William Burns Whitnah and Mary Ward

William Burns Whitnah		Mary Ward
Born:	Virginia⁽¹⁾	Born:	1785⁽³⁾
Died:	after 16 January 1860 Fulton County, Illinois⁽²⁾
Father:	Henry F. Whitenah	Father:	Thomas Ward⁽⁴⁾
Mother:	Margaret Burns

William Burns Whitnah was born between 1784 and 1790⁽⁵⁾, presumably in Berkeley County, Virginia. One of three sons of Henry and Margaret Whitenah, he was named for his maternal grandfather, William Burns. About 1814⁽⁶⁾, William married Mary Ward (some sources identify his spouse as Sarah Mounts⁽⁷⁾), most likely in New York.⁽⁸⁾ By 1818, William was living again in Berkeley County⁽⁹⁾.

In 1819, William and Mary moved to Groveland, Livingston County, New York⁽¹⁰⁾, where his uncle, Robert Burns, had settled a few years before. Family tradition says of this move that the family "disposed of their slaves and moved to N.Y. where they could get away from slave scenes which had become obnoxious to them."⁽¹¹⁾ Despite this statement, there is no evidence showing that William or his parents ever owned slaves.⁽¹²⁾

William and Mary lived in Groveland for about 13 years, as shown from the following land sales:

In 1824 William bought 6 acres in Livingston County, New York from Robert and Ruth Burns for $96
In 1824 William and Mary sold 25 acres in Livingston County, New York plus about 18 acres on which they were living to Robert Burns for $600
In 1824 William and Mary bought 40 acres in Livingston County, New York from Joseph and Ruth Whitnah for $500
In 1825 William bought 50 1/2 acres in Livingston County, New York from John Hornby for $102
In 1828 William bought 34 1/2 acres in Livingston County, New York from Robert and Ruth Burns for $300
In 1832 William and Mary sold 80 acres in Livingston County, New York to Robert Burns for $900
In 1832 William and Mary sold 50 acres in Livingston County, New York to Jacob Bean for $400

In 1832, the family moved to Lenawee County, Michigan⁽¹³⁾ where they apparently lived four years (see Michigan Land Patent). On April 14, 1836, the family embarked on another move, this one to Illinois. Originally bound for Galena, they changed their destination to Ottawa because of the scarcity of supplies. They traveled down the Illinois river until they arrived in Fulton County.⁽¹⁴⁾ In 1838, William sold his interest in his father's estate in Berkeley County to his brother John G. Whitnah for $150.

Although their son Andrew remained in Illinois, William and Mary apparently moved several more times. In 1840, they were possibly living in Connecticut.⁽¹⁵⁾ In 1860 they were living in Michigan.⁽¹⁶⁾ It is uncertain when or where both William and Mary died. Some sources say she passed away in 1853, although a Mary is still living in 1860. They both possibly returned to Illinois shortly after 1860, where, it is said, William died.

William Burns Whitnah and Sarah (Mary) Mounts are the parents of the following children:

Andrew Jackson Whitnah
Joseph Chester Whitnah
Elizabeth Whitnah. An Elizabeth Whitnah, age 32, born in Connecticut was living with William and Mary in Michigan in 1860.⁽¹⁷⁾ Because there are no other records of this Elizabeth, it's unknown whether this is a daughter or another relative.

Notes:

1860 Michigan Census.
On 16 January 1860, William Burns Whitnah signed an old clock, apparently before giving it to his grandson (see Timeless Treasures). William's death place was provided by Emelie L. Wilson.
Age 75 in the 1860 Michigan Census.
Early 1800 Wards.
1860 Michigan Census. William's age is either 70 or 76. I'm inclined to believe he was born in 1790 as evidenced by the Berkeley County Personal Property Tax lists. In 1809, there are three adult males in the Henry Whitenah household (Henry, John G. and William).
William's first son was born in February 1815.
The will of Thomas Ward from Livingston County states that his daughter Mary was married to a Mr. Whitnah. Sarah Mounts supposedly died on 7 Dec 1853. I thought perhaps that Sarah was a second spouse, but the 1860 Census shows Mary still living at that time. I doubt whether William ever married anyone named Sarah Mounts.
Their marriage does not appear in the Berkeley County records, and Mary's family was living in Livingston County, New York. There is no evidence that William was in Virginia with his family at that time. Personal property tax lists for Berkeley County show three adult males in 1809. This number is down to two in 1810, suggesting that one adult moved from Henry's household. I'm assuming that John stayed at home, since there is no evidence he ever left the area. John was suretor for several marriage bonds (1812, 1813, 1817).
William was executor for Robert Hasting's estate late 1818. In 1819, he bought items at the estate sale of his father. Also in 1819, William is listed on the Berkeley County Personal Property Tax lists.
History of Fulton County, pg 579. Andrew Whitnah Obituary 1, Andrew Whitnah Obituary 2, Joseph Whitnah Obituary.
Ibid.
Personal Property tax lists for Berkeley County reported the number of slaves. Henry's household never lists any slaves. It is only in the 1840 Census that John is listed with two slaves. It's possible that William lived outside Berkeley County and owned slaves prior to 1819.
See History of Fulton County and obituaries cited above.
Ibid.
The 1840 Census shows a family in Connecticut with a name similar to Whiteneck, although I have not been able to examine the original record.
1860 Michigan Census.
1860 Michigan Census.