Person Page - 111

     Samuel Hawkins married Molly "Polly" Weathers, daughter of James Weathers and Jemima "Gimime" (Unknown), in 1798 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina.

     Patrick Dune was born a 1670. He married Anne Murphy ? a 1695. Patrick Dune died in 1719 at Richmond Co, Virginia. His estate was probated on 5 Aug 1719 at Richmond Co, Virgiinia.

      Patrick Dune's 21 Apr 1719 will mentioned his unnamed wife; sons Robert and John; son-in-law Samuel Weathers; friends Thomas Nash, Thomas Nash Jr., and Giles Webb. His wilfe was his executrix and his witnesses were Daniel Bentley, Thomas Nash and Edward Jones. (Richmond County, VA Will Book 1717-1725, Book 4, p. 126; Book 5, p. 136.)

     Robert Dune was born a 1698. He was the son of Patrick Dune and Anne Murphy ?

     John Dune was born a 1696. He was the son of Patrick Dune and Anne Murphy ?

     John Weathers was born a 1656. He married Margaret Powell on 3 Oct 1681 at Middlesex Co, Virginia. John Weathers married Sarah (Unknown) c 1685. John Weathers died in 1686 at Old Rappahannock Co, Virginia. His estate was probated on 1 Jan 1686/87 at Old Rappahannock Co, Virginia.

      The information available about John Weathers and his family derives from a single, oft-repeated page with no sources in a book. The irony of this is the book -- The Withers Family of Lancaster and Stafford -- was particularly interesting because the author hired genealogists to do the research, sourced most everything, and included a chapter on incorrect data previously published about the Withers family. Unfortunately our family was not the focus of his research. He included a page about our Withers family (pg 199) in the last chapter entitled Other Withers Families almost like an after thought. Unfortunately the section is unsourced, although the section published in 1947 contains information about the sources, so the documents must still exist. Although our family was not the focus of this extremely-well documented book, but the book remained the source from which there are numerous repeated excerpts published online, and this researcher is again repeating this information next herein with a little rearrangement.

A family by the name of Weathers sometimes spelled Withers appears on the books of Old Rappahannock Co, VA and Richmond County, VA. The record appears to state that William Hodgeon received 25 acres on the south side of Rappahannock Co for transporting a John Withers into Virginia in 1668, although this researcher may have misinterpreted this item and Withers may have been the land recipient.

John Weathers married first Margaret Powell on 3 Oct 1681 "at my Lady Skipwiths." (Christ's Church Parish Register, Middlesex Co, VA, p. 20) This large parish register has no other Weathers entries. Sir Grey Skipwith (~1623-1671) emigrated from England to the north side of the Rappahannock River in Lancaster Co, which later became Middlesex Co, VA in 1673, so it was likely at his widow's home that John was married leading to wondering what tie John or Margaret had with that wealthy family.

John Withers' 2 Apr 1686 will named his second wife Sarah and his little daughter Margaret by the first wife, making special provision for Margaret and leaving her in the care of his wife Sarah. John included an unborn child -- believed to have been Samuel -- in his will, As this child was expected at the time the will was being written in early April 1686 and the will was not probated until Jan 1687, the child may have been born during the father's lifetime. The provisions set forth in the will for this expected child were apparently not altered. John's wife was his executrix and his witnesses were Thomas Kendall, John Crow and William Heather. (Ancestry of Robert Edwin Withers III)

The records show John's land was in present-day Richmond Co, VA which county was organized from Old Rappahannock when that county was divided in 1692. On the same land, in the same neighborhood and among the same friends, we find in the next generation Samuel Weathers.

In 2019 when this research was done, there were not any record sources available to trace this line further back, although many online trees offer various options. Online speculation includes that this line may tie into another Withers line that came from Lancashire, England to Stafford Co, VA, but there is no proof. yDNA testing might help determine if there is a connection.

Other sources:

--Robert Edwin Withers II, The Withers Family of the County of Lancaster, England and of Stafford County, Virginia: Establishing the Ancestry of Robert Edwin Withers III; The Dietz Printing Co, 1947; Pittsburgh, PA 1947, p. 199; https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89088779871;view=1up;seq=7
--Prestwould Plantation, http://sovahomefront.org/_site_prestwould.php.

     Anne Murphy ? was born a 1675. She married Patrick Dune a 1695.

     Thomas Weathers was born on 15 Nov 1719 at Richmond Co, Virginia. He was the son of Samuel Weathers I and Elizabeth Dunne.

      Thomas Weathers was in King George and Stafford counties in Virginia for a few years and then returned to his father's homeplace in Richmond Co, VA. Thomas' descendants still lived in Richmond and Essex counties in Virginia in 1947, thus some of the online Weathers records for the Northern Neck counties in the Library of Virginia may apply to Thomas and his family.

The Albemarle Parish Register of Surry and Sussex Counties, Virginia transcribed by John Boddie includes the christening of Martha Rolland, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Rolland on 23 Jan 1741 at which a Thomas Weathers junior was a sponsor, and a christening of John Rolland, son of Joseph and Tabitha Rolland on 22 Oct 1741 at which a Thomas Weathers was a sponsor. It is not yet known who this Thomas was.

     Samuel Weathers II was born on 30 Aug 1722 at Richmond Co, Virginia. He was the son of Samuel Weathers I and Elizabeth Dunne. Samuel Weathers II married Sarah (Unknown) a 1747. Samuel Weathers II died at King George Co, Virginia.

      Samuel Weathers reportedly died without issue.

     Susannah Weathers was born on 16 Oct 1728 at Richmond Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of Samuel Weathers I and Elizabeth Dunne. Susannah Weathers died on 23 Aug 1732 at Richmond Co, Virginia, at age 3.

     Sarah (Unknown) was born a 1727. She married Samuel Weathers II, son of Samuel Weathers I and Elizabeth Dunne, a 1747.

     Anne Weathers was born on 15 Aug 1717 at Richmond Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of Samuel Weathers I and Elizabeth Dunne. Anne Weathers died b 1730.

     Margaret Powell was born a 1661. She married John Weathers on 3 Oct 1681 at Middlesex Co, Virginia.

     Sarah (Unknown) was born a 1665. She married John Weathers c 1685.

     Margaret Weathers was born c 1682 at Old Rappahannock Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of John Weathers and Margaret Powell.

     Alexander Johnston was born a 1757. He married Eleanor Leanna Weathers, daughter of John Weathers I and Judith "Judy" Foreman, on 16 Aug 1778 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. Alexander Johnston died c 1806. His estate was probated on 17 Jul 1806 at Lincoln Co, Georgia.

     David Rhyne was born a 1782. He married Catharine "Annie" Weathers, daughter of John Weathers II, on 23 Sep 1807 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina.

     Martha E. Grantham was born on 28 Oct 1837 at Georgia. She married PVT Orren Josiah Cotton on 2 Jan 1858 at Spalding Co, Georgia. Martha E. Grantham married PVT George Jefferson Weathers, son of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Rollins, on 12 Apr 1866 at Henry Co, Georgia. Martha E. Grantham died on 17 Oct 1920 at Norcross, Gwinnett Co, Georgia, at age 82. She was buried in 1920 at Duluth Methodist Church Cemetary, Duluth, Gwinnett Co, Georgia.

     PVT Orren Josiah Cotton was born on 3 Feb 1835 at South Carolina. He married Martha E. Grantham on 2 Jan 1858 at Spalding Co, Georgia. PVT Orren Josiah Cotton died on 28 Mar 1862 at age 27.

     Margaret "Peggy" Weathers was born c 1794 at Georgia. She was the daughter of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Atkins. Margaret "Peggy" Weathers married Jonathan Woodall c 1821. Margaret "Peggy" Weathers died a 1862.

      Margaret Weathers may possibly be the daughter of Valentine Weathers although, other than her reported 1794 birth in Georgia which corresponds with one of his daughters' births, there is no evidence Margaret was the daughter of Valentine. Margaret's descendants share strong, identical-by-descent DNA matches to three people on different lines of descent from Valentine and his father. More DNA matches are needed to show that these are indeed Weathers matches as opposed to another shared line.

Although Margaret was in Alabama by 1827 when her daughter Sarah was born, Margaret first appeared on records living in 1840 in St. Clair Co, AL. At that time none of her other presumed siblings yet lived in Alabama and no marriage record or 1830 census record could be found for her in Georgia, Alabama or Tennessee, where her husband had family ties. Margaret could have arrived in Alabama is if she had a first marriage in Georgia and moved to Alabama then.

Based on the 1850 and 1860 census record, Margaret was about six years older than her husband, thus her daughter Rhoda born in Alabama in 1833 was likely her last child born. Although her husband John Woodall was said on the 1850 and 1860 census to have been born in Georgia, his younger brothers living adjacent to him in 1850 were born in Tennessee, so possibly Margaret gave incorrect data to the census taker.

Jonathan Woodall was living in Alabama in 1827 when his daughter Sarah was born there. Alabama had five John - Jona Woodalls on the 1830 - 1840 census in five counties but only one Woodall family met the parameters of having a husband, wife and two daughters in the correct age brackets based on the 1850 census data. This assumes the 1840 and 1850 census takers correctly recorded the household members' ages.

Jonathan Woodall, age 40 - 49, was enumerated as Jona Woodall on the 1840 St. Clair Co, AL, with the A in Jona written in superscript, as if an abbreviation for Jonathan. He was the only Jona Woodall with his name written that way in Alabama in 1840.

In 1840 Jonathan and his wife, age 40 - 49, had 9 presumed children living at home, although some could have been a child's spouse or other relative: 1 male under 5, 1 male and 1 female (Rhoda) age 5 - 9, 1 male and 2 females (included Sarah) 10 - 14, 1 male and 1 female 15 - 19 and 1 male 20 - 30.

In 1850 Jonathan, age 50, and Margaret, age 56, both born in Georgia, were on the Yalobusha Co, MS census with their daughters Sarah, age 23, and Rhoda, age 17, both born in Alabama. He owned real estate valued at $500. Jonathan was residing next to his brothers William Woodall, age 34 born in Tennessee, and Abram Woodall, age 30 also born in Tennessee. Although not all of the people credited with being Jonathan's siblings on family trees were necessarily so, his brother James Henry also lived there as well as a Nancy Woodall, who was likely his brother Elisha's widow. Jonathan was also enumerated as Jno Woodall on the 1850 Yalobusha Co, MS slave schedule with a black female, age 20.

Jonathan, age 59, was living in the northeast beat of Yalobusha Co, MS in 1860 with his wife Margaret, age 65. Jonathan had $1200 in real estate and $5000 in personal property and he was employed as a farmer. His brothers William and Abram Woodall were gone so he may have purchased their lands which were valued at $300 and $600 respectively in 1850.

     Unknown dau Weathers was born a 1811. She was the daughter of Elisha Weathers and Cassandra "Cassey" Gaither.

     Judith A. Weathers was born c 1793 at Georgia. She was the daughter of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Atkins. Judith A. Weathers married Rev. James Rice on 6 Jul 1826 at Walton Co, Georgia.

      Judith Weathers born in Georgia about 1793 was presumed to be the daughter of Valentine. Valentine had an unknown daughter born about 1793; Valentine was living in Walton Co, GA in 1830; Valentine's mother was named Judith; and Valentine's brother and son were named Elisha whereas this woman named a child Elisha.

James Rice was a very common name in Georgia. A James Rice, age 71, with a wife Judith, age 57 who was born in Georgia, was on the 17 Nov 1850 Randolph Co, AL census where James was noted as a Baptist minister. Although there was a 14 year age difference in the couple, if this Judith was the daugther of Valentine, coming from a poor family this would have been a good marriage for Judith. If this Judith in the 1850 census was the woman who married Rice in 1826 she was quite old at age 33 if this was her first marriage. Thus Judith would likely only have had about four children, although she could have brought children to the marriage.

Family researcher Avery reported James had 8 children: Joel, Mary, Thomas, Moses, William, Elisha, Ezekiel and Alexander. He understood James, a minister, was still preaching at 90 years old, but there is no proof he lived after 1859.

In 1830 James Rice senior, age 50 - 59, was the only James Rice living in Georgia after he remarried in that state who matched his later age on the 1850 census. He was residing in Campbell Co, GA, adjacent to his son James Rice junior and his young brother-in-law Stephen Weathers. Although the 1830 - 1840 censuses do not reveal employment, by 1850 James was listed as a minister, indicating he was literate. In James' household there were 2 males and 1 female under age 5 thus born 1826 to 1829 who included his sons Elisha and Ezekiel and an unknown daughter; 1 female age 5 - 9 thus born 1821 -1825 who was Mary; 2 males 15 - 19 thus born 1811 - 1815 who were James and one of his three other sons James, Moses or Thomas; and his wife Judith, age 30 - 40.

Beyond 1830, Judith's children's ages go up and down but key for the benchmark is Judith married in 1826 and had 3 children under age 5 in 1830 and only had one more child after which she as beyond child-bearing age.

In 1840 James Rice, age 60 - 69 and his wife Judith, age 30 - 39, were still residing in Campbell Co, GA. Living in the household were a daughter and son from his first marriage both age 20 - 29 thus born 1811 - 1819 who were Mary and William. James' children with Judith in the household were an unknown daughter age 10 - 14 thus born 1826 - 1830; 2 sons age 5 to 9 thus born 1831 - 1835 who would be Elisha and Ezekiel; and a son under age 5 born before 1836 who would be Alexander.

In 1840 living next door to James and Judith was James' son Moses with his family and five doors away was James' son Thomas Rice with his family. Living nearby were Judith's younger sister Amy Weathers Gaither with her family and her younger brother Stephen Weathers with his family.

In 1850 James and Judith were living with his daughter Mary Rice, age 41; and their three sons who were all farmers born in George: Elisha age 21, Ezekiel age 18, and Alexander age 16. Residing next door was his son William Rice with his family. Because William was living in Alabama by 1844 when his youngest children were born, this may also be when James and Judith moved to Alabama.

Descendants of John L. Rice, born about 1801 and living in Randolph Co, AL in 1850, have long tried to prove James Rice is John's father. While that is possible, no one have found a clear link between the two men. Similarly researchers state Joel Rice was another of James Rice's sons, but Joel's apparent 1793 birth -- about 17 years before James' daughter Mary -- makes that highly improbable.


By 1860 Judith was residing with her son Alexander and his family in Randolph Co, AL and was listed as Julia A. Rice.

     Anna Weathers was born c 1797 at Georgia. She was the daughter of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Atkins. Anna Weathers married Thomas Cason on 5 Jan 1825 at Lincoln Co, Georgia.

      Anna Weathers was determined to be the daughter of Valentine Weathers because on the 1880 census she noted her father was born in Virginia, which excluded Elisha Weathers, her uncle, as her father. Furthermore, for the 1850 - 1880 censuses Anna was consistent with her age, so that was used to establish her birth date of about 1797, which aligns with when Valentine is known to have had daughters born in his family, whereas Elisha had a daughter born 1810 - 1820 according the the 1820 census.

Thomas Cason was on the 1840 Allen's District, Walker Co, GA census with his wife, both age 30 - 40, and 8 children -- five boys and 3 girls up to age 15. If this is the same family as our Thomas and Anna Cason, their ages differ by at least four years; also Walker Co is far in the state from where they were married and where they were living at the time of the next census.

Anna Weathers, age 54, was on the 1850 Jasper Co, GA census with her husband also age 54 and their five children: Martha age 23, William 23, Thomas 18, Jon 16 and Samuel 15.

By 1860 Anna, age 63, was residing in the Northern Division, Walton Co, GA which her husband and Martha 33, John 24 and Jane 22. Because Jane was not on the 1850 census, she may be John's wife.

In 1870 Thomas and Anna, both age 74, were living alone, enumerated in Buncombe, Walton Co, GA. In 1880 Thomas and Anna, now 83 and 82 respectively, were residing in Rockdale Co, GA with Martha Roe, their married daughter.

     Elisha Valentine Weathers was born on 5 Oct 1877 at Gwinnett Co, Georgia. He was the son of PVT George Jefferson Weathers and Martha E. Grantham. Elisha Valentine Weathers married Annie McNeal on 10 Oct 1898 at Gwinnett Co, Georgia. Elisha Valentine Weathers died on 2 Dec 1937 at Gwinnett, Gwinnett Co, Georgia, at age 60.

      Elisha Valentine Weathers, age 23. was enumerated on the 1900 Goodwin Suwannee Town, Gwinnett Co, GA census with his wife Annie, age 28, and three children ages 4 to 10 all of whom pre-date Annie's marriage to Elisha.

     Annie McNeal was born on 31 Jul 1872 at Georgia. She married Unknown Moore a 1890. Annie McNeal married Elisha Valentine Weathers, son of PVT George Jefferson Weathers and Martha E. Grantham, on 10 Oct 1898 at Gwinnett Co, Georgia. Annie McNeal died on 13 Jul 1942 at Gwinnett Co, Georgia, at age 69.

     Cassandra "Cassey" Gaither was born a 1790. She was the daughter of Vachel Gaither. Cassandra "Cassey" Gaither married Elisha Weathers, son of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Atkins, on 7 Feb 1807 at Lincoln Co, Georgia.

      Although her marriage certificate said Cassey Gathew, she was most likely named Cassey Gaither because Elisha and Cassey used given names Vachel and Shadrack from the Gaither family for the names of their children.

     Amy Weathers was born a 1798 at Georgia. She was the daughter of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Atkins. Amy Weathers married Meshach Gaither, son of Vachel Gaither, on 29 May 1823 at Lincoln Co, Georgia.

      Amy Weathers is presumed to be the daughter of Valentine Weathers, although given her birth date she could be the daughter of Valentine's son Elisha. Because Amy did not survive until the censuses required knowing where her father was born, there is no definitive proof yet that she was Valentine's child. Amy's birth, narrowed to 1790 - 1799 based on when she was in the 1830 census, aligns with when Valentine is known to have had daughters born in his family. Whereas Elisha had a daughter born 1810 - 1820 according the the 1820 census, although he could have had other unknown daughters.

Amy is known to be correctly placed in this Weathers line because the given names of Vachel and Shadrach from Amy's husband's father and grandfather were used for children in her brother Elisha's family because Elisha also married a Gaither.

Meshach Gaither was enumerated at Mashack Gaither, age 30 - 40, on the 1830 Newton Co, GA census living with his presumed wife Amy age 20 - 30 thus born 1790 - 1799, 2 daughters under age 5 and a son age 5 - 9.

In 1840 Meshach, age 40 - 50, was on the District 736 Campbell Co, GA census with his daughter age 10 - 15. Living nearby was Amy's older sister Judith Weathers Rice and younger brother Thomas Weathers.

     Meshach Gaither was born a 1795. He was the son of Vachel Gaither. Meshach Gaither married Amy Weathers, daughter of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Atkins, on 29 May 1823 at Lincoln Co, Georgia.

     Valentine G. Weathers was born c 1813. He was the son of Elisha Weathers and Cassandra "Cassey" Gaither. Valentine G. Weathers married Mariah (Unknown) a 1832. Valentine G. Weathers died b 1869.

      Valentine G. Weathers and his wife, both age 20 - 30, were on the 1840 District 11, Columbia Co, GA census with three daughters under age 5.

Valentine, age 37, was on the 1850 Columbia Co, GA census with his wife Mariah, age 30, and their seven children: Mary 15, Martha 13, Cassandra, 10, Sarah Jane 8, Elizabeth 6, Sarah 4, and Columbus 1. Valentine had 39 slaves: 6 boys and 7 girls under age 10; 5 males and 5 females age 10 - 23; 3 males and 3 females 24 - 35; 2 males and 2 females 36 - 54; and 1 female over age 55. In the household 24 people were engaged in agriculture.

Valentine was on the 1857 Winn's District, Lincoln Co, GA Property Digest with one poll (men over 21) in his household, 3 children between ages 8 and 16, and a slave. Valentine had 350 acres in Lincoln Co, GA. Valentine was on the 1860 Slave Schedule in Samuel's District, Lincoln Co, GA with 6 slaves: females age 2 and 25 (mulatto) and males age 2 (mulatto), 6 (mulatto), 10 and 35. This composition is significant for any Weathers descendants trying to trace mulatto ancestors.

Valentine, age 48, was on the Jun 1860 Wynn's District, Lincoln Co, GA enumerated living alone with his brother Daniel, age 40. Valentine was noted as a farmer with $1750 in real estate and $8000 in personal property and Daniel was working as his manager. Simultaneously in 1860 Valentine, noted as an overseer age 48 with $8,000 in personal property, was enumerated in Columbia Co, GA living with his wife Mariah, age 45, and children Sarah Jane 19, Virginia 17, Josephine 14, Columbus 10, Lurana 7 and William R. age 4. Living a few doors away was the family of W. H. Willis, age 35, with his wife Teresa, age 30, and their children Mary F. age 11, Georgia R. age 8, and Thomas F. age 7. One of the Weathers descendants is in a Willis family.

The 1869 Property Tax Digest showed Valentine was deceased and his estate had 332 acres. Adjacent to his name on the tax list were Daniel S. Weathers, noted as "by his agent," and Vachel D. Weathers.

     Vachel D. Weathers was born c 1815 at Georgia. He was the son of Elisha Weathers and Cassandra "Cassey" Gaither. Vachel D. Weathers married Nancy Conner on 29 Apr 1838 at Lincoln Co, Georgia.

      Vachel Weathers, age 20 - 30, was on the 1840 Lincoln Co, GA census in 1840 with his new wife Nancy Conner and a daughter under age 5. The household included one woman age 15 to 20 and one woman age 40 - 50, but Nancy was age 30, so she was likely noted as the younger woman. If Vachel's father Elisha was deceased, the older woman could have been Vachel's mother Cassandra who would have been about age 50 or some other relative. Living next door was Vachel's brother Elisha Hezeikiah Weathers with his family.

In 1850 Vachel, age 36, and his wife Nancy, age 40, resided in Lincoln Co, GA with their presumed children Nancy I. age 11, Casanda 9, and John V. age 4. Vachel was noted as a planter with real estate valued at Also in the household was Vachel's brother, Daniel age 27, who was employed as the overseer for Vachel's farm. Four farms away a William Conner, age 50, was working as a laborer for a planter named Austin Davis. The entire farming area around Vachel had well-to-do planters.

Despite Vachel's net worth, Vachel D. Weathers was on the 1855 Tax List in Parks District, Lincoln Co, GA with 2 children in Poor School, so it is unclear how he managed to qualify his children for free school tuition in 1855.

Vachel, age 46, was on the 1860 Samuel's District, Lincoln Co, GA census with his wife Nancy, age 50, and children Nancy J. age 21 and C. E. age 18. He was noted as a manager with real estate valued at $600.

The 1869 Property Tax Digest in Winn's District, Lincoln Co, GA showed Vachel D. Weathers and Daniel S. Weathers, adjacent to the estate land of Valentine Weathers.

Vachel was enumerated as V. D. Withier, age 65, on the 1860 Militia District 4, Columbia Co, GA census where he was noted employed as a miller. Vachel was living with his married daughter Casanda Malons, age 38, and her infant Lin Malons, noted as Vachel's son but meant as grandson. Also in the household was the McCullas family of John, age 42; William age 14, Martha age 9 and Jackson age 8. Because the latter three were noted as Vachel's sons and daugher, they are believed to be his grandchildren and thus John would be his son-in-law.

     Shadrack Weathers was born c 1825. He was the son of Elisha Weathers and Cassandra "Cassey" Gaither. Shadrack Weathers married Mary C. Weathers on 2 Sep 1858 at Jasper Co, Georgia.

      Shadrack Weathers is presumed to be one of the two sons of Elisha Weathers born between 1820 and 1825 in the household in 1840. In 1850 Shadrack Weathers, listed as Shaderick Wethers age 25, was working as a teacher on the plantation of Jacob Murph, age 68, in Lincoln Co, GA. Shadrack was the only teacher noted nearby although there were many students, so he may have either just taught the three family children or included the community children.

In 1860 Shadrack was enumerated as S. R. Weathers, a teacher age 35, in Meriwether Co, GA living with his wife Mary C., age 23, and their son Charles V. age 1. Whether Shadrack and Mary were related is unknown; Shadrack had many nieces named Mary but only Mary, the daughter of Valentine G Weathers who was age 15 in 1850 would be about the correct age.