 1780 for Orange Co., and in the same mess. Achilles Stapp volunteered for the same two tours in 1779 and 1781, and in 1779 John was returned home a month short of his full 3 month tour due to sickness (camp fever).

John and his wife, Lucy Stapp Wilhite were buried in their private family farm cemetery about 10 miles south of Owenton, KY. The farm home was once owned by Amos Willhoite and was situated on Route 127, approximately one mile south of Route 845. They were buried together at a plot known as Willhoite Cemetery 1, with four known graves. In 1985, a farmer brought two severely weathered headstones belonging to John Wilhite and his wife, Lucy to the cemetery caretaker at Owenton I.O.O.F. cemetery with the explanation that he had bought the farm and found the stones set aside upon the property. The stones were re-set at a part of Owenton I.O.O.F. cem. where there was no room for grave plots, but the actual family remains buried at Latitude: 38.449451 and Longitude: -84.848120.