Person:Whitaker Redd (1)

In "The Utah Redds and Their Progenitors" Lura Redd writes about her genealogical research: " I found a printed copy of a parish record called a vestry book. It remains the only record of Nansemond County that goes back to the Revolutionary War and before ("A Vestry Book of Upper Parish, Nansemond Co., Va."). A vestry is a group or board of lay members of the church appointed to look after the temporal or civic welfare of the church and its members. When I came home I found a microfilm copy of the original listed under “Upper.” Who would ever think of looking there? I had heard of upper floors and upper teeth, but never of an upper parish. From it I take the following:

At a vestry held in Suffolk Town Sept. 17, 1759, for Upper Parish, Nansemond County, Va. (page 130)

Ordered that John Ballard and Joseph Skinner Procession all the lands in bounds number twenty-three according to law (page 131).

(It was an early colonial statutory law of Virginia that all lands should be processioned every four years. That is, the landmarks had to be renewed every four years by blazing the trees along the border, chopping a bit of the bark off each tree. Processioners were appointed to go with the inhabitants and renew these landmarks. Upper parish was divided into 28 districts, and William Redd lived in District No. 23.)

In obedience to an order of Vestry Bearing date September 17th 1759, We have processioned all the lands in our bounds between Wim Red & Jas March both parties press. A line between Abraham Carnal and Wim Red, Prest Wim Red & Whitaker Red. ”(This is the first time and the only time I have ever seen Whitaker Redd’s name in the index of any printed book.) “A line between John Spight and Mansfield Tarnington presst Wim Red & Jas March. Signed by John Ballard and Jos. Skinner (page 143).

Four years pass and it becomes time to procession the land once again. Now William Redd is important enough to be a processioner, a public officer:

25 Octr 1763. Ordered that John Ballard and Willm Red procession all the lands in bounds No. 23 according to law (page 160).

In obedience to an order of vestry bearing date 25 October 1763 We the subscribers have processioned all the lands within our district (page 170).

A line between Henry Gwin and John Ease Presst Wim Redd, John Ease and Danie Gwin. A line between Thos Healy and John Norfleet Presst John Norfleet and Wm Redd. A line between Wm Redd & Daniel March presst Wm Redd & Whitaker Redd by the consent of March. A line between Whitaker Redd & Abraham Carnal presst Whitaker Redd & John Ballard. A line between Wm Redd & Wm Turlington presst both parties. Signed by John Ballard and William Redd (page 171)

Notice in the above that William Redd as a processioner adds the second “d” to his name to set the record straight.

In 1759 there was a line between Abraham Carnal and William Redd. In 1763 the line was between Abraham Carnal and Whitaker Redd. Other lines remained the same. It seems that a part of William Redd’s original plot of land became the property of Whitaker Redd. Did William give Whitaker Redd a piece of land to build his first home on and start his family? If so, William Redd could be Whitaker Redd’s father.

Whitaker named his first son “William.” In that day it was customary and sometimes compulsory for a man to name his first son after his father, or if he were socially more important, after his wife’s father. Whitaker junior named his first son “William, ” and his brother, William, named two sons “William.” Was William the father of Whitaker? I think so. I will call William the first generation.

The next time we find this Whitaker Redd is in Onslow County, North Carolina. In the Onslow County Court minutes, which are in the archives in Raleigh, North Carolina, of April 13, 1789, William Readd, evidently the oldest son was granted letters of administration on the estate of his father, Whitaker Readd, on a bond of 500 pounds. General Fonville and Asa Hatch enter as his securities, and on April 27, 1789, an inventory sale was held for the estate of “Whitaker Read desest.”

At this sale William Read bought “Hackle (a comb for dressing flax or raw silk) & toe (a pivot to support it), stone pot, 2 axes, 2 hatchets, 1 gun & culleys, 1 lot of books, seventeen fouls, 2 puter basons, tray and sifter, 1 canoe, a hogshead of fish (a hogshead is a large cask, especially one containing from 100 to 140 gallons), 1 barel & fish (they must have been experienced fishermen, 2 combs, 1 trunk, plate and sasor.” Whitaker bought “1chest and 2 jugs.” Gabriel Hardison bought “1cask, some corn, 2 iron pots, spit of forks, 1 pan & pot.” Jessie Hardison bought “1 flax brake” (a machine for bruising the wood part of flax so as to separate it from the fiber).

As far as I can determine, Whitaker Redd had two sons, William and Whitaker. However, grandfather Lemuel Hardison Redd was baptized for two other sons, Henry Redd and Alexander Redd. They must have died before their father did, or else they remained in Virginia. He also had a daughter, Nancy, I’m told, who married John Pierson. There is no mention of the last three at the time of Whitaker Redd’s death.

1. ↑ Onslow, North Carolina. Onslow County Origina Estates, 1735-1914
   CR.072.508.62, 1789.

   "An account of the sails of the Estate of Whiteaker Read desest"