Withers Plantation

Location: Wither’s Tobacco Plantation-Christian Co., KY

Owners: Lewis Wyatt Withers b. 17 Apr 1818 and died 9 Nov 1871 in Jackson, Hinds Co., Ms.

Directions: Harmony Grove Rd. approximately, 1.3 from The Princeton RD. west side of the road. Private property, please seek permission to visit.

Description: Headstones remaining are located in a small grouping of trees nestled on a hillside. 5-9-10 , count of headstones is, 16 or less than 20, those remaining are located within the protection of the trees. There are as many as 31 graves, 15 Females and 16 Males. Of those several are small graves and appear to be children.

Condition: Very Good, stones have been preserved, property owners actively preserve, clean, mow and weed out area. Admittedly, the owner had no idea there was a cemetery here until several stones had been scattered, brush and debris had been removed. Owner reports they made a new route planned driveway and building garage to accommodate the cemetery area. Owner has also placed angel statues, seating area and landscape, in remembrance of those buried here.




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History of Wither’s Family

Farquier & Pennsylvania Co., Virginia to Caswell Co., NC to Christian Co., Kentucky to Jackson, Hins Co., Mississippi.

Agricultural Associations Christian Co., KY: The Christian County Agricultural and Mechanical Association was organized under charter granted by the Legislature in 1856. Among the officers listed for 1859 were: James S. Phelps, President; James W. Fields, James Wallace, L. W. Withers, J. C. Whitlock, C. M. Tandy and A. D. Rogers, Directors; H. A. Phelps, Secretary; J. P. Ritter, Treasurer, and J. W. Breathitt, Marshal.

And again listed among the officers for 1860 were: J. S. Phelps, President; Directors, James Fields, L. W. Withers, C. M. Tandy, James Wallace and A. D. Rogers. H. A. Phelps was again elected Secretary, as was also J. P. Ritter, Treasurer, and J. W. Breathitt Marshal. Mr. Tandy resigning, T. Torian was elected Director in his stead. The war coming on, and political excitement running high, this was the last fair held until 1869, and was rendered memorable by the fact that, during its progress, John C. Breckinridge, then Vice-President, made a speech, discussing the issues of the times, to a vast concourse of people assembled on the grounds to hear him. In 1861, before the evacuation of Kentucky by the Confederates, the buildings were used as a barracks by a regiment of Mississippians under Gen. Clark. On their departure the amphitheatre was found to be in flames, and being entirely of wood, was soon burned to the ground. The origin of the fire is not known, but is thought to have been accidental.

Marriage Records:  CATES MANAH W. & WITHERS HIRAM B. 1-5-188 1-5-1818

Withers, Abijah (1834-36 from Woodford Co, Kentucky, and 1807 from Fauquier Co. Virginia) and Prudence Blackburn White
Withers Plantation, founded 1834, house built 1842, and moved in 1960’s to Missouri Town 1855, Jackson County, Missouri
9 slaves (1850)
20 slaves (1860) living in 3 slave houses
In 1834, Abijah and Merit, an African American slave, built a log house and slave houses on the Withers’ new Clay County estate. While Mr. Withers returned to Kentucky, to fetch his family and slaves, Merit remained on the plantation and was in charge. Merit must have stayed on after the Civil War, for family legend states that only one slave returned at War’s end. Robert Steele Withers, who inherited the plantation in 1906, states when he was a boy Uncle Merit and Aunt Anisty lived in one of the two slave cabins that were still “inhabitable”. Aunt Anisty was the cook. A middle-aged man named George worked with the “Negro field help” and was known to have “seen the last day’s of the War Between the States.” Robert Withers remembered the following slave songs that the African American servants and field hands sung while living on the Withers’ Plantation after the Civil War:

Anisty’s Song
Oh! Hits a long way
To de furwell lane,
Oh! Ma honey, ma honey, ma sweet.
You kin ast brother mink and
You kin ast brother crane,
Oh! Ma honey, ma honey, ma sweet.
Dey’ll both look wise and
Dey’ll tell you de same,
Oh! Ma honey, ma honey, ma sweet.
Oh! Ma honey, ma honey
Ma heart’s delight!
Oh! Ma honey, ma honey, ma sweet

Merit’s Song
An’ he gave up de ghost

George’s Songs
#1
Oh! Jeff Davis, don’t you know
I’se got a house in Baltimo?
Street cyahs runnin’ right by de do.
An Oh! Ma little gal Dinah. Oh!
Yass Oh! Ma little gal Dinah, Oh!

#2
I eats when I’m hungry
I drinks when I’m dry
If whiskey don’t kill me
I’ll live till I die.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

List of slaves owned by Lewis W. Withers   (taken from Kentucky Birth records 1852-1953)

• Daniel – b. 15 July 1854
• Ellen – b. 15 July 1854
• Female – b. 5 April 1856
• Agnes – b. 14 July 1857
• Male – b. 4 Sept. 1857
• Mary – b. 10 Nov. 1858
• Prince – b. 26 Feb. 1859
• Scott – b. Sept. 1859

This is just a small list of the known slave children born while owned by L.W. Withers.  The 1860 U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedules show that he owned 21 slaves.  7 females and 14 males.

1860 U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedule: Lewis W Withers, Christian County

64	Female	Black
42	Male	Mulatto
42	Male	Black
37	Male	Black
34	Female	Mulatto
32	Female	Mulatto
26	Female	Black
18	Male	Mulatto
17	Male	Mulatto
16	Male	Black
13	Male	Black
11	Female	Mulatto
10	Female	Mulatto
9	Male	Mulatto
8	Male	Mulatto
8	Male	Mulatto
7	Male	Black
6	Male	Black
5	Male	Mulatto
2	Female	Black
1	Male	Mulatto

 

 

1850 Slave Schedul: Lewis W Withers, Christian County

25	Male	Black
23	Female	Black
21	Female	Black
19	Female	Black
6	Male	Black
3	Male	Black
2	Female	Black
0	Female	Black

Descendants of Lewis Wyatt Withers

Generation No. 1

1.  LEWIS WYATT³ WITHERS  (ELIJAH², WILLIAM¹)^1,1,1 was born 17 Apr 1818 in Caswell County, North Carolina, USA¹, and died 09 Nov 1871 in Jackson, Mississippi.  He married (1) SARAH J. SMITH 07 Jan 1840 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, daughter of JOEL SMITH and SALLY SMITH.  She died 17 Jan 1843 in Pittsylvania County, North Carolina.  He married (2) MARY ANN RICHARDSON^1,1,1,1 20 Feb 1844 in Hogan Creek, Caswell County, North Carolina, daughter of JAMES RICHARDSON and ANN WARE.  She was born 20 Jun 1823 in Caswell, North Carolina, USA^1,1,1, and died 22 Jun 1883 in Reidsville, North Carolina, USA¹.

More About LEWIS WYATT WITHERS:

Residence: 1860, Christian, Kentucky, United States²

More About LEWIS WITHERS and SARAH SMITH:

Marriage: 07 Jan 1840, Pittsylvania County, Virginia

More About LEWIS WITHERS and MARY RICHARDSON:

Marriage: 20 Feb 1844, Hogan Creek, Caswell County, North Carolina

Child of LEWIS WITHERS and SARAH SMITH is:

                   i.    WILLIAM I.⁴ WITHERS, b. 01 Oct 1842, Rockingham County, North Carolina.

Children of LEWIS WITHERS and MARY RICHARDSON are:

2.               ii.    ROBERT BASCOM⁴ WITHERS, b. 16 Jul 1846, Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky, USA; d. 26 Oct 1922, Atlanta, De Kalb County, GA.

3.             iii.    JOHN PRITCHARD WITHERS, b. 1848, Hermitage, Davidson, Tennessee, USA; d. 19 Oct 1890.

                 iv.    TONY WITHERS, b. Abt. 1851, Christian County, KY; d. Sep 1852, Christian County, KY.

 

More About TONY WITHERS:

Cause of Death: unknown

                   v.    TWIN BOY WITHERS, b. Jul 1853, Christian County, KY; d. Jul 1853, Christian County, KY.

 

Notes for TWIN BOY WITHERS:

Twins did well for 3 days. Died from spasms within moments of other twin. They were 3 days old.

More About TWIN BOY WITHERS:

Cause of Death: Unknown

Medical Information: information obtained from remarks section of Kentucky Death records 1852-1953.

                 vi.    TWIN GIRL WITHERS, b. Jul 1853, Christian County, KY; d. Jul 1853, Christian County, KY.

                vii.    ANNA LEWIS WITHERS, b. 15 Aug 1854, Christian County, KY; d. 03 Sep 1858, Christian County, KY

 More About ANNA LEWIS WITHERS:

Cause of Death: brain affliction (disease)

Residence: Kentucky³

               viii.    JAMES E. WITHERS, b. Abt. 1856, Christian County, KY; d. 02 Jan 1857, Christian County, KY.

 More About JAMES E. WITHERS:

Cause of Death: scarlet fever

                 ix.    JAMES E. WITHERS, b. 19 Feb 1857, Christian County, KY; d. 23 Feb 1858, Christian County, KY.

 More About JAMES E. WITHERS:

Cause of Death: scarlet fever

                  x.    ANNA L. WITHERS, b. 01 Jul 1858, Christian County, KY.

Generation No. 2

2.  ROBERT BASCOM⁴ WITHERS (LEWIS WYATT³, ELIJAH², WILLIAM¹)^4,4 was born 16 Jul 1846 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky, USA^4,4, and died 26 Oct 1922 in Atlanta, De Kalb County, GA.  He married ELIZABETH BUCKNER WARE⁴ 10 Dec 1874 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky, USA⁴.  She was born 1851 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky, USA⁴, and died 11 Oct 1892 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky, USA⁴.

More About ROBERT BASCOM WITHERS:

Residence: 1850, District 2, Christian, Kentucky⁵

 More About ROBERT WITHERS and ELIZABETH WARE:

Marriage: 10 Dec 1874, Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky, USA⁶

Children of ROBERT WITHERS and ELIZABETH WARE are:

                   i.    JOHN BARKER⁵ WITHERS⁶, b. 21 Jun 1882, Brookhaven, Mcduffie, Mississippi, USA⁶; d. 25 Jan 1925, Atlanta, Georgia, USA⁶.

                  ii.    JULIA WARE WITHERS⁶, b. 10 May 1884, Christian, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA⁶; d. 17 Jul 1937, Rockingham, Reidsville, North Carolina, USA⁶.

                iii.   MARY ELIZABETH WITHERS⁶, b. 21 Mar 1876, Mississippi, USA⁶; d. 23 Jul 1931, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, USA⁶.

                 iv.    JAMES DUDLEY WITHERS⁶, b. 15 Jul 1890, Clarksville, Tennessee, USA⁶; d. Sep 1964, Bethesda, Maryland, USA⁶.

                   v.    WILLIAM WITHERS⁶, b. 1892, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA⁶; d. 1892, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA⁶.

                 vi.    BESSIE BUCKNER WITHERS⁶, b. 07 Apr 1886, Christian, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA⁶; d. Los Angeles, California, USA⁶.

                vii.    ROBERT VANDRY WITHERS⁶, b. 13 Dec 1877, Mississippi, USA⁶; d. 1881, Mississippi, USA⁶.

               viii.    JULIA WARE HASKINS⁶, b. 10 May 1884, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA⁶; d. 1936, Reidsville, North Carolina, USA⁶.

                 ix.    MARY ELIZABETH PANNILL⁶, b. 21 Mar 1876, Mississippi, USA⁶; d. 23 Jul 1931, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA⁶.

                  x.    BESSIE BUCKNER HUBBARD⁶, b. 07 Apr 1886, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA⁶.

3.  JOHN PRITCHARD⁴ WITHERS (LEWIS WYATT³, ELIJAH², WILLIAM¹)^6,6 was born 1848 in Hermitage, Davidson, Tennessee, USA⁶, and died 19 Oct 1890^6,6.  He married MARY PEYTON^6,7.  She was born 06 Jan 1856 in Raymond, Mississippi, USA⁸, and died 09 Sep 1879 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA⁸.

More About JOHN PRITCHARD WITHERS:

Residence: 1880, Boltons Depot, Hinds, Mississippi, United States⁹

More About MARY PEYTON:

Residence: 1870, Raymond, Hinds, Mississippi, United States¹⁰

Child of JOHN WITHERS and MARY PEYTON is:

                   i.    ANNA L.⁵ WITHERS¹¹, b. 30 Mar 1877, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA¹²; d. 06 Jun 1920, Reidsville, North Carolina, USA¹².

 

More About ANNA L. WITHERS:

Residence: 1880, Boltons Depot, Hinds, Mississippi, United States¹³

Endnotes

1.  Ancestry.com, One World Tree (sm), Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, n.d., Online publication – Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.

2.  Ancestry.com, 1860 United States Federal Census, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009, Online publication – Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data – 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. , Christian, Kentucky, post office , roll , page , image .

3.  Ancestry.com, Kentucky Death Records, 1852-1953, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007, Online publication – Ancestry.com. Kentucky Death Records, 1852-1953 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.Original data – <ul><li>Kentucky. Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records – Microfilm (1852-1910). Microfilm rolls #994027-994058. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky.</li><li>Kentucky. Birth and Death Records: Covington, Lexington, Lousivlle, and Newport – Microfilm (before 1911). Microfilm rolls #7007125-7007131, 7011804-7011813, 7012974-7013570, 7015456-7015462. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky.</li><li>Kentucky. Vital Statistics Original Death Certificates – Microfilm (1911-1955). Microfilm rolls #7016130-7041803. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky.</li></ul>.

4.  Ancestry.com, One World Tree (sm), Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, n.d., Online publication – Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.

5.  Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009, Online publication – Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data – Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. District 2, Christian, Kentucky, roll M432_196, page 380B, image .

6.  Ancestry.com, One World Tree (sm), Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, n.d., Online publication – Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.

7.  Ancestry.com, 1870 United States Federal Census, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009, Online publication – Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data – <ul><li>1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.</li><li>Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.</li></ul>. Raymond, Hinds, Mississippi, post office , roll , page , image .

8.  Ancestry.com, One World Tree (sm), Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, n.d., Online publication – Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.

9.  Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1880 United States Federal Census, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, Online publication – Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.  All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site.Original data – Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C., Archivio del censimento negli Stati Uniti del 1880 fornito dalla Chiesa di Gesù Cristo dei Santi dell’ultimo giorno© Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Tutti i diritti riservati. Qualsiasi utilizzo è soggetto alla licenza d’uso limitato e ad altri termini e condizioni applicabili a questo sito. Boltons Depot, Hinds, Mississippi, ED 7, roll 648, page 164C, image 0696.

10.  Ancestry.com, 1870 United States Federal Census, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009, Online publication – Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data – <ul><li>1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.</li><li>Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.</li></ul>. Raymond, Hinds, Mississippi, post office , roll , page , image .

11.  Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1880 United States Federal Census, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, Online publication – Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.  All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site.Original data – Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C., Archivio del censimento negli Stati Uniti del 1880 fornito dalla Chiesa di Gesù Cristo dei Santi dell’ultimo giorno© Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Tutti i diritti riservati. Qualsiasi utilizzo è soggetto alla licenza d’uso limitato e ad altri termini e condizioni applicabili a questo sito. Boltons Depot, Hinds, Mississippi, ED 7, roll 648, page 164C, image 0696.

12.  Ancestry.com, One World Tree (sm), Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, n.d., Online publication – Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.

13.  Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1880 United States Federal Census, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, Online publication – Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.  All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site.Original data – Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C., Archivio del censimento negli Stati Uniti del 1880 fornito dalla Chiesa di Gesù Cristo dei Santi dell’ultimo giorno© Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Tutti i diritti riservati. Qualsiasi utilizzo è soggetto alla licenza d’uso limitato e ad altri termini e condizioni applicabili a questo sito. Boltons Depot, Hinds, Mississippi, ED 7, roll 648, page 164C, image 0696.

Source Citations

Withers Family Group Sheets and genealogical Records

Christian Co History