John Wesley Whitehurst

    In my records, I show John Wesley Whitehurst born on March 10, 1793. This is the date that is shown on his gravestone in Henry County, Alabama. Unlike John’s brothers, Willoughby and Pelatiah both of whom died in Leon County, Florida in 1831 and 1832, John lived a long and well documented life. He lived to the age of 82 years, 6 months, and 15 days.

    John most certainly grew up in the Pitt County, NC area. He is shown as been born in Edgecombe County, NC, but Pitt County’s borders were adjusted many times over the years and Edgecombe County is one of the neighboring counties. His granduncle, Batson Whitehurst, and his grandfather, John Whitehurst, are very well documented in Pitt County, NC.

     When John Wesley’s grandfather, John Whitehurst, died in Hancock County, Georgia, John Wesley’s grand uncle, Batson Whitehurst, served as his guardian. Batson gave his power of attorney to John’s brother, Willoughby Whitehurst. The power of attorney granted permission to act in his behalf in collecting any monies due him in Virginia. Pelatiah executed a power of attorney in Putnam County on October 30, 1812, granting Willoughby Whitehurst power to act in his behalf in collecting money due him in North Carolina and Virginia at the death of his grandfather, John Whitehurst, who was living in Hancock County, Georgia at the time of his death.

    Shortly after the death of his grandfather, we find John Wesley Whitehurst living in Hancock County, Georgia, possibly on his grandfather’s land. John also served a short stint in a Georgia militia in the War of 1812. As a young man he becomes active in local politics and even served as a constable in district 102 in 1814. He is mentioned in the Minutes of Hancock County Inferior Court minutes several times.  John Wesley and Pelatiah remained in the Hancock and Putnam respectively until 1818. By 1819, they were in Twiggs County, Georgia, and from there they emigrated to Alabama. They are mentioned in a book about the early settlers of Alabama and are also mentioned on a couple of historic markers in Alabama.

    By most accounts, John and Pelatiah were already in Alabama when Alabama became the 22nd state on December 14, 1819.