Elisha David Whittington^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]}

circa 1804 - Aft 1892  (~ 88 years)

• Photos » Slide Show		Whittington, Elisha (1804-1883)
  		Whittington, Elisha (ca 1804-ca 1883) with his daughters: (photo circa 1875) L-R: Leona (ca 1851-) m. Charlie WILLIS; Mary Luvina (1855-1936) m. Templey / Tarpley JENKINS; & Sarah Viola (1859-) m. Asa THOMPSON (original provided by Juanita Whittington Holston & Dean Whittington Champagne)
  		Whittington, Elisha Walking cane
  		Whittington, Elisha (1804-1884) Elisha Whittington with daughters: L-R:  Leona (ca 1851-) m. Charlie WILLIS; Mary Luvina (1855-1936) m. Templey / Tarpley JENKINS; & Sarah Viola (1859-) m. Asa THOMPSON (original provided by Juanita Whittington Holston & Dean Whittington Champagne)
  		Whittington, Elisha (1804-1883) The snake rattles carved into the cane of Elisha Whittington.
  		Whittington, Elisha David (1804-1883) The walking cane of Elisha Whittington.

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show		Whittington, Elisha Amnesty Oath
  		Whittington, Elisha Louisiana Land Patent 1360_104
  		Whittington, Elisha Louisiana Land Patent

  
  

  Histories

  Whittington, Elisha & Melina Divorce Court transcripts

  
  

• Name	Elisha David Whittington
  Born	circa 1804	Marion county, South Carolina, USA   [7, 8]
  	He said he was 58 on the 1860 census (dob circa 1802) and 64 on the 1870 census (dob circa 1806).
  Gender	Male
  Died	Aft Feb 1892	Saint Landry parish, Louisiana, USA
  Notes	(His middle name confirmed from his land grant application for 40 acres in Evangeline parish, issued 1849, accession/serial LA1350__.495.)  Certificate # 5004, Land Patent to Elisha David Whittington of Opelousas Louisiana September 1, 1849, 40 acres in Opelousas. - Elisha ran a blacksmith shop and general store in Bayou Chicot and there is some evidence he also ran a grist mill for there are entries in his books of customers buying corn meal for $1.00 a bushel. Elisha apparently was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Bayou Chicot prior to 1846 and is mentioned numerous times in the minutes of the church, serving in the capacity of treasurer and deacon at various times.  Also a member was his sister-in-law, Charlotte (Dalton) Bundick, the sister of his first wife, Melina Dalton Whittington.  In 1850  Elisha's name was stricken from the membership roll by a unaminous vote of the members. The records provide no clue as to what precipitated this event (he had been married to Lucinda Futch for 14 years at this time).  He apparently stayed away from the church for 4 years and, in 1854, asked to become a member once again and was received back into membership.  There is a reference in the church history to E. Whittington dated 1858.  Elisha was a deacon in the church in 1860, but is this Elisha or his son by the same name?  (In 1860, the younger Elisha was only 24 years old -- probably not likely a deacon.  The elder Elisha was about 54 years old and had been married to Lucinda Futch for 24 years.  If he had sown any earlier wild oats, they must have been forgiven and he had become a respected citizen and church member.)  In 1865 Elisha and his family left the Calvary Church congregation and no further mention is made of any Whittingtons after that year. He signed an amnesty oath August 7, 1865 in which he was described as 61 years old, 6 feet 2 inches tall, hazel eyes and grey hair. The Bowie knife is said to have been designed by Rezin Pleasants Bowie, the brother of James "Jim" Bowie who was to make the knife legendary, and, according to an inscription at the Alamo, was made by "a Louisiana blacksmith".  In her book, "Looking Back, A Narrative History of Bayou Chicot", Mabel A. Thompson of Ville Platte, Louisiana says that Elisha was that blacksmith.  Jim and Rezin Bowie did, in fact, live at a plantation close to Elisha, near Lamourie, in Rapides Parish, and his normal course of travel would have brought him by Elisha's shop.  It is said that Bowie whittled the shape of the knife he wanted out of wood and gave it to Elisha to make for him.  Mrs. Thompson writes that she talked with Elisha's granddaughter, Mrs. Lois Whittington DeVille, who said, when a young girl, she saw a book of Elisha's that had the drawings for this knife.  (Thompson only lists Harbert as a child of Elisha Whittington and Malina Dalton.) Other evidence does not bear out this family legend, however:  * "The Bowie knife, which was made famous by Jim Bowie in a duel on a sandbar near Natchez, Mississippi, was first made by his brother, Rezin Bowie, who wrote in 1838 "The first Bowie knife was made by myself in the Parish of Avoyelles" (Louisiana). Rezin, brother of Alamo hero Jim, was living in Avoyelles at the time he had the knife made by his blacksmith, Jesse Clift, according to a letter from Bowie's daughter to the LSU president written in the 1880s." (ttp: //www.geocities.com/Pentagon/4739/) * "In a recently discovered letter to Col. David F. Boyd, dated September 14, 1885, Rezin's granddaughter, Mrs. Eugene Soniat, gave further details. 'This instrument, which was never intended for ought but a hunting knife, was made of an old file in the plantation blacksmith shop of my grandfather's Bayou Boeuf plantation, the maker was a hired white man named Jesse Clift [sic], he afterwards went to Texas. My mother, Mrs. Jos. H. Moore then a little girl, went to the shop with her father, heard his directions, and saw Clift make the knife.' " ( http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/4739/williamson.html ) The discrepancies in his marriage dates and the birth dates of his children may be due to errors in the information we have.  Elisha filed petition for divorce against Melina Dalton saying she had abandoned him in June of 1831, the divorce wasn't granted until 1836 but he apparently married Mary Milam during the interval. The last date he wrote in his ledger was February 1892. - 1830 census, St Landry, Bayou Leche Grief Whittington Free Colored Persons: males: 10 - 4 24-36 - 1 females: 10 - 2 24-36 - 1 55-100 - 1 total - 9 - 1850 census, LA, St. Landry, St. Landry, p. 33, Oct. 17 -- HH 657/742 (all b. LA) Creed WEST, 25, M, Laborer Anna WEST, 23, F Martha WEST, 2, F -- next door HH 658/743 E. WITTINGTON, 46, planter, SC Lucinda WITTINGTON, 32, Miss Martha WITTINGTON, 12, LA Melany WITTINGTON, 10, LA (hard to read) Murbela WITTINGTON, 1, LA (hard to read) Louis WITTINGTON, 16, LA (unclear -- almost looks like Louisa) -- next door HH 659/744 (?) Lopez (?) W. DOYAL, 39, M, blacksmith, LA and wife Mary Ann, 30 -- HH 660, 746 John WHITTINGTON, 50, M, planter, $1000, SC Sara WHITTINGTON, 22, F, SC ? Eissha ? WHITTINGTON, 17, F, LA John WHITTINGTON, 15, M, LA Cara WHITTINGTON, 11, F, LA Ann WHITTINGTON, 9, F, LA Sara WHITTINGTON, 8, F, LA -- HH 661/747 L. Allen WHITTINGTON, 40, M, LA Lha(?) WHITTINGTON, 22, F, LA Lourdan WHITTINGTON, 6, M, LA -- HH 664/750 Kenner WHITTINGTON, 25, M, LA - 1860 census, LA, St. Landry Parish, p. 119, HH 757/757, Aug. 6 (colored column blank -- total at bottom of page shows everyone on the page is listed as White) WHITTINGTON, Elisha, 58, M, farmer, KY, real estate $300, personal $200 FUTCH, Lusinda, 41, F, MS WHITTINGTON, Modellar, 11, M, St. Landry, in school WHITTINGTON, Leonar, 9, M, St. Landry, in school WHITTINGTON, Tobias, 7, M, St. Landry WHITTINGTON, Mary, 5, F, St. Landry WHITTINGTON, Thomas F., 3, M, St. Landry WHITTINGTON, Sarah, 8/12, F, St. Landry DORMAN, C.A., 34, M, farmer, St. Landry, personal $1430 WHITTINGTON, Martha, 22, F, St. Landry WHITTINGTON, Charles A., 8/12, M, St. Landry KINSLOW, Mary, 75, F, SC, personal $1500 note on Mary Kinslow, "deaf, can't read or write" Who is the Charles A. Wittington, 8/12 and Mary Kinslow ?  Is this Charles A. Wittington actually Charles A. Dorman Jr.?  Is Mary Kinslow Charles Dorman Sr's mother? - 1870 census, LA, St. Landry Parish, 4th Ward, Bayou Chicot; p. 195, dwelling 53 family 54 WHITTINGTON, Elisha, 64, M, W, farmer, SC, value of real estate $2150 WHITTINGTON, Lucinda, 52, F, W, keeping house, MS WHITTINGTON, Mordella, 20, M, W, farm laborer, LA WHITTINGTON, Elizabeth, 21, F, W, MS WHITTINGTON, Leona, 18, F, W, LA, in school WHITTINGTON, Mary, 14, F, W, LA, in school WHITTINGTON, Tobias, 16, M, W, LA, in school WHITTINGTON, Thomas J., 12, M, W, LA, in school WHITTINGTON, Viola, 10, F, W, LA note on Viola -- can't read or write WHITTINGTON, Ethan A., 6, M, W, LA Who is Elizabeth, 21, born in MS? Martha, 31, was living next door to them as the wife of Charles Dorman - 1880 census, LA, Saint Landry, p. 10, sd 4, ed 45, June 9, HH 93/96 WHITTINGTON, E, W, M, 76, SC, VA, SC WHITTINGTON, Lucinda, W, F, 62, wife, Miss, SC, SC FUTCH, Elizabeth, W, F, 83, mother-in-law, SC, SC, SC WHITTINGTON, Thos, W, M, 23, son, LA WHITTINGTON, Viola, W, F, 19, dau, LA WHITTINGTON, Ethan, W, M, 16, son, LA -
  Person ID	I8162	mykindred
  Last Modified	Apr 21, 2016

  
  

  Father	Grief Whittington, R.S.,   b. circa 1762, Albemarle county, Virginia, USA ,   d. Aft Sep 06, 1848, Franklin, Mississippi, USA  (Age ~ 86 years)
  Mother	Susanna Cox,   b. circa 1762, South Carolina, USA ,   d. circa 1806, South Carolina, USA  (Age ~ 44 years)
  Family ID	F2045	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Melina Dalton,   b. circa 1806, Opelousas, Saint Landry parish, Louisiana, USA ,   d. Oct 25, 1874, Galveston, Galveston county, Texas, USA  (Age ~ 68 years)
  Married	Jul 07, 1824	Saint Landry parish, Louisiana, USA   [9, 10]
  	Her mother, Delilah, gave consent and a Baptist minister performed the ceremony.  "Louisiana Marriages to 1850" on www.ancestry.com notes:  Dalton, Maline married Whittington, Elisha on 07 Jul 1824 in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
  Divorced	May 26, 1837
  Notes	Know all men by these presents that .........Elisha Whittington and Thomas Choate are held and firmly bound unto Thomas Bolling Robertson Governor of the state of Louisiana, and to his successors in office in the sum of one thousand dollars, the which payment well and truly to be made and done, we bind ourselves  ....(entire line obliterated)....severally, firmly by these presents ........... under our hands............. at Opelousas, this seventh day of July one thousand eight hundred & twenty four. The condition of the above obligation is such, that whereas the above bound Elisha Whittington hath this day obtained a License to marry Malina Dalton.  Now if there should be, or hereafter appear, no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then this obligation to be null & void, otherwise to remain in full force. Witness:  Ben B Jefferson      Elisha Whittington (seal) Ths. Choate  (seal) ====================== July 7th  1824 Judge Kinge sin you oblige me to let Elisha Whittington have licence four to wed my dautor Melina Dalton. Teste --- Ths. Choate  Delilah Dalton ======================= From 1824 until about 1831, they lived near Opelousas, most likely at Bayou Chicot. 1830 St. Landry Parish, Louisiana census, p. 45 "Schedule of the Whole Number of Persons within the Division allotted to Lewis Andress By the Marshal of the Western District (or Territory) of Louisiana"  -- Elisha is listed seventh household  from top of page, listed under category "Free Colored Persons": 2 males under 10 years of age  (John Dalton & Harbert) 1 male 24 - 36 years of age  (Elisha) 2 females under 10 years of age (Jane & Ann Elizabeth) 1 female 24 - 36 years of age  (Melina) 1 female  55 - 100 years of age  (perhaps this is Melina's widowed mother Delilah Holstein Dalton) The whole household is enumerated as free colored persons.  The family of John Whittington, Elisha's brother is listed as "white." Who were the two females under 10?  These must be Jane and Ann Elizabeth -- who are listed by some as children of Mary Milam. In March 23rd, 1836, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, Elisha filed petition for divorce against Melina Dalton "in absentia", saying that she had abandoned him in June of 1831.  She never answered the charges, the divorce was granted May 26, 1837 and Elisha retained custody of the children born in Louisiana and soon remarried Lucinda Futch and had a large family with her.  He lived out his days in St. Landry Parish. ======================= To the Honorable Judge of the fifth judicial district in the western circuit division of the State of Louisiana, holding Court in and for the Parish of St. Landry---- The petition of Elisha Whittington a resident in the Parish of St. Landry respectfully sheweth ---  That some time about the month of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four he intermarried with Melvina Dalton his wife, and lived with her always treating her kindly, until about the month of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty one, when in violation of her marriage vows and without any good cause for so doing, his said wife abandoned him and went off into the Province of Texas without the territorial limits of the United States, and has been there living for a considerable time in the habit of committing adultery with some person or persons to your petitioner unknown, and has actually brought forth one or two illegitimate children -- since she abandoned your petitioner -----. The premises considered, your petitioner prays that a curator ad hoc may be appointed to represent and defend his said wife in this suit, that such curator ad hoc may be cited, as the law directs, to appear before your Honorable Court, to answer to this petition, that after hearing the evidence a judgment may be legally rendered in your petitioner's favor against the said Melina Dalton, divorcing him and her from the bonds of matrimony and placing them in the same situation in relationship to each other as if they had never married.  -- He prays for all other and further relief, in the premises, that law of equity will allow Je. -- Thos H. Lemiz  Atty. for Petitioner Let Caleb L. Swayze Esqr. be and he is hereby appointed curator ad hoc to represent & defend the aforesaid Melina Dalton the defendant, and let citation issue as prayed for.---  Given at Opelousas this 23d March  A.D. 1836 ---. S Lewis  District Judge Filed 23d March 1836 Robert Taylor    DLblksd  Court ======================= Elisha Whittington  Court of Fifth District vs.          Parish of St. Landry Louisiana Melina Dalton      Spring term 1836 The defendant in the above entitled suit for answer to Plaintiffs Petition denies all and singular the allegations therein contained wherefore she prays that Plaintiffs Petition may be rejected at his costs and for further answer says that Plaintiff maltreated her that he failed to furnish her with the necessaries of life, denying her the dues of matrimony and devoted that which justly and legally belonged to her by the act of marriage to another use & gratification and for further answer denies ever having committed adultery and puts him to strict proof of the allegations in said petition contained.  & Garland & Swayze Attorneys for Defendant Filed 24a May 1836 Robert Taylor    Dlblksd  Court ======================= Elisha Whittington    District Court vs.            No. 2224 Melvina Dalton his wife  Parish of St. Landry Spring Term 1837 On the trial of this cause the plaintiff having satisfactorily proven all the material allegations in his petition contained and particularly the acts of adultery charged upon the defendant and the law and evidence being in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant (see acts of the Legislature _?_.130 section 8.  act relative to divorces.  Approved March 19th 1827 ) --  It is therefore ordered, Judged and decreed by the Court that the plaintiff Elisha Whittington and the defendant Melvina Dalton his wife be, and they are hereby, forever divorced from the bonds of matrimony, and placed in the same situation with regard to each other as if they had never been married.  That the plaintiff be entitled to keep the custody of the children issue of and marriage now in his possession --- It is further decreed that the defendant do pay the costs of this suit to be taxed -- and that twenty five Dollars be allowed to Caleb L. Swayze Esqr. curator ad hoc appointed by the Court to defend this suit--- Signed in open Court this 26th day of May  A.D. 1837.  -----  H. Myer Judge of the fifth District
  Children	1. John Dalton Whittington,   b. 1824/25, Rapides parish, Louisiana, USA ,   d. 1872, Louisiana, USA  (Age 47 years)   2. Harbert F. Whittington,   b. 1825, Louisiana, USA ,   d. Between 1850 and 1853, Louisiana, USA  (Age 25 years)   3. Jane Whittington,   b. circa 1828,   d. Y   4. Ann Elizabeth Whittington,   b. circa 1829,   d. Y
  Family ID	F481	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Mary Milam,   d. Y
  Married	Aft 1831
  	The date of their marriage -- or even the existence of one -- is guessed at by the earliest birth dates of their children (he was not formally divorced from Melina until 1837).
  Notes	There are some curious questions about this family -- if it existed. First, Mabel Thompson's book "Looking Back; A Narrative History of Bayou Chicot", states that Jane and Mary Elizabeth are the children of Elisha Whittington and Mary Milam.  But, they were born prior to the census of 1830 which indicates they were living in the household with Elisha and Melina Dalton.  Melina did not leave Elisha until 1831, about three years after Jane and Mary were born.  Second, the dates of birth for Elisha David and Mary Josephine Whittington are troublesome -- as they are only 6 months apart.
  Children	1. Elisha David Whittington, II,   b. Mar 02, 1834, Louisiana, USA ,   d. Jul 19, 1918, Sailor Springs, Clay county, Illinois, USA  (Age 84 years)   2. Mary Josephine Whittington,   b. Aug 10, 1834,   d. 1877  (Age 42 years)
  Family ID	F2074	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 3	Lucinda Futch,   b. Jun 1818, Amite county, Mississippi, USA ,   d. May 07, 1902, Saint Landry parish, Louisiana, USA  (Age ~ 83 years)
  Married	Jul 18, 1836	Opelousas, Saint Landry parish, Louisiana, USA   [11, 12, 13, 14]
  	"Louisiana Marriages to 1850" on www.ancestry.com notes:  Futch, Lucinda married Whittington, Elisha on 18 Jul 1836 in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
  Notes	- 1900 census, LA, St. Landry, ed 63, 5-B, June 7, 1900, HH 81/83 WHITTINGTON, Ethan, head, W, M, Nov 1865, 34, married 14 years, LA, AL, MS, blacksmith WHITTINGTON, Melissa, wife, W, F, Dec 1865, 34, married 14 years, LA, MS, MS WHITTINGTON, Jackson, son, W, M, Feb 1888, 12, LA, LA, MS WHITTINGTON, Melville, son, W, M, Feb 1889, 10, LA, LA, MS WHITTINGTON, Eva, dau, W, F, Dec 1890, 9, LA, LA, MS WHITTINGTON, Massie, dau, W, F, Jan 1893, 7, LA, LA, MS WHITTINGTON, Wilson, son, W, M, Sep 1895, 4, LA, LA, MS WHITTINGTON, Ola, dau, W, F, Mar 1898, 2, LA, LA, MS WHITTINGTON, Sallie, dau, W, F, Jan 1900, 5/12, LA, LA, MS WHITTINGTON, Lucinda, mother, W, F, Jun 1818, 81, MS, MS, MS - [15]
  Children	1. Martha Whittington,   b. 1838, Saint Landry parish, Louisiana, USA ,   d. 1912  (Age 74 years)   2. Melissa Ann Whittington,   b. 1841, Saint Landry parish, Louisiana, USA ,   d. Aft May 10, 1881  (Age > 40 years)   3. Modella Whittington,   b. Nov 09, 1849, Saint Landry parish, Louisiana, USA ,   d. Nov 27, 1915, Oakdale, Allen parish, Louisiana, USA  (Age 66 years)   4. Leona Whittington,   b. circa 1851, Louisiana, USA ,   d. 1922  (Age ~ 71 years)   5. Tobias Whittington,   b. Feb 26, 1854, Louisiana, USA ,   d. Bef 1910  (Age < 55 years)   6. Mary Luvina Whittington,   b. Sep 13, 1855, Bayou Chicot, Evangeline (formerly Saint Landry) parish, Louisiana, USA ,   d. 1936, Clearwater, Evangeline parish, Louisiana, USA  (Age 80 years)   7. Thomas J. Whittington,   b. circa 1857, Louisiana, USA ,   d. 1900  (Age ~ 43 years)   8. Sarah Viola (Florence?) Whittington,   b. Dec 07, 1859, Turkey Creek, Saint Landry parish, Louisiana, USA ,   d. Mar 05, 1934, Rosepine, Vernon parish, Louisiana, USA  (Age 74 years)   9. Ethan Allen Whittington,   b. Nov 1865, Louisiana, USA ,   d. Sep 12, 1941  (Age ~ 75 years)
  Family ID	F2903	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S117] Three Centuries of Futchs. [S454] Gedcom - Shipman, Roy Aaron. [S153] Looking Back; A Narrative History of Bayou Chicot, p. 18. [S140] DAR Application, #797246 -- Alice Virginia Dorman. [S153] Looking Back; A Narrative History of Bayou Chicot, p. 20-21. [S685] Gedcom - Johnson, Glen. [S14] 1870 US federal census. St. Landry Parish, 4th Ward, Bayou Chicot; p. 195, dwelling 53 family 54 [S136] 1860 US federal census. St. Landry Parish, p. 825, dwelling 757, family 757 [S118] St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, Marriage records (Reliability: 3). [S1081] The Story of Beaumont, Stratton, Florence. [S110] Morgan, Clint Allen. [S110] Morgan, Clint Allen. e-mail from Clint Morgan Clint-Morgan-at-worldnet.att.net> of JAN 14 1999. [S118] St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, Marriage records. (Reliability: 3). [S2529] Louisiana Marriages, 1718-1925. [S153] Looking Back; A Narrative History of Bayou Chicot.