Person:James Withers (2)

Notes

"In the deed wherein he bought the tract of land from John and Rice Hooe, Jr., known as 'North Wales,' ***JAMES WITHER is styled 'blacksmith,' in his will he leaves all his blacksmith's equipment to his youngest son Keene Withers. This is a most interesting exposure and reveals what may have been the business enterprises of his father. A blacksmith, did not necessarily mean that he toiled at this work with his own hands. That certainly would have been very unnecessary when he held as many Negro slaves as shown by his will. But in that early time these shops turned out all the things that were made and used out of iron, and repaired these things, hinges, saddle parts, utensils, and other forge work. There were iron mines along the drains of Accoceek Creek, also in the upper part of what is now King George County, which was then Stafford County. One of the old roads was called 'Old Mine Road,' and later on we find James, son of James Withers connected with the Accoceek iron mines. This business would account for the accumulation of the wealth in this branch of the family beginning with William Withers, the immigrant. Even though so many records have perished, a fairly clear picture of the life of JAMES WITHERS can be drawn. Born and raised near the old county courthouse, which was located at Marlboro, knowing and mingling with the friends and neighbors of his father and his Uncle John, enjoying all the sports and entertainments which the prominent families of his neighbors afforded for the young people, settling down with his young wife near his old home place close to her parents, and continuing on in the same locality. His large family of boys and girls growing up and in their turn marrying among the daughters of his close friends. These children he set up on lands of their own and let them develop such resources as he, out of his increasing wealth, could give them to their better advantage in living. Out of the broad acres which he acquired some distance from his home, in what became Fauquier County after his death, but was then in Prince William County, he provided new fields for these children to cultivate and enjoy. In his estate account one item shows that he planted on the lands on 'Tin Pot' Creek. This land, by his will, fell to his youngest son, Keene, whose son's family resid- ing on this tract were called the 'Tin Pot Withers' family, to distinguish them from the family of another son, Thomas (son of James) who inherited a part of the Licking Run tract called 'Green Meadows.' The half of the 'North Wales' tract which he bought from the Hooes was divided among several of his children. His sons held these gifts from their father and made their homes, raised their families and became the builders of the beautiful county of Fauquier noted for its fine families and for their interest in horses. William Withers, through his son James Withers, became the founder of one of the well known families of the Old Dominion."

sons James Jr. and William were both Lieutenants in the Army during the Revolution. Son Thomas was a wagoneer.

please refer to the cited source for a genealogy of this James Withers's male descendants in 342 pages.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Compiler: Thomas L. Hollowak. Genealogies of Virginia Families, V. 5. (Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD, 1981).
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Robert Edwin Withers, Sr. Withers Family of the County Lancaster, England and of Stafford County, Virginia, 1189-1947. (Dietz Publishing Co., 1947)
   also at http://www.withersfamily.com.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Franz V. Recum. Withers -- America; or A Collection of genealogical data concerning the history of the descendants in the male. (unknown, New York, 1949).
4.   Robert Edwin Withers, Sr. Withers Family of the County Lancaster, England and of Stafford County, Virginia, 1189-1947. (Dietz Publishing Co., 1947).
5. ↑ Will Book M. pg. 468