I live near to where "Cappeteyn Willem Wittinton uyt de Verginjes" (d. 28
September 1659) is buried here in the Netherlands. I have tied him to
Captain William Whittington who fl. 1641-1659 as a commissioner of the court
and militia captain in Accomack County, Virginia, but I have not been able
to tie him to his English ancestors. It is plausible that he is connected
with the Pauntley Whittingtons, but so far I have only discovered secondary
sources and there is a break of several generations. His will, referring to
his impending voyage to Holland, unfortunately makes no reference to English
relatives.
William Whittington's year of birth is given in some (secondary) sources as
1616, but this seems to be speculative. I have come across a baptism entry
for a Wylliam Whyttington, son of a John Whyttington, in Alterton, GLS, in
1610, but have not been able to rule this in/out.
I saw that there had been some discussions about the Pauntley Whittingtons
on this list and I would be very grateful for any pointers. And of course I
would be very happy to exchange what information I have if it is of
interest.
Judith (in Holland)
Captain William Whittington of Virginia
Moderator: MOD_nyhetsgrupper
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John Townsend
Re: Captain William Whittington of Virginia
Judith Taylor wrote (snipped)
sources and there is a break of several generations.
Yes, Judith, but is there any reason to suspect this Pauntley family in
favour of the many other Whittington families in England at the desired
time?
His origins may have been quite humble. In Nottinghamshire Whittington
seems quite well represented. For example in Webster's "Protestation
Returns 1641/2 - Notts. Derbs." the index contains 16 references to adult
male Whittingtons. There were four in the town of Nottingham, including a
William.
It seems to me some clue is needed to narrow down the search, without which
the possibilities for the origin of your William Whittington are pretty
wide.
Best wishes,
John Townsend
Genealogist/Antiquarian Bookseller
http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk
It is plausible that he is connected with the Pauntley Whittingtons, but so
far I have only discovered secondary
sources and there is a break of several generations.
Yes, Judith, but is there any reason to suspect this Pauntley family in
favour of the many other Whittington families in England at the desired
time?
His origins may have been quite humble. In Nottinghamshire Whittington
seems quite well represented. For example in Webster's "Protestation
Returns 1641/2 - Notts. Derbs." the index contains 16 references to adult
male Whittingtons. There were four in the town of Nottingham, including a
William.
It seems to me some clue is needed to narrow down the search, without which
the possibilities for the origin of your William Whittington are pretty
wide.
Best wishes,
John Townsend
Genealogist/Antiquarian Bookseller
http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk
-
Judith Taylor
RE: early English Whittingtons (was: Captain William Whittin
John Townsend wrote:
John, define "humble". The Governor of Virginia, Sir William Berkeley,
created a ruling class by recruiting younger sons of leading English
families (Virginia Historical Society). William first appears in Virginia
county records in 1841 at the age of 22-24 (based on conflicting statements
in Admiralty records) and immediately makes his mark as an attorney and
advocate whose word is respected, is rapidly appointed as a commissioner of
the county court, goes on to fill c. 100 pages in county court records
between then and 1959 (which I am still distilling down to a more manageable
level), captain in the militia, landowner, benefactor (in his will leaves
2000 pounds of tobacco to found a Free School) all before the age of c.
40-42. It is unlikely therefore that William was a plain colonist or that
his father was an ag lab. He probably had some legal and possibly military
training before going out there. His son, another William Whittington,
became High Sheriff of Somerset County, Maryland, and was elected to the
first General Assembly of Maryland is referred to in a secondary but
nevertheless well documented secondary source as "scion of a distinguished
family" (Torrence, 1966) which I would read as referring to his forefathers
and not to his father alone.
A Pauntley connection is referred to in a number of somewhat questionable
secondary sources, but it may be wishful thinking - although not
implausible, extrapolating from the history of William himself. That is why
I am trying to find out more about the English Whittingtons, to help support
or rule out that theory. I would be glad to hear from anyone who can
provide me with information or lead me to sources about early English
Whittingtons.
Judith (in Holland)
... is there any reason to suspect this Pauntley family in
favour of the many other Whittington families in England at the desired
time?
His origins may have been quite humble. In Nottinghamshire Whittington
seems quite well represented. For example in Webster's "Protestation
Returns 1641/2 - Notts. Derbs." the index contains 16 references to adult
male Whittingtons. There were four in the town of Nottingham, including a
William...<snip
John, define "humble". The Governor of Virginia, Sir William Berkeley,
created a ruling class by recruiting younger sons of leading English
families (Virginia Historical Society). William first appears in Virginia
county records in 1841 at the age of 22-24 (based on conflicting statements
in Admiralty records) and immediately makes his mark as an attorney and
advocate whose word is respected, is rapidly appointed as a commissioner of
the county court, goes on to fill c. 100 pages in county court records
between then and 1959 (which I am still distilling down to a more manageable
level), captain in the militia, landowner, benefactor (in his will leaves
2000 pounds of tobacco to found a Free School) all before the age of c.
40-42. It is unlikely therefore that William was a plain colonist or that
his father was an ag lab. He probably had some legal and possibly military
training before going out there. His son, another William Whittington,
became High Sheriff of Somerset County, Maryland, and was elected to the
first General Assembly of Maryland is referred to in a secondary but
nevertheless well documented secondary source as "scion of a distinguished
family" (Torrence, 1966) which I would read as referring to his forefathers
and not to his father alone.
A Pauntley connection is referred to in a number of somewhat questionable
secondary sources, but it may be wishful thinking - although not
implausible, extrapolating from the history of William himself. That is why
I am trying to find out more about the English Whittingtons, to help support
or rule out that theory. I would be glad to hear from anyone who can
provide me with information or lead me to sources about early English
Whittingtons.
Judith (in Holland)
-
Chris Dickinson
Re: early English Whittingtons (was: Captain William Whittin
Judith Taylor wrote:
Though I expect in this case your man does come from a well-established
family, there is nothing in the evidence you present which would be
inconsistent with a 'humble' background.
Which doesn't mean that he didn't recruit from elsewhere.
OK, my ancestor William Dickinson (born 1604) was an 'attorney'. His social
status - yeoman. He could write but most of his relatives couldn't.
So? WD above had cousins who were apparitors in the local ecclesiastical
court - all 'humble' yeomen.
WD was captain of the regiment raised by his Lord of the Manor; and
landowner.
The local school that WD may have attended was founded by a local guy in the
1590s. He became rich as a goldsmith in London, and so described himself in
his will as Citizen of London, but his family were still 'humble' yeomen.
I don't think that you can assume that.
The educational system could shoot clever people up the social rankings very
very quickly. The best 17th century example (that I've quoted here before)
was Sir Joseph Williamson - his father was a fairly poor vicar and his
mother the daughter of a yeoman, so ancestry not especially distinguished -
but he was very bright, got scholarships and patronage, education at Oxford,
became Secretary of State, married a Stuart and became very rich.
WD had a son who was High Constable - still a 'humble' yeoman.
However, I would accept that an English (don't know whether this applies in
the Colonies) High Sheriff had a status and role far above that of a High
Constable!!!
The High Sheriff in the English area I study was usually then a member of
one of the old county families; but tobacco and other new fortunes soon
pushed their way in.
'scion of a distinguished family' in a secondary source means nothing
Chris
John Townsend wrote:
... is there any reason to suspect this Pauntley family in
favour of the many other Whittington families in England at the desired
time?
His origins may have been quite humble.
snip
John, define "humble".
Though I expect in this case your man does come from a well-established
family, there is nothing in the evidence you present which would be
inconsistent with a 'humble' background.
The Governor of Virginia, Sir William Berkeley,
created a ruling class by recruiting younger sons of leading English
families (Virginia Historical Society).
Which doesn't mean that he didn't recruit from elsewhere.
William first appears in Virginia
county records in 1841 at the age of 22-24 (based on conflicting statements
in Admiralty records) and immediately makes his mark as an attorney and
advocate
OK, my ancestor William Dickinson (born 1604) was an 'attorney'. His social
status - yeoman. He could write but most of his relatives couldn't.
whose word is respected, is rapidly appointed as a commissioner of
the county court,
So? WD above had cousins who were apparitors in the local ecclesiastical
court - all 'humble' yeomen.
goes on to fill c. 100 pages in county court records
between then and 1959 (which I am still distilling down to a more
manageable
level),
captain in the militia, landowner
WD was captain of the regiment raised by his Lord of the Manor; and
landowner.
benefactor (in his will leaves
2000 pounds of tobacco to found a Free School)
The local school that WD may have attended was founded by a local guy in the
1590s. He became rich as a goldsmith in London, and so described himself in
his will as Citizen of London, but his family were still 'humble' yeomen.
all before the age of c. 40-42. It is unlikely therefore that William was
a plain colonist or that
his father was an ag lab.
I don't think that you can assume that.
The educational system could shoot clever people up the social rankings very
very quickly. The best 17th century example (that I've quoted here before)
was Sir Joseph Williamson - his father was a fairly poor vicar and his
mother the daughter of a yeoman, so ancestry not especially distinguished -
but he was very bright, got scholarships and patronage, education at Oxford,
became Secretary of State, married a Stuart and became very rich.
He probably had some legal and possibly military
training before going out there.
His son, another William Whittington, became High Sheriff of Somerset
County, Maryland, and was elected to the
first General Assembly of Maryland
WD had a son who was High Constable - still a 'humble' yeoman.
However, I would accept that an English (don't know whether this applies in
the Colonies) High Sheriff had a status and role far above that of a High
Constable!!!
The High Sheriff in the English area I study was usually then a member of
one of the old county families; but tobacco and other new fortunes soon
pushed their way in.
is referred to in a secondary but nevertheless well documented secondary
source as "scion of a distinguished
family" (Torrence, 1966) which I would read as referring to his forefathers
and not to his father alone.
'scion of a distinguished family' in a secondary source means nothing
Chris