Finding John Witter

Looking for the father of Abraham Witter (1786 - 1882)

A few weeks ago, I published Family Reunion: Witter, which prompted a conversation about Abraham Witter (1786-1882) with my dad’s first cousin, Pat Witter. Pat had sources connecting Abraham to the family of Joseph Witter and Hannah Washburn; however, those sources proved that a different Abraham Witter belonged to that family. This leaves our family without a known father for Abraham.

Reviewing the available evidence leads to a theory: Abraham’s father may have been John Witter - but we still don’t know for sure, yet. Here’s what I’ve got to work with:

Elizabeth Shown Mills’s analysis

• Elizabeth Shown Mills, “Samuel Witter (1787–1876) & Wife Rachel “Lizzie” Smith (ca. 1802–1854: Research Notes,” A Working File Updated 5 December 2013, p. ____; archived online at E. S. Mills, HistoricPathways (www.HistoricPathways.com: accessed 08/26/2023).

Mills collected evidence to consider whether the Samuel Witter she was researching was a brother to the Abraham Witter we are interested in. She considered four men who were possible fathers of Samuel and Abraham. Of those, I believe her evidence best supports the theory that John Witter is the father of Abraham Witter. According to her file, she collected the following documents:

• 1782 - court reference to “John Witer’s Lane” in Tom’s Creek Hundred, Frederick County, Maryland.

• 1785-86 - “John Witter” sued a debtor

• 1796 - John Witter received patents for two tracts

• 1800 - bought a tract in Metal Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, saying he was of “Tom’s Creek Hundred…”

• 1800 - Census (not sure whether she meant Federal or Pennsylvania Census)

• 1820 - U.S. Census (see below)

Searching in Ancestry, I have been able to find the following documents:

1790 U.S. Census: Frederick County, MD

Columns indicate “Males - 16 and over” (2), “Males - Under 16” (4), and “Females” (5)

Note that the transcription has his name as “John Withero” but it looks to me more like “John Withers”. None of the other names on this page appear to be any variation of “Witter”. There is a “Witherow” family in Metal Township but I think they are distinct from the Witter family (and various spellings) in those records.

1800 Pennsylvania, U.S. Septennial Census: Metal Township, Franklin County, PA

• 177 Witter Stophel [farmer]

• 178 Witter John Sr. blacksmith

• [next column]

• 179 Witter John Jr. Farmer

• 180 Witter Peter [farmer]

• 181 Witter Abram Carpenter

1807 Pennsylvania, U.S. Septennial Census: Metal Township, Franklin County, PA

• Witter, John - [farmer]

• Witter, Jacob - [farmer]

• Witter, Joseph - fuller

• [next column]

• Witter, Abraham - [farmer]

1810 U.S. Census: Hamilton Township, Franklin County, PA

• Males - 16 thru 25: 3

• Males - 45 and over: 1

• Females - 16 thru 25: 1

• Females - 45 and over: 1

1820 U.S. Census: Metal Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania

“Wilter John” followed by “Wilter Samuel”

Data columns:

• Males Under 10: 4

• Males 10-15: 2

• Males 16-25: 1

• Males 26-44: 1

• Males 45 and over: 1

• Females Under 10: 3

• Females 10-15: 1

• Females 26-44: 1

Samuel’s household:

• Males 16-25: 1

• Males 26-44: 1

Metal Township (left) and Hamilton Township in relation to each other; for scale, Chambersburg to Shippensburg is about 11.6 miles

Conclusions:

These records seem to confirm that someone named John Witter, and men who shared his surname, lived in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, from at least 1800 to 1820.

His occupation was given as “blacksmith” in one record, and “farmer” in another. We may assert that he had at least three sons (John, Jr., 1800; Abram/Abraham, 1800/1807; Samuel, 1820) but we don’t have evidence to support the assertion.

We can guess that John Witter was born before 1765 - presuming that the 1810 and 1820 Census both put him in the “45 and over” category.

That said, there are a couple of very tenuous clues in biographical sketches for members of the Piper family in Franklin County - so perhaps we might learn more by looking more closely at the family of Catherine Piper, Abraham’s wife.

Stay tuned!

And let me know if you recognize these families - I’d love to compare notes.