• Index to Colonial Records

Biographical Sketches of Colonials -W-

Wakefield, John, freeholder, and wife, Sarah, resided in Frederica 1737-1738, but left before August of 1741. Waldhauer, Jacob Casper was born in Austria before 1734, died Savannah May 1804, Married Mary Virginia Floerl, daughter of Capt. John Floerl and his wife, Dorothy Brandens. Migrated to Georgia with General Oglethorpe. He married 2nd, Agnesia Ziegler 27 June 1758 Effingham County. He died 3 December 1766. Children by 1st wife:

1. Salome Waldhauer married Israel Floerl.
2. John C. Waldhauer married Margaret Floerl.
3. Israel Waldhauer.
4. Elizabeth Waldhauer married 2 October 1765 Daniel Remshart, son of John Remshart and his wife, Ann Margaret Mueller.
5. Hannah Waldhauer married Lewis Weitman.
6. Margaret Waldhauer married David Gugel.
   
   Children by 2nd wife:
7. Georg Waldhauer born 27 December 1764.
8. Daughter died 20 January 1772.

Walker, Thomas, carpenter from Northampton, who worked on the palisades at Fort Frederica, town magazine, chapel and armory. Had wife and two children, Samuel and Sarah (born by 1738), two more children born by 1745. Resident of Frederica.

Walton, George, one of the three Signers of the Declaration of Independence in Georgia, was born 1741 in Virginia, migrated to Savannah in 17529. Died at his home in Meadow Garden in Augusta. He married Dorothy Camber of Chatham Co., who died 12 September 1832 Pensacola, Florida. Child:

1. George Walton, first Secretary of the State of Territory of Florida.

Walset, Andrew of Germany, planter. Wife, Barbara. Son: John. Daughter: Anne. Left Frederica by July of 1743.

Watkins, Thomas, Jr., son of Thomas Watkins of Powhatan County, Virginia, married in 1763 Sallie Walton of Richmond County, a sister of George Walton, signer of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia. He was killed by the Indian Allies of the British during the Revolutionary War. Children:

1. Robert Watkins married Elizabeth Walton, daughter of John Walton.
2. Thomas Watkins.
3. Anderson Watkins married Catherine Eve.
4. George Watkins married Mary Early, daughter of Joel Early.
5. Claiborne Watkins married Elizabeth Craig, daughter of Capt. Robert Craig.
6. Isaac Watkins, of Arkansas.
7. Polly Watkins married William Nichols of Kentucky.

Watson, Charles, Attorney, appointed Recorder of the Town of Savannah on November 21, 1741. In March of 1742 he was appointed Second Bailiff of Savannah, and later Magistrate. The nephew of Charles Watson, George Elliot, was sent to the colony to reside with his uncle in 1742, but in June drowned while bathing. Charles Watson had a brother, Edward Watson. In May of 1745 he was recalled to London, along with Thomas Jones, because of charges brought by Mr. Jones against him, charging him with a debt of 15 pounds sterling, for which Watson gave a promissary note. Watson claimed that Jones had been paid, but Jones said that Watson was a profane man, cursing, swearing and using his office (in a public house in Savannah) to instruct people to play dice to the detriment of several of them. Having been charged with profanity and gaming by Jones, Watson denied all the charges, asking to be returned to Georgia.

Watson wrote the Board a letter dated 14 June 1745 from Melvile (a plantation belonging to Capt. Patrick Mackay in Carolina), saying "I suppose you will be surprized when I tell you I am going for England by the Hector Snow Capt. Rogers...." The Board was also surprised that Rev. Mr. Thomas Bosomworth had taken passage with him to Charles Town in a clandestine manner with intent to likewise proceed to England, and that that Bosomworth had taken no care of the divine service being performed in his absence. But in his homeland in England, he was also met there with disappointments, and decided to return to Georgia. Not long after, in July of 1746 Trustees appointed him to succeed William Spencer in the Office of the Third Bailiff in Savannah. Four years later, the Council even paid his passage.

But his troubles weren’t over. In 1755, Charles Watson was in the Legislature from Savannah, but was later expelled for non-attendance. Then, in 1763, he was Master-in-Chancery, reporting of the necessary charges of government for the years 1763 and 1764. In 1769, his first wife died, and he married Sarah, who died in March of 1771, her Will being dated 3/5/1771 wherein she bequeathed all of her estate to Samuel Farley and William Stephens, Savannah attorneys, for the benefit of her daughter, Sarah Dudley. When Thomas Parker died in Savannah, he left his town lots to Charles Watson, Francis Harris and Mr. Russell of Savannah. The Last Will and Testament of Charles Watson, Gentleman, dated at Savannah 11/8/1770, probated 1/7/1771, left bequests to the nephews of his late wife, viz": Daniel Tebeau (infant), Charles Tebeau, Ann Tebeau, Samuel Tebeau, John Tebeau, Norris James Tebeau. Daughter-in-law: Sarah Dudley, Jr. Wife: Sarah. His plantation in Christ Church Parish, three miles from Savannah, 500 acres, to his wife, Sarah, and after her death to go to Norris James Tebeau. Samuel Farley, lawyer in Savannah and Clotworthy Robson, my Savannah Lot. Niece: Sepha Watson. The Last Will and Testament of his wife, Sarah, dated 3/5/1771, probated 3/21/1771, bequeathed to Samuel Farley and William Stephens of Savannah, attorneys, all the estate for her daughter, Sarah Dudley, until age twenty-one years, or her marriage.

Way, Moses was born 1734 in South Carolina, died Liberty County 1786. He migrated to Georgia in 1754 with the Puritans, settling at Midway. He served as a Lieutenant, then as Captain of the Georgia Militia. He married first Lydia Mitchell in 1756 (she died 1765) and on 12 May 1766 he later married in Liberty County, Ann Winn. Children by the first wife were: Lydia, John and William ; and by the second wife were: Mary, b. 1767 m. Samuel Jones, Jr., son of Samuel Jones and Rebecca Baker, the daughter of William Baker and Sarah Osgood. (Roster of Revolutionary War Soldiers) He served as a Lieutenant, then Captain of the Georgia Militia. He married 1st, in 1756, Lydia Mitchell who died in 1765, and 2nd, in 1766, Ann Winn. Mrs. Ann Way, widow of Moses Way, died in 1790 Liberty County when Mrs. Mary Jones, daughter, and John Winn, son of Mrs. Ann Way, applied for Letters of Administration. Children by the first wife were:

1. Lydia Way who married 1st in 1774, Peter Sallens, married 2nd, John Foster.
2. John Way married in 1790 Sarah Goulding.
3. William Way.
   Child by second wife were:
4. Mary Way, born 1767 married Samuel Jones, Jr., the son of Samuel Jones and his wife, Rebecca Baker, the daughter of William Baker and Sarah Osgood.

Way, Parmenas was born 1695/6 Dorchester County, South Carolina, the son of Moses Way and his wife, Sarah; and the grandson of William Way and his wife, Persis Witt. Immediately after the land was surveyed for the Puritans in Georgia, Parmenas Way was granted the first 500 acres, being bounded south by lands possessed by Nathan Taylor, west and westerly and east by lands possessed by John Davis and Marchsh, at the head of the Midway River. The father of Parmenas was Moses Way was born 13 June 1672 in Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusetts and died 1 November 1737 in Stonoe, Colleton County, South Carolina. He married Sarah on Married 14 May 1694 in Dorchester County, South Carolina, and had the following Children:

1. Parmenas.
2. Joseph, died before 1790 Liberty County).
3. Moses.
4. Parthena.
5. Stephen/
6. Sarah.

Midway Cemetery, Midway, Georgia

Way, Samuel died 5 December 1757, buried Midway Cemetery.

Way, Thomas, son of Thomas, died 25 September 1759, buried Midway Cemetery. He married Mary Sumner on 1 December 1757 in Liberty County.

Way, William, Jr., planter. Mrs. Hannah Way, widow of William Way, Jr., and his brother, John Way, apply for Letters of Administration. 3 February 1791, Liberty County.

Welch, John. He was counted among the first group of settlers, coming from London where he was a wheeler/carpenter on Fleet Street. His wife, Ann, gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, September 1738 in Georgia. He still resided in a hut in 1737. Welch was one of the victims of Mrs. Hawkin’s surly behavior, and he also had conflicts with Charles Wesley. Even though Oglethorpe provided the funds for Welch to own a brew house, he failed in the enterprise before it got off the ground floor, and decided to remove to Carolina. But by July of 1743, he was back in Frederica.

Wells, Absalom, planter. Wife: Mary. Children:

1. Elizabeth Wells.
2. Mary Wells.
3. Serah Wells.
4. John Wells.
5. Absalom Wells.
6. Jane Wells.
7. Winny Wells.
8. Rice Wells.
9. Rachel Wells.
10. Nancy Wells.
11. Patty Wells.

Wereat, John, was born ca 1730, died January of 1799 on the Great Ogeechee River, age 6

5. He was a Member of the First Provincial Congress of Georgia and Speaker of Congress in 1776. Died in Bryan County 1798. 31 January 1799, Georgia Gazette. Hannah, his widow, died 16 January 1790 in Richmond County and was buried at Mt. Hope. She was born in 1727 England as Hannah Wilkinson and descended on her mother’s side from the ancient family of Handleys. Married for thirty years.

West, Charles, at his death divided his land into three lots for his sons, viz: Charles, Samuel and William. Wife: Esther. Children:

1. Elizabeth.
2. Charles.
3. Samuel.
4. William

Weston, Willes, tanner from London, came with original Frederica settlement. Wife. Daughter, Hannah. Deserted before April 1740, but returned and died that year. Wife and child may have been dead also.

White, Richard, hatter, bailiff, storekeeper, came over with the original settlement. John Wesley wrote in his diary was White was a good candidate to be a potential laborer for the gospel. Dead December 1740. Resident of Frederica.

Whitefield, George, Rev., embarked for Georgia January 6, 1738, arriving May 7th, send to be a deacon in the Church of England. . He received a land grant of 300 acres in Savannah for the support of an Orphan House. 20 December 1749. James Habersham in behalf of Rev. Mr. George Whitefield petitioned for 500 acres adjoining west to Mr. William Parker and east of the boundaries of the Village of Hampstead. Setting forth that the lands upon which the Orphan-House now stand being granted to him, the same being chiefly pine and unfit for cultivation. He called the orphanage, Orphan House Academy, and when he died it was bequeathed to Selina, Countess Dowager of Huntingdon, and when she died it went to James Habersham, Esquire, a Captain General and Commander in Chief in Georgia between 1771 and 1772. Whitefield owned the building he called the "Tabernacle" in London, and another one called "Tottenham Court Chapel", which he bequeathed to Daniel West in Spittlefields and Robert Keen in the Minories. George Whitefield had two brothers, Richard and Thomas. His brother-in-law was James Smith, a hosier in Bristol. Niece was Mrs. Francis Hartford of Bath. In December of 1770 he died leaving many bequests of his property, etc. to the people of the Orphan House Academy. William Stephens, Secretary of the Colony, wrote in his Journal....

"July 2, 1738 Sunday. Mr. Whitefield gained more and more the affections of the people having his labour and assiduity in the performance of devine offices; ... without shew of austerity, or singularity of behavior in conversation, contributed not a little, and open the way for him to inculcate good precepts with greater success among his willing hearers..."

In August of 1738, Mr. Whitefield left for Frederica, and on the way rode as far as the Vernon River, taking with him Mr. Habersham, the schoolteacher, to bring back the horses, while he went on by water. But the young schoolmaster became lost in the swamps and could not get his horse to follow, so he tied him to a tree. The next day he returned to search for the horse, and ambling about, was lost. A search party went out, firing pistols, calling out, but could not find him. This went on for several days until finally, one of the inhabitants of Hampstead found him in the swamp, lying on the ground, and answering in a weak voice. Mr. Whitefield was well supported by the Trustees in the accomplishment of the orphanage and churches in Georgia. 11 March 1741 Mr. Whitefield landed at Falmouth, England, from Charles Town, South Carolina and received further support from England. He was an active religious leader, traveling to and from Pennsylvania for building materials, and to London, for financial aid. His accomplishments were large upon the settlers, and by December of 1764, he was successful in acquiring an endowment to build a college.

A powerful benefactor to the orphanage was Selina, Countess Dowager of Huntingdon. She had an old husband, and became the patron to many Charities, the orphanage being a favorite. A full-length mural of the countess hangs on the wall at the Georgia Historical Society in Savannah. In his will, George Whitefield, left the orphanage to the Countess, but should she die first, it was to go to James Habersham, Esquire. Also, Whitefield owned a building in London called Tabernacle with an adjacent house, and a building called Tottenham Court Chapel which he bequeathed to Daniel West, Esquire in Church Street, Spittlefields and to Robert Keen, a woolen-draper in the Minorities. He mentioned his brothers: Richard and Thomas Whitefield, to whom he left 50 pounds each. A brother-in-law was James Smith, hosier in Bristol. Niece: Mrs. Francis Hartford of Bath. 40 pounds went to John Crane, a faithful stewart at the Orphan-House Academy. Other bequests went to: Benjamin Stirk, Peter Edwards, William Trigg, Thomas Adams (of Rodborough in Gloucester), Rev. Mr. Howell Davis of Pembrokeshire in South Wales, Torial Toss, Cornelius Winter, the three brothers of Ambrose Wright and the wife of his brother Robert Wright at the Orphan-House Academy, Richard Smith, Mrs. Elizabeth Wood, James Habersham, and Gabriel Harris in Gloucester. Mourning rings went to Rev. Messrs. John and Charles Wesley.

Whitehead, Thomas, planter, 200 acres in St. George’s Parish. Wife: Alice. Children:

1. Reason Whitehead, planter, died 1791 Jefferson County. Wife: Jane. Children named were: John, Reason, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah, and Jane. Executors: Jane (wife), Jacob (brother), and Hugh Irwin.
2. Thomas Whitehead.
3. Sarah, wife of James Buoy.
4. Jacob Whitehead.
5. Charles Whitehead married Susannah. Son: Richard.
6. Caleb Whitehead.
7. John Whitehead

Williams, Griffith, storekeeper 1747-1748, deputy engineer in Georgia and South Carolina. He was still in the colony in 1750, but probably did not reside at Frederica.

Williams, John Francis, planter, from the Island of Barbados. His land included 2,000 acres, carriages, horses, and four Negroes. Wife: Catherine. Substantial money bequests from his estate went to: Elizabeth, daughter; Samuel Perry; Thomas Eady; Henry Perry; McLany Grant; Winifred Grant; Hugh Williams (son of Dr. John Williams), all formerly of the Island of Barbados; Charlotte, Agnes Grant, Elizabeth Grant (widow); John Walcott formerly of Barbados; Edward Sayris; Sarah Prescott; Susannah Clark’ Jane Hamilton of Barbadoes. Williams, Stephen, planter, was born 1720 in Duplin County, North Carolina, died 1770 Burke County, Georgia, married 1745 in Duplin County Elizabeth Lewis, to whom he left the use of the plantation after his death. Stephen was the son of Anthony Williams, Jr., born 1698 in Chowan County, North Carolina, died 1752 Duplin County, North Carolina and his wife, Mary, who had children : Stephen (1720-1770); Benjamin; Mary; Penelope; Pherabee; Easter; and Civility. Anthony was the son of Anthony Williams, born 1672 Isle of Wight County, Virginia, died 1718 Chowan County, North Carolina, (a son of Lewis Williams and Mary) who married Martha Bush, daughter of William Bush and Martha Hill. Their children : Anthony, Jr. (1698-1752); Sarah; William; Lewis; Mary; John; Elinore; and Elizabeth. Children of Stephen Williams and Elizabeth Lewis:

1. Sarah Sheperson.
2. James Williams.
3. John Williams.
4. William Williams.
5. Mary Web.
6. Elizabeth Godfree.

Williamson, Benjamin. To his eldest son, Robert, he left a tract of 660 acres in St. George’s Parish, which included 150 acres from Asa Williamson known by the name of Millers Place. Son, George, 660 acres of land, and youngest son, Ben, the plantation, including 660 acres. Children:

1. Robert Williamson.
2. George Williamson.
3. Ben Williamson.
4. Sarah Miller.
5. Emily Williamson.
6. Betty Williamson.

Williamson, Richard, planter. Wife: Susannah, left seven Negroes in the possession of her mother, Ann Parker, and 500 pounds Sterling. To: Lydia Eaton, spinster, 150 pounds Sterling. 43 negroes included in the estate, with the instructions to purchase more for his son, William, who is to have all of the estate at the age of twenty-one. If son, William, dies before age, the whole estate to go to the children of Francis Rose of Colleton County, South Carolina, planter. Son: William Williamson.

Wilson, Michael and wife, Alkey, original settlers, having two children in Georgia, Sarah and Clement. In 1743 they returned to England. Resident of Frederica.

Wilson, Thomas, born Gloucester, Scotland in 1687, was one of the first Tythingmen in the Town of Savannah, until replaced by Mr. John Penrose in November of 1732. 100 acres were granted to him June 2, 1736 by the Trustees. He married Mary Box 1734/5, who, as a widow, desired to return to England after his death. In a letter to the Trustees dated June 22, 1735, he wrote:

"I should be very ungrateful if I did not return my great God, thanks, and your honours for sending me here to a place where no man can starve but the contry live in plenty, if he will work as I do. For I do assure your honours I work daily and that ever since I have been here...the great charge of my family increasing, for when I came here I was single. Bur since God has blessed me with a wife and three children...that I have a lot for to improve and another for my grandson, Thomas Eggerton, whom his duty a youth, besides my home to take care of...."

Winn, John. His first wife, Mary, died 5 August 1760, buried Midway Cemetery. John Winn married (2) Sarah Baker 17 August 1767 Liberty County.

Winn, Peter born 25 December 1750 St. Johns Parish, married 7 January 1777 in Liberty Co., Mary Farley 7 January 1789, on South Newport River.

Woodruff, Joseph, born in London ca 1735, moved to McIntosh County, died Bruro Neck in McIntosh County where he died in January of 1799. He was married in Jamaica to Mary Forrester, probably about 1764, and they had four children, viz: Mary, George (married Sarah Gignilliat), Joseph and James.

Wright, Samuel, Major, migrated from England to Frederica, buried Colonial Cemetery at Frederica Church, St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Wrightnour, Laurence. Resident of Frederica.

Coleraine, in Northern Ireland

Wylly, Richard was born 1744 in Coleraine, Ireland, died 1801 Savannah, was married to Mary Ann Bryan and served as a Member of the Provincial Congress and Committee of Safety. Child:

1. Mary Ann Wylly married Nathaniel Adams.