Wilhites of Knox, Sevier, Jefferson Counties of Tennessee
This area has some of the most mixed and confusing information on the web about who belongs where. This page is an attempt to explain what I believe is correct. If you have evidence of anything being incorrect on this page, please contact me and I will look into it.
WillhiteWeb.com
Last Updated:
Conrad Reuben Wilhite
Children
Julius Wilhite
Mathias Wilhite
James Wilhite
Children
(1737 - 1809)
Adam Wilhite
(1758-1815)
(1764-1842)
(1766-1857)
(1750 - 1818)
Tobias Wilhoit
Son
Johann Michael Wilhoit
Sons
Mathias Wilhoit
Son (unproven for now)
John Wilhite
James Wilhite
(1788-1830)
(1791-1854)
Nancy Wilhite
(1784-1853)
m: Comfort Stansburry
m: Levina Perry
m: William Monroe Julian
m: Malisia/Felicia
m: Mary Ballenger & Hannah
Children
James of 1818
(Not All Children Shown)
Children
George Wilhite 1813-x
Children
Sally/Sarah 1803
m: Nancy Greene
James N. Wilhite 1817-1892
m: Elizabeth Ann Payne
March 15, 2022
(1708 - 1762)
(1723 - xxxx)
m: Catherine Walke
(Not All Birth/Death Dates Are Exact)
m: Elizabeth Broyles
John M. Wilhite 1819-1889
m: Elizabeth Ann Payne
m: Patsey Bailey
m: Margaret Hise
m: Rachael Holley
m: Nancy Morse
(There may be a HUGE amount of information to be published coming in late 2022 from a well known Wilhite Researcher regarding these two lines)
Julius Wilhite
Conrad Wilhite
Conrad Wilhite
Mathias Wilhite
of 1723
Sons of Conrad
Adam and Mathias
James Wilhite of 1750
& son James m:Comfort
F
E
D
A
B
C
Location D
Location E
This area is reported to be where Mathias of 1723 moved after leaving Virginia. Although gone, Wilhite Church still shows on Google maps today. Also on maps today are Wilhite Creek and Wilhite Road. The area is also known as Wilhite Valley. This area has been reserched by John C. Wilhite Jr., the author of the book “The Germanna Record”. He hopes to publish his findings in late 2022. Until his research is revealed, this location is a total mystery to who homesteaded here.
Conrad at age 43 moved from Virginia with his wifes family the Broyles in 1780 to Washington County, NC (now TN), specifically Horse Creek of the Nolichucky River.
This area is James Wilhite and Comfort Stansburry. Please look over this evidence and compare with the James in location F who was born the same year 1791.
About 1800, Conrad moves to Walnut Grove (Jacksboro) Powell Valley in Granger County (now Campbell Co.) Tennessee.
Julius Wilhite, son of Conrad spent most of his adult life in Elk Valley, on Elk Fork Creek, a settlement on the other side of Pine Mountain from Powell Valley.
See Location E below
See Location F below
1935 USGS map
1940 USGS map (1975 update)
James Wilhite
(1750-1818)
John Wilhite
James Wilhite
(1788-1830)
(1791-1854)
Nancy Wilhite
(1784-1853)
m: Comfort Stansburry around 1813
m: Levina Perry
m: William Monroe Julian
m: Malisia/Felicia
Children
James of 1818
Children
Sally/Sarah 1803
His oldest daughter Margaret/Maggie Wilhite Cox said her parents were "Col James and Levina Wilhite" of North Carolina. This matches several reliable family researches (more to come). Burial believed to be in a lost Wilhite Family Burial Ground.
1830: Knox, Tennessee Census (pages 385-387)
1 male age 5-10,
2 males age 10-15,
1 male age 30-40,
2 females under 5,
1 females age 5-10,
1 female age 15-20,
1 female age 30-40,
Living near his son George Wilhite family,.
Living near his brothers family (widow) Malisia Wilhite,
Living near his father in law Luke Stansburry,
Living near Nancy (Wilhite) Julien his sister (a widow),
Neighbors matching 1840 Knox census are: Jacob Bean, Jeremiah Johnson, Robert Hinds, Jonathan Johnson, Claiborn Swaggerty, Isham Dikes, other Stansburrys.
1830: James gave the land for New Hopewell Baptist Church Knox County, TN (off Kimberlin Heights Road)
1834: James Wilhite gave a deed of trust to William Swan to secure William Giddard and Jeremiah Johnson who was his security on a note to Swan.
1836: Knox, TN Early Tax List
James and George (his son) are listed in this alphabetical grouping of people
1840: Knox, Tennessee Census (pages 117-119)
1 male age 15-20 (William)
2 males age 20-30 (James and John)
1 male age 50-60 (Dad)
1 female age 5-10 (Margaret)
3 females age 10-15 (Mary, Hanna, Nancy)
1 femaile age 15-20 (Levina)
1 female age 40-50 (Mom)
Living near his father in law Luke Stansburry,
Living near Nancy (Wilhite) Julien his sister (a widow), and Sally (Sarah) Julian, daughter of Nancy (Wilhite) Julian.
Living near Nancy Wilhite (Greene), the widow of George, son of James and Comfort,
James Wilhite the son of George Wilhite and Nancy Greene,
Neighbors matching 1830 Knox census are: Jacob Bean, Jeremiah Johnson, Robert Hinds, Jonathan Johnson, Claiborn Swaggerty, Isham Dikes, other Stansburrys.
Location F
This area is James Wilhite, the son of Adam, the son of Conrad. Please look over this evidence and and compare with the James in location E who was born the same year 1791.
James Wilhite
(1791-1873)
m: Peggy Jane Baker around 1812
m: Susan Cates around 1825
1812: the Jefferson Co, TN vital statistics shows marriage record of James Wilhite and Peggy Baker on March 12, 1812. Bondsman was a John B Wilhite. (likely his 9 year older brother John)
1854 Death: Kimberlin Heights, Knox County, Tennessee
New Hopewell Baptist Cemetery
Son of James Wilhite (1750-1818)
1850: Sub 31, Knox, TN census on page 7,
Wife and 2 daughters (Nancy and Margaret) in home.
Son John M. on page 5,
Son William M. on page 19,
Same neighbors match from 1830 and 1840 census.
Son James and daughters Levina and Hannah are together on the Knox, Knoxville census.
Unknown: John Wilhite (born: 1827) and Mary page XX.
Daughter of James Wilhite (1750-1818)
Son of James Wilhite (1750-1818)
1776: Washington District created by North Carolina General Assembly.
1777: Washington County was created by North Carolina.
1780: Conrad moves from Virginia to Location A.
1780: Mathias moves from Virginia to Location D.
1783: Greene County, NC was carved out of Washington County, NC
1784: State of Franklin created.
1788: State of Franklin ends.
1789: Sons of Conrad (Adam and Mathias) move to Location F.
1792: Formation of Jefferson and Knox, from Greene and Hawkins Co.
1794: Formation of Sevier County from part of Jefferson County.
1794: Sevier County boundaries never change once created.
1796: Tennessee Statehood.
1796: Julius Sr. is a chain carrier in Location B.
1800: Conrad moves from A to B.
1801: Anderson and Claiborne Counties created out of Grainger County.
1806: Campbell County formed from parts of Anderson & Claiborne.
Boundary Changes and Moves
Other Relevant Children On Census
1813: Knox County, TN shows marriage on Dec.22, 1813 between James Wilhite and Comfort Stansburry
1812: Captain John Roper Company Tennessee Militia, see details below.
1821: Sheriffs Sale of some of James land to settle a judgement (image below). Says James lives on Dumplin Creek.
James Wilhite served as a Private, in Captain John Roper's Company of the Tennessee Militia in the War of 1812. The men in this company were mostly from Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hawkins, Jefferson, Sullivan, and Washington Counties in TN. The men from Jefferson County enlisted in Dandridge. This Company served from October 8, 1813 to February 8, 1814 to replace the men who had been part of the mutiny against Andrew Jackson. There were about 700 men in this Company, leaving Kingston, Tennessee and going through Fort Armstrong and Fort Strother. Fort Armstrong was a temporary post used as a supply base during the first Creek War (1813) in Alabama, on land belonging to the Cherokee. This fort was later called Fort Lovell, and in 1838 was used as a stockade to contain American Indians removed from their lands. Fort Strother was a stockade fort in Ten Islands, in what is now St Clair Co, Alabama. Fort Strother was built in November 1813 by General Andrew Jackson and several thousand militiamen during the Creek War.
1850s: Land Record document shows 80 acres in favor of James Wilhite for his military service, Captain Ropers Company, TN Volunteers war of 1812. W1/2 of the NW1/4 of S15, T32, R24 in the district of lands subject to sale in Springfield, MO, containing 80 acres. This is in Polk County, Missouri.
Dumplin Creek Baptist Church has records of James two daughters Elizabeth and Melcena joining, being baptized, and later in the 1850s requesting papers to leave the church. They then left Tennessee and joined their father, and other siblings in Polk County Missouri, which is supported by census records.
1829: James land purchase document for 200 acres on Tuckahoe Creek. Tuckahoe Creek is in Jefferson, Sevier and Knox counties in the tri-county region of Tennessee, one drainage over from Dumplin Creek. Other person on document is a Cate (his wife family likely) is 50 acres on Bays Mountain, located in same area.
1849: Moved to Polk County, Missouri
1865 James sold his military service land to his two sons, Conaway and Alfred who remained in Polk County, Missouri.
1866 or close, James left Polk County Missouri to reside with his eldest son, Madison in Richland Co, IL.
1850: He is on the District 71, Polk, Missouri census with no wife, just his son Conaway and his daughter Naoma. Next door is his sons Joseph and Silas. Many Cates living nearby (his deceased wives family).
1873 died in Olney, Richland County, IL
1865 James sold or transfered 80 acres of land to a Neil McKenzie. Appears to be different location than the 80 acres in 1950. This location is Lot 1, of the NW fractional quarter of S18, T33, R22. Closer to town of Bolivar.
1796: Adam Wilhite buys 250 acres from Abraham Swagerty on Dumplin Creek & North French Broad River (Matthyias Wilhite (his brother) & Ezekiel Wilhite (his son) witness the deed). See map below showing Dumplin Creek in the tri-county region (Knox, Jefferson and Sevier) of Tennessee.
1800: the Jefferson County Tax List has John Baker, his future father in law.
Adam Wilhite
(1758-1815)
Mathias Herbert Wilhite
(1766-1857)
m: Patsey Missy Bailey
m: Rachael Holley
m: Nancy Morse
Oldest son of Conrad Reuben Wilhite, Adam moved from Horse Creek/Nolchucky area a few years before his dad Conrad moved to Jacksboro. Adam also had 3 sons (Ezekiel, John and James) who also moved with Adam to Dumplin Creek, Location F.
Son of Conrad Reuben Wilhite (1758-1815)
Other Relevant Children On Census
Son of Adam Wilhite (1758-1815)
(New Hopewell, Kimberlin Heights)
(Dandridge, Dumplin Creek, Tuckahoe Creek, Kodak, Bays Mountain)
1789: Adams brother Mathias aquires 200 acres on Dumplin Creek in Greene County, Tennessee (now Jefferson). This was 3 years before Jefferson County was formed from Greene County.
1802: On the Tennessee, Early Land Registers living near John Cates. 4 of Adams children would marry Cates, including James after his first wife dies.
See maps below showing Dumplin Creek in the tri-county region (Knox, Jefferson and Sevier) of Tennessee.
1815: Sheriff of Jefferson Co. sold at public auction 156 acres of his father Adams land to satisfy writs against Adam and his son John Wilhite. In favor of William Eaton and Edward Ruth (Routh).
1816: Edward Ruth (Routh) sold to James of Jefferson Co. the 156 acres for $300 (same land referred to above). Deed recorded on 7 June 1818.
(Wilhite Creek, Wilhite Valley, Wilhite Church, Wilhite School, Sevier County, TN)
Google maps in 2022 still show the church location. Near Wilhite Creek and Wilhite Road.
Sign on Wilhite Road in Sevier County, Tennessee
New Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery
James Wilhite 1791 - 1854
Comfort (Stansbury) Wilhite 1791 - uknown)
John Wilhite 1788 - 1830
Melissa Wilhite 1791 - 1858
John M. Wilhite 1819 - 1889
Margaret Peggy (Rose) Wilhite 1820 - 1903
William Marion Wilhite 1825 - 1898
Sarah (Edington) Wilhite 1828 - 1880
Margaret E (Wilhite) Fryar 1832 - 1910
Jacob/Jake Monroe Willhoite 1847 - 1893
Judith Ellender (Burnett) Wilhite 1849 - 1925
Sarah Lee (Wilhite) Loposser 1867 - 1908
Perry Alexander P.A. Wilhoit 1873 - 1941
Joseph James Wilhoite 1883 - 1951
Georgia A (Walker) Wilhoite 1886 - 1912
Anna R (Mitchell) Wilhoit 1888 - 1965
Jettie Martha (Newman) Wilhite 1893-1972
Ester Wilhite 1915-1924
Mitchell Evert Wilhoit 1921 - 1981
Nannie Bell (Poston) Wilhoit 1925 - 2008
Luke Stansbury 1758 - 1848 and wife...
Nancy (Haddock/Hadix) Stansbury
Solomon Stansbury 1805 - 1879
943 Kimberlin Heights Road, Knoxville, TN
New Hopewell Baptist Church and Cemetery on Kimberlin Heights Road, Knox County, TN
Key Dates For This Area
1789: Mathias Wilhite aquires 200 acres on Dumplin Creek.
1792: Formation of Jefferson and Knox, from Greene and Hawkins Co.
1794: Formation of Sevier County from part of Jefferson County.
1796: Adam Wilhite buys 250 acres on Dumplin Creek & North French Broad River.
1796: Tennessee Statehood.
1815: Sheriff of Jefferson County sold 156 acres of Adams land.
1816: James (son of Adam) purchased the 156 acres above from the buyer.
1821: Sheriffs Sale of some of James land on Dumplin Creek.
1829: James purchase for 200 acres on Tuckahoe Creek.
They lived here but most did not die here.
1901 USGS showing Tuckahoe and Dumplin Creeks. Note Cates Roads, many other Cates locations on other maps.
North Fork
French Broad River
Dumplin Creek
Tuckahoe Creek
Above: Dumplin and Tuckahoe Creeks highlighted in blue
This location is 18 air miles SE from Location F in Sevier County on Dumplin Creek.
Bonus Location
I have not researched this area yet in the community of Carter in Northeast Knoxville area.
(Wilhite Lane in Carter, Knox County, TN)
Wilhite Lane just north of Carter Middle School