THE WITHERINGTON FAMILIES of Union and Calhoun Counties, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: William R. King, Jr. <BillKing@houston.rr.com> Date: 7 Oct 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** THE EARLY WITHERINGTON FAMILIES of Conecuh County, AL (From About 1819) & Union and Calhoun Counties, AR (From About 1847) William Witherington, Jr. was born 1773 in Cravens County, SC and died 1837 in Conecuh County, AL. He and wife, Sarah 'Sally" Stanley (1777-1845), were early pioneers of Conecuh County, initially settling near Fork Sepulga on the Sepulga River, having emigrated from Feliciana Parish in Louisiana (c. 1819). These families later moved to "higher ground" near the community of China, after losing several children to 'the fevers'. William Witherington, Jr. had earlier served as an Ensign in the 17th Regiment, Mississippi Territory during the War of 1812. Reportedly he fought at the Battle of New Orleans. A copy of his Ensign's Commission, signed by Governor David Holmes of the Mississippi Territory, appears as a part of this article. William & Sally Witherington are said to have been buried in one of the first cemeteries near the Sepulga River, but no gravestone has ever been located. Daniel Witherington, oldest son of William Witherington, was born 1795 in Darlington District, SC. Daniel remained in Conecuh County and raised his family of ten children there. Daniel had served briefly as a young Private in the Louisiana Militia during the War of 1812. On 28 Jan. 1825, he married Melissa King -daughter of William & Elizabeth King- in Conecuh. Many descendants of Daniel and Melissa were later to become substantial contributors to the communities of Conecuh County. On 24 Aug. 1860, the first burial at the Witherington Family Cemetery was that of Daniel, at the site that he had earlier selected for a family burial ground. Many Witherington, Ellis, Johnson and other related family members are buried in this beautifully well maintained cemetery. Kings, Colemans, Crosbys, Hawthorns and others connected to the Witherington family are to be found buried at nearby Belleville Baptist Church Cemetery. The Brothers Who Left Conecuh County for Southern Arkansas (Union & Calhoun Counties) There were three Witherington brothers who became early settlers of Southern Arkansas, leaving Conecuh about 1846-1847. Conecuh land records indicate that all three of these brothers had acquired Land Grants before migrating on to Arkansas. JOHN WITHERINGTON (born 1801 in Darlington District, SC) settled on land north of El Dorado, a few miles south of the old community of Artesian, a railroad water stop in 1846. This area was in Ouachita County at the time, but is now a part of Southern Calhoun County (1850). John Witherington died April 1855 and probate was filed in Calhoun County by his wife, Mary Ellis Witherington. John and Mary owned a female slave named Lew, given to Mary by her father, Ebenezer Ellis, the conveyance recorded in Conecuh County records 2 Feb. 1827. Although John had claimed land earlier in Conecuh, no record of land ownership in Arkansas has been located. John and Mary Witherington had 12 children, eleven having been born in Alabama. Four of their sons served for the Confederacy throughout the Civil War, all returned home to Arkansas to raise large families. They were: William James (born 1836), Crowdus Levan (born 1838), John Ebenezer (born 1840) and Benjamin Franklin (born 1845). JAMES WITHERINGTON (born 1805 in Darlington District, SC) settled near Champagnolle, an early port town on the Ouachita River in Union County. His wife, Mary King was the daughter of James and Katherine Coleman King, and the older sister of both John Coleman King and William Augustus King, who both had traveled from Conecuh to Arkansas with the Witherington brothers. James and Mary had 9 children, all born in Conecuh. Mary King Witherington died 23 April, 1846 and is buried in Conecuh. Shortly after Mary's death, James Witherington gathered up his young children and joined his brothers and his two King brothers-in law in Arkansas. James was killed in a hunting accident in 1849, only a few years after arriving in Union County. Family lore states "a silk handkerchief was run through the wound in the heart to stop the flow of blood". He is buried at the nearby Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Following James' death, the younger children were raised on the farm of their uncle, John Coleman King. AUGUSTUS 'Gus' LEVAN WITHERINGTON (born 1819 in Feliciana Parish, LA) was the youngest son of William Witherington, Jr. "Gus" arrived near Champagnolle in Union County about 1846, coming from Conecuh County with his brother, James; and John Coleman King & William Augustus King. Gus owned a plantation of over 360 acres, had a large number of slaves, and produced 10 children by two wives. He operated a store and the ferry at Pigeon Hill that crossed over the Ouachita River to Moro Bay. Gus was also part owner of a river steamboat that plied the Ouachita & Saline Rivers and made journeys down the Mississippi carrying cotton and passengers to New Orleans; bringing supplies and other goods back to Champagnolle for his family, neighbors and the store. According to Goodspeed's History of Union County, Gus Witherington and William Christie Langford (later to become County Judge in Union County, AR) were founders of the Champagnolle A.M. & F.M. Masonic Lodge in the early 1850's. On 29 Nov. 1851, William C. Langford married the 15-year-old daughter of James & Mary King Witherington, Martha Louisa Rachel Witherington, who was born 15 April 1836 in Conecuh County. Langford was later to become an officer in the Confederacy and the County Judge for Union County. During the Civil War, the riverboat 'Morgan Nelson' carried troops, supplies, munitions and foodstuffs as far north as Camden for the Confederacy. The 'Morgan Nelson' continued to carry cotton and passengers on her journeys south to New Orleans during the war. Gus Witherington was murdered 26 March 1869 at Moro Bay in Bradley County by James A. Davis. Gus was shot three times, from behind, following years of conflict and a terrible earlier beating given Davis at the hands of Gus. Davis escaped into the 'river bottoms' of Calhoun County and evaded capture until Feb. 1872 when he surrendered to 'friendly' Calhoun County officials. When finally brought to trial in Bradley County, over 3 years following the murder, James A. Davis was found "not guilty". An amazing verdict, but Davis' counsel had successfully painted the picture of Gus as a 'horrible villain' based on the earlier beating of Davis. Gus is buried in the New London Cemetery in Union County, a few miles south of his plantation, the Pigeon Hill store and ferry landing. Contact was finally made with 'Uncle Gus' when I visited his New London Cemetery gravesite following the 1999 Witherington Family Reunion at Moro Bay!!! Notes: (1) There is an annual two day reunion of the descendants of the three Witherington brothers held in June each year at Moro Bay State Park, very near where these brothers settled and raised their families near the waters of the beautiful Ouachita River. Over 100 descendants were in attendance for the June 1999 event. In prior years, several 'Conecuh Cousins' have also attended the Moro Bay family gathering. (2) John Witherington was the third great grandfather of Bill King, submitter of this article. John's daughter, Martha Caroline, married John T. King in Alabama about 1843-44 (probably in Conecuh County). Martha Caroline & John T. King made the journey from Conecuh County to Arkansas with her parents about 1847. David Holmes GOVERNOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETINGS. KNOW YE, That reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of William Witherington I do appoint him an Ensign of the 17th Regiment Mississippi Territory, to take rank from the date hereof. He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of an Ensign by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging: And I do strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under his command, to be obedient to his orders as an Ensign . And he is to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as he shall receive from the Governor of the Mississippi Territory for the time being or the other superior officers set over him according to the rules and discipline of war. This commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the Governor for the time being. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have caused these letters to be made patent and the seal of the Territory to be hereunto affixed. GIVEN under my hand at the Town of Washington. The 7th day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 13. and in the 38th Year of the Independence of the United States of America. Seal By the Governor: David Holmes NOTES: (1) This is a transcription from photocopy of original Ensign's Commission of William Witherington, Jr. of Darlington, SC, (1773-1837) and who is said to have fought at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. The copy was provided to Bill King by William C. Finch, a Witherington family relative & researcher, and former Mayor of Crossett, Arkansas. (2) William Witherington, Jr. was the 4th Great Grandfather of William R. King, Jr.