Petrus Johannes de Wit, born on August 23, 1716, was the first generation of de Wits to be born in South Africa. He was a farmer and member of various family groups. The DeWitt family began their lineage in 1816 when Petrus Johannes was christened in Cape Town, South Africa.
Genealogy for Jan de Wit, Gabriel Jacobus de Witt, and Catharina Magrietha de Witt can be found on Geni, with over 255 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Catharina Magrietha married Jan Johannes Ludick on August 14, 1912, in Johannesburg. Frederick Francois De Witt of Hex River, Bo-Karoo, Northern Cape, South Africa, and other members of the De Witt family can also be researched on Ancestry®.
The De Witt family is an old Dutch patrician and regenten family, originally from Dordrecht. The genealogy of the family begins with Jan de Witte, a farmer. Magdalena Susara de Witt was born in 1906 in Ladismith, Cape Province, South Africa. The family name was changed from “de Wit” to “DeWitt” at the time of the second generation of DeWitts.
There are 15218 profiles for the De Witt family on Geni. com, and there are 15163 profiles for the De Witt family on Geni. com. Anna Elizabeth Sophia de Witt was born in 1872 and died in 1899 in Maclear, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
In summary, the De Witt family is a significant part of the history of South Africa, with a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. The family’s genealogy includes Petrus Johannes de Wit, Gabriel Jacobus de Witt, Catharina Magrietha de Witt, Frederick Francois De Witt, Jan Daniel de Witt, and Anna Elizabeth Sophia de Witt.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Petrus Johannes de Witt : Family tree by David MASON … | Discover the family tree of Petrus Johannes de Witt for free, and learn about their family history and their ancestry. | gw.geneanet.org |
| DE WITT – South African ancestry records | Firstname, Surname, Maiden name, Spouse, Spouse Maidenname, Year. 1, ELSIE MARIA · DE WITT, COETZER, 1869. 2, ELIZABETH · DE WITT, NEDDER, 1870. | ancestor.co.za |
| Christoffel (de Witt) de Wit (abt.1690-abt.1718) | Is this your ancestor? Compare DNA and explore genealogy for Christoffel (de Witt) de Wit born abt. 1690 Lenzen, Brandenburg, Heiliges … | wikitree.com |
📹 THE WHITTAKERS: A West Virginia Inbred Family Tree Explained- Mortal Faces
Back with another family tree! This time I managed to piece together The Whittakers family tree to see where they came from and …
How Do I Find My Birth Parents In South Africa?
As an adopted individual, you can initiate a search for your biological parents once you turn 18. It is advisable to seek counseling from a social worker before embarking on this journey. Records of adoptions are maintained at the Registrar of Adoptions in Pretoria. The motivations for locating birth parents can vary, such as understanding the reasons for adoption or obtaining medical history. In South Africa, obtaining birth records or certificates requires a physical visit to a Department of Home Affairs branch; online applications or downloads are not available.
Searching for birth parents is a deeply personal experience that entails various steps. Online resources can assist in researching genealogy and family history, with links to databases containing birth, marriage, death records, and other relevant documents. From 1895 to 1971, certain birth, marriage, and death records are accessible to the public at the Cape Town Archives. To find your birth certificate, you must first consult the birth index.
For assistance, the organization that managed your adoption can be contacted. You also have the option to request the Registrar to search for your birth mother, although this process can be lengthy and requires patience.
How Do I Track Down A Long Lost Family Member?
Websites such as Ancestry. com and MyHeritage provide valuable resources for tracing family histories and finding missing relatives. DNA testing can also offer insights into your heritage and potentially reconnect you with long-lost family members. To assist in your search, various online methods and databases are available. Start by identifying your search criteria, which is crucial for success. Useful records, particularly death certificates, can aid your efforts.
If you suspect you've located a relative, follow up accordingly. There are several strategies to reconnect with family members, whether through social media, online databases, or direct inquiries with friends and family. Free online searches can help you locate someone without registration. It’s important to ask critical questions about the individual you're trying to find, such as their name and last known whereabouts. Consider using search engines, public records, or specialized sites like Pipl and Zabasearch.
Reaching out to local hospitals and law enforcement can also provide leads. Utilizing DNA kits and genealogy websites can enhance your search. For detailed guidance, refer to resources like NAMI's "Finding A Missing Loved One." With persistence and the right tools, finding a lost family member can become a reality.
How Do I Track A Missing Person In South Africa?
To report a missing person in South Africa, urgently visit your nearest police station and file a missing persons report. After obtaining a case number, you can alert relevant NGOs such as Missing Children South Africa at 072 647 7464. Prompt action is crucial, as there is no waiting period to report a missing individual. You can also contact the Bureau for Missing Persons to inform them of the situation and seek further assistance. The police have developed facilities dedicated to identifying and locating missing persons, providing advice on search methods and support.
Additionally, private investigators and services like the National Investigations Bureau (NiB) specialize in finding missing individuals efficiently. Your involvement in the investigation is vital, starting with the report at the police station. Other resources include platforms like MyFace and Trace the Face, where families can upload photographs and details to aid in searches. Overall, immediate and proactive steps are necessary to help bring your loved one home and prevent loss of life. For guidance, visiting sources like NAMI's Finding A Missing Loved One page can provide valuable information on next steps in the search process.
Where Is The DeWitt Family From?
The De Witt or DeWitt family is notable in the history of New York and originated as a patrician family in the Netherlands, tracing its lineage back to Jan de Witte, a 13th-century patrician from Dordrecht. This family played a significant role during the Dutch Golden Age. The surname "De Witt" (also seen as De Wit, De Witte, and De With) is tied to historical prominence, with its roots noted in documents from the early 1300s. The DeWitt name first appeared in the western Netherlands, specifically near Dordrecht.
Their family archives in New York, spanning from 1750 to 1890, provide insight into their political, military, and social engagement, with records including correspondence and legal documents. Tjerck Claessen De Witt is recognized as the American ancestral figure, recorded in the "Trouw Boeck." There is evidence of the Dewitt family's presence in multiple countries, including the USA, UK, and Canada. In the 19th century, significant family movements occurred, including Jacob Rutsen DeWitt relocating to Port Jervis around 1770.
The family's connection to baseball was epitomized by William O. DeWitt Sr., who started his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, setting the stage for future generations in baseball. Overall, the DeWitt family has woven a rich legacy across various domains and regions.
What Ethnicity Is The Last Name DeWitt?
DeWitt is a Dutch and Flemish surname meaning "the white," originating as a nickname for individuals with very fair hair or an exceptionally pale complexion, derived from Middle Dutch "witte" and the definite article "de." In the Netherlands and Belgium, it is often spelled De Wit. The Dewitt family name appeared in the USA, UK, Canada, and Scotland from 1840 to 1920, with the highest concentration in the USA in 1880, particularly in New York.
The earliest records date back to the western Netherlands near Dordrecht, with mentions of Jan de Witte in 1295. The surname also has roots in Cheshire, where the family held lands granted by William the Conqueror. Today, DeWitt is prevalent among Dutch descendants, especially in states with significant Dutch immigration like Michigan. The name reflects variations across Northern Europe, commonly existing as the surname "White." In terms of demographics, approximately 87.
58% of individuals with the surname in the USA are White, with a significant Catholic presence in Ireland. Notable bearers of the surname contribute to its historical significance and identify it as a part of Dutch lineage. The name signifies the physical traits of its early bearers, rooted deeply in cultural history.
How To Find A Long Lost Family Member In South Africa?
Protecting Family Links (PFL) is a free, confidential service aimed at reconnecting individuals with missing relatives globally, regardless of legal status. The service is especially relevant in southern Africa, and individuals can follow a specific process to register for assistance. Key steps involve providing personal details such as name, surname, maiden name, and nickname of both oneself and the missing person. The "Trace the Face" online tool allows users to reconnect with lost family members by uploading photos and relevant information.
Resources are available for those researching their genealogy and family history, utilizing platforms like FamilySearch. org, Geni. com, and MyHeritage. The ICRC aids refugees in South Africa to restore contact with relatives, ensuring emotional and spiritual support throughout the journey. This initiative addresses the growing concern of missing individuals and offers substantial help in re-establishing family ties. Users are encouraged to download a free eBook filled with advice on locating lost connections, empowering them in their search for long-lost loved ones.
Can I Trace My Family Tree For Free?
You can begin tracing your family history for free using platforms like Findmypast, which offers a complimentary family tree service and access to extensive records through a free trial. Numerous resources exist to facilitate your search, including billions of ancestor profiles and historical documents at no cost. Start by researching grandparents or great-grandparents; the automated tree builder will assist you throughout the process, allowing you to make new discoveries about your heritage.
Engage with WikiTree, known for its accuracy and community collaboration to maintain a shared, eternal family tree, and explore the world’s largest collection of genealogy records and resources. Websites like FamilySearch also allow users to construct their family trees without charge, gaining access to a wealth of records, including census data spanning from 1790 to 1940. Local public libraries often provide access to genealogy databases like Ancestry.
com for free. To begin, jot down what you know and track your findings in a notebook. With valuable tools and guidance available across various platforms, you can build and explore your family history while connecting with potential relatives—all without any fees. Start your journey into your ancestry today!
How Do I Find My Family Tree In South Africa?
When researching your South African family history, start by consulting family records or information. Reach out to the National Library of South Africa, which maintains a list of published works, including family histories. Additionally, consider contacting local societies like The Huguenot Society and the Catholic History Bureau. Online, platforms such as Ancestry. com and FamilySearch. org provide extensive access to South African records, including census and military documents.
Helpful resources include parish registers, birth, marriage, and death records. To assist your research, there are numerous online databases and indexes available, with sites like Ancestry24 being prominent in South Africa. Genealogy links can guide you through available resources, enhancing your ability to construct your family tree. Joining Facebook groups dedicated to South African genealogy may also offer community support. Websites like eGSSA.
org and Genza. org, along with FamilySearch’s indexed records, facilitate easier access to genealogical documents. Comprehensive genealogy resources are accessible to discover your family's history and trace your South African ancestors effectively.
Where Can I Find Birth Records In South Africa?
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is the official custodian of birth records in South Africa, with the National Archives holding birth registers dating back over 50 years. For records older than 30 years, the Cape Town Archives has birth registrations from 1895–1971 available to the public in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and parts of the Eastern Cape. To obtain actual copies of birth certificates, individuals must visit a DHA branch in person.
Various online genealogical resources such as Ancestors. co. za, Findmypast. com, Search. ancestry. com, and FamilySearch provide additional access to vital records, including births, marriages, and deaths.
South African citizens, whether in the country or abroad, can apply for birth certificates at the nearest DHA office, especially if one or both parents are citizens. Many South Africans require additional certificates for legal purposes, identification, or other official documentation. While online access to birth records is limited, Ancestry24 is one growing database. Overall, accessing birth records in South Africa involves primarily in-person requests, contrasting with the process in many other countries where digital archives are more robust. Comprehensive efforts are underway to enhance access to these records for genealogical research and historical records tracking.
What Is The History Of DeWitt?
DeWitt, established in 1835 through the division of Manlius, honors Major Moses DeWitt, a judge and soldier. Its growth exemplifies the adventurous spirit of the industrial revolution, highlighted by the Erie Canal's opening in 1825 and subsequent railroad construction in 1839. The township was named after DeWitt Clinton, New York’s governor during the 1820s. Captain David Scott, who relocated from Ann Arbor in 1833, was the first settler, platting the land.
The State Legislature officially created DeWitt Township on March 23, 1836, with its inaugural meeting held at Scott's residence on April 8, 1836. Located in Clinton County, Michigan, DeWitt had a population of 4, 776 as per the 2020 census and lies north of Interstate 69 and west of U. S. Route 127, adjacent to Lansing. DeWitt's establishment traces back to the Revolutionary War era when soldiers were granted land in return for service. The initial settlement in Clinton County began on October 4, 1833, with Captain Scott's arrival.
DeWitt, Iowa, was founded in 1836 by eastern settlers, also named after Clinton. DeWitt's local history, rich in detail and documenting various events, has been published and revised over the years, celebrating its past and development as a quaint community. The town’s name, finalized through a selection process, reflects its historical roots and ties to influential figures from the early American political landscape.
📹 DeWitt Family – Early Kingston/Hurley Dutch Settlers and New Archeology Research
Join the DeWitt Cousins of Uncovering History and the DeWitt Family Historical Society as they discuss the facts, findings and lore …
The Whittakers- 2 Years Later Updated Family tree NEW Family Members: youtu.be/0Kw8I4wR5MY Ray Whittaker Explained- The Man Who Barks: youtu.be/aLfcx6uhOGQ SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE FAMILY TREES: youtube.com/channel/UCLkN9aa7m2J4PKtSTs4DrlQ MORE INBRED FAMILY TREES: 1) The Blue Fugates: youtu.be/bSXTZP1uVGE 2) King Tut’s Inbred Family Tree: youtu.be/LU_6F6ZQMGA 3) Cleopatra’s Inbred Family Tree: youtu.be/EaGuMrs_x2M 4) Rameses II married his daughters: youtu.be/YKdj-Gsa258 5) Wu Zeatin (China’s Only Female Emperor): youtu.be/u-IuRqrmTyo 6) I’m My Own Grandpa: youtu.be/jHrKDjbawaE 7) How Inbred Is Elizabeth II? (Her Family Tree Explained): youtu.be/T1-oG20pf34 8) Empress Sisi was Extremely Inbred: youtu.be/ln3NpEUNCCI
My mother was born in WV. Over a decade or so, I went back and did some genealogy research. I have quite a few Whittakers in my lineage. I tracked down a bunch of graves stones and even a Whittaker homestead in Giles County (in Va but on the border of WV). After my daughter referenced the youtube articles, I mentioned to her that we may be related. She showed me this tree. After a quick consultation of my family tree, turns out my 5th great-grandfather is James Whittaker jr. It’s a small world.
It’s not uncommon to marry first and second cousins in the early 20th century and even earlier times than that. Crazy to see how just 2 generations of 1st cousins then 2nd cousins marrying can really create tons of genetic issues for the third generation. Thank you for doing this fascinating research. I wish this family all the best!
I understand why Lorraine is the least vocal out of them now, this family have suffered so much, I have so much respect for Betty spending her life caring for her siblings and nephew and being a voice for them when they struggle to communicate, it’s fascinating and tragic how normal incest and abuse was in rural West Virginia families like the Whittakers
Their mom was pregnant for most of the years between 1937-1960. I wonder if some of the family’s conditions is from malnutrition, environmental factors and access to prenatal care. I mean even “good” prenatal care in this time frame was nothing compared to prenatal care today. And being in a more rural area didn’t not make access any easier. I wish them well, and love that the town they live in protects them and cares for them so well. We always say, it takes a village, and these people have their village
I pastured some horses at some people’s place once. I stopped by to check on them one day and sat to have coffee with them. Poor old lady (suffering from dementia) started trying to tell me how a fellow showed up that was her brother as well as her uncle. I didn’t understand so her husband clarified, said her grandpa was an evil old bastard, who sexed up her mother, years before and knocked her up. They sent her away to have the baby, gave it up, then came home try and act like nothing happened, but truth finally came out. Sick!
Here’s how i had to break it down to Make my brain stop hurting. My mom Elizabeth, married my dad, Thomas Whittaker, and had a few kids..(Me and all of my siblings… we are obviously whittakers, because our dad is) My moms sister (my aunt, Mary) married a man. My aunt, Mary, had two daughters (my cousins). Two of my brothers married my two cousins. (My aunt Mary’s daughters). *first set of incest* (One of these brothers that married our cousins, was a twin.) Remember, one of my twin brothers, married our cousin…… now, HIS twin, (my other brother) ended up getting married to a random woman. Each of these couples had some kids. One of the twins children (my niece), married one of the other twins children (my nephew). So, one of my nephews from my twin brother, married and had kids with one of my nieces from my other twin brother. (Remember, one of my twin brothers is ALREADY married to our cousin) *second set of incest, which is like double incest since they’re twins* So, The kids that my niece & nephew (both twins children) ended up having, are THE Whittakers that we know & see on YouTube. God, my head hurts. I hope this helps someone. I know i have a weird way of understanding things… maybe if you just put yourself into the equation like i did it’ll help. Lol 😩
I think In remote areas of the country, it’s not unusual to find some great grandparents that were cousins. My great grandfather said he had to leave his small farm town in Florida in llate 1800’s. so he could find a wife that wasn’t related to him. That was the story told down generations. I however think he left his home area because he got in trouble!
I am from Kentucky and this is one family of many in these circumstances. I lived near another family who were so inbred that many of them sat on the porch almost year round in wheelchairs. I remember one lady in that family was coming in to have a baby at the hospital at least once a year it seemed and one of her hands was so deformed it looked like a lobster claw. This lady could talk but she seemed to have the mentality of a 5 year old. So sad.
Thanks for the very good and respectful breakdown of this! Absolutely fascinating family history. As others have said it was not uncommon for cousins to marry, but when the twin brothers’ children got together, I think that’s the real beginning of the troubles. There is too much genetic overlap with that union.
I also expected the family tree to be more entangled given the amount of physical and mental deformities you see in the siblings. I guess we are to assume the twin brothers from the 1800s were identical and that resulted in genetic complications when their children married(they would have been half-siblings genetically speaking) and had these kids you see in the article. The situation with Lorraine might be darker than we’ll ever know. I wouldn’t be surprised if Timmy’s dad is one of his uncles. Unfortunately when you’re under the same roof all those years in close quarters, I can see sexual molestation happening. Timmy looks way too much like his uncles.
I loved perusal those articles Mark made. They were sad, yes. But they also showed a lot of love and care and really taught viewers how amazing humans can be. How adaptable we are. It’s really impressive how the non-verbal Whittakers learned to communicate, and so inspirational how they take care of each other.
It would be interesting to find out if the birth defects predated the current group. Considering the interconnectedness of the family doesn’t go back that far, I am wondering if there are also some environmental factors going on too. Born and raised in the Steel Valley on the Ohio side. Birth defects abound due to contamination from old mines, steel mills, etc. They r just getting some of these places cleaned up after almost 100 years of contaminated water and soil.
Normally first cousin pairings don’t generate a lot of birth defects, but when it’s repeated in the family tree, especially with twin siblings’ children pairing with each other, there can be complications as severe as those seen in children of closer familial relationships. Basically if you have kids with your first cousin and your parents are identical twins, the genetics are similar to having kids with your own sibling. We also don’t know who Timmy’s father is, but his mom was taken advantage of. His father could also be a family member.
No way! My mother is Joseph Whitaker Sr.’s 5x great-granddaughter through Joseph’s son Nathaniel :0 I was so shocked to see a photo I recognized. Yes, it most certainly is not Joseph who is pictured. I think I found an old newspaper article claiming it was one of his sons (perhaps James, if I recall correctly?). Great article.
I do not believe this kind of family tree is so unusual. As genetics is a ‘roll of the dice’, one or two plus a couple of cousin birth defects, before DNA analysis, would be chalked up to bad luck. And while we might like to ascribe this familial inbreeding to rural areas alone, really any and all co-mingling associations of large, closely related families can show similar results… from Bund Camps to Synagogues to…you name it. Wherever birds of a feather flocked together to the exclusion of outsiders.
My familytree from father’s side is full of cousins and second-cousins marrying for 400 years in a small village (with breaks in between thankfully but we were still horrified to see how small our genepool was). My ex was a baltic german nobility whose great-grandfathers were twins and their kids got married because they could not marry below their social status….we are nowhere near like Whitakers. There has to be incest that is not recorded here. My ex even said nobility was always aware of “blood curse” like Hapsburgs had but that was down to uncles marrying nieces in several generations, not mere cousins. Pakistanis tend to have similar genetic problems due to generation after generation of first cousins marriages so they are basically closer to being siblings than cousins. Something else is at play here. I say parentage might not be correctly recorded due to shame and secrecy.
I had expected closer inter relations considering the scope of their defects. I hate using that word but I couldn’t think of another to describe what I wanted. My mother is from the Appalachian mountains of VA and there is a long list of inter relations in some of those families. It’s because there just wasn’t that many families living in such rural communities. I was surprised when my grandmother told me that it was common and not necessarily frowned upon. My grand parents were fourth cousins. I think the Whittakers may have had something more going on with their genetics than just inbreeding. They really aren’t that close. I hope that they are a happy and well loved family.
I love that you talk about these people and treat them with respect. They deserve respect and kindness. I had some cousins who these men remind me of. They were loud and grunted and scared me as a child. My Mom would go and visit. I don’t know why they were like that. I am glad my Mom took me. I am kind to anyone different because of her visiting them. I told my sons all about them and taught them to respect others as well.
My maternal grandfather’s family (Traylor) has had descendents in central Virginia since the 1600s. No interfamilal marriages that I know of but I can say there is quite a bit of depressive, personality disorders, anxiety in the last several generations. Thanks for sharing info on the Whitakers. Very interesting how geneologies play out.
Great article! Thank you for clarifying this. Another creator made a disparaging remark about the Whitakers “not minding” when they were “getting themselves into” the scenario that resulted in their genetic issues. I got in their comments trying to explain that this was NOT a case of multi-generational inbreeding, that their parents had been first cousins, but that the two siblings who had produced these first cousins were identical twins, & therefore the cousins shared roughly the same amount of DNA as siblings (half-siblings, really) do. Ordinarily, first cousins only share 4% more DNA as random strangers. That’s why it’s perfectly legal for first cousins to marry in 19 States in the US, & legal with some restrictions in 6 more States. Of the 26 States which prohibit first cousin marriages, 17 allow cohabitation & sexual relations between first cousin’s. So, sum total, 42 States in the US acknowledge that first cousins don’t share enough DNA for there to be significant genetic issues with their offspring. It’s when a family REPEATS the practice of first cousin marriage in subsequent generations that genetic problems arise. Or in the case of the Whitakers, when the first cousins are the offspring of identical twin siblings. John Emroy Whitaker & Gracie Irene Whitaker, because their respective fathers were identical twins, had the same genetic make-up of half-siblings with the same father but different mothers. In any event, the Whitakers are beautiful people who in no way brought any genetic issues upon themselves.
I adore this family. I’m from south eastern Kentucky and know a few families specifically that are just like them. They are all some of the best people you could ever meet and some of the most interesting. A lot of the incxst isn’t even consensual. People like the Whittaker’s are almost always so nice and so interesting. I’m so happy that people fell so hard for them.
I would if Larry named his daughter after his sister, Betty. She’s a gem. What a wonderful explanation of the family tree. The Whitakers and the whole subject of inbreeding is fascinating. I mean that in the most respectful way. Mark is one YouTuber who actually offers something of value to this platform. I’ll definitely check out more of your articles. 🤍
The Whittakers are such a lovely family, I wish them a peaceful comfortable life and nice that kind people look out for them. Saw a documentary about them a while ago and it touched my heart how each one of them are so special and how much they care for each other. Wish more people were like those folks.
I have a lot of love and respect for this family. I really admire the most able-bodied sibling because she chose to be her siblings’ caregiver instead of leaving them behind. Even though this family is living in poverty the most able-bodied sibling could have gone on to create a seperate life for herself but she chose to give that up for her brothers and sister.
Wow, dude just found your website. Subscribed. My father worked as a provincial government genealogist, he’s helped people look up long lost relatives. He’s also recently done some research pertaining to Black British Olympic competitors from back in the day, some of his research being featured in an article in The Guardian. This website is the kind of stuff he loves. He retired from his job in 2019 just before the pandemic but continues to do freelance genealogical research.
I just Love Ray the man that barks alot, He just touches my heart, Mark had money donated to him for the whittakers and he took that money and restored the old trailer they were living in, he has done so much for the whittakers Love Mark and his website, he really cares about people, he helps the homeless, drug addicts and so many have lied and scammed him but he always caught them and was done with them, I would be the same way as well.
There is nothing worst on this planet than people who think themselves superior to everyone around them, I was taught that we all live and breath the same air and no matter the colour of our skin when we bleed we all bleed red. My Grandmother taught me this after I had been beaten to pulp because of my heritage. She taught me to forgive them because they were taught to hate as their parents were taught to hate. I was never able to forgive them but I was able to stay clear of them the rest of my life. I hope this family will be left in peace, they have every right to live life and to be happy.
🤙🏻🍕 ugh, so heart breaking knowing how Timmy came about and the fact that Betty kept her word to her mom and took care of her siblings make me tear up for sure.God bless that family. My heart goes out to them. Thank you for clearing up their tree. I was VERY confused, obvious but confusing none the less about how they were inbred and how they were actually related to each other. A lot of people’s minds go towards the whole “My dad’s my uncle too” type thing and that’s not at all how this family is. Anyway, much love to the Whittakers. 🤙🏻🍕
My great grandparents are buried in the Hannah-Lilly cemetery also. My last name is Lilly. We are no relation to the Whittaker’s but I’m sure my great grandparents probably knew them because they did live in Odd, WV also until their deaths. I grew up about 20 minutes from where they live in Cool Ridge, WV. Other than the genetic issues I’m sure that the family being more isolated and most likely abuse, mental and physical led to their issues also. People talking about the water, their environment that could be true but they have city supplied water in the odd area. I have never seen any of them until perusal the articles on YT and it breaks my heart seeing it. That is not common in that area and has been a pretty big shock to others that have never saw them and watched the articles.
Wow looks like my Brewster family tree. From my great grandparents and for about 5 or 7 generations, they married 1st or 2nd cousins to keep the money within. My grandpa and his brother were the only ones without deformities. All there siblings and their kids have it. They all live in Missouri and Kansas.
This makes more sense, seeing the Whittaker family tree drawn out. I thought there was a brother/sister pair, but I must have been mistaken. I just didn’t realize that first cousins marrying a couple times could cause so many genetic issues. I have been mapping out my own family tree, and it looks like mine has overlapped at least once, possibly twice. Maybe it’s just been so long ago, so our gene pool has recovered? I don’t know. I can say that 1. I’m thankful that my kids and I are genetically ok. 2. The Whittakers definitely have a place in my heart. They never asked their family members to procreate! But seeing how they care for each other, and how they provide for one another warms my heart. Betty, stay healthy! ❤
This family might not have money, or smarts or beautiful in outward appearances but they have love, they look out for each other as best as they can, Timmy has such a cute personality and Betty, bless her heart she has had to hold down that fort which is clearly no easy task. I imagine their lives haven’t been too easy & let’s face it, people can be so cruel. Mark has changed their lives for the better by introducing us to this sweet family. It’s nice to see that there’s still some good people in the world ❤
One of my great uncles married who my dad called his “double first cousin”. A pair of brothers married a pair of sisters and from these unions came my great uncle and his wife. This caused a lot of anger among both families and as a result, 2 of their children were born with mental disabilities and 2 were born deaf.
My Danish grandmother’s grandmother married a brother of her late husband, a common practice. She had children from each marriage, son 1 and son 2. Each of my grandmother’s parents were their grandchildren, one of son 1, and one of son 2. This made them first-degree cousins from the mother’s side and second-degree cousins form their father’s side.
So the two sisters who married in share the same DNA and pass it on, one of them had twins. Fraternal share 50% like regular siblings but identical share %100. Then they each had their own children who married each other. Gracie and John are first cousins if fraternal but basically half siblings if identical. So they have the same DNA from the sisters and twins. Maybe age could have been an issue by the end of the line cause she would’ve been about 40 by the time she gave birth to her last child. And given the time period, people were still trying to figure out many things about birth.
I have researched this extensively. RE Ray’s grandfathers : Most of the genealogical records point to them being 2 years apart… tho I note that both brothers have 5 or 6 different years of birth attributed to them. Henry Wade’s (sometimes ‘Wade Henderson’) birthdate was reported in the 1900 US Census as being July 1884, and his brother John Issom was reported as being March 1882, so their ages were listed as 15 & 18 yrs old (census taken between their birthdays). That’s not twins. Wade’s years of birth were recorded as follows: 1940 Census – 1895 1930 Census – 1887 1920 Census – 1886 1910 Census – 1880 1900 Census – 1884 1903 marriage record – 1882 John Issom’s record is much the same. I can’t see how anyone can positively pinpoint that they were twins.
My stepfather’s family had a pair of half siblings that married back in the twenties. It was only legal at the time as the family names were different and the record keeping wasn’t efficient enough to catch the problem. To this day I’m grateful to not be a direct relation as apart from the stigma such carries that family is legion for a very common mental illness that seems to hit everyone in it to one degree or another with Turner Syndrome being very common among the females in it. That temper the siblings speak of their parents having sounds similar to a schizotypal disorder common in shared bloodlines when you consider the family’s genetic profile.
Mark’s work is important and fascinating as it documents everyday American life with all of it’s juxtapositions. He let’s those he documents tell their own stories, in their own words .I’m a long-time subscriber of his work, and have definitely followed the Whittakers’ story from the beginning. And so, I am quite confident in concluding who Timmy’s father is (i.e. non-verbal Lorraine’s, son): Kenneth, definitely. In one episode he gets very awkward when Mark asks what he thinks might have contributed to the severity of Lorraine’s, Ray’s and Timmy’s more pronounced conditions (Soft White Underbelly, episode entitled: “The Whittakers-Spring 2022” see ~16:00 mark, onwards). That exchange + the fact that Timmy’s eye is not only wonky, like so many of his relatives, but it’s actually totally closed and unfunctional, his teeth, lack of oral control i.e. drooling, being totally non-verbal, etc.) Try not to judge but thankfully, those in this family who are clearly quite disabled for such obvious reasons have not/were not able to have children, thus phasing out the impact of such intense, generational, future inbreeding…
I love this website since I love history and I also want to research my own family tree but I don’t know how to start… Since we have a very uncommon lastname (almost everyone who meets us the the first time miss pronounces it with a French accent even though there are no accents in the writing) and the story in our family goes we descent from a Frenchman who fled France during the revolution to escape beheading… I’ve always wondered if it was true, the story goes he was a “de la Rivière” and changed his name in the more Dutch sounding “de Reviere” keeping the small ‘d’ and capital ‘R’ referring to his noble family line in France.
im actually related to them very distantly on my maternal grandparent’s side (yes both). they’re all my 9th cousins, three times removed. i had never heard of this family before this article and just stumbled upon this by chance. how intriguing. they seem like such lovely people. it breaks my heart that lorene was assaulted.
It’s strange how similar this family is to my mother in laws just that we aren’t from the US. Her parents had 14 kids with 12 making it to adulthood and a lot of them died young and now there are only about 6 left if I remember correctly. Even her parents only made it to barely over 70 which is also young. Lots of illnesses that definitely seem to be inherited but nobody ever got tested. All I’ve met so far also have some kind of learning disability or even a few. Definitely something not quite right with the genetics. My partner was just lucky to inherit a lot of good stuff from his dad he is by far the smartest one on that side of his family. Either way families like this don’t deserve to be treated like freak show performers and they are just trying to live their lives.
I haven’t seen anything about this family before, and I honestly don’t know what compelled me to watch this. I loved it though! It was fascinating to hear the details of their family tree. My paternal grandparents spent several years gathering pictures and information to form our family tree going back to the 1700s. I love history, and especially learning about the lives of regular people.
A lot of people have ‘inbreeding’ in their family histories. My 3rd great grandparents were 1st cousins, and there were several other 1st and 2nd cousin marriages in the same line for the next 3 generations. There were no defects in any of these families. The ‘inbreeding defect’ occurs when the two related parents share the same mutated, defective and/or recessive genes. And birth defects like these aren’t always the result of ‘inbreeding’, they can also be from poor/no prenatal care, poor health and nutrition of the mother while pregnant, injury during pregnancy/hard labor/delivery, and poor infant nutrition and healthcare. In these poverty-stricken deeply rural areas, any combination of the above is likely. Nobody is more ‘inbred’ than European Royalty, and they rarely had these problems. I personally knew a man a lot like Timmy, his mother was raped and tried to kill herself while pregnant by overdosing on narcotics. He not only held down a full-time job busing tables and mopping floors in a dining hall, but he did the cooking, cleaning, and shopping, and cared for his mother at home in her old age.
I fell in love with the documentary and family because they really are sweethearts. My family are super close and live in KY. My mom and dad were photographed sitting on a blanket outside. My mom was a year old and my dad was almost 2. Those hollers are how my family traveled . 😂 But we just found out were descendants of Daniel Boone. Pretty cool. I was the only sibling born in California. This is INTERESTING. The Appalachian people sure are superstitious. Set in their ways. They just are. ♥️ Great article. 👏🏼👏🏼
I would think their physical and cognitive challenges are linked to poverty, malnutrition, maybe some genetic disorder that has not been detected (not necessarily linked to inbreeding), rather than the inbreeding history of the family. I’ve done a lot of work on my family tree and have found many many cases of inbreeding on my fathers side, on my grandfathers side, there were first cousins marrying in every generation for 4 or 5 generations and also found on my grandmothers side, her parents were first cousins, meaning my great grandparents were first cousins. One of my aunts (my father’s sister) married her first cousin and had 6 children. I don’t know of anyone with physical or cognitive challenges on my bloodline.
Thank you for the research and diagram of their family tree. At 6:45, I believe you may have the black & white photo of the three men reversed (having just watched Mark’s articles before this one). The actual picture has L-R Ray, Timmy and Freddy but Ray is the one whose face is angled a bit more side on and he is on the left side of the picture (from the viewer’s point of view).
They don’t have that many connections to each other considering the extreme handicap levels. I expected at least 5 or 6 generations of cousins marrying each other to get to such a point, or worse, uncle/aunt and niece/nephew like the Habsburgs did, or even brother and sister. Don’t get me wrong, they did quite some inbreeding here, but yeah considering the level of it, I’d think the handicaps wouldn’t be that bad, or that the handicaps are so bad because there were many more generations and closer blood connections of inbreeding. Interesting.
There’s a similar family I know of in southern KY, the father got 4out of 6 daughters pregnant. Two different sons raped their mother she gave birth to children with very bad mental health, a son also had an affair with his niece,she gave birth to children with mental problems. It’s a very sad situation. But they think this is normal behavior. This inbreeding goes on more than ppl think . So sad.
oh god i need a version of this for dummies 😬😅 genealogy is hard enough to understand without having all these relatives reproducing offspring… it’s very sad. Those offspring suffer the consequences of serious defects and genetic disorders because of their parents. I had a friend growing up whose parents were first cousins. They had 5 or 6 kids total. Every one of them had obvious issues which they will have to endure for their entire lives.
Let me share something… this is going to be a long comment so hang on 🤣 Im from an all girls center, under some religous people because of my PTSD. Most of the girls that i have been with, their predators were family members😔 like the girl that I was with about 7yrs ago. She was abused and r*ped by her father, then when her brother found out about it he also started r*ping her. She was only 11 at that time. She told me she went to her grandparents (father’side) to tell them whats happening since her mom was out of the country working. They didnt believe her, at that time her grandfather also started to molest her together with her uncle…. when she turned 14 she got pregnant and nobody knows who the father was. She was taken to the hospital where everyone was judging her saying “oh she probably has a boyfriend thats why!” And blaming her for being pregnant. Yeah i still couldnt understand why she didnt tell the authority but who knows what kind of manipulation her family had been doing to her. She was so stressed that she had a miscarriage. Until one day her teacher came and visited her cause she also found out and she told her everything. That teacher actually alerted the police and got her father taken away. But not the other fam members who abused her and i dont know what else happened. The social workers put her to the all girls center where i met her. Her mom came back and never really cared for her, she just showed up to the court supporting her husband and not her own daughter.
It’s crazy how genetics work and how some of them are normal. Some of them had multiple physical and mental disabilities and then one of the brothers was fairly normal but has the tell tale sign of the rest and only his eyes were not normal! It’s so weird how all of them didn’t have the same disabilities! I feel for them! I’m so glad Mark helps them the way he does! Thank you for the explanation of their family tree it must have taken you forever!
So one twin married his cousin and had many kids, one being a girl named Gracie. She’s the 1st gen of inbreeding The other twin also had many kids, but it wasn’t with a relative, one of their kids is named John So John (1st twins kid) marries his cousin Gracie (2nd twins kid, who is already product of inbreeding) So the two cousins have children and they’re the ones we’re all familiar with. So theyre 1st gen inbreeding from their father’s side (john) and 2nd gen inbreeding through their mother’s side (grace). Not to forget about the twins being twins, that alone is enough to change things.
I am from WV too and every other state I’ve lived in ppl always make fun of it so I just started saying I was from PA since I lived in Morgantown and it was close enough. I grew up on welfare and food stamps and saw plenty of country places in the middle of nowhere but never anything like the Whittakers. It’s good to see people being kind.
Amazing article. So glad someone laid it out like this. However, when you first spoke about Freddy. You actually circled Ray in that photo. Your photo is flipped compared to Mark’s original where Ray and Freddy have swapped sides. Ray is the one with the moustache, Freddy is on the left in your flipped version and on the right in the original.
I’m really disgusted by the hate so many people seem to be responding with in the comments. It is absolutely not someone’s fault if they are inbred, it’s not like we can choose our biological parents. Families like the Whittakers with many family members inheriting some really severe disabilities are sad to see (but it is also lovely to see how despite all the difficulties they have from those disabilities and I’m sure severe discrimination they receive due to them, that they care for each other and they get on with life).
Worth noting that since John and Henry were identical twins, from a purely genetic perspective their children would be half siblings. Half-siblings share the same % of DNA as an Aunt/Uncles and Niece/Nephews, and you only need to look at the House of Habsburg to know how devastating even ONE of those relationships can be on a genetic level.
I would so love for you to do my family tree. My maternal great grandparents were first cousins apparently. I was one of those kids that asked relentless amounts of questions. When I was about 6 I was questioning my grandma about her parents and she told me they were first cousins. I had no idea what that meant as a kid. Many years later when I was in my twenties I said something about it at Christmas dinner. The entire family was shocked and disgusted. I guess my grandma never told anybody else and no one knew. If it wasn’t for 6-year-old me asking so many questions all the time nobody would have ever known. I struggle with reading family trees on my own.
I am 66yrs old and born in West Virginia in 1956. ( Adopted). It doesn’t seem that long ago but I was starting trouble the day I was born. It was told I was born to a woman whom no one knew or had any connections to. When I was handed to my (Adopted ) mother she read the woman’s name on my arm bracelet and it started a family war. To this day I have no idea what the whole story was but I grew up in conflict. I was the true black sheep. I will never know the truth of what happened but I turned out to be a good person who respects others who seem to share a similar background. I never pass negative comments or thoughts. BUT if I hear a condescending remark I have been known to beat the hell out of people who show disrespect. To this day I walk with a cane. ” cut off shovel handle ” and used it less than a year ago. It does change people’s behavior for the best after they recover. I pray for the Whiticker family 👪
For those like myself who was confused, I think I figured it out😅 Thomas Whittaker marries Elizabeth. Elizabeth has a sister Mary who marries Samuel. It’s from these two sister’s that the “entanglement” starts. Thomas and Elizabeth have 7 kids, two of which are twins. Mary and her husband Samuel has two daughters, Maci and Ada. These two daughters married their first cousin’s who are Elizabeth’s boys. Maci married I think his name was James and Ada married one of the twins. So, these two sister’s married their first cousin’s. Ada married one of the twins his name was John. The other twin Henry married outside the family to a woman named Sarah Burton. Ada and John have 9 kids, while Henry and Sarah have 6 kids. Henry and Sarah’s son John marries John and Ada’s daughter Gracie, their children are the ones you see now. In other words, first cousin’s married their first cousin’s. I hope that helped. I had to watch it a few times pausing in between to wrap my head around it😅
Fascinating and unbelievably good work to determine all that you did, but I don’t understand where the actual in-breeding started or, with all the marriages, how it stayed within the family line and not bred out, especially with the physical and mental results we see in the family today. Is there any way to determine that and explain it to a lay person, like myself? Thank you.
Guys let me break it down for you, my english is not perfect but I’ll try my best and in order to be less confusing I will use the maiden lastname of the married women: The first inbreed child was Gracie Irene Whittaker, her parents were John Whittaker and Ada Riggs, who were first cousins. Explanation: Mary Perkins is the mother of Ada | Elizabeth Perkins is the mother of John -> Elizabeth and Mary are sisters So, everyone is completely healthy and normal until Gracie (Maybe she was also healthy too, there is a LOT of first cousins families around there and no one knows) Gracie (First Inbreed) married John Emory (Normal) and they were cousins too. and the children of them are the ones we know from the articles, its only two generations of first cousins (more like one and a half, because John Emory was not inbreed child) Of course this is bad, but to experience that level of illness and problems there needs to be much more generations in between, like in the royal families. So why it went that bad? Because John and Henry were equal twins, so they shared almost 100% of genetic information instead of the usual 25% that brothers share, this means their respective childrens, even if they would technically be cousins, genetically speaking they are more like half-siblings. In resume: Gracie and John Emory, were first cousins, but genetically they were like half-siblings, that’s why it only took 1generation to turn so badly and now they look like they were product of 5 or more generations of inbreeding.
something i noticed while researching is that some sources say Samuel Riggs was the son of John Madison Riggs, and married Mary Perkins, while others say he was the son of Daniel Riggs and married Mary Highfield. Findagrave lists Mary Perkins as Ada’s mother, but the link under “Parents” has a link to Mary Highfield’s page
You don’t choose how you come into this world. The Whittakers now are kind hearted, beautiful souls. Ray especially sticks out to me. He has so much to say but just can’t express it. I hope he gets some medical help for his leg and continues loving his life. His smile melts my heart. It saddens me they weren’t able to get the same opportunities as everyone else, because they are just like everyone else. Their family tree has nothing to do with it and it’s that bias that bullies them for what they can’t control. The Royal family has inbreeding too but noone says anything to them.
Your website showed up on my recommendations, and I couldn’t click PLAY fast enough. I think Timmy is hearing impaired. He always vocalises a sound indicating her does not hear what’s being said. His speech exhibits an unusual dysarthria. He also seems eager to communicate. With speech and language therapy, and hearing aides, if indicated, I think his speech could be greatly improved.
I still don’t understand where the inbreeding is. I can’t imagine a one time cousin/cousin copulation from generations ago could influence a certain group within the same family without another or clearer explanation if it’s possible. This is not a joke question, I think a clearer explanation is needed, and I truly want to understand, thanks. Nothing makes me more uneasy than not understanding a serious situation or topic.
First cousins mated-they had male twins- the children of these twins had dna nearly of sibling quality, they then married and had the whittaker adult children in this article, one of whom, Lorraine was raped and had Timmy. This dna pool is so narrow it led to genetic abnormalities which were severe and worsened by poverty and lack of intervention and education. I had to watch the family tree a number of times to really understand just how knotted up the genetic pool is for this family.
So really, it started when two sons of Elizabeth: James Thomas Whitaker and John Isom Whitaker married their cousins Macie Riggs and Ada Riggs, the daughters of their mother Elizabeth’s sister “Mary”. Am I right?? But then the line was carried on by John and Ada’s daughter Gracie marrying her cousin John and had more children, the family we know of today?? Am I right?? Or have I missed something??
I recently traveled to WV for my mothers side of the familys 100th family reunion. Over 200 people showed up. Just to tell you how isolated they are the closest Walmart is an hour away and cell service is almost non existent. If you have a issue with your plumbing, HVAC, car, electric there is no one to call. No one will drive that far to service anything, you have to rely on yourself and family to fix it with what is usually a gaggle of scaped parts. This is 2023 mind you. Imagine how it was 50 years ago. It is likely that everyone you meet is some how related to you even if you went to the next town over. Couple the fact that many of the people are poor and can’t afford to leave or have no desire to leave their whole family behind. Things are getting better due to paved roads, new people settling down in the area, and tourism. Inter family marriages didn’t come from some perverted lust but as a fact of life. It’s almost like a group of people living on a deserted island but the water is social, geographic, and economic issues. It is absolutely still taboo to marry someone that is immediate family or first cousins though. I’m no expert but from what I’ve read genetically speaking it’s unlikely that first cousins or even double first cousins would have such pronounced issues as this family. Even the guy from soft white underbelly says in his articles that he believes there is something else genetically or environmental that has caused such handicaps in this family.
Do you do anyone’s family tree? This is very interesting. I know my husband and I are related to some important people in history. My grandma lived to just a couple months shy of 95 years. I had the privilege of looking after her the last 5 years of her life. Grandma would tell me stories that went back hundreds of years in lineage. She knew most about the last 150 years or so. She kept original handwritten letters my husband took copies of. Very interesting. Thanks for your article
Jason was interviewed he was very honest when answering the questions about drugs and being a sex offender he was told the girl was 18 he was 20 turns out the girl was 14 ruined his life he is now a recovering addict around people in full blown addiction I really hope he stays sober and is reunited with his kids.
If the brothers were identical twins then the children would genetically be more like half siblings right? Plus with the moms being sisters as well that must have made the dna very similar. Does anyone know if the twins were identical? I grew up in southeast asia and there are some areas i visited, i wont mention the names, where familial intermarriage among cousins is extremely common for various reasons, some places its to keep family wealth or to preserve bloodlines and others its more religious, but that seems to cause severe physical disabilities, much much more severe than anything the whitakers have. I wonder if thats due to a longer history even thoigh the relationship is more distant.
Here in Italy there is a town that my family and I frequented when I was a child. There was a time when the older ones all looked alike even if they weren’t explicitly brothers or cousins. Nearby there was a Savoy residence where the king of Italy stayed overnight when he came to that country from Turin on holiday to go hunting. He had also had a son from a servant, and he had to admit it, but my father maintained that the inhabitants of that country were half the king’s children and the other half the children of blood relatives, and for this reason they were all crazy. At the age of 25 I had a long relationship with a girl from my city, then luckily she met someone else and fell in love with him (I only had a long sexual history with her because I had sensed that she would give herself easily knowing the story of her loves), at their wedding I understood that I was related to her, even if distantly (our grandparents were cousins), but it was like that: she was a pain in the ass and also a bit of a whore: after me she had already had children with 3 different partners. so it was doubly good for me that we weren’t in a serious relationship and didn’t have kids
Patriarch and Matriarch were 30 and 15. The double cousins that parented the Whittakers we know were 24 and 17 when their first child was born. There are a lot of significant age-gaps all throughout this family. And, it’s sad that at 17 their mom began a 2-decade career of being pregnant. She was pregnant most of her life, beginning before she was even an adult.
It was not unusual to marry cousins even in royalty to keep bloodlines pure back in the 1800’s and turn of the century, but it’s heartbreaking when you see siblings do this because the children are the ones that have to live the effects. But, this family has nothing but pure joy and love toward each other & everyone they come into contact with. Timmy is my guy! Such a ladies’ man!❤
I was banned off a english site cause they were talking bad about southern folk, mostly about being inbred and I pointed out that the english started it and it still went on!!! I have a Whittaker line the first being a Jacob Whitaker born 1785 as far as i have gotten! but i do have a few cousins marrying cousin lines, the Brooks etc. I am not ashamed!!!
U know we may all judge and i have my opinions (like anyone) no matter whatever u think about this family, we all are here recveing a blessing from them…rather its interest, being baffled, educational reason or to pass time..u r here and in a way this family is laterally famous…ppl love them. I guess what im saying is these people harm no one and help thouands and thouands a ppl away without even wanting a cent or even a thank you. That being said, merry xmas to the whittkers.
With inbred families, it usually speaks to generational- as implied by the Whittakers being dubbed the “worst”. But, there’s no evidence of father/daughter relations or sibling relations, so one could think it wasn’t an accepted or acceptable practice. Considering there were that many children living in just a five/six room house, I think it speaks volumes for the parents’ morals. There’s no way to know for sure, but a mother not letting her girls go out usually means she doesn’t want pregnancies out of wedlock while they’re living under her roof. The mystery is Timmy, Lorene’s son, ending up with the most affected features of all of the family.
Their parents were double 1st cousins, 2nd cousins, and genetic half-siblings when you look at it separately. Combing that abundant shared DNA would make them actually between half-siblings and full siblings genetically, that is why they have so many defects. The genetic affinity between their parents was likely around 40%! That’s extremely high considering many full siblings are at 40% too. A double first cousin, half-sibling, and the children of twins are usually around 25%, and 1st cousins are 12.5% and second cousins 3.25%.
I started perusal Mark’s articles on the Whittakers and to be honest I was both intrigued and curious as to how really inbred they are. I have to say I absolutely love this family one of the reasons why is that they are so kind, happy, have a bond with each other. Not all of them are “not normal” and Ray is just so adorable in his own way. I live in Australia and there is a family in my country who are “really inbred” they are the Colt Family. My Mum had a friend in Holland who married her first cousin and they decided from the beginning of their relationship to when they got married they would never have any children, I met them when I went to Holland in the 80’s and they were the most beautiful people. But it has been going on for centuries and I guess it could still go on. The Whittakers are lovely and should be left alone to live their lives they way that they want.