Author: James Edward Mitchell
Tobias Wilhite /Aka Wilhoit born 15 Oct 1750 at Culpeper County (Co.) VA is a grandson of [(Johann) Michael Wilhide /Aka Wilheit, Wilhoit (1671-1746)] the émigré. He was born in the agricultural village of Schwaigern, with a Lutheran church still found today in the district of Heilbronn, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. As a father of a young family, during 1717, Michael joined the Royal Provence, Virginia (VA) *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 re-settled upon Spotswood lands at Madison, VA. Several waves of German colonists between Apr 1714 and 1734 augmented Spotswood and his Royal legislature’s palisaded fort surrounding a pentagonal structure. Tobias II’s grandfather and father’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. Michael proved his importation during 1735; his will was probated 26 Jun 1746 at Court in Orange Co., (Culpeper Co., formed 1749 from Orange). The Journal Article, mentioned Michael’s “wife, Mary [/Aka *Anna Maria Hengsteller] and *sons -Tobias, our subject’s father; brothers, John, Adam, Matthias and Philip (youngest); and *daughter Eva md to Nicholas Hold (sic, Holt), a son of *Hans Michael Holt/Aka Holdt.” He divided his 289 acres between sons -Matthias and Philip. A friend, Michael Hold (sic, Holt) and his eldest son, Tobias Willheit (Wilhide) were appointed executors. “Ludowick (sic, Ludwig) Fisher and Lawrence (sic, Lorenz) Garr, a son of Andreas/Aka Andrew Gaar signed a bond of Tobias Willheit as executor (Michael Holt refusing….)

Background: On 20 Dec 1759 our subject’s father *Tobias Wilhoite [wife, Catherine (Walke)] recorded his will. It was probated 20 May 1762 at Court in Culpeper (Madison Co., formed 1792 from Culpeper). He mentioned his wife, Catherine and sons Michael (1735-1804) [(md Mary__,); Conrad (1737-1809) md Eliz. Broyles a daughter of *Johann Broyles and his wife Ursula Roup; and, Jesse (1736-1823) served in the Revolution and md Mildred __. Other noted, family sons were William (1739-_) md Eliz. Shirley; and, daughter Mary [Maria Catherine Wilhoit (1743-1795)] md Reverend (Pastor) William Carpenter /Aka Zimmerman, the English language equivalent; Joel Wilhite (1743-1825); John Wilhite (1745-1837) Pension File S.14833; and, Lewis Wilhoit (1747-83), md Rosina Blankenbaker, a descendant of *brothers -Balthazar, Nicholas and Matthias. Lewis’ will was proven 19 May 1783 at Court in Culpeper Co., VA, Legatees: Brothers, Tobias Wilhoit (II) (1750-1839) the biographical subject; Jesse, William and Joel Wilhoit. Lewis’ will mentioned also, that his son, William and Caty Cook (Mary Catherine/Aka Catharina Willheit Koch, wife of Michael Koch) have his mare between them. Michael Koch was a descendant of *Johann Michael Cook/Aka Koch.

Writer Klaus Wust noted (1969) on pg 50, in his book, The Virginia Germans, The University Press of VA, Charlottesville, that many foreign protestant settlers of the Robinson River colony were given Oaths of Naturalization at Orange Co., VA, Court between Jan and Feb 1742/43. Among those busy taking oaths in Oct 1745, at the court in Williamsburg the Capitol, were Conrad Broil /Aka Broyles, Christopher Uhl and Martin Walk(e) all from the “Dukedom of Wirtemberg” and now neighbors on Robinson River, and a few days later they were followed by Tobias and John Wilhoid (sic) the former, our Rev-War veteran’s father.

“Hebron” church is documented within the source: A Hornbook of VA History, publ. by The Division of History of the VA Dept. of Conservation and Development, compiled and edited by J. R. V. Daniel, Div. Director; see, Some Historic Old VA Churches, pg. 53. Nearly all of (Johann) Michael Wilhide’s, above, family kinship line appear recorded within the Baptismal Register (1750-1849) of the “Hebron” Church – German Lutheran [(Madison Co., VA): Oldest Lutheran church in the South, possibly in the United States est., 1740]. See: Index, pgs 44-48 for surnames – *(Johann) Broyles/Aka Breil, Brile; *(Johann) Carpenter/Aka Zimmerman; Clore; Cook/Aka Koch; Crigler; Crisler; *(Philip) Fischbach/Aka Fishback; (Andreas) Gaar/Aka Garr, Gahr; *(Philip Joseph) Weaver/Aka Weber; *(Michael) Willheit/Aka Wilhoit and *(Nicholas) Yager, Jäger transcribed, translated and re-printed (2004, Second Edition) by John Blankenbaker, P.O. Box 120 Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania (PA) 19317. Tobias Wilhite ll’s grandfather, Michael Wilhide the émigré’s 289 acre patent dated 28 Sep 1728 is mapped as, “First Patents of Land in Madison Co., VA as of the year 1740,” compiled and drawn to scale during 1940 by D. R. Carpenter Cert. Engr. VA.346. This map is obtainable from the Madison County Public Library, Main Street, Madison, VA.

Tobias Wilhite II, at age 83 appeared at Court in Mercer Co., Kentucky (KY) on 14 Mar 1833 and gave his oath, and filed a pension declaration that he was born (1750) in the County of Culpeper, VA where he resided, when he was called (VA Militia, Draft Classes) into service on 8 Aug 1777 as a Private in Capt. Ephraim Rucker’s company raised for Culpeper; Col. James Barbour and Maj (John) Robert commanders, VA Militia Rgt.; Gen’l. (Edward) Steven’s Bgde. The rgt was marched to defend Germantown and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA) but arrived on station after the 4 Oct 1777 battle. While stationed there, Tobias’ three month tour ended. His rgt was marched home to Culpeper Courthouse, and discharged. During Jun, 1780 Tobias was once again, drafted for a 2nd tour in Capt. Ephraim Rucker’s company of Col. Barbour’s Rgt. However, an illness prevented his fulfillment of the entire three months service! In Jul 1781, Tobias was drafted a 3rd tour in Capt. Rucker’s company, Gen’l. Steven’s Bgde. Tobias performed his tour in the vicinity of Yorktown until discharged, one week before Lord Cornwallis surrendered on 19 Oct at Yorktown.

Tobias Wilhite’s/Aka Welhite (sic) Pension File R.11542 reflected that although never in any combat, he voluntarily marched three (3) separate tours and was discharged after each tour. Tobias advised that he had long since lost the discharge records and, he never held any commission during the Revolutionary War. His pension declaration stated that he lived in Culpeper Co., VA during the war.

About 1799, Tobias and his wife, Polly Shirley, who had married during 1771 or 1776 in Henrico or Culpeper Co., VA, with a daughter, Mary “Polly” Wilhite and a son, Abraham, removed to KY. Tobias stated that he had resided with his family at Mercer Co., KY, since 1809 for a duration of 24 years. Tobias Wilhite II, died on 7 Feb 1839 at Mercer Co., KY and his wife, Polly died there on 21 Jan 1844. His pension file reflected the following surviving children: Nancy Rush; Abraham “Abram”; Rody/Aka Rhody Carpenter; William Mason Wilhite; Patsy Wilhite (signature provided); Nathaniel D. (Daniel) Wilhite (signature provided) ; and Elizabeth “Betsy” D. Wilhite (signature provided). Abraham Wilhite and Rhody Carpenter died following the 1844 death of their mother.

* The Germanna Foundation pamphlet, history of the settlement; source, http://germanna.org/