  
Weathers/Withers
Thomas Weathers (~1690-1744) was a well-to-do planter in Surry County, Virginia. He married Lydia Pettway about 1718. He and Lydia had children as follows:
- William Weathers was born about 1720. He married Mary Rives, and died between May and June, 1764.
- Benjamin Weathers died between November 3, 1792 and January 3, 1793. His wife's name was Mary.
- Thomas Weathers married Susanna Wilbourn and died before January 17, 1788.
- Michael Weathers, born about 1729, married Faith Rose. He died between 1788 and 1795 .
- Susanna Weathers married Thomas Adams.
- John Weathers.
- Reuben was born April 11 and christened May 17, 1741. He married Celia Zills and died in 1806.
- Isaac Weathers was born about 1744. He married Urith Parsons Sussex and died June 18, 1814 in York County South Carolina.
Will of Thomas Weathers
The will of Thomas Weathers was entered for probate on October 7, l744, in Surry County Virginia [Will Book 3, p481] as follows:
Leg: In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Weathers of the County of Surry & Parish of Albemarle being indisposed in Body but of Sound and perfect mind and Memory bleast (sic) be Almighty God therefore first and principally I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God as gave it and as for what Estate it hath Pleased the Lord of his great mercy to bestow upon me, I give and Dispose of in manner and form as followeth vizt:
Item: I give and Devise to my son William my plantation whereon I now live it being the land as I purchased of John Jones to him and his Heirs for Ever.
Item: I give and Devise to my son Benjamin my Plantation and Land as I purchased of Jerimiah (sic) eless to him and his Heirs for Ever.
Item: I give and Devise to my son Thomas my Plantation and Land upon the Spring Swamp as I purchased of Thomas Atson to him & his Heirs for Ever.
Item: I give and Devise to my son William the Feather Bed and Furniture I now lie upon I also give the said William my bay Colt and one Cow and Calf.
Item: I give and devise to my Son Michael my young Colt and Cow and Calf.
Item: I Give and Devise to my Daughter Susanna one Cow and Calf.
Item: I Give and Devise to my son Benjamin one Cow and Calf.
Item: I give and Devise to my Son John one Cow and Calf.
Item: I Give and Devise to my Son Isaac one Cow and Calf.
Item: I Give and Devise to my Son Reuben one Cow and Calf.
Item: I Give my Dear and Loving Wife Lidia all the rest and remaining part of my Estate During the time of her Natural Life or Widowhood and at her Decease or marriage to be Equally Divided amongst my Children be it of what kind quantity or property whatsoever.
I also appoint my Wife Lidia and my Son William whole and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this 26th Day of April l744.
| Edward Pettway |
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| Richard Rives |
Thomas Weathers
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| William Pettway |
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At a court held for Sussex County the 18th day of August 18, 1768, Lydia deeded a negro boy named Peter, about four months old to her daughter Susanna and son-in-law Thomas Adams [Deed Book C., p314].
In 1778, Benjamin Weathers, executor, wrote up an inventor of his mother Lydia's estate:
3 casks, 1 Tub, 2 piggins, 1 tub, 5 old casks, 1 rum hogshead, 1 pail, cart & wheeles, 2 spinning wheeles, 4 old hoes, 1 plough hoe, 1 ax, 1 grubbing hoe, 1 wedge master & 2 pestles, 3 cotton cards, 1 skimmer, 1 gun reep hook, 1 raw hide, quantity tan'd leather, 1 jug, 1 candlestick, 1 pepper box, cups & saucers, 3 bottles & a funnel, 2 baskets, 2 potts 1 pott hooke, 1 mugg, 2 frying pans, flesh fork, 1 spit, 1 pott racks, 2 deep dishes, 2 ditto, 5 plates, 1 dish, 5 plates, 2 basons, 5 spoons, 1 flax hatchet, 1 chest, 1 trunk, 5 chairs, 1 box knives, 2 books, 1 collar, 2 pr haims, 1 pr traces, 1 pocket book, 1 cow & 2 yearlings, 13 hogs, 1 horse, 9 barls. & 3 bushl. corn, small quantity of nubbins, 1 glass, 3 beds & furniture, 1 bedstead, 1 glass, a vial, basket of lumber, 2 sheets, 1 box iron, 1 pillar & 2 cases, 2 towels, 2 counterpains, 4 Negros, 2 tables, 2 bells, 1 pr lines, 1 bridle, 1 bag, 3 sheaves of flax, basket, 1 pr cards, 1 comb, 1 hoe & 1 table cloth.
Her will was probated December 19, 1776.
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Reuben Weathers (Thomas 1) was born on April 11, 1741 in Albemarle Parish, Sussex County, Virginia. In 1744 he inherited a cow and a calf from his father, and an equal share of his mother Lydia's estate in 1776.
After the Revolutionary War, land in North Carolina that had been confiscated from loyalists of the British Crown became available. In South Carolina, confiscated land was given to the Catawba Indians, who in turn, leased it to whites for 99-year periods. ["The Children of King Hagler," by Bob Ward (Robert Miller Ward,pub by the Catawba Press, Rock Hill, S.C., 1940]
In 1790, Reubin was listed in the 1790 census of Salisbury District, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina with brother, Isaac and nephews Isham and Willis Weathers (sons of William Weathers and Mary Rives.).
On June 20, 1797, Reuben purchased about 200 acres from Francis Hodge and Alexander Hodge for five hundred pounds on each side of McAlpins Creek. He then bought 376 acres in the fork of four mile and McAlpine Creek for 376 pounds from the Hodges. [Mecklenburg Co., N.C. Deed book 18, p333 1797]
Reuben Withers and his wife, Celia Zills had three children:
- James Randolph Withers
- John Withers
- Nancy Withers
Reuben Withers died in 1806.
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Celia Weathers (Reuben's wife) is listed as an original member of Flint Hill Baptist Church, along with Alice Weathers and ten others. On January 13, 1802, she requested and was granted dismissal. [Rock Hill, SC Pub. Lib., Baptist Church Records, Flint Hill Baptist Church, 1792-1899]
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James Randolph Withers (Thomas1,Reuben2) (1782-1845) married Sarah Meredith Bailey, daughter of Revolutionary War hero, Thomas Bailey and Mary Meredith. Among their nine children were:
James and Sarah Withers were buried in Ebenezer, South Carolina
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Mary Lavonia Withers (Thomas1, Reuben2, James3) (1821-1904) married Henning Frederick Adickes (1809-1881). She died at York on September 9, 1904, and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. Quoting excerpts from a manuscript, dated June 2, 1907 by Withers Adickes:
"My mother, Mary L. Withers, was the daughter of James Randolph Withers, born in York County, Ebenezer, within sight of Winthrop College - the State College for Women built 10-15 years ago. Her birthday was April 6, 1821. Her parents came from Virginia and her ancestor Withers was Lord Mayor of London in the 17th century. Her grandfather, Thomas Bailey, was a soldier in the American Revolution; and at the age of 82 years, I asked my mother to tell about a score of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, about the military suit of her grandfather, Thomas Bailey, worn in the army ard kept and shown to her when a little girl, which facts she recalled as distinctly as she did the remarkable feat of calling the names of over 50 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, some of the latter only a few months old and hundreds of miles away. Of course, I am biased, but I think her mind was the most beautifully poised and clearest that I ever knew for a woman of over fourscore years."
Mary Lavonia (Withers) and Henning Frederick Adickes had children as follows:
- Sarah Randolph Adickes ("Say"), born July 3, 1843, died unmarried August 9, 1927
- Mary Lavonia Adickes ("Sis May"), born August 17, 1845, married Dr. Lawrence Stirling Alexander
- Amanda Antoinette Adickes, ("Sis Manda"), born September 27, 1847, married Thomas Williams Clawson
- Katherine Margaret Adickes, ("Sis Kate"), born November 9, 1849, married David Leroy Black
- Henning Frederick Adickes ("Bud") born October 15, 1851, married Emily Browning Clawson.
- Eggerich John Adickes, born September 24, 1855, died October 28, 1862.
- Withers Adickes ("Wid"), born December 14, 1857, married Helen Margaret Wardlaw.
- Blanche Adickes, born May 20, 1860, married John Robert Lindsay.
- Annie Lee Adickes, born July 9, 1362, married Walter Bedford Moore.
(Note: The abbreviated names shown above were ones always used by the younger sisters, Blanche and Annie Lee, when speaking to or of their older sisters and brothers.)
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Sources
Correspondence with Sarah Keesee
"Geneology of the Adickes Family," by Clarke W. Adickes, Sr., Rock Hill, SC, June 15, 1959
Manuscript by Withers Adickes, June 2, 1907
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Acknowledgements
Special thanks to:
Sarah Keesee (lydiap@salisbury.net)
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