Henry F. Whitenah and Margaret Burns

Although much doubt and confusion surround the origins of the Whitnah family in America, Henry F.⁽¹⁾ Whitenah can be reliably identified as the ancestor of most, if not all, of the Whitnah's in the United States today. It was during Henry's lifetime that the original surname was changed to Whitenah which later became Whitnah.

Information on Henry's birth and ancestry are conflicting. The most common family tradition is that Henry is the son of Johannes Whitenaught who came to America in 1736 from Bommel, Holland.⁽²⁾ Another possibility is that Henry is the son of Johannes Whitenack⁽³⁾ of Somerset, New Jersey. It is also possible that the Johannes of family tradition is the same Johannes that settled in New Jersey. Depending on source, Henry was born either in 1727 in Bommel, Holland or 1743 in Somerset, New Jersey (or some combination of the two)⁽⁴⁾.

The first documented record we have of Henry comes in October 18, 1782 with a letter from his father (see Letter of Johannes Whiteknaught). Then in 1783 in Berkeley County, Virginia, he is listed on the Berkeley County Personal Property Tax Roles. In 1787, he purchased 200 acres south of Martinsburgh from John Whiteneck of Frederick County, Maryland⁽⁵⁾. This land lay approximately four miles south of the County Courthouse in Martinsburgh on the west side of Opeckon Creek⁽⁶⁾. Later the land was identified as lying along Burnsford Road (a.k.a. the road to Burns' Ford)⁽⁷⁾. Through the years, Henry would sell and buy land adjoining this original purchase, but he remained there with his family until his death⁽⁸⁾.

Before his documented appearance in Berkeley County, recounted histories relate that Henry was a farmer and pioneer of New Jersey⁽⁹⁾. He served as an officer in the Revolutionary War under General Daniel Morgan⁽¹⁰⁾. Some time before 1780, Henry married Margaret Burns, daughter of William Burns and Joanna VanMetre.⁽¹¹⁾ The Burns family at this time was living in Kearneyville⁽¹²⁾, and it is possible that Henry stayed with his father-in-law until his first land purchase in 1787. Henry and Margaret remained close to both the Burns and VanMeter families. William Burns eventually bought property next to Henry, later selling much of the same to Henry and his wife⁽¹³⁾.

Because Henry spent the remainder of his life in Berkeley County, there are many documents which shed light into his family and life. At least five land deeds include Henry and/or Margaret as either grantor or grantee⁽¹⁴⁾. Henry's land holdings ranged from 290 acres in 1787, to a low of 100 acres in 1791, to 376 acres in the years preceding his death. Henry first appeared on the property tax lists in Berkeley County in 1789, and can be found for each recorded year until his death in 1819/1820⁽¹⁵⁾. After his death, his property continued to be listed under his name until 1839. Personal property tax records for the years 1814 to 1819 show that he owned between 3 to 5 horses or mules⁽¹⁶⁾. In particular, the 1815 personal property tax list records 8 head of cattle and a chest of drawers. In addition to these documents, Henry and wife Margaret are named as defendants in a suit involving the division of William Burns' estate⁽¹⁷⁾.

Only the 1810 census of Virginia survives from that time period, as earlier records for that portion of the state were destroyed by the British during the Revolution. The 1810 Census shows 1 male over 45 (Henry), 2 males age 16-26 (John G. and William or Joseph), 1 female over 45 (Margaret), 1 female age 26-45 (Eleanor or Ruth), 1 female age 16-26 (Sarah), and 1 female age 10-16 (Rebecca)⁽¹⁸⁾.

Throughout his life, Henry's name was recorded with the following variations: Whiteknecht, Whiteneck, Whitenough, Whitenah, and Whitnah.⁽¹⁹⁾. Henry passed away between 24 December 1818 and 12 January 1819.⁽²⁰⁾ One history states that Henry lived to the age of 92⁽²¹⁾, and documents indicate he was active until shortly before his death⁽²²⁾. Unfortunately, Henry left no will, and his estate (excepting the land) was inventoried and sold⁽²³⁾. His son John G. then took over the family farm, presumably caring for his mother Margaret until her death between 1830 and 1840 (possibly in 1839)⁽²⁴⁾. Little documentation exists for Margaret, Henry's wife, besides the few land sales and documents regarding the estate of her father, William Burns.

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1. Hannah Whitnah. Hannah married Samuel Roberts on 5 Mar 1795, in Berkeley County, Virginia.⁽²⁷⁾
   
2. Eleanor Whitnah. "Nellie" Whitnah died 15 October 1826⁽²⁸⁾. She never married⁽²⁹⁾.
   
3. Ruth Whitnah. In 1834, Ruth Whitenah was unmarried and possibly living in New York with her brother Joseph⁽³⁰⁾.
   
4. John G. Whitnah
   
5. Sarah Whitnah
   
6. Margaret Whitnah
   
7. William Burns Whitnah
   
8. Joseph Henry Whitnah, Sr.
   
9. Rebecca Whitnah

Notes:

1. Weidknecht, Dolores Weidknecht Young. Mrs. Young refers to records contained in a family Bible kept by Emma Foote. This is the only reference we have of Henry's middle initial.

2. Correspondence with Roberta Whitnah, Donald R. Whitnah, and Scott Whitnah. All three are descendants of John G. Whitenah and appear to be quoting the same source. This tradition states that Johannes was born in 1696.

3. Johannes Weidknecht (Whitenack) came from Holland and settled in New Jersey. Many identify this Johannes as the father of Henry Whitenah due to the similarity of the name, as well as the fact that Johannes had a son Hendrick born born in 1743 in New Jersey and christened at the Harlingen Church in Montgomery Township, Somerset, New Jersey. However, actual records linking Henry F. (of Berkeley County) to Johannes Whitenack do not exist.

4. History of Wheeling, and Ohio County, and Representative Citizens, pp. 830-833. This article, written about Henry's granddaughter Margaret A. (Whitnah) VanMeter, states that Henry died at the age of 92 (in 1819/1820). This places Henry's birth in 1727. If family tradition is believed, he would have been 10 when he came to America with his father (in 1736). However, it is interesting to note that Johannes Whitenack (of New Jersey) lived about 92 years. Perhaps Margaret's recollection was of her great-grandfather's age.

5. See Land Sale: John and Jane Whiteneck to Henry Whiteneck. It is possible that John Whiteneck of Frederick County, Maryland is related to Henry. John's father John is possibly a son of Johannes Whitenack of New Jersey. If Henry is the son of Johannes of New Jersey, John Jr. is possibly his nephew.

6. Berkeley County Tax Lists, 1812-1818.

7. Berkeley County Tax Lists, 1819-1826. Burns' Ford was owned by William Burns, Henry's father-in-law.

8. See Land Records for the deeds involving Henry Whiteneck.

9. Wheeling.

10. Ibid.; Weidknecht. Emma Foote's notes state that Henry served under General Morgan. However, no authoritative records have been found of Henry's service, as many of General Morgan's records were lost or destroyed.

11. Genealogy of the Duke-Shepherd-VanMetre Family by Samuel Gorden Smyth. The VanMetre family was one of the first settlers in America and pre-dated the Whitnahs in America by several generations. Facts related to the VanMetre's and the Burn's families have evidently caused some confusion. For example, more than one Whitnah descendant believes that the Whitnah ancestors came to America in 1663 from Holland. However, it is the VanMetre's, and not the Whitnah's, that came at this time.

12. See www.familysearch.org.

13. Berkeley County Deeds, Book 21 Pg. 320, FHL film 0829889.

14. Land Records

15. Property Taxes

16. Property Taxes

17. Henry and Margaret Whitenah Court Order

18. 1810 Census. 1 male over 45 (Henry), 2 males age 16-26 (John G. and William or Joseph), 1 female over 45 (Margaret), 1 female age 26-45 (Eleanor or Ruth), 1 female age 16-26 (Sarah), 1 female age 10-16 (Rebecca). John G. lived his life in Berkeley County, taking over the farm at Henry's death. His is likely one of the males counted in the census. William was in the area when Henry died in 1819 and is likely the other male, although Joseph would have been 18 at the time and possibly still at home. Eleonor (Nellie) never married and is likely the female between 26 and 45. Hannah was likely married by that time. Margaret had married in 1800 and was no longer with the family.

19. Perhaps it was through the English-speaking influence of his Scottish wife that Henry modified his name from the Dutch-sounding Whiteneck to an English-sounding Whitnah.

20. On a court held 12 January 1819, Henry's estate was ordered appraised. The appraisal took place on 28 January 1819. Checking the court records for Berkeley County, a regular court session was held on 12 December 1818. Minutes of the proceedings for this day shows that Henry's son William was appointed executor for Robert Hastings.

    "Administer of the Estate of Robert Hastings dec'd granted to William Whiteneck he having complied with the law."

    The next entry in the records appoints Henry Whiteneck as one of four to inventory Mr. Hasting's property.

    "Ordered that Barton Campbell, Joseph Showalter, John Fryatt & Henry Whiteneck or any three do appr. sd. Estate & report."

    Rechecking the court minutes for 12 January 1819, the inventory of Robert Hasting's property is recorded, with Henry being one of the three who performed the inventory on 24 December 1818. In addition, Henry bought items at the sale of Robert Hasting's property, which likely took place a day or more after the inventory was performed. Unfortunately, the date of the estate sale was not recorded. (See FHL film 0831282)

21. Wheeling.

22. Henry took part in the inventory of the estate of Robert Hastings on 24 December 1818. (See FHL film 1844906)

23. Inventory of the Estate of Henry Whitenah

24. There is no conclusive proof of Margaret's death. However, we can use the following facts to narrow down the time frame:
    
    • At Henry's estate sale, a Margaret Whitenah bought several items. Henry did have a daughter Margaret, however, she had by this time married and would have been listed a Margaret VanMeter.
    • After Henry's death, his property continued to be listed under his name in the property tax roles (Henry Whiteneck heirs). Had Margaret not been living, the property would likely have been divided between his sons and daughters. However, assuming Margaret was still alive, she would have been entitled to remain on the property until her death.
    • The 1820 Census lists a female above the age of 45 living with John Whiteneck who remained on the family farm. The 1830 Census lists a female between the ages of 70 and 80. The 1840 Census shows only persons of the age of John's family. Margaret likely died between 1830 and 1840.
    • Henry's land was never formally divided between his heirs. It continued to be listed under his name until it was listed under John's name. Between 1819 and 1839, Henry's children sold their interest in the family farm to John. In each case, they sold their interest in their share of the land, but never did they sell any specific piece of property. In addition, some transactions refered to the "dower land" of Henry's wife Margaret. While Henry is always refered to as desceased, Margaret never is.

25. Henry's signature came from the original records he signed when he inventoried Robert Hasting's estate on 24 December 1818. (See FHL film 1844906)

26. www.familysearch.org lists these nine children of Henry and Margaret. I have been able to verify the relationship of each to Henry and Margaret through other documents. However, one deed mentions that Henry's land was divided eight ways. One daughter, Eleonor, had died in 1826.

27. Marriage Records of Berkeley County, pg. 246. Marriage performed by Moses Hoge.

28. Selected Notices in the Martinsburgh Gazette

29. Land Sale: Joseph Whitenah, Ruth Whitenah to John Whitenah

30. Ibid.