Rev. James Hamilton Witherspoon's parents were David Witherspoon from North Carolina and Elizabeth Gordon Witherspoon. David's father was named John Witherspoon (1726-1778)(not the signer of the Declaration of Independence, but related.) David had a brother John as well, also not the signer. David and Elizabeth married in Kings Mountain, PA on June 16, 1791. Her father was Revolutionary War Captain George Gordon. David Witherspoon also fought in the Revolutionary War attaining the rank of lieutenant. He was in the battle of Kings Mountain.

David and Elizabeth had 6 children: George Gordon (1792-1828), Thomas (1794-), Joseph Herndon, Charles Pettigrew, James Hamilton, and Sarah Howard.

In 1847 the family moved from North Carolina to Georgia, Jackson County. In May of 1828 he was in Fair Play, Oconee Co., South Carolina visiting his sister,got sick, died at her home, and was buried there. David's father was John Witherspoon (father was Rev. Thomas Witherspoon), a lateral descendant (a cousin) of Rev. John Witherspoon, President of Princeton University and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Rev. Thomas Witherspoon was a brother of James Witherspoon (married Anne Walter), parents of Rev. John Witherspoon signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Rev. Witherspoon's first wife was Jane Harris Witherspoon who was born in Dublin, Ireland on Mar. 26, 1815 and died Jun 22, 1875. They had 12 children: Ann Elizabeth "Lizzie" Hawkins, Charles Pinkey, Emily Virginia, Sarah "Sallie" Jane Witherspoon Howell, James Harvey, Harriet "Hattie" Caroline, Mary Eliza, Laura Alice, Minerva "Minnie", James Rufus Franklin (see picture to the right), Lilly May, Ann Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Witherspoon) Hawkins,and Rush. James and Jane and a number of their children are buried in Richardson Cemetery.

On Jan. 25, 1877 Rev. Witherpoon married Mary Medora "Dora" Lucas Witherspoon. They had 2 children: James Hamilton Gordon (J.G.) Witherspoon who died at the age of 77 and is buried in Rosedale Cemetery in Ada, OK (see his picture to the right) and Rosa Adela Witherspoon who died at the age of 23 and is buried in Richardson Cemetery in Waterloo, AL. See her monument by going to Click here to view all images on the right side. Dora Witherspoon is buried in Rosedale Cemetery in Ada, OK. She died in Ada, OK at the age of 74. See her monument in this record. Rev. Witherspoon's monument is at the top right. The inscription is beautiful and reads "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." See Click to view all images on the right to see this verse in an enhanced picture. He died 9 days short of his 75th birthday. His son J.G. was 2 years old. Click on the pictures to read the captions.

Rev. Witherspoon was in the mercantile business in Waterloo all his adult life. He also built a cotton gin, grist mill, and saw mill. He was also listed as a farmer in the census. He was also called Major Witherspoon and occasionally represented Lauderdale County in the state legislature. He was a local preacher. When the First Presbyterian Church regular pastor was absent from his pulpit Rev. Witherspoon would fill his place and the congregation was glad for they knew they would have a good sermon. This was reported by one of the officers of the church regarding Rev. Witherspoon.