THE OLD WITT TRADITION WAS FLAWED IN THREE MAIN AREAS

1.  William Witt d1754 was not the immigrant but son of John Witt and wife Ann Daux; and William Witt was not born in Southern France but in Charles City CoVA (in order to be with his parents).
2.  John Witt was the immigrant and he was imported as a "headright" (plantation owner paid his way) from England, not France (per Land Patent records).
3. Five sons attributed to William Witt d1754 (Lewis, Charles,William, Abner, and David) were not his sons but his grandsons.

• a. Lewis & Charles were sons of Benj. Witt d1774 of Buckingham CoVA
  b. William, Abner, and David were sons of John Witt d1782 of Amherst CoVA

QUOTING FROM FAULTY RATIONALE IN HUGUENOT BOOK NO. 1

"In 1756, Land Deed of Prince Edward Co., VA of Benjamin Witt (son of William d1754), have as witnesses the names of his brothers, Charles Witt and Lewis Witt."

"And in 1781, Amherst Co., will of John Witt Sr. (son of William d1754), his brothers William Witt Jr., Abner Witt, and David Witt are witnesses

The first known entry for William Witt (d1754) and his brother John Witt (d ca 1751) was in 1715, when they bought (jointly) 300 acres (known as Young Men's Adventure) from Charles Hudson in Henrico Co (that part now Goochland Co). The deed said that the WITT brothers were from Charles City CoVA, the county of residence for the immigrant John Witt & wife Ann Daux per Charles City County court records.

No reason to believe that William Witt (d1754) and his brother John Witt, Jr (d before 1751) came from England.

Every reason to believe that they were sons of immigrant John Witt/Whitt and Ann Daux who were married after 1670 in Charles City CoVA, per court records. Further, importation of John Witt to the Charles City County area supported by Land Patents.

No documentation to support the old Witt tradition which has been published in books, such as

• 1. Vol. IV, "Compendium of American Genealogy,"by Virkus.
• 2. Vol. 2, "Virginia Soldiers of 1776,"by Burgess
• 3. Year Book No. 1 published in 1924 by The Huguenot Society Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia.

By tradition, this Richard Witt/Whitt was named Richard Oney Witt. By tradition, he was left on doorstep of William Witt D1754 of Charles City, Goochland and Albemarle counties, VA. There is no documentation or association with William Witt d1754 to support this "adoption" tradition.

Wayne W. Bates

"TRADITION VS. DOCUMENTED FACT"

Excerpt from letter, dated 12 April 1988, to Wayne Witt Bates from Mrs. John Inman Bell, Honorary National President of The Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin In the Colony of Virginia.

"As I mentioned, I feel that giving attention to the early WITT family,  addressing the problems of tradition vs. documented facts, and what the evidence now points to, will make a valuable contribution to the early history and genealogy of the WITT family. Surely, we all want to know the truth, and the Society is anxious to have its records concerning all of our Huguenot families correct, well documented, and in good order." Again, I thank you for the contribution you are making not only to the WITT descendants but to the Society as a whole. I hope we will have the opportunity of meeting at one of our own Huguenot gatherings sometime.

Signed "Rose," Mrs. John I. Bell, Jr. Honorary National President