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James Beale Whitaker

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James Beale Whitaker

Birth	:	30 May 1832 Ohio, USA
Death	:	15 Jan 1929 Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Exeter Cemetery, Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.6521988, -97.4364014
Description	:	James Beale Whitaker 1832–1929 Father of Rev. William Garrett Whitaker (1856-1928), called William Godfrey Whitaker by some and William Garrett Godfrey Whitaker by others. All censuses and known public records say William G. Whitaker. "The Whitaker Fortune" By Bruce Whitaker gives his name William Garrett Whitaker. Rev. Whitaker investigated the "Whitaker Fortune" from 1894 to 1908, when he was arrested and charged with mail fraud after traveling to England twice to research and investigate the claims. He accumulated numerous letters and notarized affidavits in his research, carefully documenting the heirs of Joshua Whitaker and Jane Parker, and showing Joshua Whitaker... Read More	James Beale Whitaker 1832–1929 Father of Rev. William Garrett Whitaker (1856-1928), called William Godfrey Whitaker by some and William Garrett Godfrey Whitaker by others. All censuses and known public records say William G. Whitaker. "The Whitaker Fortune" By Bruce Whitaker gives his name William Garrett Whitaker. Rev. Whitaker investigated the "Whitaker Fortune" from 1894 to 1908, when he was arrested and charged with mail fraud after traveling to England twice to research and investigate the claims. He accumulated numerous letters and notarized affidavits in his research, carefully documenting the heirs of Joshua Whitaker and Jane Parker, and showing Joshua Whitaker was the son of Robert and Margaret Lisle Whitaker, the daughter of Lord John Lisle and Dame Alicia Lisle. Much of his travel and research time was funded entirely by $1 donations made to him by Whitaker descendants across the country. Rev. Whitaker began by documenting family accounts about his ancestral uncle who made a loan to the King of England at the time of the Revolution but which was never repaid. The heirs of this estate were the descendants of Peter Whitaker, son of Joshua and Jane Parker Whitaker. While in England researching, Rev. Whitaker learned of the Parker estate left by a grand-nephew of Jane Parker Whitaker and to which he said all the descendants of Joshua and Jane Parker were heirs. CONSULAR REPORTS, vol. LXX (Washington, D.C., 1902), pp.331-332, published a letter dated Aug. 8, 1902 from the auditor of the Bank of England to the U.S. Ambassador J.H. Choate stating that he met with Rev. Whitaker but denies Rev. Whitaker's version of the meeting and that the Whitaker estate was without foundation. A U.S. Attorney in Asheville, N.C., brought his case before a grand jury which resulted in conviction for "defrauding" Whitaker heirs who funded his research and travels, although not a single Whitaker descendant charged him nor testified against him. Details of the case told by family members differ from details given in newspaper articles of the day. Sandusky (Ohio) STAR JOURNAL, Feb. 8, 1908, page 1: MINISTER Charged With Using the Mails to Defraud "SPRINGFIELD, O., Feb. 8.--When Rev. W.G. Whitaker, arrested in Dayton last Friday for alleged misuse of the mails by United States Marshal Sanderson, was searched by Sheriff Almony, in this city, $1,700 in greenbacks was found in his pocket. Whitaker, it is said, has been in all parts of the country endeavoring to interest heirs of an enormous estate in England and he alleges that he had found 2,500 of these persons. The estate, according to Whitaker's story, is that of Capt. John Whitaker and Jane Scott Parker, now held in trust by the Bank of England, and said to be worth from $600,000,000 to $800,000,000. It is averred that Whitaker wrote to each of the supposed heirs asking that they pay him $10 each for providing proof of kinship. The hearing was to have been held before United States Commissioner W.M. Rockett, Friday, but was postponed to await the appearance of M.W. Broyles and J.M. Ford of Asheville, N.C." The special $10 "fee" referred to was the cost of certified copies of documents showing that heir's specific line of descent. Rev. Whitaker was imprisoned in Atlanta, Georgia: Incarcerated Date: 29 Jul 1908 Release Date: 11 Nov 1909 The Cincinnati Enquirer, Feb. 4, 1909, p.3: "Rev. William G. Whitaker, a minister, who was arrested here a few months ago for defrauding the mails, was recently sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $500 and costs at Atlanta, Ga. He was alleged to have extracted money from people, on the theory that there was a large estate in England, valued at $5,000,000, which belonged to the Whitaker heirs in America." 1870 U.S. Census: Fillmore Co., Nebraska: James Whitaker 37 Elisabeth Whitaker 35 Sarah Whitaker 16 William Whitaker 14 Melissa Whitaker 12 Mary Whitaker 10 Amanda Whitaker 6 1880 U.S. census: West Blue, Fillmore Co., Nebraska: James B. Whitaker 48 Elizabeth Whitaker 47 William Whitaker 24 Amanda Whitaker 15 Emma Whitaker 9 Florence Whitaker 6 1885 Nebraska State Census (Fairmont, Fillmore Co.): Mary Eliz. Whitaker, 52 and "married," was shown "keeping house" for her unmarried son Rev. William Whitaker, 29, unmarried (head of household), and her daughter Florence, 11. 1910 census: unknown 1920 census: Rev. William G. Whit(t)aker, United Baptist Minister, res. Fairmont Ave., Fillmore, Nebraska. Most of Rev. Whitaker's documentation is said to have been seized by the U.S. Attorney and its whereabouts unknown today, but from other letters and statements given by Rev. Whitaker, his Line of Descent was as follows: Robert Whitaker +Margaret Lisle Joshua Whitaker +Jane Parker Peter Whitaker 1703-1750 +Mary Huntley 1700-1784 John Whitaker +Dinah Lewis Phineas Whitaker 1754-1835 +Edith Beale 1752-1831 William Beale Whitaker +Eliza Ann Gay Hill James Beale Whitaker 1832-1929 +Mary Elizabeth Eikelbauer 1833-1888 Rev. William Garrett Whitaker (1856-1928) After incarceration, Rev. Whitaker lived for a time in Asheville, N.C., with his 5th cousin Emory Merida Mitchell, a first cousin of the grandfather of author Bruce Whitaker. Merida Mitchell was sheriff of Buncombe County, N.C. (See Find A Grave Memorial# 117953438). Rumors in the family were that Merida Mitchell acquired Rev. Whitaker's papers. Merida Mitchell's lineage: Joshua Whitaker +Jane Parker William Whitaker + Elizabeth Carleton Joshua Whitaker Sr +Mary Reed/Reid William Whitaker +Mary Cannaday Henry Whitaker +Margaret Jerusha Harper Margaret Elizabeth Whitaker + John Colston Mitchell Emory Merida Mitchell 1869-1941

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is James Beale Whitaker's memorial?
James Beale Whitaker's memorial is located at: Exeter Cemetery, Exeter, Fillmore County, USA.
When did James Beale Whitaker death?
James Beale Whitaker death on 15 Jan 1929 in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the James Beale Whitaker's memorial?
Latitude: 40.6521988
Longitude: -97.4364014

Family Members:

Spouse

Mary E Whitaker

(1833 - 1888)

Children

Rev William Garrett Whitaker

(1856 - 1928)

Mary E. Whitaker Kennedy

(1861 - 1918)

Emma Estella Whitaker Hall

(1869 - 1936)

Florence Cecilia Whitaker Foster

(1872 - 1959)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Exeter Cemetery
Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6521988, -97.4364014

2. Horton Cemetery
Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6911011, -97.5025024

3. Turkey Creek Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6042700, -97.3502200

4. Zastrow Cemetery
Cordova, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7127991, -97.3300018

5. Fairmont Catholic Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6394005, -97.5689011

6. Tvrz Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5679700, -97.3618700

7. Fairmont Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6267014, -97.5674973

8. Blue Valley Cemetery
York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7571983, -97.4535980

9. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6338997, -97.2917023

10. Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
McCool Junction, York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7271996, -97.5511017

11. Friendville Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6617000, -97.2827000

12. Knob Hill Cemetery
Cordova, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7630997, -97.3672028

13. Gilmore Cemetery
York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7705994, -97.4847031

14. Kasak Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5393000, -97.3683000

15. Andrew Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6411018, -97.2716980

16. Roe Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6912000, -97.5955000

17. Leland Cemetery
Cordova, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7352982, -97.3094025

18. Holoch Cemetery
York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7630997, -97.5207977

19. Johnson Creek Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6960983, -97.2731018

20. Bohemian Brethren Cemetery
Milligan, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5098300, -97.4058300

21. Applegate Cemetery
Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5527992, -97.2869034

22. Leonard Cemetery
Beaver Crossing, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7425003, -97.2739029

23. McCool Junction Cemetery
McCool Junction, York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7557983, -97.6063995

24. Geneva Cemetery
Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5359900, -97.6064900