HISTORY OF THE WHITAKER NAME :

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This long-established surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is locational from any of the various places so called in England, though the derivations of the place names are slightly different. Whitacre in Warwickshire and High Whitaker in Lancashire are derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century "whit" meaning "white", and "acer" meaning cultivated land; hence, "white field"; while both Whiteacre in Kent and Wheatacre in Norfolk derive their first element from the Olde English "hwaete", wheat, and therefore mean "wheat field". Locational surnames were usually acquired by a local landowner, or by the lord of the manor, and especially by those former inhabitants of a place who had moved to another area, usually in search of work, and were thereafter best identified by the name of the birthplace. An interesting name bearer, recorded in the "Dictionary of National Biography" was Joseph Whitaker (1820 - 1895), who founded the magazine, "the Book Seller", and started the annual publication of "Whitakers Almanac" in 1868. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard de Wetacre, which was dated 1177, in the "Pipe Rolls of Norfolk", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Our Whitaker family including SILK, ROBOTTOM and PICKFORD Small numbers by a name refer to personal number in listing eg WILLIAM LANGDON 2 PICKFORD - See 2

GENERATION ONE :

1. ~ ~ ~ GEORGE WHITAKER was born in 1770, and his occupation was a Linen Draper. He married JANE LANGDON the daughter of WILLIAM LANGDON and JANE BULLOCK. She was born in 1780 in Thorganby, Cornwall, England, and was baptized on 18 July 1781 in Mawgan. She died 1861 in Rotherhithe, Surrey, England. George died in 1837.

Census entries for JANE WHITAKER (nee LANGDON):

Census 1 : 1861, Residence 34 Princes(?) St, Rotherhithe, Southwark, Jane Whittaker age 81, born 1780 in Thorganby, Cornwall (Mother)

Children of GEORGE WHITAKER and JANE LANGDON were:

ISABELLA WHITAKER, born 1807.

GEORGE WHITAKER, born 1808; died 1813 in St Columb, Cornwall, England.

EMMA WHITAKER, born 1811 Mawgan, Cornwall, England; died 1874 in Rotherhithe, Surrey, England.

GEORGE WHITAKER, born 1813 Mawgan, Cornwall, England; died 1814 Mawgan, Cornwall, England.

MARY WHITAKER, born 1818 and baptized 20 July 1818 in Mawgan, Cornwall, England.

WILLIAM LANGDON ² WHITAKER, born around 1821 St Columb, Cornwall, England.

GENERATION TWO:

2. ~ ~ ~ WILLIAM LANGDON WHITAKER (GEORGE) was born around 1821 in St Columb, Cornwall and was the youngest son of GEORGE WHITAKER and JANE LANGDON. He was baptized on 14 December 1821. William married MARIA SILK on 30 November 1845 in Ramsgate, Kent. Maria was born around April 1826 in Ramsgate and was the fifth daughter of WILLIAM SILK and ANN PEALL. In 1846 William's occupation was listed as a Ships Steward and he was living at 5 Traflgar Place, Ramsgate.

Census entries for WILLIAM LANGDON WHITAKER:

Census 1: 1861, Residence 34 Princes(?) St, Rotherhithe, Southwark, Surrey, Mariner

Census 2: 1871, Residence 7 Surrey Place, Rotherhithe, Southwark, age 49, Ship Steward, Head

Census 3: 1881, Residence Brownings Farm, Chigwell Row, Epping, Essex, Mariner

Census 4: 1891, Residence 30 Camden Hill Rd, Lambeth, London, age 69, Ship Steward

Maria died on 23 March 1893 at their residence in Camden Hill Road, Lambeth and William died on 20 May 1900 in Lambeth, London aged 78 years.

WILLS INFO:

Wills 1900

WHITTAKER, William Langdon of 30 Camden Hill Road, Upper Norwood, Surrey, Gentleman, died 20 May 1900.

Probate London 29 June 1900 to Sarah Ann Whitaker, spinster and Mariah Beaulah, widow. (My note – daughters as above) Effects 11,566p 13s 3d.

Children of WILLIAM LANGDON WHITAKER and MARIA SILK were:

WILLIAM SILK ³ WHITAKER, born 22 February 1846 in Ramsgate, Kent, England.

GEORGE ⁴ WHITAKER, born 1848; died 26 January 1898 at Cambridge Road, Wellington of Bronchitis 2-3 years and Heart Dilation.

MARIA WHITAKER, born 1850 Rotherhithe, Southwark, Surrey, England. Maria married WILLAIM BEAULAH in 1878 in Lambeth, London. William was born around 1850 and died prior to 1900. In 1893 Maria is recorded at living at 67 Whitbread Road, Brockley.

ALISE (ALICE) AMELIA WHITAKER, born 1853 Rotherhithe, Kent, England. Alise married WILLIAM DUCKETT in 1879 in St Olave, London. William was born around 1850.

Census entries for ALISE (ALICE) AMELIA WHITAKER:

Census 1, 1861: age 8, Scholar

Census 2, 1861: age 18 (as Alice)

CHARLES WHITAKER, born 1855 Wapping, London, England; died 1858 Wapping, London.

SARAH ANN WHITAKER, born 1857 Wapping, London, England.

Census entries for SARAH ANN WHITAKER:

Census 1, 1861: Residence 34 Princes(?) St, Rotherhithe, Southwark, Surrey, age 3

Census 2, 1871: age 13, Scholar

Census 3, 1901: Residence 30 Camden Hill Rd, Lambeth, London, Head of the Household. Household members were shown as Amy Whitaker age 36 (Sister) Sarak Silk age 80 (Aunt) and Sarah E Whitaker age 27 (Niece)

CHARLES NAPIER WHITAKER, born 1860, Rotherhithe, Surrey, England; died 1861, Rotherhithe, Surrey.

IDA JANE WHITAKER, born 1861, Rotherhithe, Surrey, England. Ida married FREDERICK DUCKETT in 1885 in St Olave, London. Frederick was born around 1860.

Census entries for IDA JANE WHITAKER:

Census 1, 1861: age 9, Scholar

FRANK HERBERT ⁵ WHITAKER, born 1863, Rotherhithe, Surrey, England.

AMY HARRIET WHITAKER, born 1864, Rotherhithe, Surrey, England.

Census entries for AMY HARRIET WHITAKER:

Census 1, 1861: age 6, Scholar

HARRY CLIFTON WHITAKER, born 1865, Rotherhithe, Surrey, England.

Census entries for HARRY CLIFTON WHITAKER:

Census 1, 1871: Residence 7 Surrey Place, Rotherhithe, Southwark, age 5, Scholar

WILLIAM WHITAKER, born around 1872, Rotherhithe, Surrey, England.

Census entries for WILLIAM WHITAKER:

Census 1, 1881: Residence Rotherhithe, Surrey, age 9, Scholar

JOSEPH WHITAKER, born around 1877, Rotherhithe, Surrey, England.

Census entries for JOSEPH WHITAKER:

Census 1, 1881: age 4, Scholar

Refer to the SILK family for more information about Maria's family.

GENERATION THREE:

3. ~ ~ ~ WILLIAM SILK WHITAKER (GEORGE > WILLIAM) was born on 22 February 1846 in Ramsgate Kent, the first child of WILLIAM LANGDON WHITAKER and MARIA SILK.

Census entries for WILLIAM SILK WHITAKER:

Census 1: 1851, Residence 127 Rectors Island, Rotherhithe, Southwark, Surrey, age 5

Census 2: 1871, Residence Rotherhithe, Mariner

William married SARAH ELIZABETH DOBBS on 11 March 1871 in Surrey. He died on 25 June 1901 (the informant was his son Joseph George Whitaker) and was buried on 27 June 1901 in Matching, Essex in England.

4. ~ ~ ~ GEORGE WHITAKER (GEORGE > WILLIAM) was born in the last quarter of 1848 (Oct-Dec) in Rotherhithe, Surrey, England. He emmigrated to New Zealand when he was around 17-18 years old and arrived at Port Chalmers near Dunedin on 14 July 1864 on the ship "Queen of India". On 19 February 1870 his occupation was listed as Mariner. George married ELIZABETH HANNAH ROBOTTOM on 12 May 1871 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Elizabeth was born on 02 August 1845 in Paramatta, New South Wales, Australia, the eldest daughter of JOHN ROBOTTOM and CATHERINE BRITTAIN.

Census entries for GEORGE WHITAKER:

Census 1: 1851, Residence 127 Rectors Island, Rotherhithe, Southwark, Surrey, age 3

Census 2: 1861, Residence 34 Princes? St, Rotherhithe, Southwark, Surrey, age 12, Scholar

Children of GEORGE WHITAKER and ELIZABETH HANNAH ROBOTTOM were:

KATHERINE ELIZABETH ⁶ WHITAKER, born 17 September 1871 New South Wales, Australia.

WILLIAM CHARLES WHITAKER, born 20 June 1873 Kaipoi, Canterbury, New Zealand. William married EDITH MAY. Their son WILLIAM CHARLES WHITAKER (junior) served in the NZ Army during World War II. He was Corporal in 21^st Regiment NZEF and was killed in action in Italy on 7 April 1945, aged 23 years. William was buried at Faenza War Cemetery, Italy. (Refer to my Roll of Honour page for more details)

GEORGE HERBERT WHITAKER, born 10 December 1874 Kaipoi, Canterbury, New Zealand. George married TUIHANA WILLIAMS.

FRANK SILK WHITAKER, born 23 February 1876 Kaipoi, Canterbury, New Zealand. Frank married AGNES HARRIET (surname unknown) He served in the NZ Army during World War I and was a Rifleman with the 3^rd Battelion NZ Rifle Bridage. Frank was killed in action in Passchendael, Belgium on 12 October 1917. (Refer to my Roll of Honour page for more details)

WALTER HENRY WHITAKER, born 10 February 1878 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

JOHN FREDICK WHITAKER, born 20 January 1880 in Greytown, Wairarapa, New Zealand. John married LILLIAN (surname unknown) and he died around 1968.

JESSIE MARIA WHITAKER, born 23 July 1882. Jessie married BOB FAIRBURN. She died around 1972 in Wellington, NZ.

IDA EMILY WHITAKER, born 15 December 1883 Palmerston North, New Zealand.

LENA MAY WHITAKER, born 17 December 1885 in Wanganui, New Zealand. Lena married GEORGE McMILLAN. She died around 1977.

FREDICK WHITAKER, born 15 December 1888 in Napier, New Zealand.

ROSE AMY WHITAKER, born 25 March 1892 in Wellington, New Zealand. Rose married ALBERT JAMES. She died around 1977.

5. ~ ~ ~ FRANK HERBERT WHITAKER (GEORGE > WILLIAM) was born in 1863 in Rotherhithe, Surrey, England. He married MARY ANN PATMAN (or SEARS) in 1884 in Greenwich, London, England. Mary was born around 1860.

Census entries for FRANK HERBERT WHITAKER:

Census 1: 1871, age 8, Scholar

Census 2: 1881, Residence All Saints, Hatcham, Deptford, London, Carpenter & Builder

Children of FRANK WHITAKER and MARY PATMAN (or SEARS) were:

FRANK H WHITAKER, born 1886.

AMY M WHITAKER, born 1888.

Refer to the ROBOTTOM family for more details about Elizabeth's family

GENERATION FOUR:

6. ~ ~ ~ KATHERINE ELIZABETH WHITAKER (GEORGE > WILLIAM > GEORGE) was born on 17 September 1871 in New South Wales, Australia and was the eldest child of GEORGE WHITAKER and ELIZABETH HANNAH ROBOTTOM. She arrived in New Zealand around 1873 with her mother who had remained in Sydney when her father had come to New Zealand two years earlier as Schoolmaster and Bandmaster with the 65^th British Regiment fighting the Maori Wars. Before her marriage Katherine lived with her family in the Rangitikei district. She married EMANUEL PICKFORD on 28 December 1887 in the Registrars Office, Hastings. Emanuel was born on 09 August 1863 in Frome, Somerset, England and had arrived in New Zealand in 1884 on the ship "Ionic".

Refer to the PICKFORD family for more information about Emanuel's family and descendants of Katherine and Emanuel.

Please note that in keeping to genealogy publishing protocol I have not included information about later generations including living persons. If you have a family connection please contact me for further information.

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