Person Page - 109

     Johannes Schopp was born a 1770 at Germany. He married Angelika Neher, daughter of Johann Michael Neher and Anna Barbara Frey, a 1795.

     Sarah Atkins was born a 1766. She and PVT Valentine Weathers obtained a marriage license on 2 Jun 1784 at Lincolntown, Lincoln Co, North Carolina. Sarah Atkins died b 1830 at Georgia.

     PVT James Weathers was born on 17 Jul 1831 at Georgia. He was the son of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Rollins. PVT James Weathers married Jane Elizabeth Hayney on 25 Jun 1850 at Newton Co, GA. PVT James Weathers died on 20 Sep 1908 at Georgia at age 77. He was buried in 1908 at Bay Creek Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Loganville, Walton Co, Georgia.

      James Weathers, age 29, was on the 1860 Northern Division, Walton Co, GA census with his wife Elizabeth, age 30, and children John age 5, Thomas age 3 and William age 2. James was listed on the 9 Jul 1867 Voter List. In 1870 James and Jane, both enumerated as age 35, were in Buncombe, Walton Co, GA with their children John age 15, William 13, Jane 11, Mary 9, Stephen 7, and James 5. On the 1871 - 1876 Buncombe, Walton Co Property Tax Digest James had 4 children between the ages of 6 and 18. For 1877 - 1882 James was in Lindsey's District of Walton Co for the Property Tax Digest.

In 1880 James and his wife, both age 50, were residing in Lindsey's District of Walton Co with their children William age 22, Julia 20, James 18, Stephen 13, Henry 11 and Emma 7. James reported his father was born in Virginia and his mother in South Carolina, which he reported again in 1900. James age 68 and Elizabeth age 69 were living alone in 1900 in Martin's District, Gwinnett Co, GA.

James mustered into the 42nd Regiment, Georgia Militia on 4 Mar 1862. His pension application however stated he served 3 years in Company F, 55th Regiment for Georgia. James applied for a pension as an indigent veteran in Gwinnett Co but the application was transfered to Walton Co, GA when he moved there. He received the pension for 1905, 1906 and 1907. His widow Elizabeth applied for a widow's pension on 1 Sep 1909.

     Mary Weathers was born c 1836 at Georgia. She was the daughter of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Rollins. Mary Weathers married William Harrison Peavy on 27 Feb 1859 at Gwinnett Co, Georgia.

      Mary Weathers birth date was established by the 1840 census record and her school records from the 1840s.

In 1860 newly-married Harrison, age 20, and Mary, age 26, were living in the household of Spencer and Eliza Booth, age 28 and 24 respectively in District 408, Gwinnett Co, GA. Also living in the household was Mary's mother Sarah Weather. Another young couple in the home was Thomas and Martha Worthy ages 28 and 22 with their young child. The relationship, if any, among these three families is unknown.

In 1870 Harrison and Mary Pavy, now age 34 and 40 respectively, were still residing in Gwinnett Co with their presumed children Sarah Pavy age 12, Georgia Pavy 10 and Bird Pavy 3. On the 1880 census William and Mary Peevy, now age 40 and 45 -- so they only aged about five years during the decade -- were enumerated at Bay Creek, Gwinnett Co, GA. In the household was William H. age 12, Mary C. 9, Dora 6 and Dolly 2. By 1900 William H. and Mary Peavey, now ages 62 and 64 respectively, were living with their children William H. age 33, Cathrine 23 and Dora 20 in Town (sic), Rockdale Co, GA. They reported they married in 1855 so they were only off by four years on that. Mary reported she had had 10 children and 5 were living. In 1910 Mary, age 74, was enumerated as a widow living in Bay Creek, Gwinnett Co, GA with her son William H. Peavey age 40.

A second Mary Weathers, the daughter of Stephen and Lucinda Weathers of Talbot Co, GA and Arkansas, was also born about 1835 in Georgia, so it is important to distinguish between the two women.

     PVT George Jefferson Weathers was born on 26 Jan 1834 at Newton Co, Georgia. He was the son of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Rollins. PVT George Jefferson Weathers married Martha E. Grantham on 12 Apr 1866 at Henry Co, Georgia. PVT George Jefferson Weathers died on 29 Sep 1923 at Norcross, Gwinnett Co, Georgia, at age 89. He was buried in 1923 at Duluth Methodist Church Cemetery, Duluth, Gwinnett Co, Georgia.

      George Jefferson Weathers' birth date was taken from the Duluth Methodist Church register in Duluth, GA, rather than the writing on his death certificate and is supported by his 1840s school records and the 1840 census. Jefferson did not know a lot about his parents' backgrounds or even when he was born. Although Jefferson states many times that he was born in 1836, his sister was apparently born that year. Jefferson also did not know his father was born in Virginia because he stated his father was born in Maryland and later Georgia.

Valentine's family was very poor and by 1850 his son Jefferson was living with the family of "Judge" Eli S. Eddleman, age 28, his wife Elizabeth Delany Mabry, age 22, and their son Hamilton age 1. There is no known relationship between the Eddlemans and the Weathers, so Jefferson may have been providing hired help.

Jefferson Wethers was on the 1857 Property Tax List in Morris District, Henry Co, GA. In 1870 Jefferson, age 34, was on the Gwinnett Co, GA census with his wife Martha, age 31, James age 8 from a previous relationship, and newborn George. The family grew and remained in the county in 1880 where Jefferson was farming. In 1880 Jefferson as enumerated with Thomas age 10, Annie 8 who later married an Adams, Edward 5, Elisha 2 and Marion Francis 4 months. By 1900 the census showed Jefferson, age 64, owned his property, although he may have owned this land for a long time. He was residing with Martha age 63, Marion age 20 and Norman Weathers age 7. Jefferson's brother James now resided nearby with his wife Elizabeth.

In 1910 Jefferson and Martha resided next door to Walter O. Weathers, age 27, who is believed to be their son. Walter was living with his wife Eva and their family. Jefferson continued to live with Martha in Gwinnett Co. In 1920 at age 83, Jefferson and Martha were living with the family of Walt, now age 37, in the in Gwinnett Co. Although Walt is likely his son, this researcher is unsure who Walt was because in 1880 Jefferson did not have a son enumerated as Walt in his family.

In Sep 1861 Jefferson joined Company B, 30th Regiment, Wilson's Brigade Georgia Infantry in the Civil War. Jefferson stated he was with that unit until Aug 1864 then stayed with another unit while he was ill until he was discharged in Apr 1865 -- a long comparative stint for service. In Feb 1862 he caught measles in Savannah, then typhoid and pneumonia. In 1901 and again in 1906 Jefferson applied for a veteran's disability pension based on infirmity and poverty while living in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Co, GA. Jefferson owned 60 acres land which he said was worth $300, had $100 cash and owed $340 to lawyers. He stated in his application that the fever from his illness during the service settled in his right leg, caused a chronic ulser and disabled him from being able to farm, which his doctors repeatedly certified as true. His pension applications were disapproved. The 1901 decision stated he had not proven his leg was rendered useless as a result of his service and the 1906 decision stated he was not indigent.

Jefferson applied for a disability pension again in 1907 and it was denied because his name could not be found on the roll of Company B, 30th Regiment, although two of his witnesses on his applications were in the same Company. By that time Jefferson had sold his land to pay his debts and had one cow. Jefferson's son Daniel Edward Weathers testified Jefferson was living with him.

Jefferson's son Walt Weathers provided data for Jefferson's 1923 death certificate and listed Jefferson's father as Thomas Weathers. Valentine never used the name Thomas, and Jefferson likely never met his older brother Thomas. Some trees show his father Valentine as Thomas Valentine Weathers but it has to be based on this incorrect death certificate.

     William Harrison Peavy was born a 1834. He married Mary Weathers, daughter of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Rollins, on 27 Feb 1859 at Gwinnett Co, Georgia.

     Sarah Rollins was born on 10 May 1794 at Georgia. She married PVT Valentine Weathers, son of John Weathers I and Judith "Judy" Foreman, in 1830 at Gwinnett Co, Georgia. Sarah Rollins died on 18 May 1876 at Atlanta, Fulton Co, Georgia, at age 82. She was buried in 1876 at Old Goodwin Cemetery, Duluth, Gwinnett Co, Georgia.

      Unsourced online trees indicate Sarah Rollins may be the daughter of Nicholas Rawlins (1770 SC - 1850 Gwinnett Co, GA) and Lydia Simons (1764 SC - 1850 Gwinnett Co, GA). Lydia was baptized 16 Sep 1765 in St. Thomas - St. Denis parishes Berkeley, SC, and her parents were Benjamin Simons and Katharine Chicken. Nicholas was on the 1790 South Carolina census and was on the 1830 Gwinnett Co, GA census with his wife, both at age 60 - 69. Lydia Rollins, age 80, was on the 1850 Cates, Gwinnett Co, GA census residing with David and Elizabeth Rollins, both age 52, and their 11 children. This researcher has not validated this data and noted Nicholas and Lydia were married in 1794, likely the same year Sarah was born. All indications are the Simons family was well to do, and thus it is strange that if Nicholas and Lydia had a daughter Sarah she would be willing to take a elderly, indigent man as her husband when she was only about age 36.

     Elisha Weathers was born c 1786 at South Carolina. He was the son of PVT Valentine Weathers and Sarah Atkins. Elisha Weathers married Cassandra "Cassey" Gaither, daughter of Vachel Gaither, on 7 Feb 1807 at Lincoln Co, Georgia.

      Elisha Weathers, the son of Valentine, is judged to have been born about 1786. By the time of his birth, his father was likely already living in South Carolina after which his father moved to Georgia, so it is deemed that Elisha never lived in North Carolina, despite the numerous men there with his name.

The 1800 and 1810 Georgia census did not survive the Civil War. Elisha Wethers was on the 1818 Lincoln Co, Georgia property tax list with 30 acres adjoining Gather; Elisha married into the Gaither family.

In 1820 in Lincoln Co, GA Elisha Wethers, age 26 - 45, a female age 16 to 26 who was likely Elisha's wife, 4 males and 1 female all under age 10, and an unknown female over age 45 were residing next door to Elisha's father Valentine. Four doors away Elisha's father-in-law Vachel Gaither/Gather was living with his family.

In 1840 when Elisha would have been about age 54 he and his presumed wife, both age 50 - 60 , were listed on the Lincoln Co, GA census with 2 males age 15 - 20 and 2 female slaves age 10 - 24 and 56 - 100.

Research by Ralph Van Withers showed Valentine's son Elisha Weather was in court in Oct 1862. In a case argued and determined in the Georgia Supreme Court an unnamed defendant presented affidavits of Lewis Crook, Elisha Weather, himself, and his counsel, Wm. M. Creese. In his deposition Elisha swore on 22 Oct 1860 he was age 76; he removed with his father from South Carolina to Lincoln Co (GA) in 1797; and for a year or two frequently saw and heard of William “Mountain” Graves who had a store and was a land speculator. On the opposing side the plaintiff presented affidavits of several Lincoln Co citizens which proved Weathers and Crook had during the last 7 years preceding Oct 1862 been known in the county as aged men; had often been in Lincolntown public places; and that Weathers during that period lived in the county about 2.5 miles from the defendant's residence.

     John Weathers I was born on 24 Jan 1725 at Richmond Co, Virginia. He was the son of Samuel Weathers I and Elizabeth Dunne. John Weathers I married Judith "Judy" Foreman c 1747 at Virginia. John Weathers I died on 27 Mar 1812 at Dallas, Gaston Co, North Carolina, at age 87.

      John Weathers is judged to be the son of Samuel Weathers of Richmond Co, VA based on eliminating other possible fathers in the Northern Neck of Virginia and on John residing near where his presumed father Samuel lived. Although John used both the surnames Weathers and Withers, his birth was recorded under the name John Weathers.

John and his wife Judith Foreman resided in Overwharton Parish – which supported Stafford Co, VA – when their first known child was born in 1748, but there was no marriage record found for John and Judith in the parish, implying they moved there from another location after marriage. John and Judith were listed in the Overwharton Parish register in Stafford Co, VA, at the apex of the Northern Neck, as the parents of four of their children born between 1748 and 1757 -- Susannah, Nancy, John and Eleanor.

At least four John Weathers/Withers resided in Stafford Co, VA at about the same time and it is important to differentiate among them. Of note the spelling of the surnames of these men varied with the document and within the generation, so surnames were not a distinguishing feature. Differences between our John Withers of Stafford Co, VA and later Lincoln Co, NC, the son of Samuel Weathers, and John's namesake son John; the John Weathers of Stafford Co, VA, son of William Weathers; and the John Withers of Stafford Co, son of James Withers are available in online records. The Overwharton Parish Register also contained births of children to a John and Hannah Withers between 1741 until 1756, overlapping when our John's children were born.

One issue with John Weathers and his family is researchers have a major source -- the 1915 book Our Kin -- as the foundation on which our knowledge of John's family members is based, and that source has numerous inaccuracies proven by records available online, thus it can only be used as a guide. Our Kin is a compilation of data amazingly written with no dates, no sources and contradictions. Given the multi-generational reuse of names in the Weathers family, it becomes a guess at times as to which person the author was discussing and children are sometimes aligned with the wrong parents therein. In turn the published list of John's supposed children's names and marriages in Our Kin was provided by the Gaston County, NC Historical Society and replicated in innumerable websites and family trees online – with considerable uniformity, thus further confirming a single source for this family. What further compounds the difficulty in researching John besides his name being common in Virginia is there is more than one county named Lincoln in the sourtheast United States.

Our John Weathers lived in Stafford County, VA when first found in records, near the Northern Neck area where his presumed father Samuel Weathers and grandfather John Weathers resided in Old Rappahannock County, part of which became Richmond County, VA. The Northern Neck of Virginia encompassed the land between the Potomac River on the north and Rappahannock River on the south, and with the ebb and flow of boundaries included the counties of Northumberland (founded 1648), Lancaster (1651), Westmoreland (1653), Old Rappahannock (1656), Richmond and Essex (both 1692). Stafford Co founded in 1664 was outside the Northern Neck, at the apex of the two rivers. John Wither's son Valentine Weathers testified in 1832 that he was born in Stafford County in the Northern Neck of Virginia, so he at least considered Stafford as part of the Northern Neck.

John and Judith Weathers never resided in Dinwiddie Co, VA, despite that oft-repeated mistake noted in the 1915 book Our Kin. According to Weathers researcher Sarah Withers Keesee, "the statement John Weathers was from Dinwiddie Co, VA was in error. The John Withers of Dinwiddie first went to Tennessee and then settled in Alabama where the family was prominent in the area." Furthermore the growing evidence that the two John Weathers/Withers of Dinwiddie and Stafford counties do not share ancestors, wives or descendants is the lack of matching DNA results between the two lines.

John Weathers, born about 1725, was one of the first settlers along Long Creek, near present-day Dallas, NC in Lincoln Co, NC -- now in Gaston Co, NC. Family genealogist Ralph V. Withers noted the pension papers of John's son Elisha establish that John's family moved to North Carolina in 1775. Furthermore John's son Valentine testified he joined the military in North Carolina in 1781 and John's daughter Leanna married in North Carolina in 1778, so the family was settled and living close to each other in the mid 1770s in North Carolina. On 9 Oct 1783 John Withers bought 200 acres for 100 shillings on the Big and Little Long Creek in Lincoln Co, NC, adjoining the lands of William Alston and Jacob Rhodes and near the land of John Hoyle on both sides of the Wagon Road from Spencer's Ford to Tryon Court House. This is known to be our John Weathers from Stafford Co, VA because the Rhodes and Hoyle families took on prominent roles in the lives of the Weathers family legally and through marriage. Alternatively if John's namesake son moved to Lincoln Co, NC this could be his land record, but that is entirely speculative.

Considerable information about this family is conjecture. It is assumed John senior moved with the family to North Carolina; it is unclear exactly which children listed in Our Kin were those of Judith and which were her grandchildren; it is unknown whether John's wife Judith died in Virginia or moved to North Carolina; it is unknown if John remarried; and it is unknown if all of John's living children moved to North Carolina or several stayed behind in Virginia with their families there. These issues are discussed in this biography and in the children's appended biographies.

A 28 Sep 1784 Lincoln Co, NC estate sale for David Gray found by researcher Ralph V. Withers showed the buyers were William Hillhouse; Samuel Calwell; Mrs. Ann Gray, the estate administrator; William Tilman; John Wolles; John Weathers Jnr; Joseph Masey; Julus Hollond and John Wethers, Sener. This is the only document found to date showing a John Weathers senior and junior, although the man noted as junior is not necessarily a son -- he could be anyone of a lesser age with the same name. Thus there is no proof that John's namesake son moved with the family to North Carolina but there are indications the elder John Weathers born in 1725 did move south.

Given the early 1748 recorded birth of John and Judith's first known child Susannah, and if Judith was born in about 1727 and married at 20 in 1747, on average Judith completed childbearing by 1767 - 1769. The childbearing years of 1748 to 1769 gave her sufficient time to have about 10 children -- not the 16 children she is credited with in Our Kin. Granted Judith could have had twins or a longer than average childbearing cycyle could have altered the number of children Judith had, however Hugh Weathers born about 1767 is theorized to be Judith's last child. Nevertheless, the book Our Kin allocated children to Judith -- such as Aggie (Agatha), Juda (Julia), Polly and George -- who were her grandchildren as discussed in their biographies herein. Also census and marriage records established the approximate birth dates for Elizabeth and Catharine as about 1784 and 1789, thus proving Catharine and Elizabeth were not Judith Foreman's children. As there is no death record for Judith, we have no way to determine when and John may have remarried. So it is unknown if our John ever remarried and thus unknown if Elizabeth and Catharine are from a second marriage of his or if they are other relatives of his for whom he provided their marriage bond security.

Researchers cannot find a record to support the statement in the book Our Kin that John Weathers of Stafford Co, VA and Lincoln Co, NC married Rosa Stanberry. Our John Weathers (1725 VA - 1810 NC) who married Judith Foreman and the John Withers (1744/5 VA -1827 KY) who married a Rosa Duncan, sometimes also called Stanberry, were two different men. The marriage of a John Withers, born a generation later than our John, who moved to Fauquier Co, VA and married Rosamond Duncan in 1770 was possibly the source of that statement. A thorough discussion of this John Withers (born 1744/5) is in a book about the descendants of James Withers (1680/1-1746) of Stafford Co, VA. This book noted John Withers (born 1744/5 -1827), the son of James Withers and Catherine Barbee of Stafford Co, married in Fauquier Co, VA in Sep 1770 Rosamond Duncan, the daughter of Joseph and Lydia Duncan. Rosamond had eight children and was alive in 1793 after which John remarried Susanna Rosser on 1796. In 1814 John and Susanna Withers sold their Fauquier Co, VA land and moved to Lincoln Co, Kentucky, not North Carolina.

By 1790 among John's children by Judith, Susannah was deceased; James, Eleanor/Leanna, Valentine and Elisha were married; John and Hugh/Henry were old enough to have their own families; and Elizabeth and Catharine were either John's children by a second wife or other relatives. Thus John could be expected to be found living almost alone. In the 1790 Lincoln Co, NC census a John was enumerated as Jno Withers, age over 44, living with his presumed wife, two other females -- who could be Elizabeth and Catharine, and 3 males under age 16. John was residing by his two sons Elisha and James, and thus he was not the other John Weathers from Stafford Co with whom he is confused who did not have a son named Elisha. There were no other Weathers/Withers families in Lincoln Co, NC at that time. However, in 1790 John did not have three known sons under age 16. So either John started a second family with a new wife, he took in some children, or this was his namesake son with his family.

By 1800 the census showed John Weathers over age 44, living with a woman age 26 – 44 who could be his wife or an older daughter. His wife Judith would have been about 58, so she is not living in this home and thus must be deceased. There are 8 children: 2 males and 2 females under 10; 1 male and 2 females ages 10 - 15, who could include Catherine and Elizabeth; and a male age 16 - 25. So this includes 4 young children not noted in the 1790 census who were not born to Judith.

In 1800 John continued to reside by his sons Elisha and James and neighboring families included the Rhodes who were living there when John arrived in North Carolina and whose member married his daughter. There were still no other Withers/Weathers families in Lincoln Co in 1800. If this is his household, John senior would be 75 years old starting all over with little children. Alternatively it is likely John senior was already deceased and this is his namesake son's or another relative's household.

In 1810 there were two John Weathers families residing in Lincoln Co, NC. One was a John and his presumed wife, both over age 44, with 1 female under 10, 2 males age 10 – 15, 1 male and 1 female age 16 – 25. The second John Weathers whose record was transcribed incorrectly is also over age 44, with a presumed wife 26 to 44, and 1 male and 1 female under 10 and 1 male age 16 – 25.

By the following census John senior was deceased but the men with whom researchers confuse him in various states were still alive. A Simpson F. Weathers, who is confused as one of John's sons was born in 1821 after John's death. Simpson married Margaret A. Weathers, a possible cousin, in Lincoln Co, NC in 1844.

In 1826 John Hanks, the husband of John Weathers' daughter Elizabeth, received a McMinn Co, TN land grant, after which decendants of John Weathers including apparently Hugh and his presumed daughters Julia and Agatha, as well as a Nancy who may be another daughter of Hugh, begin to appear in the McMinn Co records.

The 1812 death date attributed to John may actually be the 1812 death of another John Weathers, father of Jesse Weathers, who lived east of Lincoln Co in Wake Co, NC.

Other sources:

--Franz V. Recum, "Withers -- America or A Collection of Genealogical Data Concerning the History of the Descendants in the Male Line of James Withers (1680/1-1746) of Stafford County, Virginia," New York, 1949 (section 33, p. 12, John Withers 1744/5-1827) https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/genealogy-glh38301593/.

     PVT Elisha Withers was born on 10 Aug 1762 at Stafford Co, Virginia. He was the son of John Weathers I and Judith "Judy" Foreman. PVT Elisha Withers married Sarah "Sally" Gaskins on 9 Feb 1784 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. PVT Elisha Withers died in 1840 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. His estate was probated in 1841 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina.

      According the book Our Kin, on 26 Mar 1755 Andrew Holland received a patent for 350 acres near the Weathers home place. It is a tradition that Julius Holland, a brother of Andrew, gave Elisha Weathers land because Elisha was Julius' brother-in-law, their wives whom they married in 1784 being sisters Mary Ann and Sarah Gaskins, the daughters of Francis Gaston (sic). This book however is known to have some errors.

The 1784 marriage bond for Elisha Weather (sic) and Sarah Gaskins had bondsman Julius Holland and witness Elizabeth Dicks.

In the 1790 Lincoln Co, NC census Elisha was living with his wife and likely 3 sons under age 16 and one daughter. By 1800 in Lincoln Co, NC his family had grown to 3 males and 3 females under 10, 2 males age 10 - 15, Elisha and his wife.

The following North Carolina land grant likely belonged to the senior Elisha although there were other men with the same name in the county. On 16 Dec 1806 Elisha Weathers was granted 27 acres located “6 m waters of Long Creek” in Lincoln Co, NC which he had entered on 9 Sep 1805. The original tax record appears to show Elisha Withers owned 730 acres in 3 parcels in Irwin and Lincoln counties.

In 1810 Elisha and his presumed wife, both over age 45, remained in the county with a family of 5 sons and 3 daughters. Next door were his sons Allen and John and another unknown Elisha Weathers.

Ten doors away was another Elisha Weathers who was likely the son of James and the grandson of John born in 1725. This Elisha and his presumed wife, both age 26 - 44, lived with four children: 1 under age 10, 2 ages 10 to 15, and 1 age 16 to 25. Given the children's ages, this Elisha was born in 1774 after his father James married in 1773, so he is not the Elisha living in the county in 1840 because he would have been age 66 by then, not the age 50 - 59 on the census, unless the census taker made an error.

On the 7 Aug 1820 census the elder Elisha resided west of the South Fork of the Catawba River, Lincoln Co with his presumed wife and 3 sons and 2 daughters. By 1830 Elish Wethers and his wife were enumerated in Lincoln Co as age 60 - 69. He was living with a presumed son and 2 daughters, and a female slave age 10 - 23.

The 1840 census noted Elisha, a veteran age 76, living in the Lower Regiment of Lincoln Co, NC with his wife and a female age 20 - 29, a female under age 5, and a female slave age 24 - 35. Elisha was living next door to his son Morgan Weathers with his family and 3 doors from his son Logan with his family. Elisha was on the Pensioners List as age 77 in Lincoln Co, NC.

Simultaneously in 1840 a younger Elisha Weathers, age 50 - 59, was living in the Lower Regiment who could be the younger Elisha from the 1810 census, if the census taker mismarked his age in 1840. The younger man had 9 males ranging from under age 5 to 49 and 5 females from age 5 to age 39 living in the household, which means if this is the same family from the 1810 census his wife is either gone or has reduced her age. Additionally other even younger Elisha Weathers resided in Lincoln Co in 1840 with totals of 6 and 12 in their homes, one of whom would be likely be the son of Allen who married in 1808.

Elisha was noted as serving in the cavalry and infantry with the rank of private in the North Carolina militia. In 1780, at the age of 18, he helped supply provisions for the commissary for the soldiers with Captain Robert Alexander near Tuckasege Ford on the Catawba River for 12 months. After his service Elisha was drafted to serve an additional 3 months under Captain Thomas Loftin and Lieutenant Robert Shannon and marched from Lincoln Co to Guilford Court House in North Carolina under Colonels Locke and Hunt. His time having expired shortly before the Guilford Court House, battle he returned home. Elisha again served another tour commencing in Aug 1781 as a substitute for his older brother James Withers under Captain James Little at Eutaw Springs, SC where he was detailed with a few others to guard the baggage wagons during the battle.

Elisha again volunteered for military service under Captain Thomas Loftin and Lieutenant Thomas McGee and was actively engaged in the horse service in several scouting expeditions until the close of the war. After the war Elisha was for a long time known as old Constable Withers and was highly respected. His pension began when he stated he was age 75 in Sep 1831, and his widow applied for a pension on 23 May 1845.

Elisha died in 1840 and is buried at Long Creek Church near his home. His wife and his graves were marked by modest marble slabs with the following inscriptions: “Elisha Weathers, born Au. 14, 1764. Died —, 1840. Who was a Revolutionary soldier” and “Sarah Weathers died Nov. 1st, 1848, aged 85 years.” If Sarah was really age 85 in 1848 and thus born in 1763 the last two children of Elisha's cannot be Sarah's, so her age is not believed to be correct.

Elisha's 10 Jun 1830 will of named his wife Sally, son Morgan, John, Allen, Samuel, Joel, Benjamin Ellis, Logan, Isabella Palmer, Sally Huffman and Polly who was unmarried. He discussed the disposition of a negro girl Hannah. Elisha's executors were his sons John and Weathers and his friend Andrew Hoyl and his witnesses were (first unreadable, something like J H Suabent Jr), An. Hoyl, Dya Rhuyme and Eli Hoyl (Jr?). This researcher did not do original research on his children.

Other sources:

--C. L. Hunter, Sketches Of Western North Carolina, Historical And Biographical; Chapter: Gaston Co, NC, Elisha Withers, Raleigh News Steam Job Print, Raliegh NC, 1877, p. 300. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044086407392;view=1up;seq=7 This book was published 37 years after Elisha's death by a North Carolina historical society member.

     Sarah "Sally" Gaskins was born a 1769. She married PVT Elisha Withers, son of John Weathers I and Judith "Judy" Foreman, on 9 Feb 1784 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. Sarah "Sally" Gaskins died on 1 Nov 1848 at North Carolina.

      The father of Sarah Gaston was Francis Gaston. The name was first Gascoigne, then Gaskins, then Gaston. The Gastons came orginally from Wales to Eastern North Carolina and Francis lived near Lowell, NC.

For Sarah to have a child in 1813 she had to have been much younger than thought to be when she married, thus rather than born in 1763 born closer to 1769.

     James Weathers was born a 1754 at Virginia. He was the son of John Weathers I and Judith "Judy" Foreman. James Weathers married Jemima "Gimime" (Unknown) a 1778. James Weathers died in 1810 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. His estate was probated in Oct 1810 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina.

      There were several men named James Weathers living in North Carolina. Our James Weathers was the man residing by his brother Elisha and father John in the 1790-1800 Lincoln Co, NC censuses and who died in Lincoln Co, NC in 1810.

In 1781 James' brother Elisha served a military tour for him. James was on the 1790 Lincoln Co, NC census with 3 males under 16, 1 male over 16 which was James, and 5 females, including his presumed wife. Given this number of children he would have married about 1773, unless any twins were in his family.

James Weathers and his father John founded the local church. In 1794 the Baptist Church of Christ on Long Creek at the Catawba River in Lincoln Co, NC constituted themselves with a written proclamation which listed James Weathers and Julious Holland as two of the deacons and James Weathers and John Weathers as members. These early settlers created the church -- also referred to as Long Creek Church and as Long Creek Memorial Baptist Church, and later by other names in the mid 1800s as the church combined with other area churches. Julious Holland was the brother-in-law of John's son Elisha. In the 1800s Samuel Weathers and Allen Withers served as church deacons.

James' 25 Mar 1810 will in Lincoln Co, NC stated he had three sons and five daughters but only named sons George and Elijah and daughters Leanna, Frankey, Gemime, Sally and Molly (Polly) Hawkins. James' executors were his friends (brother) Elisha Weathers and Andrew Hoyle and his witnesses were Andrew Hoyle, John Weathers and George Bell. It is believed John Weathers who witnessed James' will was his father because James was referred to as the oldest son of John, a designation meaning the oldest son alive in North Carolina, and thus it is believed James' brother John (born 1752) who preceded James in birth order was not living in Lincoln Co, NC.

James is confused with other men of the same name. James was not the man who married Margaret Totherow as noted in the book Our Kin; thus neither James nor his sister Nancy married into the Totherow family. The book Our Kin erroneously reported James moved to Georgia and left no known descendants. Our James was not the James Weathers residing in Granville Co, NC during and after our James' lifetime whose will was probated in Granville Co in 1843.

     John Withers was born on 4 Apr 1784 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. He was the son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. John Withers married Nancy Irwin on 29 Sep 1806. John Withers died in 1852 at Coosaville, Georgia.

     Allen Withers was born a 1787 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. He was the son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. Allen Withers married Elizabeth Senter on 19 Feb 1808.

     Barbara Withers was born a 1789 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. She was the daughter of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. Barbara Withers married Constable Michael Rhyne on 15 Feb 1809. Barbara Withers died in 1827 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina.

     Samuel Withers was born on 13 Feb 1791 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. He was the son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. Samuel Withers married Sarah Rhyne on 23 Jan 1812. Samuel Withers died on 25 Oct 1855 at Gastonia, Gaston Co, North Carolina, at age 64.

     Isabella "Ibby" Withers was born c 1795 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. She was the daughter of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. Isabella "Ibby" Withers married Jacob Palmer on 23 Feb 1813.

      The book Our Kin states Isabella "Ibby" Weathers, daughter of Elisha Weathers, married Jacob Palmer and in a different places says she married Jacob Falls. However, Jacob Falls, a black man born in 1827 married Isabella Quinn, and died at age 104 in 1931.

     Joel Withers was born c 1793 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. He was the son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. Joel Withers married Delilah Best on 13 Mar 1814 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. Joel Withers died in 1860 at Bollinger Co, Missouri.

      When Joel Weathers married, his future brother-in-law Jacob Palmer was his bondsman and V. McBee was apparently the witness.

By 1830 in Lincoln Co, NC, Joel and Delilah had 4 daughters and 4 sons, and the census taker miscoded 37-year-old Joel as age 20 to 29. In 1840 the family was enumerated in the Lower Regiment of Lincoln Co. Joel Wathers (sic) and his wife, ages 40 - 49, were living with 5 apparent sons with ages ranging from under five to 29. In 1850 Joel Nethers (sic) and Delila age 57 and 55 respectively were residing with their three sons Jeremiah age 20, Albany age 18 and James age 17 in Gaston Co, NC, adjacent to Lincoln Co on the South Carolina state border. The family was farming acreage valued at $200. Nine houses away resided one of the numerous Elisha Wethers age 41 with his wife Susannah age 45 and their 3 sons and 2 daughters.

After the death of his wife in 1857, Joel moved to Missouri to live with his daughter and be close to ther family. The 21 Jun 1860 Liberty, Bollinger Co, Missouri census showed Joel Wethers, age 67 born about 1793 in NC, living with his daughter Minerva Ward, born about 1816 in North Carolina, and her 6 children, including a son Joel named after her father. Minerva Weathers married David Ward on 19 Dec 1836 in Lincoln Co, NC and was the sister of Lavisa and Anderson according to Minerva's 1895 obituary. In 1860 11 doors away from Minerva was her sister Lavisa, age 45, residing with her husband Dixton Dammon, age 43, and their 9 children, including twins Anderson and Deliah named for her brother and mother and son Joel named for her father.

Find-a-grave shows Joel died in Bollinger Co, Missouri in 1860.

     Benjamin Ellis Withers was born a 1797 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. He was the son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. Benjamin Ellis Withers married Margaret "Peggy" Pinner on 15 May 1823 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina.

     Logan Withers was born on 7 Aug 1802 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. He was the son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. Logan Withers married Nancy Spencer on 14 Nov 1828 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. Logan Withers died on 11 Dec 1875 at Floyd Co, Georgia, at age 73.

     Sarah "Sally" Withers was born a 1804 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. She was the daughter of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. Sarah "Sally" Withers married Joseph Hoffman on 13 Nov 1824.

     Morgan Withers was born a 1808 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. He was the son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. Morgan Withers married Sally Chandler a 1823. Morgan Withers married Sarah Cox on 8 Feb 1831 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina.

     Jennie Withers was born a 1811 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. She was the daughter of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins.

     Mary "Polly" Withers was born on 19 Jun 1813 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. She was the daughter of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins. Mary "Polly" Withers married George Lewis Clemmer on 22 Jul 1834 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. Mary "Polly" Withers died on 7 Jun 1899 at Gaston Co, North Carolina, at age 85.

     Elizabeth Senter was born a 1792. She married Allen Withers, son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins, on 19 Feb 1808.

     Jacob Palmer was born on 19 May 1788 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. He married Isabella "Ibby" Withers, daughter of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins, on 23 Feb 1813.

     Delilah Best was born c 1794 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. She married Joel Withers, son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins, on 13 Mar 1814 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina. Delilah Best died in 1857 at Gaston Co, NC.

     Nancy Irwin was born a 1780. She married John Withers, son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins, on 29 Sep 1806.

     Sarah Rhyne was born on 18 Mar 1793 at Cleveland Co, North Carolina. She married Samuel Withers, son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins, on 23 Jan 1812. Sarah Rhyne died on 14 Oct 1867 at Dallas, Gaston Co, North Carolina, at age 74.

     Margaret "Peggy" Pinner was born a 1800. She married Benjamin Ellis Withers, son of PVT Elisha Withers and Sarah "Sally" Gaskins, on 15 May 1823 at Lincoln Co, North Carolina.