James Whitaker was the son of Charles Whitaker and the widow Mary Kemball. His parents died within a month of each other in 1739, in Baltimore County, Maryland. James was 13 years old at this time. His oldest brother, John Whitaker, then age 17, took over raising the family of the six younger siblings. About 1771 the large extended Whitaker family left Baltimore County, Maryland, with some others, and settled near Ft. Dunmore (Pittsburgh) in Pennsylvania. James first lived in Peters Township, Washington County, PA. There he was taxed for 300 acres in 1781. He then moved to Mifflin Township, Washington County, PA, on the Monongahela River, purchasing 500 acres. This later became part of Allegheny County. The borough of Pittsburgh called Whitaker, PA, is named for the family; it is located on the land where he lived. James Whitaker married first Mary Sanders in Baltimore County, MD, on 29 June 1749. He married second Catherine Partee/Poteet/Petit on 25 August 1763 also in Baltimore County, MD. His children were: Aaron (by Mary Sanders) and Isaac (possibly by Mary Sanders); Charlotte, Elizabeth, Abraham, James, and Daniel (by Catherine Partee). By the time of James Whitaker's death, most likely in 1789, he had amassed a large estate including land, a sawmill, slaves, and livestock. His will was written on 16 June 1788 in Washington County and was probated on 23 June 1789 in Allegheny County. In his will he freed one slave named Elinor. He is buried in the Whitaker Family Cemetery on part of the land that he owned.
James Whitaker was the son of Charles Whitaker and the widow Mary Kemball. His parents died within a month of each other in 1739, in Baltimore County, Maryland. James was 13 years old at this time. His oldest brother, John Whitaker, then age 17, took over raising the family of the six younger siblings. About 1771 the large extended Whitaker family left Baltimore County, Maryland, with some others, and settled near Ft. Dunmore (Pittsburgh) in Pennsylvania. James first lived in Peters Township, Washington County, PA. There he was taxed for 300 acres in 1781. He then moved to Mifflin Township, Washington County, PA, on the Monongahela River, purchasing 500 acres. This later became part of Allegheny County. The borough of Pittsburgh called Whitaker, PA, is named for the family; it is located on the land where he lived. James Whitaker married first Mary Sanders in Baltimore County, MD, on 29 June 1749. He married second Catherine Partee/Poteet/Petit on 25 August 1763 also in Baltimore County, MD. His children were: Aaron (by Mary Sanders) and Isaac (possibly by Mary Sanders); Charlotte, Elizabeth, Abraham, James, and Daniel (by Catherine Partee). By the time of James Whitaker's death, most likely in 1789, he had amassed a large estate including land, a sawmill, slaves, and livestock. His will was written on 16 June 1788 in Washington County and was probated on 23 June 1789 in Allegheny County. In his will he freed one slave named Elinor. He is buried in the Whitaker Family Cemetery on part of the land that he owned.
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