WHB – Several families, who were well-represented in Bedford County Virginia from the latter half of the 18th century onward appear to be part of community of my ancestors. These families include the Newmans, Wilks(es), Overstreets and Creas(e)ys, whom I suspect are relatives of the mother of MALINDA JANE WITT, the wife of my great-grandfather JOSEPH BURNETT JR. Several of these families appear to be in Baptist congregrations whose pastor was the Rev. William Leftwich.
I have high confidence that MALINDA JANE WITT is the daughter of JAMES WITT. Although I concede it is still speculative, I believe MALINDA JANE WITT’s mother and father were married in 1842, and that her mother’s name was LUCY ANN NEWMAN, whose father likely was deceased at the time of her marriage.
I welcome any documentation that affirms or negates these speculations. Please contact me at ffvsearch@yahoo.com.
1828
Thomas Newman married Polly P. Creasy; John T. Creasy, Surety; Consent of Bird and Mary Creasy; Married by William Leftwich, Jan. 13, 1828.
[WHB – I am searching for a Newman-Wilks or Newman-Creasy marriage in (or nearby to) Bedford County, VA which the husband was alive in the 1820s but not in 1842. The following marriage meets those criteria, although, if LUCY ANN is a daughter by that marriage and was born at the end of 1828, she would have just turned 13 if she married JAMES WITT in January 1842.
If LUCY ANN was indeed 35 in 1860, as reported in that census, then she would have been born three years earlier, so that a Newman-Wilks or Newman-Creasy marriage in 1825 or before would be of great interest.]
1842
Jan. 10, 1842
Bedford County Marriage Bonds:
JAMES WITT & LUCY ANN NEWMAN; David H. Creasey, Surety;
Consent of Margaret Wilks, guardian for Lucy Ann. Married by Rev. William Leftwich.
[WHB – Although some “family trees” identify other persons as James Witt’s wife, this Bedford County marriage bond, is the one that most convinces me. The circumstances of Lucy Ann Newman’s status as orphan, with Margaret Wilks as her guardian, need to be discovered, but Witt, Newman, Creasy and Wilks all appear to be part of Rev. Leftwich’s Baptist community.]
1844
Ann Witt, daughter of JAMES WITT and LUCY ANN NEWMAN, born. [Ann Witt reported as 10 in 1860 census, probably meant to be 16.]
1846
Aurilia Witt, daughter of JAMES WITT and LUCY ANN NEWMAN, born.
1847
James M. Witt, son of JAMES WITT and LUCY ANN NEWMAN, born.
1848
MALINDA JANE WITT, daughter of JAMES WITT and LUCY ANN NEWMAN, born.
[WHB – I think 1848 is probably the right birthyear. Assuming MALINDA JANE was 12 in 1860, as reported in the 1860 census (and 22 in 1870 and 32 in 1880), she would have been 17 or older when married, rather than 14 or 15 if the 1850 0r 1851 birthyears, calculated by assuming her age was 38 on her death record.]
1860
MALINDA JANE WITT in 1860 Census as age 12, Western District, Campbell, Virginia, Castle Craig Post Office.
Family Number 282. Others listed JAMES WITT (m, 40,), LUCY A[NN] WITT (f, 35) Ann Witt (f, 10), Madison Overstreet (m, 25), M D Fuller (m 51, millwright). All born Virginia
[WHB – The presence of Madison Overstreet in the household of JAMES WITT suggests descendency from the Witt-Overstreet marriage of a previous generation.]
WHB-Note family 281 is Benjamin Witt (m, 34, carpenter), Francis V Witt (f, 30), Ann E Witt (f, 13) and Mary F (f, 4) All born Virginia. Family 283 is Edwin (I or J) Witt, (m, 22, carpenter), Mary A Witt (17, f) and Baby (m, 1/12 mo).
[WHB – Note from Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches, Embraching the History of Campbell County, Virginia 1782-1926, by R. H. EARLY; J. P. Bell Company, Lynchburg, VA, 1927.
Small Towns and Villages Chapter IV
“Castle Craig The settlement at Castle Craig is situated about eight miles from Evington,seven miles from Alta Vista, a mile or more from Lynch/s old tavern and two miles from Kingston, on Ward’s Road: it is said to have been given its name by an English woman after a place in England. It possesses a store, a church, post office, several homes and the now (ever present) gasoline station.”
1865
MALINDA JANE WITT married to JOSEPH BURNETT, JR, of Bedford County, VA, son of JOSEPH BURNETT SR and ELIZABETH JOHNSON.
1866?
LUCY ANN WITT, daughter of JAMES WITT and LUCY ANN NEWMAN(?) born?
Death of LUCY ANN NEWMAN????
1870
LUCY ANN does not appear in the 1870 census, but her husband JAMES WITT and a four year old daughter do appear.