Richard Whitacar

R1CHARD WHITAKER was one of the widely known and prominent men in West New Jersey from 1676 to 1718. He was born in England about 1644. His parentage is not known with certainty, but there is good reason to believe that he was a son of Rev. Jeremiah Whitaker, an eminent Presbyterian clergyman born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England 1599, educated at Sidney College, Cambridge, was one of the men who wrote the Presbyterian Confession of Faith and Catechism. He was pastor of St Magdalen Bermondsey in Southwark, preaching in Southwark Nestminster and Christ Church London. He died in London 1654 and a son William succeeded him.

In 1673 John Fenwick became possessed of one tenth of West Jersey, his tenth comprised the present counties of Cumberland and Salem, all originally Salem county. Fenwick sold much of the land before sailing for the Delaware and many purchasers accompanied him in the ship Grifiin, Robert Griffin, master 1675. William Hancock, of the parish of St Leonards Shoreditch, London, purchased 1.000 acres and not being able to accompany the first settlers to the province executed the following power of attorney to his cousin Richard Whitaker:

Be it known unto all men by these presents that I, William Hancock of the parish of St Leonard's Shoreditch in the County of Middlesex, Cordwinder for divers goods. causes me hereunto especially moving Have assigned constituted and appointed and by these presents in my stead and place have put and constituted my trusty and well beloved cozen Richard Whittaker of ye Citty of London, Cordwinder, to be my true and lawfull Attorney deputy and Assignee for mee and in my name and to my only use and benefit as well to ask demand sue for recover receive and take full and absolute possession of all and every my Lott or Lotts of Land situated lying and being in New Jersey or New Caesarea in America in the parts beyond ye Seas and after recovering posession of ye said Lott or Lotts of Land had or taken to plant ye same to my most advantage &c 1n Witness Whereof 1 ye said William Hancock have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Sixth of July Ano Dni 1675 in the 27th year of ye reign of our Sovereign Lord King Charles ye Second over England &c Sealed and delivered in the presence of us William Hancock LS Thomas Scamadin et Wm Johnson Esq Notary Public

With the above quoted power of attorney still in possession of his descendants, Richard Whitaker came over in the Grifiin with Fenwick and others, including Richard Hancock, a brother of William who later became Fenwick's surveyor general. The Grifiin probably sailed a day or two after the date of the above power of attorney and arrived in the Delaware 9 mo November 23, 1675. William Hancock did not leave England until about October 1, 1679 his will was made in England September 29, 1679 when intending a voyage for West Jersey and was proved in West Jersey August 2, 1680 and letters testamentary granted to his widow Isabella whose will dated September 1, 1680 gives a legacy to Richard Whittacker of Salem.

Richard Whitaker became a prominent man in the colony at Salem soon after landing. An agreement entered into between Fenwick and the purchasers of land in his tenth dated June 25, 1676 providing that each purchaser of 500 acres of land should have sixteen acres thereof laid out to him in the town limits bears the,signatures of ten of the first settlers including Richard Whitaker, On July 5. 1676 he took the oath as one of the Council of Government of West Jersey by the proprietors a position he retained until 1702, Hancock's farm of 868 acres of land is designated in the warrant for its survey as Whitacre's Plantation but in the return of survey as Hancock's Hurst Richard Whitaker married Elizabeth Adkin of Alloways Creek on March 17. 1679 by whom he had one daughter Elizabeth. About 1685 he removed with his family to the south side of Cohansey Creek and settled on a large tract of land near what is now known as New Englandtown, the locality being known as Herring Row. George Provoe of Alloways Creek, cordwainer, in his will dated August 1, 1688 refers to eight of his cattle being cared for by Richard Whitaker and devises the increase of these cattle to Elizabeth Whitaker wife of Richard and also leaves a money legacy to Elizabeth the daughter.

On account of his prominence in the community and his business ability Richard Whitaker was much sought after as attorney to sell real estate to attest wills to act as executor or administrator of estates of decedents or to make inventories of such estates. The date of death of his first wife Elizabeth Adkin is not known nor the date of death of his daughter Elizabeth who is not mentioned in his will; the wife mentioned in the will is called Abigail .This will is dated June 5, 1718 and though it states that he is very sick and weak of body he seems to have lived nearly two years longer as the will was not offered for probate until January 12, 1719 20 when the executors refusing to act its proof does not appear of record, An inventory was made January 1, 1720/21.

Issue of Richard Whitaker as shown by his will:

# Nathaniel

1. Thomas d 1779 leaving four sons and three daus mentioned in his will
2. Richard d intestate 1721 letters of administration being granted to his widow Hannah Dec 26, 1721
3. Katharine of whom we have no further record

The three sons Nathaniel, Thomas, and Richard Whitaker were members of a military organization of the district including the south side of Cohansey Creek under Capt Joseph Seeley the muster roll of which bears date November 18, 1716.

Source: Colonial Families of Philadelphia