Waite Family History

This information was researched and compiled by my great-Aunt Gladys Waite DePuy. Aunt Gladys has always shared her love of family history and research with the family. All of the Waite family history was given to me by her. I appreciate and thank her from the bottom of my heart for her efforts in making this information available. She was the first one who fostered my interest in genealogy and always shared her enthusiasm with me. This page is dedicated to her!

Family notes

In 1634, Thomas Wait and two of his brothers, Richard (born in 1598) and Gamiliel (born in 1596) were driving a herd of their cattle to market in Wales, when they were attacked by a gang which tried to force them to serve aboard a British warship. The three fought free, went to market, sold their cattle, and used the money to come to America. The ship on which they made the journey to America docked in Boston, Massachusetts. Richard and Gamiliel stayed in Boston, and Thomas, our ancestor, went on to Rhode Island. Richard usually spelled his name Wayte. Some records indicate that Thomas had a part in establishing the church in Rhode Island which Roger Williams and Anne Hutchison established in Rhode Island. At least, Thomas and some of his family are listed as early members of that church.

In Generation Eight, Yelverton Wait (Waite) was married to Elizabeth Olin. Her father was Jonathan Olin, who served in the Revolutionary War. Elizabeth’s, ancestor, John Olin, (probably her great – or great-great grandfather) was kidnapped to serve aboard an English warship when he was 14 years of age. He deserted the ship when it reached Boston, and settled there. He is described in a history book as being red-haired.

In Generation Three, Samuel Wait Jr. was married to Alice Wightman. Her father was George Wightman. Her great-grandfather, Edward Wightman, was burned at the stake for heresy. One Wightman history book said that Wightman was accused of having "Antitrinitarianism and Anabaptist" views. He was condemned to die, and was burned at the stake April 11, 1612. He was the last person to be burned at the stake for heresy in England.

The family name has been spelled variously Wait, Waite, Wayte, Weight and Waight.

Waite Generations

1. Thomas Wait b. c.1601, Wales, (*son of William Wait and Rosanna Wardwell) m. Eleanor Wait. Thomas died c.1669, Rhode Island.

Children:

2. Samuel      b.c.1640.

Second Generation

2. Samuel Wait Sr. b. c.1640, m. Hannah Whitman. Samuel died c.1694.

Children:

3. Samuel b.c.1660.

 

Third Generation

3. Samuel Wait Jr. b. c.1660, m. Alice Wightman, (daughter of George Wightman). Samuel died c.1732.

Children:

4. Joseph b.c.1697.

Fourth Generation

4. Joseph Wait Sr. b. c.1697, m. Elizabeth Sheffield. Joseph died c.1776.

Children:

5. Joseph b.c.1718.

Fifth Generation

5. Joseph Wait Jr. b. c.1718, m. c. 1737, Elizabeth Gifford, (daughter of Yelverton Gifford and Nannie (Ann) Northrup). Joseph died c. 1744.

Children:

6. Yelverton b.Sept.14,1743.

Sixth Generation

6. Yelverton Wait b. Sept. 14, 1743, Exeter, Rhode Island, m. (1) Dec. 20, 1761, Margaret Whitford, (daughter of Robert Whitford and Margaret Fones) m. (2) Zipporah Colvin. Yelverton died Feb. 29, 1816, Coventry, Rhode Island.

Children:

7. Jonathan b.Jan. 20, 1771

Seventh Generation

7. Jonathan Wait b. Jan. 20, 1771, Coventry, Rhode Island, m. in Shaftsbury, Bennington County, Vermont, Lucy Matteson, b. Feb. 17, 1774, d. Nov. 14, 1845, Shaftsbury, Bennington County, Vermont. Jonathan died Jan. 27, 1847, Shaftsbury, Vermont.

Children:

8. Yelverton b. Aug. 27, 1796.

Eighth Generation

8. Yelverton Wait b. Aug. 27, 1796, Shaftsbury, Bennington County, Vermont, m. in Shaftsbury, Bennington County, Vermont, Elizabeth Olin, b. Sept. 27, 1799, (daughter of Capt. John Olin Jr.) d. c. 1888, Chesterville, Morrow County, Ohion. Yelverton died March 22, 1829, Shaftsbury, Bennington County, Vermont.

Children:

9.  Edwin  b. June 3, 1823.

Ninth Generation

9. Edwin Waite b. June 3, 1823, Shaftsbury, Bennington County, Vermont, m. May 11, 1848, in Morrow County, Ohio, Sarah Maria Reed, b. Jan. 1, 1821, Cattauraugus County, New York, (daughter of John Reed and Margaret Reed) d. June 8, 1891, Putnam County, Missouri. Edwin died April 23, 1906, Putnam County, Missouri.

Children:

10. Alonzo Washington   b. Sept. 1, 1853.

Tenth Generation

10. Alonzo Washington Waite b. Sept. 1, 1853, Morrow County, Ohio, m. July 7, 1878, in Putnam County, Missouri, Nancy Jane Bacus, b. Feb. 29, 1855, Bryants Station, Missouri, (daughter of Jesse Bacus and Catherine Mathews) d. August 6, 1951, Mystic, Iowa. Alonzo died Jan. 19, 1926, Centerville, IA.

Children:

11. Ora Elmer b. Feb. 3, 1886.

Eleventh Generation

11. Ora Elmer Waite b. Feb. 3, 1886, Putnam County, Missouri, m. June 30, 1907, in Unionville, Missouri, Mahala Elizabeth Carter, b. Oct. 4, 1887, Hartford, Missouri, (daughter of John Aaron Carter and Anna Jane White) d. Oct. 31, 1960, Centerville, Iowa, buried: Elgin Cemetery - Mystic, Iowa. Ora died Nov. 24, 1979, Albia, Iowa, buried: Elgin Cemetery - Mystic, Iowa.

Children:

12. Mildred Louise b. Nov. 12, 1914.

Twelfth Generation

12. Mildred Louise Waite b. Nov. 12, 1914, Poweshiek County, Iowa, m. Aug. 13, 1932, in Lancaster, Missouri, Hollis Wayne Davenport, b. Sept. 5, 1912, Ringgold County, Iowa, (son of Pleasant Lafayette Davenport II and Eula May Johnson) d. Jan. 1, 1993, Centerville, Iowa, buried: Elgin, Cemetery - Mystic, Iowa. Mildred died Dec. 6, 1994, Centerville, Iowa, buried: Elgin Cemetery - Mystic, Iowa.

Children:

13. Johnny b. March 6, 1933.

Thirteenth Generation

13. Johnny Davenport b. March 6, 1933, Centerville, Iowa, m. June 14, 1953, in Centerville, Iowa, Annabelle Lee Hendon, b. July 15, 1930, San Bernadino, California, (daughter of Gurnie Otto Hendon and Elma Lee Hendon) d. Oct. 30, 1996, Bloomfield, Iowa, buried: Nov. 4, 1996, Highland Cemetery - Mystic, Iowa.

Children:

Denise Lee Ann Davenport b. Dec. 12, 1956, Centerville, Iowa, m. Oct. 30, 1996, in Centerville, IA, Rex Jay Campbell, b. April 9, 1953.

14. Patricia Lynn b. Jan. 4, 1959.

15. Roger Wayne b. Feb. 27, 1961.

16.  Lisa Renae b. June 12, 1962.

Fourteenth Generation

14. Patricia Lynn Davenport b. Jan. 4, 1959, Sedalia, Missouri, m. Dec. 31, 1985, in Centerville, IA, Douglas Wayne Conger, b. Nov. 18, 1953.

Children:

Frank Douglas Conger b. Dec. 22, 1987, Centerville, IA.

Rachel Dawn Conger b. Nov. 10, 1990, Ottumwa, Iowa.

15. Roger Wayne Davenport b. Feb. 27, 1961, Centerville, Iowa, m. Jan. 3,1986, in Unionville, Missouri, Kathy Elaine Heartley, b. Feb. 24, 1961.

Children:

John Wayne Davenport b. May 6, 1985, Albia, Iowa

David Allen Davenport b. Jan. 16, 1989, Ottumwa, Iowa.

16. Lisa Renae Davenport b. June 12, 1962, Iowa City, Iowa, m. Jan. 24, 1986, in Centerville, Iowa, Michael Howard Myers, b. April 26, 1956, Centerville, Iowa, (son of Irvin Howard Myers and Rose Marie Hopkins).

Children:

Heather Michelle Myers b. Dec. 3, 1986, Ottumwa, Iowa, d. Dec. 3, 1986, Ottumwa, Iowa, buried: Dec. 8, 1986, Numa Cemetery - Numa, Iowa.

Jared Michael Myers b. Oct. 21, 1988, Ottumwa, Iowa.

Mikaela Ann Myers b. Sept. 30, 1996, Bloomfield, Iowa

*One unconfirmed record lists the parents of Thomas Wait (Generation 1) as Roasanna Wardwell (Wardell) and William Wait.

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This page last updated July 18, 2001