The first record that can be found for our Philip Whitten is the 1800 census of Laurens District, South Carolina where he is listed with his wife (both age 16-26) and two young males (one 10-16, one under 10). Also, several land deeds from this time period in Laurens County mention him, including the earliest from December 1799 pertaining to Philip Whitten of Newberry District. The other Laurens County deeds range in date from 1802-1821. Philip apparently moved across the Enoree River from Laurens to Union County about the year 1807. He and his family are next listed on the 1810 census in Union County, South Carolina. He and his wife are listed as 26-45, and there are five children under 10 and one 10-16. According to Philip's Bible in the possession of Gena Neely of Sharpsburg, Georgia, Philip's first five children were born 1800-1808. The identity of the sixth child aged 10-16 is a mystery.
There was a Philip Whitten from South Carolina in the War of 1812. He was a First Lieutenant, enlisting October 1, 1814 for a six month tour of duty. His military service record can be obtained from the National Archives, Military Service Record #1686. One cannot prove that this Philip Whitten is ours, but our Philip would have been of the correct age to serve in 1814.
Numerous land deeds both to and from Philip can be found in Union County from 1807 - 1821. Two deeds in particular merit mention. In 1804 in Laurens, Philip sold land to the widow Rachel Whitten (deed H-11). Later, in 1819, Philip again sold land to Rachel Whitten. W.C. Whitten, in his 1984 book Whitten and Allied Families, makes the case that this Rachel Whitten is most likely Philip's mother. There is a Robert Whitten of Newberry (Laurens) District who had a wife named Rachel. Philip named a daughter Rachel and named his first son Robert, and Philip twice sold land to the widow Rachel of Laurens. These reasons suggest that Robert and Rachel are possibly Philip's parents. However, Toni Brahier of Georgia adds a note of caution concerning Philip's parentage:
"Who Phillip Whitten's parents are is quite a matter of guessing and whom you are speaking with. Many have worked on this question, and though most seem to agree that Phillip is from the Whittens who settled in Tazewell County, Va., no one has been able to come up with proof. There were Whittens by the names of Robert and Rachel Whitten who lived in the same general vicinity, which some believe to be Phillip's parents. Considering the fact that he names his first son Robert, and twice sells land to Rachel, it is a good possibility. However, they could just as well have been his older brother, and wife of whom he was very fond. Again, much work needs to be done in this area."
W.C. Whitten also suggests that Philip moved his family from Union County, South Carolina to near Walton County, Georgia about 1821. The Georgia Archives have military records for Capt. Robert Whitten and Lieut. Littleton Whitten, both of whom served the Walton County, Georgia Militia from 1822-1823. These men are apparently Philip's two oldest sons. Several Georgia land records also mention Philip Whitten. An 1823 land deed in Pike County, Georgia lists Philip as a witness to a deed for Henry Neely, who was the brother-in-law to Philip's daughter Rebecca. Philip also drew a parcel of land in Forsyth County in the 1832 Cherokee Gold Lottery then sold it in 1833. This deed listed Philip's residence as Clarke County, which adjoined Walton County then, and was witnessed by Philip's son Littleton Whitten.
Phillip's wife was Delilah Cain, daughter of Jonathan Cain and Barbary Harrell. According to W.C. Whitten, information on this line can be found in Pearsons Revised, 1975, by Elmer B. Hazie. The estate settlement of Barbary Cain, dated January 11, 1814, names her daughter, Delilah, as wife of Phillip Whitten of Union District, S.C. See Equity Roll #122, Union County, South Carolina, filed July 26, 1824.
According to Toni Brahier of Georgia, it is not known where Philip Whitten and Delilah Cain were buried, but from talking with descendants of Rebecca Philip Whitten, Miss Gena Neely in particular, it appears that they are probably buried with Rebecca and her husband at Sharpsburg, Georgia. When taking pictures of the cemetery, it appears that there are at least two more unmarked graves beside Rebecca's grave. Assuming the tradition of the parents of the bride being buried beside her, this would be Philip and Delilah. Miss Neely said that they did live with Rebecca and her husband when they had become older and of ill health.
