Adam Whisonant

ID# 592, b. circa 1776, d. after July 1860
Father*John Nicholas Whisenant b. 30 Jun 1743, d. 19 Apr 1831
Mother*Mary Carpenter b. c 1743, d. 28 Sep 1836
Birth*Adam Whisonant was born circa 1776 in SC. 
Marriage*He married Charity Ettress, daughter of Henry Ettress and Mary Cateroner Kettenring. 
Death*Adam Whisonant died after July 1860 in Lumpkin Co., GA. 
Burial*He was buried in Macedonia Bapt. Ch. Cem., Lumpkin Co., GA; Adam is buried beside Charity, and to the left. 

Census Data

YearLocationNotes concerning census
1790Camden Dist., SCI believe Adam is one of the 8 males listed in his father's household. Actual identification of any individual in this census is only a guess.
1800Census record not found. I should have found this family in the 1800 census schedules for South Carolina, but did not find them on any state schedules. His daughter Jemima reports in the 1850 & 1870 census schedules that her birth place was South Carolina. The family must have still been in South Carolina around the time of her birth, circa 1803.
1810Census record not found
1820Habersham Co., GA
1830Habersham Co., GA
1840Lumpkin Co., GA2 males age 20 to 29 yrs. old.
1 male age 60 to 69 yrs. old.
1 female age 20 to 29 yrs. old.
1 female age 60 to 69 yrs. old.1
1850Frogtown, Lumpkin Co., GAage 75, farmer, real estate value $150. He and his wife are living in this household of their daughter Jemima Thomas.
1860Clarksville, Habersham Co., GAage 83, born "NC", in the household with Peter & Mary Whisenant.
Name Variation As of between 1850 and 1860, Adam Whisonant was also known as Whisenant.2 
Note*This Adam Whisonant has been confused with the Adam Whisenhunt of Carroll County, Georgia, by many researchers in the past. The Adam Whisenhunt of Carroll County was born circa 1769 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. His wife's name was Barbara. The book The Georgians Genealogies of Pioneer Settlers, by Jeannette Holland Austin, pub. 1984, page 381-383, has the children of Adam of Carroll County, mixed up with the Adam of Habersham County.

This Adam Whisonant of Habersham County had a wife named Charity. The 1850 U.S. census for Lumpkin County, Georgia, shows that he and Charity were living with their daughter Jemima Thomas in 1850. In the 1860 census for Habersham County, Georgia, we find Adam living with his son Peter Whisenant in Clarkesville, Georgia.

From records of land deeds, we know that Adam Whisenhunt was living in Franklin County, Georgia, by 1808. The following are deed records recorded in Franklin County with Adam's name:
1. Adam Whisenhunt, on 30 Dec 1808, witnessed the purchase of land in Franklin County, Georgia, by Jacob Whisenhunt.
2. Adam Whisenhunt, on 19 Jan 1809, for $50., purchased 100 acres on the waters of Rock Creek, Franklin County, from Tryon Patterson.
3. Adam Whisenhunt, on 8 Feb 1815, for $50.00, purchased 100 acres on the waters of Rock Creek, Franklin County, from Jacob Whisenhunt.
4. Adam Whisenhunt, on 8 Feb 1815, for $370, purchased 200 acres on Wards Mill Creek, Franklin County, from Jacob Whisenhunt.
5. Adam Whisenhunt, on 8 Feb 1815, for $60, purchased 150 acres on Wards Creek, Franklin County, from Jacob Whisenhunt.

Source: Deeds of Franklin County, Georgia 1784-1826

Author's note: Some may think it unlikely that Charity would have children this late in life. Typically menopause occurs between the age of 45 to 55. In the 1820 census for Habersham Co., GA, there were 2 females listed in the Adam Whisonant household, born between 1811 and 1820, which I was unable to identify. There was also 1 additional male, and 1 additional female, born between 1805 and 1810, which I could not identify. 

Family

Charity Ettress b. 3 May 1771, d. 29 August 1851
Marriage*He married Charity Ettress, daughter of Henry Ettress and Mary Cateroner Kettenring. 
Children

Citations

  1. [S4] 1790 to 1930 Federal Census Population Schedule, National Archives, Washington, DC, Lumpkin Co., GA, Roll: 45; Page 276.
  2. [S4] 1790 to 1930 Federal Census Population Schedule, National Archives, Washington, DC, 1850 & 1860 census data.