MATILDA HONAKER DICKENSON, daughter of MARY "POLLY" HONAKER and EDMUND DICKENSON, was born about 1818 in Wythe, Virginia, and died August, 1885 in Brushy Creek, Magoffin County, Kentucky. She married WILLIAM "HENRY" WHITT, son of JOHN WILLIAM "BILLY" WHITT and MARY "POLLY" LEWIS SMITH. He was born about 1814 in Virginia.
Notes: On page 98 of the 1850 census for Pike County, Kentucky (dated September 10, 1850), Henry Whit is listed as the head of the household for house #708, he's a farmer, born in Virginia, and he's 36 years old. Also listed are Matilda (born in Virginia, age, 32), Nancy A. (born in Virginia, age, 14), Silicia E. (born in Virginia, age, 12), Isaac M. (born in Kentucky, age, 7), John H. (born in Kentucky, age, 5), Mary J. (born in Kentucky, age, 3), and Samuel M. (born in Kentucky, age, 3 months).
On page 86 of the 1860 census for District 1 in Pike County, Kentucky (dated July 20, 1860), Henry Whit is listed as the head of the household for house #392, he's a farmer, born in Virginia, and he's 46 years old. Also listed are Matilda Whit (born in Virginia, age, 41), Silisa E. (born in Virginia, age, 22), Isaac M. (born in Kentucky age, 18), John H. (born in Kentucky age, 16), Mary J. (born in Kentucky age, 13), Samuel M. (born in Kentucky age, 10), M.C. (born in Kentucky age, 7), George M. (born in Kentucky, age 5), Sarah (born in Kentucky, age 2), Callihan (born in Kentucky, age 2), and Rebecca (born in Kentucky, age 3 months).
On page 9 of the 1870 census for District 8 in Pike County, Kentucky (dated August 17, 1870), Henry Whit is listed as the head of the household for house #62, he's a farmer, born in Virginia, and he's 55 years old. Also listed are Matilda (wife, born in Virginia, age 52), Samuel M. (son, born in Kentucky, 20), Caroline M. (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 18), George M. (son, born in Kentucky, age 14), Sarah J. (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 12), Callahan E. (son, born in Kentucky, age 12), Rebecca A. (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 10), Amanda M. (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 7), Louisa E. (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 3), Mary J. Sexton (born in Kentucky, age 22), Thomas J. Sexton (born in Kentucky, 2), and Susanna Hunt (born in Virginia, 24). This Mary J. Sexton is no doubt Henry and Matilda's daughter, and Thomas must be her son. There were a couple of different "Hunts" that this family married into and further research would need to be done to determine the relationship of Susanna Hunt.
On page 6 of the 1880 census for Precinct 4 (Middle Fork) in Magoffin County, Kentucky (dated 16th day of June, 1880), Henry Whitt is listed as head of the household (house #159), a minister, born in Virginia, parents born in Virginia, and is age 65. Also listed are Matilda (wife, born in Virginia, parents born in Virginia, age 55), Rebecca A. (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 18), Mandy M. (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 16), Louisia (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 13). They are living next to son George.
According to the book "Honaker Family in America" which is sold by the Honaker Family Association, P.O. Box 3636, Alexandria, VA, 22302-9998, Matilda was:
"Born in 1818 in Virginia. Died 18 Aug 1885 in Salyersville, Magoffin Co., Kentucky.
"She married William Henry Whitt (called Henry), son of Billy Whitt, circa 1835. Born in 1814 in Russell Co., Va. Died in Salyersville, Ky. They lived in Virginia until 1838 when they moved to Kentucky.
"Interestingly, Hans Jacob's son Martin also had a daughter named Mary whose second husband was William Whitt. That William was unlikely to be Matilda's father-in-law because they probably were about the same age. The names cannot be coincidental, however, so the two Williams were likely cousins to some degree. One researcher reported that Stokes Co., N.C. census records document the existence of a William Henry Whitt, born in 1787, who married Nancy Unknown, also born in 1787 in Stokes County. They had a son named William Henry born in Virginia in 1814. The elder Whitt moved from N.C., first to Bedford Co., Va., then to Russell Co., Va., and had a brother named John.
"Matilda's husband Henry seemed to be into everything. He was a farmer, livestock raiser, lumberman, silversmith, wooden clockmaker, backwoods dentist, a Pike Co., Ky., justice of the peace, and Baptist minister who apparently traveled back and forth between former residences and churches, taking the time to entertain people with a horse that could do tricks. He officiated at weddings, including those of his own children.
"Henry owned considerable property in Pike Co., Ky. It is believed that he and Matilda lived first in Russell Co., Va. (they and their first two children were born in Va.). They then moved to Buchanan Co., Va; the Upper Johns Creek area of Pike Co., Ky.; and finally to Magoffin Co., Ky. The 1840 Pike County census is a source for information up to that time, listing Henry as a farmer with real estate valued at $150. During the Civil War, he and Samuel visited Magoffin County and Mt. Sterling., Ky., to buy livestock, principally mules to work in a flourishing yellow poplar lumber business.
"The 1880 Magoffin County census and subsequent records indicate that William Henry and Matilda had 14 children. Matilda was known to be rather cross, but as a descendant, Ruth Gerlach (a daughter of Pearl Whitt Litteral) observed, anyone with that many children was likely to be cross."
There are reports that have Matilda being born as early as 1817, and these reports question whether her last name is Honaker, Dickenson, or whether Edmund Dickenson is even her father. There are other reports that have her being born as late as 1825.
According to The Honaker Family Association "One researcher found sworn statements in Military and Pension Records by Matilda's parents Edmund and Mary which state they married in April 1817, well before the previously reported marriage date. This would mean that Edmund was probably Matilda's father. The sworn statements indicate that Mary eluded her parents to marry Edmund at the home of George Dickenson, evidence that her family did not approve of the marriage.
"It may be that Matilda's middle name was Honaker, which could explain why her grandfather referred to her as such; or he may have done so because of the family's disapproval of Edmund. At the time of Nicholas' will, she was his only grandchild.
"Matilda was also reported born in 1821 and ca. 1825, years which would fall within the 1840 census brackets for the age for which she was recorded. Her husband Henry was the son of John William Whitt (called Billy) and Mary Lewis Smith (called Polly). Born in New Garden, Virginia."
The children of MATILDA HONAKER DICKENSON and HENRY WHITT are:
- NANCY ANN WHITT, b. July, 1836, Russell County, Virginia, d. October 21, 1911, Magoffin County, Kentucky, m. OLIVER W. CAIN.
- CILICIA ELLEN WHITT, b. May, 1839, Russell County, Virginia, m. JOHN HUNT, JR..
- ISAAC M. WHITT, b. August 25, 1842, Pike County, Kentucky, d. June 14, 1914, Magoffin County, Kentucky, m. (1) POLLY ANN HUNT, m. (2) SARAH CRASE ADAMS.
- JOHN HENRY WHITT, b. November, 1844, Johns Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, d. between 1920-1930, m. RUTH A. THORNSBURY.
- MARY JANE WHITT, b. March 8, 1847, Johns Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, m. (1) (unknown first name) SEXTON, m. (2) SAMUEL CAUDILL.
- SAMUEL MADISON WHITT, b. June 23, 1850, Johns Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, d. September 28, 1909, Salyersville, Magoffin County, Kentucky, m. (1) ELIZABETH JANE COOPER, m. (2) GENOA HAMMOND, m. (3) MELVINA DANIELS.
- CAROLINE M. WHITT, b. March 3, 1853, Johns Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, m. BENJAMIN CAUDILL.
- GEORGE MONTIVILLE WHITT, b. September 13, 1855, Johns Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, m. LOCKIE ANN HALL.
- CALLIHAN LONZO WHITT, b. January 14, 1858, Johns Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, d. January 1885, m. SARAH E. PACE.
- SARAH ISIDORA WHITT, b. January 14, 1858, Johns Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, m. WILLIAM MCGUIRE.
Note: Callihan and Sarah were twins.
- REBECCA A. "BECKY" WHITT, b. April, 1859, Johns Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, m. JAMES SMITH CONLEY.
- AMANDA MERLENE WHITT, b. October 27, 1862, Lick Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, d. December 8, 1931 Bloom Township, Scioto County, Ohio, m. ABLE GARFIELD CONLEY.
- LOUISA ELIZABETH "ELIZA" WHITT, b. February 9, 1867, Johns Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, d. September 18, 1936, Salyersville, Magoffin County, Kentucky, buried in Mash Fork, Magoffin County, Kentucky, m. JOHN H. CONLEY.
(This information comes from Sandra Silbaugh Wilber, Joan Whitt, Barbara Cox, and other sources)