John M. Whitall: The Story of His Life

A S far as we can trace back the line of our father’s ancestors, they came over from England during the 17th century, with the great body of Friends who left their native land and settled in the newly-founded American colonies, in and around Philadelphia, for the sake of securing religious liberty for themselves and their children. These colonies, in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, on both sides of the Delaware river, were founded by William Penn and other prominent Friends, and were settled almost exclusively, at first, by members of this religious body, who felt that the Lord led them to their new home, not for purposes of worldly aggrandizement, but for religious liberty and progress. Whether our ancestors came over with William Penn, or afterwards, we cannot discover, but in 1688, a few years after Penn’s coming, we find the first mention of a Whitall. In that year, on the 28th of February, James Whitall bought one hundred acres of land of John Ladd, fronting on the southern branch of Gloucester river (Great Timber Creek), where was a dwelling-place and other buildings. The place was called “Upton,” and he lived there with his family some years. The old deeds of this property are recorded in the Books of Deeds in the office of Secretary of State, Trenton, N. J.

The family of Whitalls, several of whom seem to have come over about the same time, were from the neighborhood of Litchfield, Stafford Co., England. An old letter is preserved among us, written by those who remained in England to their relatives in America, where this fact is stated.

Our ancestor, James Whitall, was evidently a man of a deeply religious character, and a zealous Friend, and was doubtless a member of one of those numerous companies recorded in history as ‘’ Quakers of good estate in England; who, unable to find in their own land that spirit of religious liberty which was a fundamental article of their faith, sought an asylum in the western world, hoping to found a state where their children might enjoy that freedom to worship God according to the dictates of their consciences, which had been denied them at home.”

One of these early settlers has left on record the following account of the reasons of their coming:

“Let it be remembered, it having wrought upon the minds of some Friends, and a pressure having laid upon them for some years which they could not gett from under the weight of, until they gave upp to leave their friends and relations att home, together with a comfortable subsistence, to transport themselves and famelys into a

this wilderness part of America, and thereby expose themselves to difficulties, which if they could have been easy where they were, in all probability might never have been met with. * * * And let the rising generation consider that the settlement of this country was directed upon an impulse by the sj.iritts of God’s people, not so much for their own ease and tranquiilitic, but rather for the posterity y’ should be after, and that the wilderness being planted with: good seed might grow and increase to the satisfaction of the good husbandman.”

Such was the stock from wliicli our father sprung — a race of men and women, who, like Abraham, at the call of God, took their lives in their hands, and went out, knowing but little whither they went. And coming from such sturdy stiijf, our father had truly an inherited right to the unusual strength of his character, and the steadfixstnoss of his loyalty to the church which his forefathers had endured so much to establish and preserve.

In 1700, James Whitall sold the estate called Upton
to Kichard Chew, and in the same year purchased four
hundred and eleven and a half acres of land of Henry
Treadway, on the Jersey side of the Delaware river,
about six miles below Philadelphia. This property was
called “Red Bank,” and ho apparently removed here
very soon, as the records show he was residing at Red
Bank in 1704.

His wife was named Hannah, but who she was before her marriage, we cannot now discover. They had three children, Mary, who married John Wood, in 1710; Job, who married Jane Siddon, in 1716, and Sarah, who married Henry Wood, in 1715. James Whitall died in 1714, and left all the Red Bank estate, containing at that time four hundred and sixty-nine acres, to his son Job. His will is among the. records at Trenton, and I insert a copy, as giving an insight into the character of this American founder of our family.

Copy of Will of James Whitall.

r Liber No. 1 of Wills, page 482.

t Office of Sec’y of State, Trenton, N. J.

In the name of God, Amen. The 22nd day of the Fifth month, A. D., 1714, I, James Whiteall, of Eed Bank, in the townsliip of Dedford, County of Gloucester, and Province of New Jersey, being sick and weak of body, but of sound and perfect memory, Praises be given to God therefor; and knowing the uncertainty of this transitory life on earth, and being desirous to settle things in order, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say as touching such worldly estate as the Lord in mercy hath lent me, my will and meaning is, the same shall be employed and bestowed as hereafter by this my will is expressed; and first, I do declare, renounce, and revoke all former wills by me made, either in word or writing, and this only to be taken for my last will and testament. And after my debts are paid ray will is as hereafter. Imprimis: I give unto my well-beloved wife, Hannah, the beds and furniture thai are in the new house, together with the new house during her natural life, together also with the third part of my real and personal estate, viz.: the third part of what it may be accounted worth by the year, as also a mare and side-saddle. Item: I give unto my only son, Job Whiteall, the place and settlement I now live on, commonly called the Red Bank, containing four hundred, sixty and nine acres, as the same is laid forth and bounded, be the same more or less as to quantity, together with two horses, carts and plows, and other materials and utensils for husbandry. And also my will is that he shall have equal shares with his two sisters, viz.: Mary Wood and Sarah Whiteall, that which is not mentioned in this my will of my personal estate. It is also to be tmderstood that the Real Estate I have given and bequeathed unto my son, is to him, his heyers, and assigns forever. Item: My will is that my said son, Job Whiteall, shall pay unto his sister, Sarah Whiteall, the sum of twenty Pounds, Proclamation money, when she arriveth at the age of eighteen years, or otherwise to pay the usual interest until he pays the money. Also to pay on to my grand-daughter, Hannah Wood, the sum of seven Pounds and ten shillings, the like money before expressed, when she arrives at the age of eighteen years. Item: I give and bequeath to my two daughters, Mary Wood and Sarah Whiteall, an equal share with their brother Job of my personal estate that is not before willed by me. I also appoint and constitute my well-beloved wife, Hannah Whiteall, and my son, Job, to be my Executors to this my last will and testament. Performed in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.

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