Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Name7G GM Catherine 
Birthabout 1665, St. George's Parish, Harford Co, MD
Research notes for 7G GM Catherine
Beaumont Whitacre says JW b.1667 St. George's Parish Harford m.Abt 1685 St. George's d.30 Nov1713 Bal (wife is Mary upon his death, she must have been 2nd wife). Catherine b.Abt 1665 St. George's. JW b.Abt 1660 Warwick, Eng m.Abt 1685 d.27 Nov 1713, Mary d.1713.
My Comments notes for 7G GM Catherine
When John died his wife was named Mary, but we know from church records that he had been first married to Catherine and she was the mother of most of his children including Abraham. John and Mary conveyed property “Whitacre’s Chance” 14 May 1713.
Parent-Proof notes for John (Spouse 1)
The early roots of the Whitaker (Whitacre) family have been studied by certain descendants interested in their family history. These sources, which seem well researched, have commented on the possible, but unknown, origins of John. The problem is there were several early immigrants to Maryland named John Whitacre, so who was who?
One persistent statement is that (our) John was the son of Aaron Whitacre. I have found it in several Internet family trees. But Beaumont Whitaker, one of the sources I have cited extensively about this family, said this about Aaron:
“A DAR article says the line originated with Aaron Whitaker who came to Maryland in 1634. A similar statement, in a newspaper clipping from the Homestead Herald (Allegheny County, PA), quotes Andrew McClure Whitaker as saying that Aaron Whitaker was an associate of Lord Baltimore in founding the Colony of Maryland. These statements were probably from the same source, as the DAR article was about Andrew McClure Whitaker’s line.”
Beaumont goes on to dismiss this whole idea, thus: “The list of ‘gentlemen adventurers’ who accompanied the Calverts is well documented and there is no Aaron Whitaker among them.” (The title of Lord Baltimore was always held by one of the Calverts.)
One persistent statement is that (our) John was the son of Aaron Whitacre. I have found it in several Internet family trees. But Beaumont Whitaker, one of the sources I have cited extensively about this family, said this about Aaron:
“A DAR article says the line originated with Aaron Whitaker who came to Maryland in 1634. A similar statement, in a newspaper clipping from the Homestead Herald (Allegheny County, PA), quotes Andrew McClure Whitaker as saying that Aaron Whitaker was an associate of Lord Baltimore in founding the Colony of Maryland. These statements were probably from the same source, as the DAR article was about Andrew McClure Whitaker’s line.”
Beaumont goes on to dismiss this whole idea, thus: “The list of ‘gentlemen adventurers’ who accompanied the Calverts is well documented and there is no Aaron Whitaker among them.” (The title of Lord Baltimore was always held by one of the Calverts.)
Relocated notes for John (Spouse 1)
IMMIGRANT. The “Futrell/Ruth” Internet family tree on Ancestry.com discusses the possible origins of John Whitacre. It says there were several early John Whitacres in America and it is not clear which was which. An early St. George parish register entry says John Whitacre (ours) was a servant, so the author speculates our John was born in England as that is where the early indentured servants in Maryland came from. That thumbnail sketch of John I think sums things up quite well.
This tree, however, goes on to say the most likely place of origin was the Parish of Rochdale in Lancashire, England. A nearby place was once called White Acres and thus the family name. Also, using naming conventions, the tree’s author conjectured that John’s father was named John and that John’s wife Catherine’s parents were named Peter and Ruth. Last, the early Whitacres may have been Quakers. This part of the thumbnail sketch seems like too much idle speculation to me.
The origins of surnames are many, geographic place being only one of the possibilities. And there undoubtedly were certain customs followed in choosing the names, and their order, of a couples’ children -- but there are as many, if not more, instances of names not fitting those “rules” as there are examples that seem to fit the pattern.
This tree, however, goes on to say the most likely place of origin was the Parish of Rochdale in Lancashire, England. A nearby place was once called White Acres and thus the family name. Also, using naming conventions, the tree’s author conjectured that John’s father was named John and that John’s wife Catherine’s parents were named Peter and Ruth. Last, the early Whitacres may have been Quakers. This part of the thumbnail sketch seems like too much idle speculation to me.
The origins of surnames are many, geographic place being only one of the possibilities. And there undoubtedly were certain customs followed in choosing the names, and their order, of a couples’ children -- but there are as many, if not more, instances of names not fitting those “rules” as there are examples that seem to fit the pattern.
Research notes for John (Spouse 1)
The West Mifflin tree and First Families tell us that the Ann Whitaker line is Ann/Abraham/John/Aaron. Ann b.1733 BAL m.7 Jan 1754 Ezekiel Slade. Abraham b.17 Sep 1702 St. George's Parish, Kingsville, BAL d.Bef 31 Dec 1739 (LDS says d.1741 BAL) m1.Susanna Temple m2.15 Jul 1725 BAL Ann Poteet b.1705 St. John's d/o Peter and Rebecca Baker.
My Comments notes for John (Spouse 1)
Robert Barnes, whom I consider an authoritative source, cites Beaumont Whitaker, a descendant of this family, as his source on this family. Therefore, I take Beaumont’s work as authoritative and perhaps anything else that varies from it as only speculative. Beaumont traces the line from Ann to John.
“Ann Whitaker married 7 Jan 1754 Ezekiel Slade. She was the daughter of Abraham born 17 Sep 1702 (St. George's register), died about 1741, married 16 Jul 1725 Ann Putee (Petite, Potee, Putee, Poteet). Ann is assumed to be of the same Petite family who intermarried with Whitaker in several instances in next two generations. They were reported to be of Huguenot extraction. She married William Pike after Abraham's death.
In November 1724, Abraham was indicted for begetting a baseborn child on the body of Susanna Temple. Three of Abraham and Ann's children (Peter, Abraham, Hannah) are listed in the St. George/St. John's register. They and two other children (Isaac and Ann) are listed as orphans of Abraham in the Guardian bond of William Pike executed in August 1743. Abraham patented (with brother Charles) 160 acre Whitakers Lott 25 Oct 1727. It is assumed that Abraham and his family lived here the rest of his life as this tract was sold by his son Peter in 1763.
Abraham was the son of John Whitacre, place and date of birth unknown, married first Catherine and married second Mary. John and Catherine had six children from 1686 to 1702 whose births are recorded in the St. George register including Abraham born 17 Sep 1702. We know from John's will that at the time of his death he made his home on the 150 acre Whitacre's Ridge at Bynum's Run. He left Abraham "Enlargement" to be divided with Peter.
Nothing is known of the origin or background of the John Whitacre who patented 74 acres on Elk Ridge on 5 Mar 1694. He was originally an indentured servant in an early entry in the register of St. George's Parish, then in later entries, he is, John Whitaker, planter. It is reasonable to assume that he had been in MD for some years before the date of his patent as he would have had to have worked out his indenture and started a family (first child born 1686).”
“Ann Whitaker married 7 Jan 1754 Ezekiel Slade. She was the daughter of Abraham born 17 Sep 1702 (St. George's register), died about 1741, married 16 Jul 1725 Ann Putee (Petite, Potee, Putee, Poteet). Ann is assumed to be of the same Petite family who intermarried with Whitaker in several instances in next two generations. They were reported to be of Huguenot extraction. She married William Pike after Abraham's death.
In November 1724, Abraham was indicted for begetting a baseborn child on the body of Susanna Temple. Three of Abraham and Ann's children (Peter, Abraham, Hannah) are listed in the St. George/St. John's register. They and two other children (Isaac and Ann) are listed as orphans of Abraham in the Guardian bond of William Pike executed in August 1743. Abraham patented (with brother Charles) 160 acre Whitakers Lott 25 Oct 1727. It is assumed that Abraham and his family lived here the rest of his life as this tract was sold by his son Peter in 1763.
Abraham was the son of John Whitacre, place and date of birth unknown, married first Catherine and married second Mary. John and Catherine had six children from 1686 to 1702 whose births are recorded in the St. George register including Abraham born 17 Sep 1702. We know from John's will that at the time of his death he made his home on the 150 acre Whitacre's Ridge at Bynum's Run. He left Abraham "Enlargement" to be divided with Peter.
Nothing is known of the origin or background of the John Whitacre who patented 74 acres on Elk Ridge on 5 Mar 1694. He was originally an indentured servant in an early entry in the register of St. George's Parish, then in later entries, he is, John Whitaker, planter. It is reasonable to assume that he had been in MD for some years before the date of his patent as he would have had to have worked out his indenture and started a family (first child born 1686).”
Children Names notes for John (Spouse 1)
The births/baptisms of six of these children starting with Elizabeth born 12 Jan 1687 and ending with Abraham born 19 Sep 1702 to parents John and Catherine were documented in the records of St George’s Parish.